DISCUSSION FORUMS

The amazing "One Night with Janis Joplin" is now at Arena Stage (Kreeger Theater) in Washington, D.C.-- thru August 11 (Sorry--I was in Yosemite and couldn't post about it earlier.). It will premiere in NYC at The Lyceum Theatre (149 W 45th St • between 6th & 7th Ave.) Sept. 20 (It looks like Sept. 20-30) and officially opens Oct. 10. I saw the show several times in March & April when it was in the L.A. area (Pasadena). Barbara Engel Silcott had also seen it, and we agree: phenomenal! Mary Bridget Davies absolutely "nails" Joplin. (I hadn't realized until I read the program bios that I'd seen her about 5 yrs. ago in "Love Janis." She was absolutely magnetic then.) If you're in the D.C. area, the show is a must-see if you have any interest in Joplin. If you're in the NYC area, catch the show (which will then be "A Night with Janis Joplin") there. I'm hoping to get to NYC to see it at least once more.

One caveat: see the cast/alternate listing below, and definitely see Mary Bridget Davies as Janis and Sabrina Elayne Carten (who also raises goosebumps) as the Blues Muse. Part of my reason for seeing the show several times (O.K., 5 ; )) ) is that I wanted to see the alternates perform (Probably the result of those 10th grade English composition assignments: "Compare and contrast...." I do enjoy comparing/contrasting -- probably what led to wine collecting.). Kim Yarbrough was excellent as the alternate Blues Muse (She was one of the 3 Joplinaires=backup group in other performances, as were Alison Cusano & another singer), but Sabrina was positively regal. The Joplin alternte Alison Cusano sang Joplin songs O.K., but she wasn't Joplin and lacked the magnetism, excitement, and power of Mary Bridget, was was Janis, quite perfectly. I don't know whether they'll continue with alternates in NYC -- but do check...and be sure to see MBD & SEL (or MBD & KY).

My interest in Joplin began shortly after she died. I had a correspondence with her mother for about 2-3 yrs., visited the family in Port Arthur (then went on to visit Ellen Saltsberg GNN'64 in Dallas), met several of Joplin's associates, & got one of her friends into a methadone program. Quite an adventure.

If any of you do see the show, please write to me. (e-mail is NAEQ followed by @aol.com -- which is different from the e-address attached to the listserv [There was early difficulty getting on board the listserv using AOL, so I set up another...which I rarely, if ever, look at.]). Thanks!

Lyn Lederman
P.S. - Here is the link for the NYC production, including ticket purchase: http://www.anightwithjanisjoplin.com/

Addendum: Stacey & Steve saw the show during the 2 preview weeks and enjoyed it but, unfortunately, they saw a performance in which magical Mary Bridge Davies wasn't playing Janis. (Nor did they see the Janis alternate, Kacee Clanton, who played Janis in the the Austin & San Jose productions of the touring company. They saw the actress who was the alternate Janis when I saw the touring show in Pasadena earlier this year -- Alison Cusano -- who is the Janis understudy. Out of comparison curiosity, I saw the show an extra time to see the alternates and, in comparison with Mary Bridget's, Cusano's version of Janis was not exciting, and was pale & energy-lacking. I was disappointed that Stacey & Steve didn't see BMD (or at least K.C.).
*Caveat: be aware that Kacee Clanton, not Mary Bridget Davies, is playing Janis in Weds. and Saturday matinee performances* When you order tickets, definitely get them for performances in which MBD is playing Janis. It's an unforgettable experience.
An old friend (grad school roommate of one of my college friends) who sings and lives in NY saw the show this month with MBD in the lead role, and wrote this:
"YES, I saw the show with MBD and it was amazing!!! She was brilliant. I always think ofJanis' voice as being like chords, definitely more than one note at a time. MBD nailed it a lot, especially during the loud parts. Her energy was fantastic and I enjoyed all aspects of the show. The four blues singers were all great too. I didn't realize how long the show was. MBD sang for most of 2-1/2 hours! My friend and I really had a good time. The audience was wonderful too and I was surprised to see so many younger people. We were standing and clapping and swaying to the music. Thanks so much for letting me know about it."

As the ads say, SEE THIS SHOW! I wish I were in NY & could see it several more times.
Lyn