By ALAN SMASON Jason Petty strides onto the stage of BB’s Stage Door Canteen wearing a classic white country and western suit. On the sleeves and lapels are black musical notes and staffs with similar markings running up and down the seams of his pants. His outfit gives little doubt he is representing the rich…
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) When President Dwight David Eisenhower was interviewed by historian Stephen Ambrose for his eventual official biography “Eisenhower: Soldier and President,” he made a startling statement. “Andrew Higgins was the man that won the war for us,” Eisenhower claimed, “because we had no boats anywhere at the outset…
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) In 2013, Joyce Pulitzer realized a dream she had begun some 15 years previous when she and her friend David Seelig first set pen to paper to begin writing Freedom, a piece intended to celebrate America’s diversity as a welcoming haven for immigrants of all stripes. Her…
By ALAN SMASON, Theatre Critic, WYES-TV (“Steppin’ Out“) Three years ago the National World War II Museum’s entertainment staff decided to move away from the standard fare they offered, which was mostlyWorld War II-centric material. While the mission of the museum is to recall the triumph of the “Greatest Generation,” it makes sense to market…
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) Bill Johnson has made a career out of portraying the late, great Bob Hope in several stage productions in his hometown of Las Vegas, on the international stage and in recent years at a recurring production – “Thanks for the Memories: Bob Hope and His All-Star Tour”…
By ALAN SMASON, Theatre Critic, WYES-TV (“Steppin’ Out”) Although he only lived to be 39, Thomas “Fats” Waller produced one of the most impressive volumes of popular music during the swing period of the 1930s and 1940s. With his characteristic stride style on the piano, he took jazz and popular music to new heights it…
By ALAN SMASON, Theatre Critic, WYES-TV (“Steppin’ Out”) With its current production Pictures of Marilyn now playing weekends at BB’s Stage Door Canteen, the National World War II Museum has taken a bold step in a new theatrical direction. Courtney Boe, the blonde Victory Belle who has been a leading player in several previous productions including…
