Tracy Lynn Olivera, Awa Sal Secko, and Katie Mariko Murray sing “You Could Drive a Person Crazy” in Simply Sondheim.
All photos: Christopher Mueller
Sondheim is Back Where He Belongs! AT SIGNATURE THEATRE IN “SIMPLY SONDHEIM” BY SARA DUDLEY BROWN, THEATRE EDITOR If you’ve been longing for an antidote to the ennui developed over 11 months of watching your favorite live musical and theatrical events on Zoom, I’m delighted to say, “I’ve found it!” Here’s the scoop! For three days in November, Signature Theatre in Shirlington was alive with 12 socially distanced actors/singers, 16 orchestra members, and creative teams all thrilled to be back and putting together the definitive production of Stephen Sondheim’s Simply Sondheim. Signature teamed up with Chiet Productions to film a jam-packed, nearly two-hour production direct from the MAX Theatre, the larger of Signature’s two theatres. Brilliant lighting, perfect sound (closed captioning available), and extraordinary camera shots give us an illuminated view of the stage and of the actors’ view of the Dress Circle where the musicians set up, all socially distanced and sounding like a full symphony orchestra under music director Jon Kalbfleisch’s expert leadership. The gorgeous lighting and crystal clear sound are courtesy of lighting designer Adam Honoré and sound designer Ryan Hickey.
MARCH 2021
tie Mariko Murray (Signature’s Grand Hotel), Tracy Lynn Olivera (Signature’s A Little Night Music), Paul By Sara Scanlan (Signature’s La Dudley Brown Cage aux Folles), Awa Sal Secka (Signature’s Gun & Powder), and Bobby Smith (Signature’s Light Years). Each of these professionals has multiple shows to At left: Donna Migliaccio sings choose from as examples “The Worst Pies in London” in of their work, but I was Simply Sondheim. limited to writing about only one or two. Sigh. Below left: Emily Skinner sings This marvelous and di“The Ladies Who Lunch” in Simverse cast brings us more ply Sondheim. than 30 songs from the composer’s rich canon, and while the selections Below right: Norm Lewis sings can be sometimes unex“Being Alive” in Simply Sondpected, many are old faheim. vorites. I believe all are worth your valuable time. Did I mention that once you begin watching this production, you have 36 hours to view it over and over? No? Added benefit! One reason for watching several times could be that amazing Sondheim interpreter, Donna Migliaccio. She sings one of my favorite tunes, The Best Pies in London from Sweeney Todd, with Bobby Smith’s silent but effecLewis (Broadway’s Once tive presence. Wait ‘til you on This Island and Signa- see Donna slapping around ture’s First You Dream), Solea disgusting looking pastry Pfeifer (Signature’s Gun and while informing us that Powder), Conrad Ricamora perhaps it tastes ghastly be(Broadway’s The King and I), cause meat is unattainable Emily Skinner (Broadway’s at that time in London, all The Cher Show), Nicho- the while pointing out that las McDonough (Signature’s a lot of pussycats are missing Grand Hotel), Donna Mi- from the streets. She closes gliaccio (Broadway’s War with, “Them pussycats is Paint), Christopher Mueller (Signature’s Assassins), KaCONTINUED ON PAGE 43
Theatre
Marquee TV will bring this pastiche/review of the best of the best of Stephen Sondheim’s songs (he wrote both words and music for all of them) to you on your TV, smartphone, notebook, or computer. It streams from February 2 through March
26, 2021. Marquee TV is an ondemand streaming platform dedicated to global arts and culture. Matthew Gardiner (associate artistic director) worked with Kelly Crandall d’Amboise (associate director and casting director) to engage 12 seasoned and highly experienced Sondheim interpreters. Those actors/singers include Norm
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