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

[Longdrycreek - James]

Barry must have inside information that his presidency is not working. The job too demanding for trained community organizer.
He has screwed everyone and when he takes flight for sanctuary, the Democrats that remain will see that he screwed them too. Throws every one - citizens, pals, politicians under the bus.
Spend money like he owned the World and the U.S is broke.
I am sure the family kennel will be flown by private jet to a destination of his permanent exile.
I wonder if he has a deal with Castro or Chavez? Birds, feathers, the flock idea.

[savage24]

We don't have to look far to see where the priorities of this White House are. Good time Charlie and his wife are ripping off this country big time. I'm looking forward to his next speech reminding us of moderation, and the needs of others. HYPOCRITE!!

[KP]

He's just a typical welfare-recipient. He's now getting a big fat government check, (provided by us), and he's gonna party it up while he gives us the finger.

[A True American Patriot]

Get over it people. He is well deserving of a vacation for all the work he had to do to clean up the mess of the last guy. Bush still has him beat as far as the number of days and I never faulted him for taking some time off. We are fortunate to have a President that the entire world respects. Other countries would love to have him as their leader. There is not a leader in the world who does not seek Presidents Obama's advice. My life is 100% better since we as a nation have elected him. As soon as you get over the fact that he is an African-American (and you know that bothers you Republicans) and actually look at the good that he has done, you will recognize that he will be remembered as the best President this country has ever had. I only wish that our Presidents were not limited to only two terms. Barrack Obama should be nominated for President for Life. God Bless You President Obama

[Chaz]

This is very disappointing.

[Stella Andersen]

When someone commented to Michelle Obama that these parties were starting to appear a little bit excessive to the masses, word is Michelle responded: "Let them eat cake!"

[MARK]

let them eat cake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[James R. Maynard]

"Party on dude!"

[Let them eat cake]

Let them eat cake.

[v j rannik]

While I did not vote for Obama, nor do I support almost anything he has done as President, the idea of using the White House to show case art and artists is a great idea and worthy of support from all sectors.

To date, it is about the only positive contribution to the US that this President has brought forward to the nation.

Let's focus on the major problems and their solutions and not on this sort of low grade politics.

[Had Enough]

All great leaders lead by example. They are the first to arrive and last to leave. They work harder then everyone else. They delegate effectively. They accept blame even when it may not be there fault. They are positive - not condemning even in the face of adversity. Think of Churchill, Eisenhower, Lincoln, Washington. I see none of these traits in our current president.

[Ben]

I seem to recall liberals & Democraps complaining when W went back to his ranch in Texas.

So where's the outcry on this? Barry seems to have lost interest in the Oval Office except as it pertains to his limelight basking. And oh, how he does love the limelight!!

[WriteLoudly]

Hey Barry and Shelly here's a tip: During crisis look around and see how Average Joe is fairing before partying. After all you are a public "SERVANT/STEWARD" of said Average Joe.

"Perception is Reality." sparky.

[Brandon Waite]

Can we afford 2 more years of him being president?

[bkal]

The pretender and his wife think they are on a permanent holiday. When is he going to work. Although having him party all the time is much better for the country. When he is out he can do a lot less damage to the United States. When are the people going to wake up and get these fools out of office. He is turning the U. S. into a country run by the Three Stooges Obama (moe), Reid (larrry), and Pelosi(curly).

[Scooter]

Save the receipts so we can bill him after he leaves office. Irresponsible largess while Obamavilles sprout up everywhere.

[forparity]

Look, if President Bush had brought Luciano Pavarotti back to life for a concert in the White House, our national media would not have covered the event.

[Clyde Mitchell]

Noting like having a president rub the noses of the little people in the fact that he could not possibly care less what we think. He is the president and he is going to make us sorry every day he is in office until we sent him away.

[havanamama59]

Well, Obamly has got to get in as many parties as he can, with all his celebrity star friends. Oblamy knows that 2012 is just around the corner, and no doubt he has figured out that Americans, although many of us are not "Harvard educated," have figured out about his socialist agenda. We are not as stupid and cattle-like as he thought or hoped we'd be. I am just hoping that 2010 will effectively make him a lame duck. Our country can no longer afford any more of his policies. People vote the creeps out! Save our country from the Dem's socialist agenda!

[Had It]

We shouldn't expect more from this Slacker-in-Chief. He accomplished NOTHING as a "community oranizer" (look at the slums of Chicago). All this right afeter a vaction, too. Disgusting.