Arts & Entertainment
Murder at St. Mark’s
Community players shine in lavish ‘Chicago’ production
The St. Marks players in rehearsal for ‘Chicago.’ (Blade photo by Michael Key)
‘Chicago’
music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb
based on book by Ebb and Bob Fosse
8 p.m. Friday-Saturday
4 p.m. Sunday
thru May 21
St. Mark’s Players
3rd and A Streets, S.E.
Washington
Tickets $20 ($18 seniors and students)
202-546-9670 or visit stmarksplayers.org
The Tony Award winning “Chicago: The Musical” — with its heart of purest bile, its lyrics by Fred Ebb, and its music by John Kander — mocks everything we claim to value in life (truth, love, justice, you name it). On the Capitol Hill stage of the St. Mark’s Players, consistently one of the area’s sharpest community theaters, it’s here through May 21.
This “Chicago” with its iconic choreography by Bob Fosse and later Ann Reinking is stylishly restaged by director Rick Hayes and choreographer Rikki Howie, sharply punched up with jokes and sight gags to fit this top-notch production neatly into the historic church’s tall-ceilinged but narrow nave. But it delivers the same signature Kander and Ebb tap-dance around a seedy world of jail cells, its story forever doomed.
The satirical story of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, and how they beat their respective murder raps, has been told many times before. At St. Mark’s it is staged with all the famed double-snap, wise crackle and syncopated pop that this show can be at its best.
Billy Flynn is portrayed by Eric Kennedy, who packs the part with animal appeal — a wolf’s whistle, a fox’s morals and a cat’s grin of self-satisfaction. Kennedy, who’s gay, imbues Billy with oodles of smarm and charm in the key role as the mercenary mouthpiece for the murderesses. But he’s more than being both sleazy and sleek in the role — Kennedy also has a great voice and a fine soft shoe to go with dark good looks.
Attention must also be paid to the three women playing the two roles of Velma and Roxie. Anya Nebel is Velma, with the voice and the lung power to belt it out and the comic tease to add sparkle to the part. Sharing the role of Roxie on different nights are the equally talented Kim Pyle (May 13-15) and choreographer Howie herself (May 20-21). All three ladies bring a comic sensibility as well as the chops and gams to sing and dance and just the right mix of curve, verve and nerve as they shimmy and shake and bring high-kicking whoopee to their dreams of making it big in show business.
Also noteworthy is Genevieve Williams as their jailor, Mama Morton, with her deep rumble of a contralto voice. With heavy hints that she is lesbian (Billy calls her “butch”), there’s real spice in this Mama’s gumbo.
Heather Cipu also deserves notice — she shines as Mary Sunshine, hitting every high note with her operetta-soprano ode to saccharine, “A Little Bit of Good,” though later she drops the goodie-two-shoes image and matronly frock to reveal a very different persona underneath. Finally, there is Stephen Yednock as poor, put-upon Amos Hart, the one and only decent person, Roxie’s good-natured but basically dimwitted husband who is prepared at every turn to take the fall for her if he can. Yednock brings real feeling to several songs, especially his solo lament, “Mister Cellophane.”
This staging of “Chicago” is simply great right down to the terrific ensemble who among them function like a chorus, singing and dancing different roles, including the females in a first-rate “Cell Block Tango,” wicked and wonderful in red lips and black leather, and in the opening song, “All That Jazz.” Other show-stoppers include “We Both Reached for the Gun” and “Nowadays.” Special kudos go to the show’s director, Rick Hayes, also the Players’ artistic director, and as the musical director, the veteran musician J. N. Wickert III, at the baton of an 11-piece orchestra. Both are gay, as is the Players’ president Jerry Dale Jr., who also serves as stage manager for this show.
Theater
Don’t miss summer productions at Clear Space in Rehoboth Beach
‘Cher Show,’ ‘Pretty Woman’ among season’s standouts
“The Cher Show” at Clear Space Theatre is wonderful. I am always amazed at the talent they attract for their summer series. Kudos to Wes Drummond, the artistic director of the theater. “The Cher Show” is written by Rick Elice. Compliments to the talented director, James FitzSimmons, who brought to life this production. His immensely talented cast includes Shannen Hofheimer as Star, Breanna Lemerise as Lady, Abby Lynne as Babe, and Anya Kay, as young Cher. Each is a pleasure to both watch and listen to. They command the stage. Then more kudos to the entire cast and ensemble. Also, the creative team, which includes among so many who make this show a hit, choreographer Shondelle Graulich; scenic designer, David Chappell; lighting designer Brendan Smith; costume designer Valerie Beardsley; and the entire orchestra led by conductor, Jerry Birl.
But the actor who I was looking forward to seeing in the production, was a young actor I had written about, and reviewed, when I saw him at Clear Space two years ago. In this production he is Sonny Bono, and he definitely didn’t disappoint.
Let me introduce Caetano de Sá. I have written about him before, but his resume is worth repeating. It says; Height: 5’7 ½, Eyes: Brown, Voice part: Tenor G2 – C5, Build: Athletic. All true. Then you add to this he speaks Brazilian Portuguese, is certified in stage combat by the Society of American Fight Directors, and is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. Then as his resume of roles confirms, he can act, sing, and dance with the best. He does a great job as Sonny and is fun to watch on stage. Here he displays his talents as a singer and actor, and they are as good as I remembered them when I first met Caetano while he was still in school in 2024, and was starring as Frankie Valli in “Jersey Boys,” at Clear Space. At the time he was a rising senior at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee BFA Musical Theater program. I interviewed him, and Harry Sperduto, who played Tommy Devotee, after seeing them in the show, and being amazed by their talent. Since that time, I have followed their careers. When I heard Caetano was coming back to Clear Space for the summer, I reached out, and he agreed to sit down and chat, which we did. I knew Clear Space Theatre was planning a busy summer season. Their lineup of shows included “The Cher Show,” “Mean Girls,” and “Pretty Woman.” They always have talented casts, including the many college students who are getting their first chance to shine, which was the case for Caetano in 2024. Now he is back as a graduate, with more experience under his belt, a little more established. This season he was going to play Sonny in their production of “The Cher Show,” Martin/Coach Carr, in “Mean Girls,” and Mr. Hollister in “Pretty Woman,” and being a part of the ensemble. He told me he really enjoys being at Clear Space, and that his castmates are all talented. He is a lot more experienced than when he was here before, having performed in productions at the Prairie Repertory Theatre, the Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Firehouse Center for the Arts, and the Sullivan Rep, among others. In productions as diverse as “Oklahoma!,” “Mystic Pizza,” “Hairspray,” and “Rock of Ages.” He now lives in New York City and clearly New York is the perfect place for an aspiring actor. He has an agent at Bramante Artists, who is getting him gigs, like the one he had at 54 Below and even a TV commercial for AFLAC.
“The Cher Show” is the second show I have seen at Clear Space this summer. After our chat I got one of the last tickets available that evening for “Pretty Woman.” In that production he has a smaller role, and is part of the incredibly talented ensemble. It is also an entertaining show and its very talented stars, Abby McDonough as Vivian, and Jaiden Leo Riley as Edward, are a pleasure to watch. Kudos to the talented director, Ashley Williams, and the entire creative team.
For anyone living at the beach, or coming for a visit, I urge you to plan a night at Clear Space. You won’t regret it. But know tickets for all the shows, and Sunday evening cabaret nights, sell out fast. So, I suggest you see what’s available online and buy yours today.
The 2026 World Pride March was held on Saturday, Aug. 8 in Amsterdam. Tens of thousands of participants marched from Martin Luther Kingpark to the grounds of the Pride Village at Museumplein.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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The weekly drag show “Daddy Issues” was held at Kiki on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Performers included Evry Pleasure, Indiana Bones and Tiara Missou-Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
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