A "Tuneful" Romantic at MetroStage

By Michael Toscano

"When Isn't It Romantic opens tonight at MetroStage, it will mark another step in the Alexandria theater's evolution into a showplace for new, small-scale musicals.

A tribute to songwriters Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, and George and Ira Gershwin, Isn't It Romantic features MetroStage favorites Jimi Ray Malary and Lori Williams. Performing mostly concert-style, they tell a modern love story, from infatuation through difficulties, via familiar musical standards.

Malary, star of MetroStage's Ellington: The Life and Music of The Duke and Nat King Cole: King of Cool in seasons past, just finished starring in the debut of a solo version of this show at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. The show's Seattle-based writer-director, David Koch, has retooled it to add Williams, another MetroStage veteran (All Night Strut).

MetroStage was once known more for intimate dramas and comedies than musicals, but producing artistic director Carolyn Griffin likes to describe the theater's offerings as eclectic. And she happily notes that the increasing emphasis on music has helped fill seats during the economic downturn, which has reduced ticket sales for many theater companies."...

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