There were many wonderful Scene Stealing moments on DC Metro Area stages in our professional, community, children’s, and university theaters during the past theater season (August 1, 2012-August 1, 2013). Here’s our fifth set of honorees:
Du Shuaiqiang performing Puck’s closing monologue in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Clarice Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
The University of Maryland School of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies partnered with The National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts to put on a bilingual version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with an emphasis on the dream. The set was a gorgeous, the traditional costumes were breathtaking and the Chinese actors brought the amazing Beijing Opera style to the stage. It’s a style of acting filled with acrobatics, mime and dance. One standout was Du Shuaiqiang as the trickster fairy Puck. From his very first moment backflipping onstage, his physical prowess was matched only by his comic timing. Puck closes the play with a moving monologue saying, “If we shadows have offended,/Think but this, and all is mended,/That you have but slumber’d here/While these visions did appear.” The fact that he could convey all of the quiet delight of this monologue speaking Chinese was impressive, and one of the best moments of the play.
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From Jessica Vaughan and Joel Markowitz
Nicole Elledge singing “How are Things in Glocca Morra” in Finian’s Rainbow at Catholic University.
From Jessica: In my review I wrote: “How are Things in Glocca Morra” is an iconic and difficult song and she [Nicole Elledge] has one of the best voices I have ever heard on stage. Period.” That’s still true a year later. Nicole gave a heartfelt, moving rendition during an excellent overall performance. Director and Choreographer Parker Esse created a professional quality production and it will be exciting to see where all of these young actor go in their careers.
From Joel: Nicole’s rendition was simply gorgeous, as was her beautiful rendition of “Look to the Rainbow.” Nicole gave one of my favorite performances of the year in my favorite musical theatre production of the past DC area theatre season. Catholic University continues to produce musical theatre stars and Nicole certainly has a bright future ahead of her.
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From Joel Markowitz:
Bobby Smith singing “Amsterdam” in Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at MetroStage.
I have heard “Amsterdam” sung by Jacques Brel himself and by countless others during the many productions of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well… I have seen since I was in high school. But Bobby Smith’s rendition at MetroStage was the most powerful rendition I have ever heard of this in-your-face Brel masterpiece. Bobby’s performance of “Amsterdam” reminded many of us who have followed and enjoyed his performances and career that he is a multi-talented singer and actor. He can do it all (he’s also a fantastic dancer and director) – and what he did with “Amsterdam” was sheer genius.
From Joel Markowitz:
Edward Staudenmayer as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh and Rachel York as Reno Sweeney singing “The Gypsy in Me” in Anything Goes at The Kennedy Center.
With brilliant music and lyrics by Cole Porter, Edward Staudenmayer stopped the show with his passionate and high-energy performance of “The Gypsy in Me’ in the second act of Anything Goes. With Rachel York joining in they burned up The Kennedy Center’s Opera House Stage and received a huge round of applause. By the time it was over I was sure I had Gypsy blood in me! It was a hoot!
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From Joel Markowitz:
Erin Weaver singing “Getting Married Today” in Company at Signature Theatre.
Erin Weaver stopped the show with her outrageous rendition of Stephen Sondheim’s manic “Getting Married Today.” It’s not an easy song to perform with tongue-twisting and funny Sondheim lyrics flying at bullet speed, but Weaver enunciated every word perfectly and had the audience roaring. Her facial expressions were priceless! A tour de force by a brilliant actress and singer.
LINKS
Favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ of the 2012-2013 DC Area Theater Season: Part 1.
Favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ of the 2012-2013 DC Area Theater Season: Part 2.
Favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ of the 2012-2013 DC Area Theater Season: Part 3
Favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ of the 2012-2013 DC Area Theater Season: Part 4.
Edward Staudenmayer on Playing Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in ‘Anything Goes’ by Joel Markowitz.
https://youtu.be/j1SZajcX1qU
https://youtu.be/cMzAmrNS164
