Barber's Best Bets

ON THE BIG SCREEN

-- Paramount Pictures attempts to revive its longest running franchise with a brand new Star Trek film that takes audiences back to the very beginning of the saga, as Captain
Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy and the rest meet for the first time. Alias and Lost creator/producer J.J. Abrams wrote and directed this prequel/sequel with a cast of fresh faced newcomers -- to the Trek, that is.

-- Tyson is one of this year’s most talked about documentaries. Screenwriter and director James Toback (Bugsy,
Fingers) trains his camera on former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson for a no-holds-barred look at his life and times, told from a perspective we’ve rarely heard --Tyson’s.

-- Next Day Air is an ensemble comedy starring Debbie Allen (Fame), Mos Def (16 Blocks) and Mike Epps (The Honeymooners.) The plot revolves around the mistaken delivery of a package of cocaine and how it changes the lives of 10 people.

ON THE STAGE:--

Signature Theatre in Arlington is currently presenting one of the season’s most provocative productions. See What I Wanna See weaves together themes from three short stories by a
renowned Japanese writer. Each of the musical’s two acts is set in New York City 50 years apart and each story is largely set in Central Park.
A cast of five actor/singers star in multiple roles in each act. The two stories follow their own unique paths through unusual territory as they examine questions of faith, love, life, death and truth, Disparate elements, such as the premiere of a classic foreign film, a major civic tragedy, a crisis of faith and a seemingly harmless prank combine with a vivid and energetic score and lyrics with a darkly humorous edge to create a show that subtly prods your intellect while also engaging your emotions. The cast is uniformly excellent, expertly shifting from role to role and from humor to drama to irony and awareness. Their passionate work is matched by a vivid and energetic musical score with lyrics that match the clever, truthful melancholy and humanity found in the best work of Stephen Sondheim.
The minimal, yet arresting, set and lighting are additional assets, as is the small off-stage band that provides the music. Continuing at Signature through May 31, See What I Wanna See is the most intellectually stirring and emotionally satisfying show I’ve seen on an area stage in some time. See it soon!

-- The American Century Theatre, based at the Gunston Arts Center in Arlington, continues its production of Richard Wright’s Native Son through May 9.

-- If new plays are what you’re interested in, visit George Mason University’s Center for The Arts on Friday and Saturday for the Ten Minute Play Festival. Each evening’s works will
be presented for free --no tickets required -- in the Center’s TheatreSpace.

-- The Warner Theatre presents The Clean Up Woman through Sunday. J.D. Lawrence wrote, directed, composed the music for and plays all the roles in this story of a woman struggling to balance a demanding job and her marriage.

-- Closing soon are The Bread of Winter, presented by the Theatre Alliance at the H Street Playhouse in Washington, Menopause, the Musical at the Bethesda Theatre and Small Craft Warning, presented by the Washington Shakespeare Company at the Clark Street Playhouse in Arlington. Closing curtains come down for all these show on Sunday.

CLUBS/CONCERTS:

The summer music season begins to pick up steam this week.

-- The silky sound of The Manhattans has been a major part of the R & B sound for over two decades. They begin a four-night stand at Blues Alley in Georgetown on Thursday.
-- The Patriot Center at George Mason University hosts two major shows; IL Divo take the stage on Friday and comedian Bill Engvall shares the stage with impressionist Frank Caliendo on Saturday.
-- Boogie-woogie and blues piano master Dr. John and his new band, the Lower Ninth, roll out their rollicking sound at the Birchmere in Alexandria on Friday. The Birchmere also welcomes the funk/rock sound of Mother’s Finest on Sunday.
-- Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor always offers a glittering array of musical acts in a great open-air location all summer long. They kick off their 2009 slate with soul greats Frankie Beverly & Maze on Friday.
-- The Ram’s Head Tavern in Annapolis always has an eclectic line-up of artists on tap. Texas rocker Martin Sexton plays there Friday and singer/songwriter Marc Cohn, whose Walking in Memphis is one of the great “riding in the car with the windows open” songs, is the headliner on Saturday. Guitar legend Junior Brown is at the Ram’s Head on Sunday.
-- Enigmatic composer and performer Leonard Cohen arrives at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md. on May 11 for the area stop on his first tour in over 20 years.
-- Local jazz guitar favorite Tom Principato plays Blues Alley on May 13, the same night the B-52’s headline at
Ram’s Head Live! in Baltimore.
Enjoy!

Join InsideNova Entertainment columnist Joe Barber for the Washington DC Film Society's latest edition of the Coming Attractions show on May 19 from 7 to 9 p.m . Joe and fellow "Movie Guy" Bill Henry will show preview trailers for a number of films opening over the next six months. They'll also answer your questions about the local and national movie business.
You can vote on the best trailers, win prized in raffles and get free movie related swag.

The event takes place at the Landmark E Stret Cinemas in downtown Washington. For more information, visit the DC Film Society's web site at:
www.dcfilmsociety.org.

Joe Barber’s entertainment reports and reviews can be heard Fridays through Sundays on WTOP-FM (103.5, 103.9, 107.7 & Wtop.com.) He can be seen regularly on WETA-TV’s Around Town.