A Theatre Lover's Guide to DC/Capital Area Theatres - November 2011 Offerings

November has over 60 more openings in the professional, community, universities, and children's theaters in the DC/MD/VA area. A week has already passed in November and over 20 new productions have opened. To read reviews of these shows, go to Maryland Theatre Guide, where I am the Editor and a columnist. A recent back surgery kept me from posting this earlier, so we have some catching up to do.

4 PERSONAL 'MUST SEE' SHOWS FOR NOVEMBER 2011

(1) November 11th to December 11th, Shining City at Quotidian Theatre, in Bethesda, MD.

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Quotidian Theatre is one of the gems we have in Maryland -- where I live. They are a "theatre without histrionics; the gunshots and car crashes are kept offstage." They are 'in your face theatre' [which I love!] and they perform in the intimate The Writer's Center in Bethesda, MD. Quotidian is now doing a production of Colin McPherson's Shining City.

The production stars some of our best local actors: Michael Avolio, Steve Beall, John Decker and Laura Russell. "A guilt-ridden man believes he has seen his deceased wife and seeks the help of a therapist who has his own demons. Set in Dublin, this haunting, beautifully crafted play provides a shocking surprise. Jack Sbarbori directs.

(2) From November 21st to January 29, 2012, Hairspray at Signature Theatre, in Arlington, VA.

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Eric Schaeffer hot off his smash hit of Follies which received raves from the NYC critics at The Marquis Theatre, gets his hands on another Broadway musical classic - Hairspray. And what a blast it should be with so many Signature Theatre regulars and some new faces.

National radio host Robert Aubry Davis will star as Edna Turnblad. The cast will also feature Carolyn Cole (Tracy Turnblad), Nova Y. Payton (Motormouth Mable), Sherri L. Edelen (Velma Von Tussle), PatRick Thomas Cragin (Link Larkin), Harry A. Winter (Wilbur Turnblad), Erin Driscoll (Amber Von Tussle), James Hayden Rodriguez (Seaweed), Stephen Gregory Smith (Corny Collins), and Lauren Williams (Penny Pingleton).

The ensemble includes Jennifer Cameron, Matthew Conner, Parker Drown, Jamie Eacker, Nick Hovsepian, Brandi Knox, Sean-Maurice Lynch, Kirstin Riegler, Nickolas Vaughan, Kara-Tameika Watkins, Matthew Wojtal, and Stephen Scott Wormley.

Karma Camp is the choreographer, Dan Conway provide the set design, Kathleen Geldard is the costume designer, Colin K. Bills is the lighting designer, and Matt Rowe provides the sound design. Jon Kalbfleisch is the music director, with Gabriel Mangiante conducting a 9-piece orchestra.

With all this talented, this Hairspray will be hard to beat!

(3) From November 25th to December 13rd, Romeo and Juliet, at Synetic Theatre in The Crystal City Metro Stop in Arlington, VA.

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Joel Markowitz grew up in Buffalo, NY. At a young age, between shoveling snow and eating hot Buffalo wings, he fell in love with theatre, particularly musical theatre. Moving to the DC area after graduating from Syracuse University, Joel founded The Ushers Theatre Going Social Group, where he leads groups to performances in the DC area, and theatre weekends in NYC and Philadelphia. This year, The Ushers is celebrating its 21st anniversary. Joel also coordinates Broadway Bound Meetup groups in the DC, Baltimore, and VA areas.

In May 2011, Joel became the Editor and Senior Columnist for Maryland Theatre Guide, after writing his popular column Theatre Schmooze, and recording interviews with DC, Philadelphia, and New York actors, directors, and composers for DC Theatre Scene for 5 years. Joel is also a regular contributor on the weekly NYC radio program ‘The Lunch and Judy Show’ where he talks with host Judy Stadt about theatre in NYC and the DC area. Joel is a fan of Stephen Sondheim, William Finn, Jason Robert Brown and Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. His favorite musicals include Ragtime, The Secret Garden, Spring Awakening, Gypsy, The Light in the Piazza, Sweeney Todd, The Last Five Years, and In The Heights. He is a huge supporter of children's theatre. Joel is also a Buffalo Sabres fan, so you may see him at hockey rinks, as well as at stage doors, where he schmoozes with the stars.

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