And on to 2009 – A Theatrical Preview

There are some exciting shows coming up in the first half of 2009. In January, I’ll be commenting on Mike Daisey’s How Theatre Failed America at Woolly Mammoth Theatre. Daisey, a master story teller (who appeared in If You See Something, Say Something at Woolly in 2008) is back with a new monologue. His return is highly anticipated and is likely to be a sold-out run.

The Signature Theatre has three more shows this season, The Little Dog Laughed, See What I Wanna See, and Giant. The Little Dog Laughed, starring the amazing Holly Twyford, is a brand new production following the hit Broadway run. Signature is taking a risk by closing the season with two musicals from the same composer, five time Tony nominee Michael John LaChiusa, best known for The Wild Party, which starred the late Eartha Kitt. Giant is billed as a World Premiere, and See What I Wanna See is listed as a Washington Premiere. Giant is produced with the assistance of the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays and is the first of the three original productions resulting from the Shen Family grant to the Signature for the development of new American musicals.

Arena Stage is remounting Crowns, and recently announced an open casting call for the new star of this year’s production. DC audiences love this show, and I’m looking forward to seeing it in the spectacular and historic Lincoln Theatre in DC.

The Kennedy Center has several highly anticipated musicals coming through the Opera House and Eisenhower Theatres. Spring Awakening and The Color Purple will bow in July. Having seen both productions in New York with their original casts, I’m curious to see how these shows travel. However, I’m more curious and eager to see the all new production of Ragtime in May. Ragtime has a captivating story and beautiful score (Journey On and Make Them Hear You are showstoppers). The original production highly acclaimed and celebrated. It will be interesting to see how the show is reinvented (hopefully, it won’t fall victim to the same fate as Signature’s Les Miz).

Other shows on the schedule, to date, include Washington National Opera’s Turnadot and Folger Theater’s Acadia.

Here’s hoping the New Year brings great performances!