Baltimore/Washington Backstage - May 26, 2006

It's time for television and the Tonys.

June 11, 2006/> between 8-11 p.m./> (and they NEVER go beyond this bewitching hour) you can watch the Tony Awards on CBS. And leading up to the awards, you will have an opportunity to see many of the nominees on various networks.

So here goes a partial list of what you've missed and what you can see.

A&E's wonderful "Breakfast with the Arts" (Sundays from 8 a.m./> to 10 a.m./>) last week presented the highly touted English import "The History Boys". And on Sunday, May 27, on the same program Jonathan Pryce (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) will be featured. Many say Pryce's performance is better than John Lithgow's.  Pryce won a Tony for his role as the Engineer in "Miss Saigon" and I was lucky to see his first performance on Broadway in "The Comedians" for which he received a Tony for Best Featured Actor in a play.

On PBS' "Charlie Rose" Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day), you can catch a repeat (on MPT) of a wonderful interview by the New York Times' Charles Isherwood with Sarah Jones who WILL receive a Tony Award for her wonderful one-person show "Bridge and Tunnel".

Thanks to "Live with Regis and Kelly" for bringing Broadway to the masses. Last Thursday, they had the cast of "Jersey Boys" do two numbers and they plan on promoting the Tony nominated musicals with performances the week of June 5-9.

I'm guessing you'll see numbers from "The Color Purple", "The Wedding Singer", and "The Drowsy Chaperone".

Meanwhile, "Jersey Boys" will be everywhere. They will sing goodbye to Katie Couric on "The Today Show" Wed. May 31 and also will appear on NBC's "Week-end Today" on Saturday, June 3 at 8 a.m./>

CBS is jumping on the reality show concept with a segment entitled "My Broadway Debut". I caught a preview of this on Friday morning's "Early Show" (does anybody watch this?) and it could be fun. Casting Director Bernard Telsey traveled to Northwestern, Wagner, U. of Arizona U. of Michigan, and Florida/> State/>/> and auditioned musical theater majors. Five men and women were selected and they will be performing beginning May 29 on "The Early Show". Each day for five days, a pair will sing from shows "Rent" (on Monday), "The Wedding Singer", "Hairspray", "Chicago", "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", and "Avenue Q" (why Avenue Q??).  A performer from each of the Broadway shows will be on hand each day to introduce the finalists.  Viewers can then log on to CBSnews.com to vote for the winners who will receive a walk-on role on Broadway.

Last week, did anyone see "Ellen the Musical" on the Ellen DeGeneres show? Kristin Chenowith showed up in her "Wicked" costume and actually flew in from the sky. Was quite entertaining.

You can now see what all the fuss about. Disney's "High School Musical" is now on DVD and is the fastest-selling TV-movie DVD of all time.

What to do over the slow summer months you theater addicts? Head to the Olney/> Theatre/> Center/>/>.  Now through June 18, ALL tickets for "The Elephant Man" are $10. Let me repeat, ALL tickets are $10 (thanks to an anonymous donor). And coming "Hedda Gabler" (June 21-July 23), "Jacques Brel" July 5-July 30), and "An Enemy of the People") July 20-Aug. 20). Call 301-924-3400 or www.olneytheatre.org.

Help celebrate George Bernard Shaw's 150^th Birthday at the Everyman Theatre with "Candida" through June 25. 410-752-2208 or www.everymantheatre.org. You can also commemorate the British playwright with a DVD Shaw Collection put out by BBC Video. This is comprised of 10 of his best-loved works including "Arms and the Man" with Helena Bonham Carter, "Pygmalion" with Lynn Redgrave, and "The Millionaires" with Maggie Smith. This sells for $60 on BBC Video.

Another DVD...the musical version of "The Producers". Missed this in the theater but this sounds intriguing. Extras on the DVD include a gag reel, several deleted scenes including "The King of Old Broadway" (how could this be left on the cutting room floor?) and a "making of" featurette. This sells for $30.

 Do not miss Center Stage's production of "Crumbs from the Table of Joy" through June 11. After the Sunday matinee on June 4 you can participate in a discussion of the play. 410-332-0033 or www.centerstage.org.

Also just announced is the 6^th play to be presented next season at Center Stage. Naomi Wallace's "Things of Dry Hours" concerns an unemployed African-American Communist during the Depression in Alabama/>/>, his daughter, and a white visitor, running from the law. This play will make its New York debut in 2007.

The Arena Stage has a double-header. Eric Overmeyer's "On the Verge" (through June 11) and "Lady Day" about Baltimore/>/>'s Billie Holiday (through June 4). 202-488-3300 or www.arenastage.org.

Fells Point Corner Theater has "Sunday in the Park with George" through June 11. 410-276-7837 or www.fpct.org.

Bethesda/>/>'s Round House Theatre Silver Spring has "Body of Water" (till June 4) and it's always exciting to report on a World Premiere production. Opening May 31-June 25 at the Bethesda/>/> theatre will be "A Murder, A Mystery & A Marriage: A Mark Twain Musical Melodrama. 240-644-1100 or www.roundhousetheatre.org.

Regarding "American Idol". Only watched about ten minutes of this but read that loser Katharine McFee was a musical theater major at Boston Conservatory and appeared in the leading role of "Annie Get Your Gun" at a theater in California.

Too bad she didn't win.

 Finally, let me make a music recommendation (thanks to my son Justin). The new CD by Gnarls Barkley "St. Elsewhere" is getting rave reviews. I saw this unusual group of musicians on "Conan O'Brien Show" last week. They are terrific!!!

For comments, cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.