John DiDonna is my favorite Orlando local-lebrity I've never met. Beyond all the directing and teaching and blog commenting he does, he started the Orlando Theatre Community Facebook Group (which now boasts over 640 members) just one week prior to Orlando Sentinel Theatre Critic Elizabeth Maupin announcing her departure from the Orlando Sentinel. Coincidence? Or Maupin-spiracy? (And let me say right now, that even though I am poking fun and this entire post is tongue in cheek and not to be taken seriously, I am seriously sad that Mrs Maupin is leaving the newspaper. Its a loss to the theatre and arts community.)
For those of you not part of the over 640-member Orlando theatre community, her blog was the epicenter of Orlando theatre discussion and debate. Now, it appears Didonna's Facebook group is poised to take over that mantle.
Did Maupin dish the poop for this DiDonna scoop? Did she secretly tell DiDonna she was leaving so he could take over her mantle as theatre community leader? (He already is one, but you know what I mean) We certainly will find out, as DiDonna is never one to leave a blog post uncommented.
And speaking of comments, remember when I kinds gave DiDonna a hard time about charging twenty bucks for a three person play? Well, clearly my unemployed-actor-blogtastic voice carries no weight with the director/teacher/community organizer, because he and his company (The Empty Spaces Theatre Co) are presenting another production (this time with six actors) again for twenty bucks.
The play is Itamar Moses’ BACH AT LEIPZIG, "The Hysterical Historical Story of Germany’s least remembered Musicians and their Epic Battle over who gets his hands on the Master’s Organ!" Here's the story:
Welcome to Leipzig, Germany 1722: The city’s famed music director expires over the Thomaskirche organ keyboard, and his former pupils can barely dry their eyes before fighting to replace him. Prepare for knickers and wigs in this outlandish and irreverent adventure to find the next Kappelmeister of Leipzig.Bach at Leipzig
Friday 2/26, Saturday 2/27, Sunday 2/28, Thurs 3/4 , Friday 3/5, Saturday 3/6, Sunday 3/7, Thursday 3/11, Friday 3/12 (IMPORTANT NOTE: No Sat or Sun performances in the final week)
Box office open at 7:00pm / Curtain at 7:30pm
Orlando Shakespeare Center
Directed by Kevin G. Becker/additional direction Seth Kubersky
Featuring: Mark Edward Smith, Tommy Keesling, Stephen Lima, Kevin Sigman, John Bateman and Josh Geohagan
General Admission $20.00 / Student and Senior $15.00, Cash only at door
Reserve: 407.328.9005. Buy online.