DCMTA Scene Stealers-Week Ending 11/7/14

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Here are our new Scene Stealers honorees. Congrats to all of you!! This week The Addams Family at Kensington Arts Theatre sets the record for most Scene Stealers from one show-5!

The Addams Family (from l to r) Liz Weber (Grandma), David “DJ” Wojciekowski (Lurch), Camryn Shegogue (Wednesday), Bobby Libby (Gomez), Laura O’Brien (Morticia), John Ray (Pugsley), and Chuck Dluhy (Fester).. Photo by Mark McLaughlin.
The Addams Family (from l to r) Liz Weber (Grandma), David “DJ” Wojciekowski (Lurch), Camryn Shegogue (Wednesday), Bobby Libby (Gomez), Laura O’Brien (Morticia), John Ray (Pugsley), and Chuck Dluhy (Fester).. Photo by Mark McLaughlin.

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 Lisa Carrier Baker (     ) and Chris Gillespie. Photo by Mark McLaughlin.
Lisa Carrier Baker (Alice Beineke ) and Chris Gillespie (Mal Beineke). Photo by Mark McLaughlin.

 Lisa Carrier Baker as Alice Beineke, Singing “Waiting” in The Addams Family at Kensington Arts Theatre

Lisa Carrier Baker.
Lisa Carrier Baker.

“Lisa Carrier Baker as Alice Beineke was unassuming at first, but her climactic performance at the end of act one with the song, “Waiting” is marvelous! Carrier Baker continues to shine through the next scene as the cast sings, “Full Disclosure 2.” In a scene that is too delicious to give away, Carrier Baker had me in the palm of her hand with her over-the-top performance-Anne Vandercook.”

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Chris Gillespie as Mal Beineke, Singing “Crazier Than You” in The Addams Family at Kensington Arts Theatre

Chris Gillespie.
Chris Gillespie.

“Chris Gillespie fills the role of the no-nonsense Midwestern father of Wednesdays love interest very well. The Beinekes are “typical family” but the Addams crew helps them find their inner crazy. Gillespie’s Mal is no exception and his splendid performance in “Crazier Than You” is fantastic! Gillespie will have you laughing hysterically and absolutely steals this scene.”-Anne Vandercook. 

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Bobby Libby as Gomez Addams, Singing “Happy Sad” at The Addams Family at Kensington Arts Theatre

Bobby Libby.
Bobby Libby.
Bobby Libby (Gomez), Photo by Mark McLaughlin..
Bobby Libby (Gomez), Photo by Mark McLaughlin..

“If I could give Bobby Libby multiple scene stealer honors this week, I most certainly would! Libby nearly stole the show as the eerie patriarch of the Addams clan. Throughout the show Libby delivered perfect comedic timing, but his rendition of “Happy Sad” was moving and sweet, the very comical Libby tones it down and pours his heart out to “his little Attila,” his daughter Wednesday. It was a touching moment and Libby sung beautifully.”-Anne Vandercook

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Camryn Shegogue as Wednesday Addams, Singing “Pulled” at The Addams Family at Kensington Arts Theatre

Camryn Shegogue (Wednesday).
Camryn Shegogue (Wednesday).
Camryn Shegogue (Wednesday). Photo by Mark McLaughlin.
Camryn Shegogue (Wednesday). Photo by Mark McLaughlin.

Camryn Shegogue is awesome as the eldest child of the iconic The Addams Family-Wednesday. She is frightening and yet you feel for her as she discovers the new feelings of love that she has discovered. This is conveyed in her engaging delivery of the song “Pulled,” a truly stunning performance.-Anne Vandercook.

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Chuck Dluhy as Uncle Fester, Singing “The Moon and Me” in The Addams Family at Kensington Arts Theatre

Chuck Dluhy (Uncle Fester).
Chuck Dluhy (Uncle Fester).
Lisa Ann Baker (     ) and Chuck Dluhy (Uncle Fester). Photo by Mark McLaughlin.
Lisa Carrier Baker ( Alice Beineke) and Chuck Dluhy (Uncle Fester). Photo by Mark McLaughlin.

“In a show full of incredible performances Chuck Dluhy finds his own moments to shine. Dluhy is amusingly quirky and fun in his portrayal of the well-known character. His performance of, “The Moon and Me” is outstanding. A love song to the moon? Oh yes! And Dluhy does it well, with the perfect combination of pure sweetness and ridiculousness.”-Anne Vandercook.

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Cassius (Louis Butelli) has a few choice words for Brutus (Anthony Cochrane). Photo by Jeff Malet.
Cassius (Louis Butelli) has a few choice words for Brutus (Anthony Cochrane). Photo by Jeff Malet.

Louis Butelli as Cassius in his first scene with Brutus (Anthony Cochrane) in Julius Caesar at Folger Theatre

Louis Bottelli.
Louis Butelli. Photo courtesy of DCTheatreScene.

“I was impressed by Louis Buttelli‘s energy and commitment in this crucial scene which establishes his relationship with Brutus and drives the play. He grabbed my attention from the get-go and never lost it. –Sophia Howes

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Anthony Cochrane as Brutus in Julius Caesar Killing Caesar in Julius Caesar at Folger Theatre

Anthony Cochrane (Brutus).
Anthony Cochrane (Brutus).Photo courtesy of DCTheatreScene.

“In this powerful and deadly scene, Anthony Cochrane showed a rare combination of anger and compassion when front-stabbing Caesar (Michael Sharon). I understood the motivations of Brutus for the first time. A fabulous performance.”-Sophia Howes

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Miranda Medugno, as Helen Keller, Performing “A Psalm of Life” in Visible Language at WSC Avant Bard

Miranda Medugno. Photo courtesy of Gallaudet University.
Miranda Medugno. Photo courtesy of Gallaudet University.
Miranda Medugno (Helen Keller) and Sarah Anne Sillers (Annie Sullivan). Photo by C. Stanley Photography.
Miranda Medugno (Helen Keller) and Sarah Anne Sillers (Annie Sullivan). Photo by C. Stanley Photography.

“Miranda Medugno as Helen Keller, performed Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “A Psalm of Life” with pure exuberance. She captivated the audience with her vocal and physical rendition of the poem, filling the auditorium with Keller’s desire to realize herself not only as a woman but as an intelligent, passionate being. Ms. Medugno’s performance illuminated the stage.”

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Adina Verson as Celia in As You Like It in her first scene with Rosalind at Shakespeare Theatre Company

Idina Verson.
Adina Verson.
Zoë Waites (Rosalind) and Adina Verson (Celia), and Andrew Weems (Touchstone). Photo by Scott Suchman.
Zoë Waites (Rosalind) and Adina Verson (Celia), and Andrew Weems (Touchstone). Photo by Scott Suchman.

Adina Verson in her first scene with Rodalind (Zoe Waites) she showed us that Celia can be as much fun as Rosalind. Verson’s Celia is not left in the shade by Rosalind  but shines on her own.”-Sophia Howes.

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Chad Wheeler as Teen Angel, Singing “Beauty School Dropout’ in Grease at Rockville Musical Theatre.

Chad Wheeler.
Chad Wheeler.

“Chad Wheeler was an absolute show-stopper as Teen Angel in RMT’s Grease, an already very good show. His rendition of “Beauty School Dropout” was flawless. He moved about the stage with seemingly little effort. His angelic voice filled the auditorium – a must see performance for sure.” –Anne Vandercook.

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David Lamont Wilson Reciting a Hip-Hop Poem in Not Enuf Lifetimes at The Welders

David Lamont Wilson. Photo by Teresa Castracane.
David Lamont Wilson. Photo by Teresa Castracane.

“In Caleen Sinnette Jennings’ incisive ‘Not Enuf Lifetimes,” David Lamont Wilson plays two roles: Dante, a computer geek, and Ronnie, a hip hop poet. This double casting, which was written into the script, becomes one of the most evocative elements of the show: As Wilson conveys both Dante’s middle-class demeanor and Ronnie’s street mien, the one is unrecognizable in the other, yet both are seemingly not disparate. Wilson’s Ronnie appears first, in a scene where he delivers—in the form of a 27-line hip hop poem—his scathing critique of the young social activist Ian (played by Kiernan McGowan), whose white-privileged do-gooder presumption Ronnie resents:

Where you come from?
Hopping off your white horse, Ridin’ through the ghetto to rescue, of course.
Wanna fight the power, wanna uplift all the poor
Wow, gee, I guess nobody ever tried that before

The full speech is mindblowing—both as written and as performed—and its raw, honest anger deepens, drives, and commands the scene. The words are Jennings’ but Wilson leaves no doubt they are Ronnie’s.  Wilson’s cadences instantly establish the street cred of his character, and with it the authority and authenticity of all that is to follow. It is an astounding moment in an masterpiece of a play.”-John Stoltenberg

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The Ensemble of Urinetown The Musical Singing and Dancing “Snuff That Girl” at The George Washington University

The cast of ‘Urinetown the Musical.’ Linday Martin (hope) is gagged and bound in the center. Photo by William Atkins, Senior University Photographer.
The cast of ‘Urinetown the Musical.’ Linday Martin (hope) is gagged and bound in the center. Photo by William Atkins, Senior University Photographer.

“This was one helluva great ensemble consisting of excellent young singers, actors, and dancers-all triple threats-dancing up a storm and having a blast giving Hope (Lindsay Martin) very little hope (of living) during the wild and crazy, finger-snappin’ West Side Story tribute “Snuff That Girl.” And Choreographer Stefan Sittig’s choreography was a pisser to perform and they all came through like dance veterans.”-Joel Markowitz

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Andy Lieberman as Bobby Strong Conducting and Leading the Ensemble in “Run Freedom Run” at Urinetown The Musical at The George Washington University

Andy Lieberman (Bobby Strong). Photo by Photo by Meghan Bernstein.
Andy Lieberman (Bobby Strong). Photo by Photo by Meghan Bernstein.
Andy Lieberman (Booby Strong) and the Ensemble of Urinetown Photo by William Atkins, Senior University Photographer
Andy Lieberman (Booby Strong) and the Ensemble of Urinetown The Musical. Photo by William Atkins, Senior University Photographer

“Andy Lieberman was an Energizer Bunny all through his exhilarating performance as the rebel Bobby Strong and he was in his prime leading the talented ensemble through “Run, Freedom, Run!” And what a hoot watching him ‘conduct’ his choir! The audience exploded in applause after the wonderful harmonies filled the auditorium, as a tribute to Andy and his fellow cast members who had just blown the roof off the place.”-Joel Markowitz

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Annie Ottati Singing With Much Sadness “Tell Her I Love Her’ at Urinetown The Musical  at The George Washington University.

Annie Ottati (Little Sally).
Annie Ottati (Little Sally).
 Annie Otatti (Little Sally). Photo by William Atkins, Senior University Photographer
Annie Otatti (Little Sally). Photo by William Atkins, Senior University Photographer

“And what a performance by Annie Ottati! She and her Teddy Bear stole the show and every time she spoke the audience roared. Her rendition of “Tell Her I Love Her” at the end of the second act was heartbreaking and drop-dead funny – all at the same time. I have seen dozens of actresses perform this song but this is now my favorite. What a Scene Stealer this was!”-Joel Markowitz

LINKS

The Addams Family review by Anne Vandercook.

Review of Julius Caesar by Sophia Howes.

In the Moment: “Julius Caesar’ at Folger Theatre (review) by David Siegel.

Spine: ‘Julius Caesar, “et tu Brute?” and You’ by Robert Michael Oliver.

Visible Language review by Robert Michael Oliver.

As You Like review by Sophia Howes.

Not Enuf Lifetimes at The Welders at Atlas Performing Arts Center review by John Stoltenberg.

Urinetown the Musical review by Joel Markowitz at The George Washington University.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week Ending 10/24/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week Ending 10/12/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 9/28/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 9/18/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 9/11/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 9/1/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 8/24/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 8/17/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 8/9/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 8/2/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 7/5/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week- Week Ending 6/28/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 6/21/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 6/13/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 6/06/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 5/29/14.

Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 5/22/14.

Capital Fringe Scene Stealers Part 1 and Part 2.

 

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Joel Markowitz
Joel Markowitz is the Publisher and Editor of DCMetroTheaterArts. He founded the site with his brother Bruce to help promote the vast riches of theatre and the arts in the DC Metro area that includes Maryland, Virginia, and DC theater and music venues, universities, schools, Children's theaters, professional, and community theatres. Joel is an advocate for promoting the 'stars of the future' in his popular 'Scene Stealers' articles. He wrote a column for 5 years called ‘Theatre Schmooze’ and recorded podcast interviews for DC Theatre Scene. His work can also be seen and read on BroadwayStars. Joel also wrote a monthly preview of what was about to open in DC area theatres for BroadwayWorld. He is an avid film and theater goer, and a suffering Buffalo Bills and Sabres fan. Joel was a regular guest on 'The Lunch and Judy Show' radio program starring Judy Stadt in NYC. Joel founded The Ushers Theatre Going Group in the DC area in 1990, which had a 25-year run when it took its final curtain call last year. Joel is a proud member of The American Critics Association.

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