Happy Mermorial DayMemorial Day 2008 afforded me with a perfect opportunity to visit our nation's capital, in part to see friends and in part to see
Chita Rivera and
George Hearn in
John Kander and
Fred Ebb's
The Visit at the area's
Signature Theatre.
But it also gave me an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifices our patriots have made to preserve our freedoms -- at glorious venues like the vastly impressive
National World War II Memorial on the Mall -- and consider the liberties we must continue to cherish -- like freedom of speech, which in turn enables and empowers our arts community to push our national discussion forward.
I pondered those freedoms as I strolled through the
National Portrait Gallery on Saturday, surveying the impressive work achieved in restoring the Great Hall to all its former glory. In that Great Hall, a current selection of portraits in its "
Bravo!" series honors America's most acclaimed artists. Among the great names celebrated via paintings and busts are
Helen Hayes,
Paul Robeson,
George Gershwin and -- right smack dab in the center --
Ethel Merman, whose centenary is currently being celebrated. The
1971 oil and acrylic painting on canvas pictured above was the creation of Rosemarie Sloat, and evokes the magnificent Merman's title role in
Annie Get Your Gun.
During one of Merman's performances in her iconic portrayal, her gun failed to fire, yet a bird still dropped right on cue. Without skipping a beat, Merman quickly quipped, "What do you know? Apoplexy!"
It's only fitting that a painting of the American original known as Merman hangs among our nation's greats.
Here's to the artists, who remind us on a daily basis why we should never take our liberties for granted. But here's especially to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in preserving those freedoms.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Ethel Merman, Memorial Day, Special Messages, Washington DC
Flitting Around Square WinnipegThis Memorial Day weekend, I'll be one of approximately
38 million Americans traveling more than 100 miles from home. In fact, I'm traveling so far to the north that I'll be observing our national Holiday in Canada.
My journey will take me directly to that wild Manitoban hotspot of
Winnipeg, where part of my weekend will center (sorry Canadians,
centre) around the
Carol Shields Festival of New Works at the city's
Prairie Theatre Exchange.
Named for the
late Pulitzer Prize-winning author, the festival serves as a showcase for "staged readings of new plays and works in progress." While I missed last evening's gala and won't be attending any of the
free offerings tonight, I hope to take in at least a
couple of tomorrow's free performances.
Among the options I find particularly intriguing for Saturday:
12:00 pm -
Short Shots (Presented by Prairie Theatre Exchange in Prairie Ink Restaurant & Bakery, McNally Robinson, Portage Place) - 10 minute plays commissioned specially for the Festival from local playwrights, including Joseph Aragon, Sharon Bajer, Tricia Cooper, Rick Chafe, James Durham, Jason Neufeld & Ellen Peterson.
2:30 pm -
That Elusive Spark by Janet Munsil (Presented by Prairie Theatre Exchange in the PTE Mainstage Theatre) -
That Elusive Spark explores the magnificence and fragility of the human brain. The play was inspired by the true story of New England construction foreman Phineas Gage who, in 1848, survived a freak blasting accident that drove an four foot iron spike through his skull -- but suffered a complete personality change. The incident changed the course of modern medicine and still serves as a reminder of the enduring and fascinating debate about how the mind works and what it means to be human.
4:30 pm -
One Night Stand - Selections of works-in-progress by Michelle Amaya-Torres, Mira Black, Joy Eidse, Hope McIntyre, Cairn Moore, Anne Nesbitt, and special guests. (Presented by Sarasvati Productions in the PTE Colin Jackson Studio Theatre) - Originally conceived by Bonnie Anderson and Lindsay Price in Toronto,
One Night Stand is designed to offer playwrights the opportunity to test out their material for an audience. Excerpts from works in progress will be read by an ensemble of actors and the audience will decide if the work is worth a second date. The line-up features a variety of Manitoba playwrights at various stages in their careers, tackling a broad range of story ideas and topics. Be part of the development process and let your local playwrights know what is hot and what is not!
7:30 pm -
Lucrezia Borgia by Joseph Aragon (Presented by the Canadian Musical Theatre Development Group in the PTE Mainstage) -
Lucrezia Borgia is an original musical that presents a new perspective on the infamous daughter of Pope Alexander XI and her bloody legacy. While the legendary Lucrezia has been portrayed for centuries as a murderous harlot, this musical explores a side of her that history has chosen to ignore -- one that focuses on her strength, compassion and vitality for life, as well as her constant struggle between the desire to follow her own heart, and her loyalty to her family and the Borgia name.
Did I mention that each of these performances are free, offered to the public on a first-come, first served basis?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for Carol Shields Festival of New Works information.
Labels: Canada, Carol Shields, Carol Shields Festival of New Works, Lucrezia Borgia, Memorial Day, One Night Stand, Short Shots, That Elusive Spark, Winnipeg
