Arts & Society

Gary Tischler • December 19, 2014

John Rubinstein is back in Washington, D.C., where everything started.

“It feels very Freudian, certainly,” he said in a phone interview. “I mean, here I am, playing the father of a character whom I originated back in 1972.”

Rubinstein has returned to Washington in the Tony Award-winning revival of “Pippin,” an all-new production of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz’s 1972 musical, directed by Tony winner Diane Paulus with choreography by Chet Walker in the style of Bob Fosse. The show opened here this week at the National Theatre and will run through Jan. 4.

Kyle Dean Massey stars in the title role, with Lucie Arnaz as Berthe and Rubinstein as Charles (as in Charlemagne), Pippin’s father.

In 1972, a young Rubinstein had garnered his first major Broadway role at the tender age of 25.

“It was a little frightening, sure it was,” Rubinstein said. “I mean, here I was, my first show, I was 25 and a lot was riding on me. And there were all these big names involved. Stephen Schwartz [of “Godspell” fame] and Bob Fosse, who was already a legend. Early on, I was sent to see him. I had some qualms about the show, to be honest. I didn’t know if it would work. But he was very generous, very kind and a tremendously gifted, brilliant man, an imaginative man, with a very tough, pragmatic side.”

“Pippin” had its out-of-town, pre-Broadway tryout at the Kennedy Center before becoming a long-running hit. It won five Tony Awards and five Drama Desk Awards and ran for nearly 2,000 performances.

The current revival, which opened at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass., in 2012, went to Broadway and won four 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Director of a Musical.

Rubinstein remembers being here in the halcyon days of 1972. “You couldn’t help but be aware of what was going on – Watergate and everything surrounding it, the political atmosphere. It was exciting to be here.”

The show tells the tale of a young prince trying to become a man in the shadow of a powerful father. Although it features real people from the Middle Ages – Charlemagne and his son Pippin – it tells the tale by way of a carnival-circus atmosphere, with such songs as “Magic to Do,” “Glory,” “No Time at All” and “Morning Glow.”

Online you can find a picture of Rubinstein and a very young co-star, the late Jill Clayburgh. Rubinstein sports a boyish face and a big mop of curly hair.

“A lot has happened since then,” he said. He may never have quite made such a splash as he did with the original “Pippin,” but he got busy and forged a true career. He has been a professional actor for 50 years, though you may as well call him a Renaissance man: actor, writer, composer, singer, director, teacher.

Talking to him in Los Angeles, you see he did something else too: he forged a rich life. You can hear the sound of children.
“I’ve got five,” he said. “Four sons and a daughter. The youngest is eight. That’s Max you’re hearing in the background.”
“The thing is you work, all of the time, and you learn all of the time,” he said. Eight years after “Pippin” opened, he won a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and a Drama-Logue Award for “Children of a Lesser God.”

He was on the long-running television series “Family,” and he’s done numerous roles on television, as well as in films including “Mercy,” “Red Dragon” and “21 Grams,” among others. He’s composed, orchestrated and conducted the musical scores for five films, including “Jeremiah Johnson” and “The Candidate.”

The list is kind of exhausting, when you look at it. “I’m 67,” he said. “Teaching and learning, acting, doing what I love.”
Now he’s playing the father to the son he once portrayed. In real life, he’s a father, but always a son. His father was the renowned classical pianist Arthur Rubinstein, who died in 1982. (This may help account for his gift for composing music.)
“I think about him a lot,” he said. “Every day, every day.”

Richard Selden • December 17, 2014

Virgin Most Prudent, Mirror of Justice, Ark of the Covenant, Queen of the Confessors. These are a few of the 50 titles of Mary in the Litany of Loreto, stenciled on a wall in the exhibition “Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea.”

One of the most ambitious projects in the 27-year history of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, “Picturing Mary” arranges in six thematic sections more than 60 paintings, sculptures and works in other media. Curated by Monsignor Timothy Verdon, director of Florence’s Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, the show is on view through April 12.

It is largely an Old Masters show, with household names such as Botticelli (the captivating “Madonna of the Book”), Dürer (six etchings), Michelangelo (two drawings, one arriving in late January) and Rembrandt (an etching).

Perhaps the most compelling work by a famous artist is Caravaggio’s “Rest on the Flight into Egypt” of 1594-96, from the Galleria Doria Pamphilj in Rome. A big, beautiful puzzle of a painting, it depicts, on its right half, Mary cradling baby Jesus in an arcadian setting and, on its left half, St. Joseph and a brown ox in a barren clearing. Dividing the canvas nearly from top to bottom is a mostly naked angel, back and wings to the viewer, playing a Marian motet on the violin from music that Joseph holds up, every note clearly shown.

This being the National Museum of Women in the Arts, there are works by four women artists: Sofonisba Anguissola (c. 1532-1625), Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656), Orsola Maddalena Caccia (1596-1676) and Elisabetta Sirani (1638-1665).

The museum has exhibited Anguissola’s “Self-Portrait at the Easel” of 1556, from Lancut Castle in Poland, once before, but it is an ideal choice for this show, with the artist gazing out as she finishes a painting of Mary nose-to-nose with a young, standing Jesus, Mary’s fingers tenderly touching his cheek and the back of his blond-haired head.

Six paintings by Caccia, an Ursuline nun from Moncalvo (about 30 miles east of Turin) whose father Guglielmo was a painter, are displayed, three of them nine feet in height. The first the visitor encounters, “St. Luke the Evangelist in the Studio” of c. 1625, is probably the finest and most interesting. Modeled on her father, the Evangelist – said to have been an icon painter – is shown working on a sculpture of the Madonna and Child, a painting of them on an easel nearby. The complex composition also includes putti, books, a high window, an ox (Luke’s symbol), a little dog and roses (the symbol of the Virgin) on the floor.

In the gallery titled Mother of the Crucified is a passage from the Gospel of Luke in which Simeon tells Mary that “a sword will pierce your own soul too.” The stenciled excerpt is between a polychromed terracotta, “Madonna and Child” of c. 1430 by Luca della Robbia, and a stained-glass window, “Deposition and Entombment” of 1526 by Guillaume de Marcillat. In the two works, a resigned woman stares out or away, not at her son.

Gary Tischler • December 13, 2014

Through their long single-duet-family show business career, Donny and Marie Osmond have always pointed out that “she’s a little bit country, he’s a little bit rock and roll.”

And they’re absolutely a lot Las Vegas, but then their touring Christmas show (“Donny and Marie Christmas” at the National Theatre through Dec. 7) is based on a similar razzle dazzle pump-up-the-volume show from their hugely popular Sin City residency.

It isn’t even about that. You get it right away, walking in and when the show begins—this is a full-service, slam bang, high velocity, “this is your life, Donny and Marie” show, and by inference, for a good chunk of the audience, this is their life show, too. These two, the former teen idol Donny looking very cool even when he sweats up a storm in “Soldier of Love,” a contemporary offering from his new album, and Marie, who was 12 when she had a big hit with “Paper Roses,” looking glamorous in a whole wardrobe of all sorts of dresses, gowns, high heels, boots, and lots of still alluring black hair, are American icons, no question about it.

They’re both in their early fifties now, but they still have the big voices—Marie’s now sports a sexy, growly tone along with a belt-em high register and Donny is one cool dude with a rangy, pleasant voice that’s clear and audience friendly. Together and singly they rolled out old hits—brace yourself, when he does “Puppy Love” and the aforementioned “Paper Roses,” newer songs like the upbeat “It’s a Beautiful Life,” and “Soldier of Love,” plus a pack of Christmas songs, most of them so full of pep you want run down the aisle and hop on to the stage.

Actually, that’s what at least a couple of men got to do, including a guy named Steve who appeared to be part of a particularly fanatical group of old-time fans, who made the most of his moment with Marie and she got him to dance and sing.

The audience is the key to this show, which is more of an event than a concert, more of a kind of party where all kinds of things go on. The audience as you might expect is full of Donny and Marie fans from days of yore. They do the wave, they sing, they squeal, they scream. I was reminded of my former life in San Francisco, reading a review by a middle-aged San Francisco Chronicle entertainment reporter about his experience at a concert by Donny in his teen idol days—“Here I was in the middle of thousands of screaming adolescent girls straining against their training bras.” Well, the ladies are still screaming, as evidenced at the National Theatre show.

We know them quite a lot from all kinds of moments—their Broadway musical appearance, their appearances on “Dancing with the Stars” (he won a trophy, she didn’t as Donny gleefully points out in a mock sibling spat), her marriages and tragedies, their rise as teens from a very big family (the Mormon version of the Jacksons), their variety show on which almost every major star of our times appeared as they pass on a big screen backdrop.

Both of them, as they belt out songs with enthusiasm, high spirits, good humor and high energy, work hard here—maybe a little too hard. It’s a show that’s at once 21st century and old fashioned. There are tickets to be won along with a seat in the front row by way of Twitter. There are forays into the audience by Donny and Marie, hugs and kisses abound (one woman has a hard time letting go), Marie scrawls lipstick autographs, and showers of candy fall on the audience.

The dancers in this show are terrific—they’re like Energizer bunnies that never stop. You get exhausted just watching them.

If you’re a Donny and Marie fan, you won’t be disappointed by “Donny and Marie Christmas.” It’s obvious they like being up there. More obvious, they like having you there. In this show, the audience is the third headliner.

Georgetowner • December 11, 2014

The Christmas Spirit

Black Nativity, Theater Alliance—The great African American poet Langston Hughes’ Christmas classic “Black Nativity” comes to life, directed by Eric Ruffin, with music director e’Marcus Harper-Short and Choreographer Princess Moon at Bowie State University. Runs from Nov. 29 to Dec. 7 at the Theater Alliance and Dec. 11 to Jan. 4 at the Anacostia Playhouse.

Megan Hilty’s “A Kennedy Center Christmas”—The sassy, classy and classic Broadway star brings in the season with holiday music and songs from the American Songbook on Dec. 13 at the Terrace Theater.

NPR’s “A Jazz Piano Christmas”—Top jazz pianists (Harold Mabern, Kris Davis, Lynne Arnale and Cyrus Chestnut) perform holiday favorites Dec. 12 in the Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center.

The Temptations and the Four Tops at the Music Center at Strathmore—Motown favorites mingle with holiday classics in a soulful celebration with the Temptations and the Four Tops on Dec. 12. And on Dec. 13, “It’s a Mannheim Streamroller Christmas” at the Strathmore, with shows at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Musicals, Musicals, Musicals

“Fiddler on the Roof”—It has been 50 years since this American Musical Classic first became a smash hit on Broadway, with the late, great, iconic and original Zero Mostel starring as Tevye, the much-put-upon Jewish Shetl milkman with his five daughters, his daily conversations with the man above, living and surviving in Tsarist Russia, where the threat of eviction and pogroms loomed daily. This new in-the-round production in the Fichandler space remains remarkably faithful to the core, heart and soul of the musical. Jonathan Hadary heads an exceptional cast, which, in this setting, becomes an intimate and musically rousing experience. Playing through January 4.

“Five Guys Named Moe”—It’s the music and lyrics of Louis Jordan, one of the great feel-good composers of song, that make you jump. Known as the King of the Jukebox, Jordan brings an original and soul-and-blues flavored musical to Arena Stage’s Kreeger Theater through Dec. 28. Who are the Five Guys Named Moe? Big Moe, Four-Eyed Moe, Eat Moe, No Moe and Little Moe.

“Diner”—This world premiere musical, based on a book by Barry Levinson and music by Sheryl Crow runs at the Signature Theatre Dec. 9 through Jan. 25. Pop-rock chanteuse Crow and famed Baltimore film director Levinson provide the sound and feel of a new musical at Signature Theater, based on Levinson’s classic cult film about growing up in Baltimore.

“Pippin”—an all-new production of Roger O. Hirsin and Stephen Schwartz’s classic directed by Diane Paulus, with choreography by Chet Walker in the style of Bob Fosse. It stars Kyle Dean Massey in the title role and John Rubinstein (the original “Pippin” in 1972) as his father. Lucie Arnaz also stars. “Pippin” got its start with a pre-Broadway tryout at the Kennedy Center in 1972. It returns to the National Theater from Dec.16 to Jan. 4.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat—Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s classic groundbreaking rock musical with American Idol husband-and-wife team of Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young in the starring roles comes to the Kennedy Center Opera House from Dec. 16 through Jan. 4.

For the Family

Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol—Playing through Jan. 1 at Adventure Theater. Prolific Washington playwright Ken Ludwig has adapted Dicken’s classic tale with Jack Ludwig focusing the story through the eyes of Tiny Tim. Directed by Jerry Whiddon.

The Gift of Nothing—This world premiere comes to the Kennedy Center Family Theater on Dec. 28. Showcasing the tale of Mooch, a curious cat who wants something special for his friend, Earl, a puppy. The story is based on the comic strip, “Mutts,” conceived, and written by Patrick McDonnell, Aaron Posner and Erin Weaver. The show features music and lyrics by Andy Mitton and is directed by Posner.

The Little Prince—Washington National Opera Holiday Family Opera, Dec. 19, 20 and 21 in the Terrace Theater. Based on the sometimes mystical, magical book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, in English, with a remarkable score by Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman, originally staged by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello.

The Little Mermaid—The Disney Broadway hit comes to life at the Olney Theatre Center, based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale and the Disney Film. The show was produced by Howard Ashman and John Musker, and written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. Runs through Dec. 28.

Nutcrackers and Scrooges

Outside of the story of the Nativity itself, there are probably few works of invention that see more performances during the Christmas than “The Nutcracker,” and plays based on Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.” At the Washington Ballet, it’s the tenth anniversary of artistic director Septime Webre’s production of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” Special surprises are in the offing for long-time fans of the ballet. It’s set in 1882 Georgetown, no less, and features George Washington as the heroic Nutcracker. This Nutracker can be seen at the Warner Theater through December 28.

“The Nutcracker,” a new version and area premiere created by Tommy Rapley, Jake Minton, Phillip Klapperich and Kevin O’Donnell, weaves together spellbinding spectacle, riveting dialogue, astonishing puppetry and an original score. “The Nutcracker” plays at the Round House Theatre in Bethesda through Dec. 28.

The Olney Theater will present Mary Day’s “The Nutcracker,” directed by Patricia Berrend, with choregraphy by Mary Day (the founder of the Washington Ballet), performed by students and dancers from Washington area ballet schools. This “Nutcracker” runs Dec. 12 through Dec. 24.

At Ford’s Theater, “A Christmas Carol,” the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the three ghosts, Marley, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchitt and humbug has been a traditional mainstay. And for the last five years, Edward Gero, one of the Washington Area’s most brilliant actors, has taken on the role of the misbegotten miser who must learn the spirit of Christmas. Gero, it should be noted, will take on the role of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia this spring at Arena Stage. The Ford’s “A Christmas Carol” is adapted by Michael Wilson, and directed by Michael Baron and will run through Jan. 1.

At the Olney Theater, actor Paul Morella is also establishing something of a tradition with his one-man version of “A Christmas Carol, A Ghost Story of Christmas,” (through Dec. 28) done very much in the tradition of Dickens himself, who often hit the stage with this story and other renderings of his work.

Music, Music, Music

The Cathedral Choral Society—The Cathedral Choral Society will bring “Joy of Christmas” to the Washington National Cathedral, joined by the Washington Symphonic Brass and the C.D. Hylton High School Troubadours, in a program that includes the procession of the Advent wreath and carol sing-a-longs on Dec. 13.

The Folger Consort—“A Renaissance Christmas,” complete with music of Flanders and Italy circa 1500, will include expressive seasonal works by composers Obrecht, Compere and Josqin (“Ave Maria”) will be performed by the Folger Consort with winds, violins, lutes and a quintet of voices. The show runs from Dec. 16 to Dec. 23 at the Folger Theater.

The Embassy Series—A holiday special at the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg commemorates the heroic spirit of the Battle of the Bulge during the cold winter of 1944, during which American and allied forces fought to fend off a German breakthrough in the Ardennes in Belgium and near Luxembourg. The evening will include festive, seasonal music, the sounds of cabaret star Karen Kohler, with songs from the times, tenor Joshua Glassman and pianist George Peachey, emceed by Robin Phillips, followed by a world class buffet. Plays on Dec. 12, with the Thomas Circle Singers, who will also appear on Dec. 13.

The King Singers—It’s “Christmas with the King’s Singers” at the National Cathedral on Dec. 21, as the renowned sextet bringing traditional and modern Christmas carols from Renaissance masters composers Orlandus Lassus and William Byrd, a cantata from Francis Poulenc among other offerings.

A Celtic Christmas—The Barnes and Hampton Celtic Consort present an annual Georgetown tradition, “A Celtic Christmas,” at the Historic Dumbarton Church on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m.

A Klingon Christmas Carol—Avant Bard’s Theater celebrates 25 years on the edge with this one night only theatrical event, a staged concert reading of Charles Dickens’ classic, retold in Klingon, the language of Captain Kirk’s nemesis and Captain Picard’s shipmate. Linguist Marc Okrand stars as SQuja’!, which we presume is Klingon for Scrooge. By all means, beam up to Theater J at the D.C. Jewish Community Center at 1529 16th St. NW, December 15 at 8 p.m. Make it so!

National Symphony Orchestra—In a Kennedy Center tradition, the NSO will perform Handel’s “Messiah” from Dec. 18 to 21.

Gary Tischler • December 8, 2014

Steven Holl, the architect for the Kennedy Center’s first major expansion ever, sat down in a seat on the shuttle bus taking media, patrons, and guests to the ground breaking hoopla for the expansion project.

“Well, as long as we’re here, I guess I can talk a little bit about this,” he said. “It’s just such a terribly important project. I can tell you what I remember that inspired me. I remember when I was in junior high school, watching President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, in the cold, and Robert Frost, the great white haired American poet walking up to the podium so slowly with his breath visible. When we were presenting this, I asked ‘does anybody remember that’ and David Rubenstein (the Kennedy Center Chairman) said, “I do, I do. I remember it.”

So do I. So does anybody who was alive that day with a beating heart and a television set.

They all gathered this day to a tent where earth was shoveled from the place(s) where the renovation will occur and is expected to be completed by May of 2017. Holl, Rubenstein, new Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter, new Kennedy Center trustee Rose Kennedy Schlossberg (the granddaughter of President Kennedy) and special guest Vice President Joe Biden all presided over the groundbreaking, in which a gold plated shovel was used. It was a very special shovel—used for the ground breaking not only of the original Kennedy Center by President Lyndon Baynes Johnson, but also by President Howard Taft for the ground breaking of the Lincoln Memorial and President Franklin Roosevelt for the groundbreaking of the Jefferson memorial.

Biden, a spring in his step as always, eloquently spoke about how Picasso “once said that all children are artists—we need to learn how to allow those children to become artists when they grow up. That’s what this is all about. It’s about education, access, which this expansion will increase.”

Kennedy’s inscripted words were often quoted throughout the day, including the famous one in which he said, “I look forward to an America in which we will reward achievements in the art, as we reward achievement in business or statecraft.

“I look forward to an America which will not be afraid of grace and beauty.”

Rose Kennedy Schlossberg, speaking to an audience that included Vicki Kennedy, also a member of the center’s board of trustees, said, “My grandparents believed that American civilization had come of age, and they transformed the White Housed into a stage for our nation’s greatest performing artists. They recognized that in order to demonstrate our full commitment to freedom, democracy and the human spirit, our nation’s capital needed a world-class performing arts center.”

Rutter—whose abiding themes in her first few months as Kennedy Center President have been more accessibility, education, a kind of democratization of the performing art—said that the mission of the center demands that the Kennedy Center be at the center of cultural life in our nation.

Rubenstein, who contributed $50 million to the Kennedy Center’s expansion, said that the project was entirely funded by private donations. “What we are starting today is not just a new building but a transformation of the Kennedy Center into a performing arts center, ready for artists and patrons needs of the 21st Century.”

Holl emphasized that the Kennedy Center is a “living memorial, with interactions and uses on a daily basis for all people.” The additions—which are south of the current space—will include new and large rehearsal spaces, facilities with soaring spaces, filled with natural light (a Holl trademark). It will also include space for simulcasting, small spaces where people can gather and gardens and rows of gingko trees announcing the changing of the seasons.

It will also fulfill earlier dreams of providing a connection to the Potomac River with the River Pavilion, a new space on the Potomac River with small scale performance spaces for concerts and poetry readings.

Mary Bird • December 5, 2014

On Nov. 19, The American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation (ARCCF) and American University’s Initiative for Russian Culture (IRC) co-hosted a black-tie gala event at the National Geographic Society honoring the role photojournalism and cinematography play in promoting greater cultural understanding between the U.S. and Russia. Film Director Karen Shakhnazarov received the Foundation Award for his contributions towards Russia’s rich history of cinematic achievements in culture and film and Gilbert M. Grosvenor received the Foundation Award on behalf of the National Geographic Society. [gallery ids="101944,135952,135948,135955" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

Ambassador of Peru Harold Forsyth and his wife Veronica hosted a lavish private reception Nov. 19 at their home to celebrate the role of D.C.’s foremost modern dance choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess as a cultural ambassador. Guests were treated to a performance of his acclaimed dance, Chino Latino. His dance company has toured to Peru multiple times and the National Ballet of Peru housed an evening of Burgess’ repertoire. Acclaimed Peruvian dancer Maria “Tati” Del Carmen, a native of Lima, who is in her 14th season with the company, performed to an enthusiastic audience. Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company is Washington’s preeminent contemporary dance company. Burgess was recently the Smithsonian Institution’s first ever choreographer-in-residence and is a State Department cultural ambassador. Burgess has been described by Washington Post dance critic Sarah Kaufman as “not only a Washington prize, but a national dance treasure” and the “poet laureate of Washington dance”. [gallery ids="101943,135965,135957,135963" nav="thumbs"]

Peter Murray •

The United Nations recognized innovators and policymakers with the organization’s “highest environmental accolade,” the Champions of the Earth Award, at the Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery. Winners included President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. of Palau, President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, environmental scientist Robert Watson, founder of the Ocean Clean-up Initiative Boyan Slat, founder of Adeso Fatima Jibrell, conservationist Sylvia Earle, Nobel laureate and ozone scientist Mario Molina and the U.S. Green Building Council. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN Goodwill Ambassador Gisele Bündchen were on sight to congratulate award winners and bring awareness to environmental issues. [gallery ids="101939,136000,135987,135992,135996,136004" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

The National Women’s History Museum presented the 2014 Living Legacy Awards at the 4th annual NWHM de Pizan Honors at Arena Stage on Nov. 17. The de Pizan Honors recognizes trailblazing women with an award named for Christine de Pizan, who in 1405 became the first Western woman to write about women’s history and to earn a living as an author. The goal of the nonprofit National Women’s History Museum is to build a permanent museum on or near the National Mall to herald and display the collective history of American women.
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