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

[Kosmicvodku]

Qu'ils mangent de la brioche

[Kae]

And the Obamas say, "Let 'em eat cake....."

[Roy Mitchell]

Who would expect anything less? PBS is so deep in the libs tank anyway, they might as well just leave the broadcast equipment set up there in the White House so they can be the broadcast voice "live" for the "most transparent administration ever". Sarcasm /off/

[Edditor]

How much will this "star studded" event cost? Unemployment is still at over 9.5% and the Obamas and Limo-Liberals are party-ing! No sense of balance or good taste.

[joseph]

These creatures are a disgrace to our country. Sitting back like royalty, while the country falls apart. Using poor unemployed saps on tv to support another unemployment extension and accusing the Republicans of giving tax cuts to the rich and ignoring the middle class. I guess I'm rich Bo Bo because I got a tax cut. I guess 58000 a year is the new benchmark for being rich. Pretty soon you'll be rich if you make 10 dollars an hour. Bo Bo is a liar to the end. All you middle class clowns who voted for this loser deserve to watch your children suffer under his policies.

[antilib21]

I thought we elected a president, not an event/party organizer. Maybe he's just in training for his next job in 2012.

[Oyaji]

Have you ever noticed how "Jimmy Carter II" starts nearly all of his recent speeches with "We will not rest..."?

Glad he's not resting.

[CJ Anderson]

Who is paying to bring them there and affiliated expenses?

[Spawnomite]

Dynomite. Glad to see after accomplishing so much as he said he would do, he gets some well-deserved R&R. It really bugs you Repuglicans. Amusing.

[Scott]

You know, I voted for this guy, and I want to apologize to you folks. This guy is a joke, and his work ethic is awful. I will now go back to voting Conservative, to think I fell for his BS

[Fed up]

We need this "president" to go back to Kenya...NOW! He's the poorest excuse for a leader that I have ever seen in my life. Our country may never recover from this disaster of an administration. And ANYONE who opposes him or disagrees with him...is branded a racist. Can you imagine the uproar if this were George Bush? Please people, go to the polls in November and make this man a lame duck, then vote him OUT in 2012...if we even have elections then. I am appalled on a daily basis at this situation and I am FED UP.

[Lisa]

Glad someone is having a good time just too bad it's being paid for by the taxpayers when our deficit is threw the roof.

[Some Guy in Arizona]

First thing on the Congessional agenda when the Republicans take over: defund PBS and the disband the Department of Education.

[LibsAreTerrorists]

Obama is just so ghetto and unpresidential...

[Nick Carter]

Who is John Galt?

[PublicEmema]

Can someone please tell him that the oil spill isn't on the Golf Course, but rather on the Gulf Coast!!!!!! He has spent 200 hours golfing since the spill started, and hasn't been to Lousiana's coast in a month and a half!!!!

[Diane]

Actions do speak louder then words. Obviously, he doesn't care how others have had to go without during this economy. This is a sign of arrogance.

Someone once said. "Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing.”

If Obama wants us to believe that he is concerned about the country and the economy, then he should show it. So far, he has shown nothing but distaste and embarrassment of his own country (if he is indeed a true citizen), attacked concerned citizen groups that oppose his policies and spend OUR money on frivolous trips. I don't know whom or what has been the main influence in Obama's life; certainly was a poor one.

[Leonard Grossman]

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.

[Hal Halop]

It appears that President Obama is impressing Minorities by thumbing his nose at White society.
Everyone is afraid of being called racist if they don't agree with his bowing to US enemies,parties,trips,vacations,or friends.
Minorities are saying look at what Obama's doing and White's are afraid to complain.
The majority of people on unemployment insurance are White,the majority of people on public aid are Minorities.White's worked once.

[Leonard Grossman]

"In Performance at the White House" began with an East Room recital by the legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz in 1978, and since then has embraced virtually every genre of American music: pop, country, gospel, jazz and the blues among them. The series was created to showcase the rich fabric of American culture in the setting of the nation's most famous home. Past programs have showcased such talent as the United States Marine Band, singer Natalie Cole, the best of Broadway musicals and the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

http://www.pbs.org/inperformanceatthewhitehouse/past.php