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| top: Lorraine Treanor, above: Michael Bobbitt, below: Bobby Smith. Photos by William Hardy & Heather Bartlett. |
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THE MUCH ANTICIPATED second annual Capital Fringe Festival begins in D.C this weekend. Waldorf resident Lorraine Treanor is the producer of Source Theatre’s production for the festival, Queen of the Bohemian Dream. The production is a jazz revue inspired by the works of New York born Fran Landesman, the quintessential beatnik poet and jazz soul, described as “the poet of lovers and losers.”
Lorraine has a long history of working in professional theatre. She began as a young woman living in Chicago and now maintains connections in the D.C. theatre scene.
She’s particularly excited about her production for this weekend’s festival, “It’s an amazing show!” Her obvious exuberance is contagious.
While visiting Fran in London and staying in her closet — yes, her closet, evidently space is at a premium in London — Lorraine was surrounded by decades of Fran’s work. Here, the seed of inspiration was planted. She told The Bay Net how Fran Landesman’s work has inspired her for years.
“She has led such an interesting life,” Lorraine said of Landesman. “She’s very talented and it was truly wonderful being able to visit her.”
When Lorraine returned home and connected with all of her theatre compatriots the idea and excitement sprouted. She quickly enlisted the help of D.C. director/ choreographer/ librettist Michael J. Bobbitt who assembled the cast, including Tracy McMullan, Margo Seibert and three-time Helen Hayes nominee Bobby Smith. Darius Smith is the production’s Musical Director.
Lorraine struggled to choose which pieces of Landesman’s voluminous body of work to use in the show. She has so many favorites! At the urging of the director she chose several of them and they let the show take shape from there.
She set up a special website with bios of the cast and production team as well as a blog and other information regarding the show HERE.
The show opens Friday and runs through July 28th.