Photos from the preview performances

Emerging Artists Cabaret

The Crowning Artists Company presents

CABAR - YAY!

A night of musical entertainment from the new crowd

The above boys, who play Riff and Action in Toby's Dinner Theater's production of West Side Story, are among the cast.

Monday, July 28, 2008

7:30 - 9:00PM (after party to follow)

Tickets: $5.00

Equity Principal Auditions for Cool Papa's Party

Equity Principal Auditions by APPOINTMENT:

Monday, July 28, 2008

2 - 10pm (Break from 7 - 8pm)

for Cool Papa's Party

Author/ Director/ Choreographer: Thomas W. Jones II

Music/ Music Director: William Knowles

at MetroStage

Call 703-548-9044 to schedule an appointment time

1st Rehearsal: January 6, 2009

Runs January 29 - March 8, 2009

Please prepare a brief pop or R&B song. Bring sheet music - an accompanist will be provided.

Please bring a picture and resume, stapled together.

World premiere by the artistic team responsible for Bricktop and Three Sistahs...20th Century musical odyssey through the eyes of the "last great American hipster." It is to Sammy Davis, Jr. and Nat King Cole what Dreamgirls was to the Supremes, Berry Gordy and Motown. Mr. Cool Papa's life stands on the world stage as a testament to the traveler, the survivor, the conqueror. And what a life defined by artistry, underscored by excellence and distinguished always by style.

Seeking strong dancers/ singers. Show includes a cross section of music: gospel, jazz and pop. With the exception of Man 1, all actors play multiple roles and ages.

Woman 1: Alto, Caucasion.
Woman 2: Soprano, AA.
Woman 3: Alto or soprano, any ethnicity.
Man 1: Sammy Davis, Jr. type. Tenor.
Man 2: Frank Sinatra type. Baritone.
Man 3: Middle-aged uncle. Bass-baritone, AA.
Man 4: Mid 40's - 50's. Father figure. Bass, AA.

Joel Markowitz attends a rehearsal for ROOMS in NYC

MAKE ROOM FOR ROOMS

by Joel Markowitz

"I fell in love with Natascia Diaz at the Kennedy Center’s 2001 Sondheim Festival, when she played the role of Petra in A Little Night Music, and stole the audience’s hearts with her gorgeous rendition of “The Miller’s Son." Since then, I have followed her career closely, and have seen her in the Broadway productions of Man of La Mancha, Capeman and Seussical. Off-Broadway, I saw Natascia in the Zipper Theatre’s production of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris three times. My copy of that cast CD is one of my most cherished possessions. And who could forget Natascia’s performance as Rosalie in The Kennedy Center’s recent gorgeous production of Carnival?

So, when MetroStage’s Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin called me a few months ago to tell me Natascia was going to recreate her 2005 NYMF (New York Music Festival) performance as Monica in Rooms at MetroStage, that Doug Kreeger, who I had seen in last year’s revival of Les Miserables on Broadway as Jean Pouvaire, and recently in the glorious production of The Visit at Signature Theatre, where he played Evgen, was going to play Ian, and that Scott Schwartz was going to direct the show again, this musical theatre crazy was ecstatic...

What did I see and hear?
I heard two glorious voices filling a rehearsal room with sheer beauty and emotion with musical director Jesse Vargas tickling the ivories for them. I watched director Scott Schwartz, husband and wife co-book writers Miriam Gordon and Paul Scott Goodman, (who also wrote the music and lyrics), stage manager Jessica Winfield and assistant stage manager Dannielle Hutchinson, producer Van Dean and Paul Cozby - all beam while their two stars, Natascia Diaz and Doug Kreeger rehearsed three songs from Rooms...

It was an exciting hour watching teamwork at its best, and experiencing the yearning and dedication of a director, two actors and producers, a musician, a composer/lyricist and co-book writers and stage managers striving to make a show they believe in come alive in that rehearsal room, and enjoying every moment of it..."

READ COMPLETE ARTICLE AT DCTHEATRESCENE.COM:

http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/07/08/make-room-for-rooms/

The loss of Patti McKenny

"Patti McKenny, a Chicago playwright, librettist and lyricist who was a vocal advocate of the development of homegrown musicals, died June 28 of a heart ailment [at age 57] in her northside Chicago apartment, friends and colleagues reported.

She was a founding member of Chicago Musical Theatre Works (CMTW), a collective of Windy City musical writers who sought to establish Chicago as a place where musicals were developed. The group's efforts included public readings of new works. Recently, an offshoot group would meet for critique sessions of their dawning works...

For 30 years, she collaborated on industrials, plays, musicals and other projects with writing partner and fellow Northwestern University grad Doug Frew, who is now executor of her writing. They shared book and lyric credits and worked with various composers over the years...

McKenny and Frew's musical about George Sand, Becoming George, with composer Linda Eisenstein, was chosen for the Pages to Stages development program at the Kennedy Center and premiered in spring 2006 at Metro Stage in Alexandria, VA..."

Singer Kat' Taylor,
Producer Brad Thacker
and Patti McKenny




READ THE ENTIRE PLAYBILL NEWS STORY:
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119140.html

Come hear Natascia Diaz sing

Natascia Diaz will be performing the work of composer Paul Scott Goodman, who will be her accompanist.

The performances will be in the intimate ARK Theatre at Signature Theatre.

COME ENJOY A COOL DRINK AND HOT MUSIC! The theatre opens one hour before every performance. Enjoy a savory sandwich or salad, a seasonal wine-flight, and a sweet conclusion all from Ali's Bar. And you're welcome to take these tasty treats into the theatre during the concert. It's the full entertainment experience!

ALL TICKETS ARE $15!

July 23, 2008
8:30pm
Cabaret
Natascia Diaz with Paul Scott Goodman

July 30, 2008
8:30pm
Cabaret
Natascia Diaz with Paul Scott Goodman

BUY TICKETS NOW