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Pascal and Rapp To Head Rent When It Comes To The Warner

July 3, 2008 - The Warner Theatre's new season package of touring Broadway musicals for 2008-09 that was intriguing by virtue of its selection of shows when it was first announced (Avenue Q, A Bronx Tale with Chazz Palminteri, Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley and Rent) just got even more interesting. Broadway Across America announced yesterday that the cast for the tour of Rent which will play the Warner next May will feature the original stars, Adam Pascal as Roger and Anthony Rapp as Mark. They originated the roles on Broadway and then recreated them in the movie version in 2005. Season subscriptions can be ordered by phone at 877-450-7469. Prices range from $153 to $386 for the four show package.

Solas Nua Becomes A Resident Company At Flashpoint

Starting next month, the Irish theater arts company, Solas Nua, will be a resident company at Flashpoint, the Cultural Development Corporation's space on G Street NW with its 79-seat Mead Theatre Lab. The company will establish office space in the facility and will slate its entire 2008-09 season for performance in the lab. Other theatrical resident companies at Flashpoint include the Washington Stage Guild and Washington Improv Theatre.

Kennedy Center Parking Rate Goes Up A Dollar

Starting today, the cost of parking at the Kennedy Center for a performance goes from $16 to $17. Does this sound familiar? We ran the identical headline only ten months ago when the charge went from $15 to $16. Here's the text: "Parking at the Kennedy Center will cost one dollar more ... The facility will still offer free parking for visits to the box office or gift shop, with a 60 minute time limit. This does not apply, however, for picking up free tickets at the box office. The Center continues to offer a free shuttle bus to and from the Metro stop at Foggy Bottom / George Washington University Station on the blue and Orange line which runs from 9:45 am to Midnight Monday - Friday, 10 am to Midnight Saturday, noon to Midnight Sunday and 4 pm - Midnight on Federal holidays."

Brad Oscar & Diego Prieto To Host Kensington Arts Theatre's Gala

In a demonstration of support for community theater that is all too rare in the professional theater world, Tony Award nominee and frequent Arena Stage star Brad Oscar will join with Kensington Arts Theatre alumnus Diego Prieto to host this year's fundraising gala for the Maryland-based community theater that is known for its superb work on musicals. A native of Rockville, Oscar has been generous with his time in support of local theater in the Maryland suburbs of Washington - he hosted the re-opening of Adventure Theatre's home in Glen Echo Park which happens to be where he began his career in theater. Currently, Oscar is starring in The Mystery of Irma Vep at Arena Stage. Prieto, who has credits at Arena Stage, Signature Theatre and the Kennedy Center appeared in the Kensington Arts Theatre's 2006 production of Assassins and directed their 2004 production of Songs for a New World and was musical director as well as a cast member in their 2002 Side Show. The event will take place on Saturday, August 23. Tickets will be $45.

National Gallery of Art Screens Brando's Julius Caesar

The 1953 Joseph L. Mankiewicz film of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar will be shown in the auditorium of the East Building Concourse of the National Gallery of Art at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon. The film, presented in association with the Shakespeare Theatre Company during the run of the Roman plays of Shakespeare, features Marlon Brando as Mark Antony, James Mason as Brutus, John Gielgud as Cassius and Louis Calhern as Julius Caesar, with Deborah Kerr as Portia. Admission is free and seating is on a first come, first served basis.

Virginia's History Of Forced Sterilization Is Topic Of Local Play

Three Generations of Imbeciles, a play by Rick Hodges of Arlington, gets a two-night premiere in an unusual venue this weekend, playing in the Barcroft Community House which is thought to be Arlington's last remaining one-room school house. The play examines issues surrounding the State of Virginia's policy of forced sterilization of people with intellectual disabilities whom the Supreme Court referred to as "imbeciles" in the case of Carrie Buck who sought judicial protection from sterilization in the 1920s. The play will be performed at the community house, 800 South Buchanan Street. Tickets are $8 at the door. http://bscl.org/3gens.htm for more information.