Remembering Joel Markowitz

Today is the anniversary of Joel Markowitz's birth, he would have turned 61. He passed away on November 7, 2017. I should have wrote something about him passing sometime closer to his death. Suppose it is easier to write about the deaths of celebrities than the deaths of friends.

  Joel was my editor when I wrote for the Maryland Theatre Guide and then later when I moved over to his start up DC Metro Theater Arts. I first met Joel in June or July of 2011. My first assignment was reviewing "Rock of Ages" at the National Theatre in Washington. I wrote 30 articles with the Maryland Theatre Guide from July of 2011 to March of 2012. Needless to say during that time Joel and I developed a friendship.  My writing was growing. Certainly Joel was a big help to that. When he said he was branching off on a new start up I was going with him. I had no issue with Maryland Theatre Guide but my loyalty was with him.

The move to the new outlet also embraced my passion for music. Joel was open to suggestions and I don't recall him ever saying no. We did have are differences from time to time and we hammered them out. I opened up my time with the new venture covering Smokey Robinson at the Kennedy Center and Experience Hendrix at the Strathmore. 95 articles, a mix of reviews, previews and interviews were written by me from March of 2013 to May of 2014. Probably my writing peak. Nothing I have written since has matched the work I did with Joel. He created a wonderful platform that continues. Writing on the web finding something that continues is so rare! That in itself is a testament to my friend Joel Markowitz.

I moved away from the area in September of  2013 the key reason our writing relationship ended. I dreaded telling him I was moving. Being wise and understanding he knew the move was best for me and my family. He was very supportive and a great friend. He always asked about the family as well I still supported his site. We remained friends chatting on facebook or over the phone.

He always encouraged me to take my daughter to the shows. If it was a kid's show  or a circus he would always tell me to ask her what she thought of the show and write her thoughts and share her perspectives on shows. Of course I dragged my daughter out to grown up concerts too. Now my daughter is a performer with a love of dance and music. She has even taken some acting lessons. Sure my wife and I support her love for the arts. However, I think Joel deserves some of the credit for encouraging me to take her to see the arts! The arts is what Joel loved and was passionate about!

Joel was excited he had lost some stubborn weight. His spirits were high. Then he was diagnosed with ALS in March of 2017. Five years after he started DC Metro Theater Arts. Joel fought ALS but passed away last November. I wasn't expecting him to pass so soon. It caught me by surprise and unfortunately I couldn't go to his funeral. Obviously I have a lot of respect for the man Joel Markowitz was. The performing arts world of Washington, Baltimore and beyond lost a great advocate.

You can read his tribute at DC Metro Theater Arts here. You can read his obituary here from the Washington Post. Joel may you rest in peace! I am thinking about you on your birthday!

R.I.P Thomas Meehan

Thomas Meehan is probably best known for writing Annie.  His career was so much more than that.

He wrote the books to Broadway Musicals. Thomas won Tony Awards writing the books to probably the three biggest musicals of my life time. If they weren't the biggest they were near the top. Annie, Hairspray and The Producers.

Above a clip from Hairspray below a clip from The Producers...

I was able to review a production of Hairspray at The Signature Theatre in Alexandria, Virginia  outside of Washington when I wrote for the Maryland Theatre Guide. You can revisit that review from 2011 here.

He also wrote the books for the musicals Rocky and Elf. He also wrote the book for one of my favorite movies when I was a kid Spaceballs. He was a successful writer who lived a long life. He will be missed.

Happy Birthday Andy Warhol!

Went on a bit of a road trip and just got back a little while ago. So here I am returning to the blog after a few days off. Just happens to be Andy Warhol's birthday so I thought it would be fitting to blog about him today.

Here is a discussion on his "Soup Cans" creation taking on the question is it art?

Like most people I knew who Andy Warhol was. However, when I reviewed the play Pop! at the Studio Theatre in Washington about four years ago I discovered a lot more about the artist. You can read my review of that play here.

Here is a video overview of Andy's work..

A song about his Factory..

Do you have any memories of Andy Warhol? Any favorite pieces of art by Mr. Warhol? Feel free to share in the comments. I will be back tomorrow with a new post about my Battle of the Bands competition so stay tuned!

"Boogie" and my latest writing project

Well I have started a new writing project reviewing movies on a site called Irish Film Critic. I will be reviewing films. Not to much different from what I did with DC Metro Theater Arts and Maryland Theatre Guide. The only different is the subject will be movies instead of theatre and concerts. There is the possibility of me doing more there as well but I will blog about that when it happens.

My first review is up about an animated film called "Boogie." You can read the review here. It is based on a comic by Roberto Fontanarossa. The film is for adult audience with foul language and other politic incorrect humor and situations.

Here is a trailer however it is not in English...

The film version I reviewed was in English but I think you can still get the gist in the trailer. Like always when I post about things like this I will try to add more.

I will be back soon with a new post!

Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams is performing at a sold out 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the release of his self titled album being released on Tuesday. I wrote a preview article for this show on examiner. If you are a fan I did include a small slide show with the article.

Here is the fist single from the new album "Gimme Something Good"

A few years back I was able to review his show at The Strathmore just outside of Washington in Bethesda, Maryland for The Maryland Theatre guide. You can read what I thought about Ryan's show here. You can take a gander of what else I have been writing at the Examiner here.

However, tonight at the 9:30 Club it is Ryan Adams and here is another song "Jacksonville Skyline"

Thanks for stopping in, I will be back with a new post soon but my day job is calling.

A to Z: Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland is a strange story and it is a bit strange that every time I have seen it the show has been different. Every movie version I have seen it different. Every theatrical performance has been different too!

In November of 2011 I reviewed The Greenbelt Arts Center's production of Alice in Wonderland. In 2012 they brought that show to the Capital Fringe Festival. You can read my review here. Lauren Katz reviewed the Fringe version here. The show was an avent-garde version of the book.

Friday night I reviewed Other Voices production of The New Adventures of Alice in Wonderland. My five year old daughter loved both performances by the way. This production was much bigger, with a bigger cast, including lots of dancers, teenagers, kids, and experienced actors. The show was longer too. You can read my review here. The theatre was different as well which you would expect between Greenbelt and Frederick. The Greenbelt show was in a smaller studio theatre while the Frederick show was in the larger, historic Weinberg Center for the Arts.

Like I said the movie versions have been different too. Here is the trailor for the orginal 1951 movie...

Here is the Trailor for Tim Burton's version..

Well it is April and once again I am participationg in the A to Z: Blog Challenge. I was going to do this post yesterday but I wasn't home enough to do it. Well thanks for stopping bye. This moonth should be a wild ride as we mix of the content a bit more for the challenge.

A to Z: Music Column

Well it is official I have a new music column called Capital Sound. You can read it here. It should be fun as part of the reason I moved with my editor to a different site was the chance to cover more music.

So far this site besides a few musicals and plays I have covered this year:

The Experience Hendrix Concert and the Legendary Smokey Robinson.

On the old site, The Maryland Theatre Guide which is still going I reviewed...

I covered Bryan Adams and Ryan Adams. The first time I've covered back to back rhyming artists.

I enjoyed my time with the Md Theatre Guide and I was fortunate to cover a lot of neat shows and concerts.

Stayed tune for more column posts and reviews soon!

In the Spirit of Paying it Forward

I did this a while back a couple of times with bloggers. This time I am going to do it with some other writers. This blog entry is going to stay on the paying it forward theme.

Cyle Durkee wrote a great column on the Maryland Theatre Guide on helping out the theatre. Cyle is an actor, singer, dancer, who has delved into choreographing and directing in the Washington, D.C. area. He has a very entertaining style of writing filled with wit. Theaters and production companies are struggling in this economy and definitely can benefit from the support of others. Without theater I would have one less thing to write about. One less creative vise would be out there. As a music fan I have seen the correlation between music and theatre and dance as well.

A Christmas Carol kind of has that pay it forward theme to it. Scrooge changes his heart. If you are still looking to see it for the holidays let me suggest the show at the Olney Theatre Center. I was very impressed with the venue when I saw The Sound of Music there. I can only imagine their version of A Christmas Carol is very wonderful. Don't take my word for it read Amanda Gunther's review.

Hey, I do kind of have a Holiday theme going this week.Let's keep it going Season's Greetings.

Latest Theatre Review: Driving Miss Daisy

Okay I have been slacking about posting some of my theatre reviews on here. Let me go ahead and make up for it now.

Driving Miss Daisy plays through October 23 at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg, Maryland. I gave it a five star review pretty much based on the acting alone. David Jones, Arthur F. Greene, and Jane Squier Bruns turn in some incredible performances. You can read my entire review here.

I have some other reviews up on the site but Driving Miss Daisy is the only one still playing. I am not scheduled to review anything for a little while. However, that could change and I do have a show lined up at the end of the month so stay tuned. In the spirit of playing it forward check out the rest of the site for reviews of theatre happening all around the Washington and Baltimore areas.