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

[No One Special]

I love Duncan Hines!! :)

[Barry Obama]

My administration won't rest until:
The well is capped.
More jobs are "saved"
There are no nukes in Iran
Every aspect of your life is controlled.

Notice I said my administration, not me, I am going to PARTY!!

[Garrett]

Ahhm the life of the jetset. Vacationing in Maine, and then home to party (again!). Most of us work and then take vacation. Use up your vacation time now, Barry. You'll be unemployed after November '12.

[Valerie]

I made a huge mistake by voting for this clown... Not gonna happen again !

[Lance]

HE is the worst crisis we have.

[Darin]

How nice for the sorento's. This idiot treats the White House like a frat house. Parties all the time, A-list celebs. Who is this guy? Is this what he ran for president to do? Party all the time? Fly around in obaba One for date night with his , ahem, wife?

[RJ]

I honestly expect to hear the words, "Let them eat cake" at some point. It seems to be getting to that rather quickly these days.

[Chris]

Hopefully the Tony Award winning performers will have more class than McCartney. I thought it was a travesty when McCartney took a cheap shot at Bush during his performance at the White House. What's worse was when Obama's invited audience cheered McCartney's boorish behavior in the East Room.

Does the president not realize that the 2008 election is over? Stay classy Mr. Obama.

[Timothy L. Pennell]

And the rest of us? "Let them EAT CAKE."

[rplat]

This dolt is in it for himself and is conducting a massive rip off of the people and the treasury. Even those of slight intellect knew what he was and the real culprits are the idiots that elected him to this office.

[Rio]

I think Obama knows he better get it while he can. He's only got one term to enjoy the perks.

[Jenny]

Let them eat cake!

[Alan]

Enjoy it while you can. (Until November 2010...)

[rider237]

i thought it might be a production of Marie Antoinette. maybe next time. it would be appropriate....don't you think?

[Alex]

Be it ever so crumbly, there's no place like Rome....

[George]

I'll give the Obamas one thing: They know how to live the good times even in bad times.

I hope all of those who are feeling the brunt of the recession are happy for Barry and Michelle. And I hope all those who voted for Barry are happy with his changes.

I will never accuse the Obamas of having good taste or engaging in appropriate conduct. The nation withers while the Obamas soar.

How cool of Mr. Cool!

[POTUS]

I promise to play one round of golf for every BRAVE AMERICAN SOLDIER killed. Barry.

[NowYouKnow]

I remember Barbara Bush marveling at all the big fancy Hollywood parties that the Clintons hosted in the White House. Mrs. Bush said that she and Bush 41 had to account for every dime of expense for personal entertaining at the White House and had to reimburse the GAO for every dime. She wondered aloud if the Clintons were subject to the same rules (and where they got the money!). Is it possible that those rules disappear for Democrats? They're special, don't you know.

[POTUS]

OBAMA=MALAISE

[John]

Well, at least it will be available to the masses on the state television organ, da?