Obamas find a way to do Broadway at home, hosting star-studded PBS taping [Updated]

During the administration of President George W. Bush, news that Tony was to be heavily represented at a fete in the East Room of the White House would have suggested a British theme to the evening, with emissaries of then-Prime Minister Blair in attendance.

Times have changed. On Monday, the dignitaries hosted by President and Mrs. Obama will bring their regards from Broadway, not 10 Downing Street, while sharing talents that collectively have won them 11 Tony Awards.

The public is invited to watch -- eventually -- on "A Broadway Celebration," which will be taped for broadcast Oct. 20 as an installment in the PBS series, "In Performance at the White House."

The Tony-winning performers are actor-singers Nathan Lane (two Tonys), Audra McDonald (four Tonys), Idina Menzel, Tonya Pinkins and Karen Olivo (one each, for "Wicked," "Jelly's Last Jam" and "West Side Story," respectively), and pianist Marvin Hamlisch, a Tony winner for his score to "A Chorus Line." Working behind the scenes is Jerry Mitchell, Tony-winning choreographer (for the 2004 revival of "La Cage aux Folles"), who will guide 20 Washington, D.C., dance students in a segment from "Hairspray," another show he choreographed.

Also performing are Brian d'Arcy James ("Shrek: The Musical"), Chad Kimball ("Memphis") and Assata Alston, a 12-year-old from Queens, N.Y., who recently debuted at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

[Update: The White House announced Friday that Elaine Stritch and "Hairspray" veterans Danielle Arci and Constantine Rousouli have been added to the show; Stritch is a Tony winner (for her one-woman show, "Elaine Stritch at Liberty"), bringing the ensemble's collective career Tony haul to 12.]

Presumably, critics who slammed the president and first lady last year for wasting taxpayer money when they flew to New York for dinner and a Broadway show (August Wilson's drama "Joe Turner's Come and Gone") won't complain about Broadway coming to them. Obama-watchers can catch the president's show-opening remarks live on Monday at 4 p.m. Pacific on the Internet at www.whitehouse.gov, but the public will have to wait until October for the performances.

As for those who got their hopes up when we mentioned a British theme in the East Room, PBS will oblige July 28 with the next "In Performance at the White House" broadcast, starring Paul McCartney with guests Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Jonas Brothers, Herbie Hancock, Corinne Bailey Rae, Dave Grohl, Faith Hill, Emmylou Harris, Lang Lang and Jack White. The show, celebrating Sir Paul's receiving this year's Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, was taped in the East Room on June 2.

-- Mike Boehm

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Photos: Nathan Lane in "The Producers"; the Obamas, dressed for a Broadway night out, walk on the White House lawn in 2009 en route to the presidential helicopter for first leg of their controversial trip to New York. Credits: Tina Fineberg / AP (Lane); Aude Guerrucci / Bloomberg News (Obamas).

Comments

[Catastrophic Failure]

What do you expect from a rich, opulent Chicago elitist? Surely you wouldn't expect a regular folk would you?

[Texas Slim, USMC]

QUOTE: "The In Performance at the White House series goes back many years, including performances under Presidents Bush and Clinton. Of course, their taste may have been different."

Posted by: Leonard Grossman | July 19, 2010 at
08:29 AM
**************************************

The difference is, Leonard, that at least Pres. Bush HAD some taste.

I've seen only one or two comments on this forum in support for the man-child king, and that one, in two sentences, slammed (he's not pres. anymore!) George Bush and the state of Texas! Two subjects which have more class than any twenty dem/lib/leftys put together.

Hindsight is always(?) twenty-twenty. Let's hope for an abundance of 20-20 eyesight in November.

[Vikon]

Criminy.

How much more obvious can it be that this guy is completely clueless and without ANY command experience!

I wouldn't hire him as a dog catcher, let alone the POTUS.

At least during the time he's partying he's not wrecking any more of the US.

Maybe we should encourage MORE partying.

[klg1956]

The easier answer is, "When don't the Obama's have a party? When don't the Obama's entertain? When don't the Obama's host a cocktail party? When don't the Obama's go out? When don't the Obama's vacation? When don't the Obama's golf? When don't the Obama's take in a New York play? When don't the Obama's go to a concert? Obama's don't let his job and the worst economy in generations, the worst unemployment in generations, the biggest Federal bailout and stimulus packages that failed (aka did not work) and the worst oil spill in US history get in the way of a New York play for God sake!

[MaggieLyn]

It must be nice to live the good life at the taxpayer's expense! Obama is the American version of Marie Antionette! "Let them eat cake"! There must be some way to impeach this imposter acting as President. He certainly is not doing the job of the President!

[RobCon]

Still not resting I see.

[RobCon]

Taking requests? How about "Buddy, can you spare a dime".

[Jack]

Let them eat lobster!

[RobCon]

The disturbing thing is that Obama knows how bad this looks...and he doesn't care. He is not on the ballot this November.

[fif]

When does this guy actually work? He's just finished his 7th vacation, and and meanwhile Hillary Clinton is in Pakistan again. What's wrong with this picture? I think he wanted to be president just so he could take Air Force One whenever he wants.

[RobCon]

It's always "Performance at the White House" and suspension of disbelief.

[Christine]

I have read all the comments and all I want to do is cry, cry for our country. I posted earlier, but it never made on the board. I wish America's first black president was a good one. He is setting the Blacks back by showing such a lack of compassion. Look for Lt. Col. Allen West from FL.He's running for Congress in S.FL's 22nd district. I know he would be working 24/7 to straighten our country out.
Check him out on YouTube.

[Ilene Tillman]

I would like to know, who paid to bring all of those Tony winners to the White House?

[alk]

I guess we have another King....What a sad sad state we are in.

[Mike Jackson]

Just the Big O's way of stimulating the economy?

[Jack]

PBS is partly funded by the US Taxpayer!!

[tominantarctica]

Nice to see our tax dollars at work...

[Al Bedam Shazam]

I guess he thinks this production will help divert the train wreck in November.

[LDude]

Nicotine Addicted Hypocrite.

[Layla]

This poor, poor man...he works so hard....living like a King on your money.