Theater
Breaking the ‘Rules’
Two-year-old gay-helmed theater company takes unexpected approach
‘Touch’
Feb. 4-7
No Rules Theatre Company
H Street Playhouse
1365 H Street, N.E.
$25
Starting a new theater company is daunting. To start up with a dual-city operation is downright loco.
But thatās exactly what the founders of No Rules Theatre Company did, and after almost two years of mounting productions in both Washington and Winston-Salem, N.C., they are off and running. Lead by three 20-something University of North Carolina School of the Arts alums (managing producer Anne Kohn and co-artistic directors Brian Sutow and Joshua Morgan, who is gay), the burgeoning company is striving to fulfill its mission of presenting broad-spectrum, high quality theater and making plans for a third, vastly expanded season.
Initially, actor/director Morgan was uninterested in being part of a new theater company. āThere were so many already. I wasnāt so sure that the world really needed yet another one,ā he says.
But after Kohn, Morgan and Sutow decided to move their North Carolina production of John Cameron Mitchellās trans-glam-punk rock musical āHedwig and the Angry Inchā to Washington for a second run in June of 2009, the trio (who are now all D.C.-based) was so encouraged and embraced by the local theater community that Morgan rather speedily changed his mind.
Soon after, the newly formed groupās dual city model began to take shape.
āAt first I thought it was crazy to focus on two markets, but now I see it as a major advantage in building strong projects through longer runs and being able to tap into more than on market for fundraising,ā says Jeremy Skidmore talented D.C. director and No Rules board member. “Another advantage is that No Rules was started by a group of people who all spent years in school together. Jumping into a venture with an ensemble of people who actually share the load and know how to work together is huge.ā
Morgan says, āPlaying in two cities is challenging both logistically and in terms of the plays we present. What flies in Winston Salem isnāt necessarily going to be as well-received in Washington. For instance, earlier this season some D.C. theatergoers turned their noses up to our production of āYouāre a Good Man, Charlie Brown.’ Similarly, some audience members in Winston-Salem have had problems with the sex scenes in ‘Touch’ (the companyās current production directed by Morgan and opening next week at H Street Playhouse) which are incredibly tame by D.C. standards.ā
At first, the young company shied away from tackling āTouch,ā Toni Press-Coffmanās drama about a young astronomer who attempts to rebuild his life with a vulnerable prostitute after his wife is brutally murdered. The 15-member groupās leadership agreed that it was a difficult play that required incredibly special actors; it was something they thought they might want to revisit after a few seasons. But when it came time to select a play to follow their frothy fall musical (āYouāre Good Man, Charlie Brownā), they reconsidered.
āBecause our mission is truly to present broad programming for a wise audience base thatās experiential and visceral and we are serious about challenging ourselves,ā Morgan says. āWe decided the time was right.ā
Morgan became interested in theater as a high school freshman in Montclair, N.J. Around the same time, he met his first boyfriend. Morgan wasnāt too concerned what his mother would he think. He remembered her telling him when he was a little boy: “If you were gay, Iād be swinging from the rafters.ā Today, she regularly calls from home offering to set up her son with prospective boyfriends.
āMy work takes me to a lot of different cities and towns, and it seems to me where there are gay people, there is life, culture and understanding,ā Morgan says. āI think being gay helps me to be more open and that makes me a better director and actor.ā
Next season, No Rules plans to produce four yet-to-be-announced plays (two exclusively for D.C., one for Winston-Salem, and another to play in both cities).
āWeāre excited about the future,ā Morgan says. āLike Michael Kaiser [Kennedy Center President], NRTC believes in good art, well marketed. We stand by what we do and look forward to more opportunities to take it to the public.ā
Theater
Stephen Mark Lukas makes sublime turn in āFunny Girlā
Updated take at Kennedy Center features fabulous score
āFunny Girlā
Through July 14
The Kennedy Center
$49-$189
Kennedy-center.org
With his striking good looks and sublime singing voice, out actor Stephen Mark Lucas is the ideal musical theater leading man, a title he both nails and thoroughly enjoys.Ā
Heās played Elder Price in “The Book of Mormon” both on Broadway and on tour, and regionally, heās wowed audiences performing classic parts like Sky Masterson in “Guys and Dolls,” Joe Hardy in “Damn Yankees,” Lancelot in “Camelot,” and Curly in “Oklahoma.ā
Heās now playing Nick Arnstein, the love interest of Katerina McCrimmonās Fanny Brice in the national tour of the Broadway revival of āFunny Girl.ā Composed by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, itās the musical story of comedian Briceās rise from anonymity to stardom via vaudeville, Ziegfeld Follies, radio, and some film. While cementing the Brice legend, the show also became inextricably linked to Barbra Streisand through the 1964 Broadway hit and later movie musical that made her a star.
When we meet Arnstein, a suave, mustachioed gambler, he seems on top of the world, but that soon proves otherwise. Lukas says, āHe serves as a bit of an antagonist, but his shortcomings are what pave the way for Fannyās triumphant ending.ā
Certainly, the show still features fabulous tuneful hits like “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.ā But now thereās an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, which strives to make Arnstein a little more likeable, he says.
Lukas, who understudied Ramin Karimloo as Nick while on Broadway before taking the part on tour, says, āMy character exists in relation to Fanny. The musical is her memories. So, the way I do the role has a lot to do with the actor whoās playing Fanny. So far there have been six including the well-received Lea Michele.āĀ
The quality of Fannyās ambition is stronger in the first act while the second act spotlights the demise of her romantic life with Nick, something audiences donāt always anticipate, says Lukas.
He says McCrimmon captures the blind ambition of the younger Fanny, adding, āher voice is out of this world. People arenāt prepared for what she brings to the part vocally. Sheās young yet possesses an old Hollywood quality, and she gets the humor of the role. My favorite song is a duet added to the second act. Itās really beautiful.ā
Lukas says heās never had a problem playing straight romantic characters, explaining that his acting takes care of that.
He has noticed that over the years the business has changed from more of a ādonāt ask donāt tellā policy to something freer: āWhen I started in the profession, it was a different time. The public perception of queerness for actors has changed.ā
For instance, Lukas is very open about his longtime relationship with former Broadway dancer Brian Letendre ā the pair are slated to tie the knot after the āFunny Girlā tour ends.
Most of his roles have dealt with masculinity in some way, says Lukas. āA lot of characters I play start with confidence and unravel as the show goes on. What does it mean to be a man? What is masculinity? What does it mean to be a husband and a father?ā
Growing up in Kennebunkport, Maine, he enjoyed annual visits to New York to see Broadway shows. He boarded at the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and studied theater at NYU. Heās remained based in New York City thereafter.
His life on the road is enjoyable yet disciplined. Lukas says, āthe spaces where we perform are interesting for this show in particular. āFunny Girlā is in many ways a show about theater, and we play some of the old vaudeville theaters and movie palaces where Fanny Brice in fact performed.ā
While moving from town to town, Lukas takes care of his voice. He makes sure to eat and sleep well, and works out regularly as evidenced by his impressive build. He also prioritizes visits with his partner whenever possible.
āThese older book musicals are character driven and have great scores,ā says Lukas. āItās what makes them relevant today. On the surface they might feel dated, but thereās also the contemporary humor and romance.ā
Whatās more, the work is never stagnant, he adds.
āIncreasingly, I approach the work as an actor first and thatās what informs the singing; itās that intersection that goes from scene into song, and that makes a difference.ā
Theater
Sophie Zmorrod embracing life on the road in āKite Runnerā
First national tour comes to Eisenhower Theater on June 25
āThe Kite Runnerā
June 25 – 30
The Kennedy Center
$39-$149
Kennedy-center.org
Newly single, Sophie Zmorrod is enjoying life on the road in the first national tour of āThe Kite Runner,ā Matthew Spanglerās play with music based on Khaled Hosseini’s gripping novel about damaged relationships and longed for redemption.
āItās a wonderful time for me,ā says Zmorrod. āIām past the breakup pain and feeling empowered to explore new cities. A lot of us in the cast are queer, so we figure out the scene wherever the show goes.ā
Whatās more, the New York-based actor has fallen in love with the work. āI love how the playās central character Amir is flawed. He is our antihero. He has faults. As a privileged boy in Kabul, he bears witness to his best friendās assault and doesnāt intervene. He lives with that guilt for decades and gets that redemption in the end.ā
āHe does what he can to right wrongs. For me whoās regretted things, and wished I could go back in time, it resonates. Watching someone forgive themselves and do the right thing is beautiful.ā
Via phone from Chicago (the tourās stop before moving on to Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater on June 25), Zmorrod, whose background is Lebanese, happily chats about sexuality, ethnicity, and acting.
WASHINGTON BLADE: Looking at your resume, I see youāve been cast in roles traditionally played by men. And have you played queer characters?
SOPHIE ZMORROD: Oh yes, both. Whether or not theyāre written on the page as queer, they sometimes turn out that way. And that holds true for this show too.
With āThe Winterās Taleā at Trinity Rep, I played Leontes ā the king who banishes his wife ā as a woman. So, in that production it was about two women and touched on the violence that women sometimes inflict on other women.
And there was Beadle Bamford in Sondheimās āSweeney Toddā also at Trinity Rep; I played him as a woman who was masculine and wore a suit. It was a great opportunity to explore myself and gender expression. That was a really good experience.
BLADE: Are you an actor whoās often be called in for queer roles?
ZMORROD: Not really. Iām what you might call straight passing. Sometimes Iāve had to advocate for my queerness. To be a part of something.Ā
Similarly with my ethnicity. Iām called in to audition for the white and Arab roles. It gets tricky because Iām not the exactly the white girl next door and Iām not exactly Jasmine from Disneyās āAladdinā either.
This is one of the reasons, I really want people to come see āThe Kite Runner,ā Audiences need to experience the reality of the wide diversity of Middle Eastern people on the stage. Weāre all very different.
And not incidentally, from this 14-person cast, Iāve met some great people to add to those I know from the Middle Eastern affinity spaces and groups Iām connected to in New York.
BLADE: In āThe Kite Runnerā what parts do you play?
Ā ZMORROD: Three characters. All women, I think. In the first act, Iām an elderly eccentric pomegranate seller in the Afghan market, waddling around, speaking in Dari [the lingua franca of Afghanistan]; and the second act, Iām young hip and sell records in a San Francisco market; and at the end, Iām a buttoned-down American immigration bureaucrat advising Amir about adoption.
BLADE: Your training is impressive: BA cum laude in music from Columbia University, an MFA in acting from Brown University/Trinity Repertory Company, and youāre also accomplished in opera and playwrighting, to name a few things. Does āThe Kite Runnerā allow you to flex your many muscles?
ZMORROD: Very much. Playing multiple roles is always fun for an actor ā we like malleability. Also, there are instruments on stage. I like working with the singing bowl; itās usually used in yoga as a soothing sound, but here we save it for the dramatic, uncomfortable moments. I also sing from offstage.
We are creating the world of the play on a very minimal set. Oh, and we do kite flying. So yeah, lots of challenges. Itās great.
BLADE: It sounds like youāre in a good place both professionally and personally.
ZMORROD: Itās taken a long time to feel comfortable. But Iām on the journey and excited to be where I am, and who I am.
It was a banner night for queer theater artists at the 77thĀ annual Tony Awards, honoring the best in Broadway theater at the Lincoln Center in New York on Sunday. Some of the biggest honors of the night went to the revival of the Stephen Sondheim musicalĀ “Merrily We Roll Along”Ā and the dance-musical based on Sufjan Stephensā albumĀ “Illinoise.“
“Merrily We Roll Along,” which follows three friends as their lives change over the course of 20 years, told in reverse chronological order, picked up the awards for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Orchestrations.Ā
Out actor Jonathan Groff picked up his first Tony Award for his leading role as Franklin Shepard in the show, while his costar Daniel Radcliffe earned his first Tony Award for featured performance as Charley Kringas.
Groff gave a heartfelt and teary acceptance speech about how he used to watch the Tony Awards as a child in Lancaster County, Pa.
āThank you for letting me dress up like Mary Poppins when I was three,ā he said to his parents in the audience. āEven if they didnāt understand me, my family knew the life-saving power of fanning the flame of a young personās passions without judgment.ā
Groff also thanked the everyone in the production of “Spring Awakening,” where he made his Broadway debut in 2006, for inspiring him to come out at the age of 23.
āTo actually be able to be a part of making theatre in this city, and just as much to be able to watch the work of this incredible community has been the greatest pleasure of my life,ā he said.
This was Groffās third Tony nomination, having been previously nominated for his leading role inĀ “Spring Awakening”Ā and for his featured performance as King George III inĀ “Hamilton.”Ā
Radcliffe, who is best known for starring in theĀ “Harry Potter”Ā series of movies, has long been an ally of the LGBTQ community, and has recently been known to spar withĀ “Harry Potter” creator JK Rowling over her extreme opposition to trans rights on social media and in interviews. It was Radcliffeās first Tony nomination and win.
Lesbian icon Sarah Paulson won her first Tony Award for her starring role in the playĀ “Appropriate,” about a family coming to terms with the legacy of their slave-owning ancestors as they attempt to sell their late fatherās estate. It was her first nomination and win.
In her acceptance speech, she thanked her partner Holland Taylor āfor loving me.ā Along with Paulsonās Emmy win forĀ “American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson,” she is halfway to EGOT status.
The Sufjan Stephens dance-musicalĀ “Illinoise,” based on his album of the same name, took home the award for Best Choreography for choreographer Justin Peck. It was his second win.
During the ceremony, the cast ofĀ “Illinoise”Ā performed āThe Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!ā, a moving dance number about a queer romance.
A big winner of the night was the adaptation of the S.E. Hinton novelĀ “The Outsiders,” which dominated the musical categories, earning Best Director, Sound Design, Lighting Design, and Best Musical, which earned LGBTQ ally Angelina Jolie her first Tony Award.
Also a big winner wasĀ “Stereophonic,” which dominated the play categories, winning the awards for Best Play, Featured Actor, Director, Sound Design, and Scenic Design.
“Suffs,” a musical about the fight for womenās suffrage in the U.S., which acknowledges the lesbian relationship that suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt had in song called āIf We Were Married,ā took home awards for Best Book of a Musical and Best Score, both for creator Shaina Taub.Ā
HadĀ “Suffs”Ā also won for Best Musical, producers Hilary Clinton and Malala Yousafzai would have won their first Tony Awards.Ā
Other winners include Maleah Joi Moon for her lead role and Kecia Lewis for her featured role in the Alicia Keys musicalĀ “Hellās Kitchen,” Jeremy Strong for his lead role inĀ An Enemy of the People, and Kara Young for her featured role inĀ “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch.”
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