author: Amanda N. Gunther
The thing you have to remember is spirit and teamwork! And that happiness is anything and anyone that’s loved by you. And you’ll just love all the spirit and teamwork that’s coming together in Stand Up For…Theatre’s production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! It may not be the Broadway revival version (so no Sally, no “Beethoven Day” and no “That’s My New Philosophy”) but it’s still adorable,
author: Amanda N. Gunther
I got the show for y’all— let’s call it Guys & Dolls and a two week run that’s looking beau-ti-ful! Damon Ruyon I am not, but I gots four leading players to sit down and speak (thankfully not in full Runyonese) all about the Howard County Summer Theatre production of Guys & Dolls, which opens in just a few days’ time! Opening on Friday June 21st and playing selective evening and afternoon performances through June 29th 2024,
author: Amanda N. Gunther
There’s music to play— places to go— people to see! Everything— at The Kennedy! (…Center for Performing Arts!) And that luscious, glorious 22-person orchestra is playing the sensational music of Bye Bye Birdie! appearing in The Eisenhower through June 15th 2024 as a part of the ‘Broadway Center Stage’ series at The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts! And you should definitely come see this refreshing revamp of this show;
author: Amanda N. Gunther
Angry men don’t write the rules and guns don’t right the wrongs. A debatable truth from “The Ballad of Booth” inside of a Sondheim show. What’s not up for debate is the caliber and quality of the production of Assassins now appearing live at Silver Spring Stage— their first musical in 27 years! And it’s quite the impressive feat considering it’s their first musical in nearly three decades and it’s a Sondheim to boot!
Prescribed plans for wellness do not allow for love at first sight. But haven’t we all been there? Or at least seen our friends and family be there? Jumping into something when they shouldn’t based on nothing more than a glance across the Supercenter shopping aisle? Or not jumping out of something when they should have because there just wasn’t an easy way out? If you’re looking for a good evening of dark, laugh-out-loud comedy,
One thing’s universal! Life’s no dress rehearsal! And they are certainly making waves before it’s through! Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre has indeed built a prom! For everyone! And they’re showing us— it can be done! Kicking off the 2024 season under the stars, ASGT is bringing The Prom to life with its powerful, important message and it’s a real glittering spectacle well worth attending. Directed and Musical Directed by David Merrill, with Choreography by Elysia Merrill,
“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” ~Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest.
Well, say it ain’t so, hon! Because Baltimore Center Stage is closing out its 2023/2024 mainstage season with a wild new adaptation of Wilde’s fanciful comedy— The Importance of Being Earnest— and it’s just a delightful gem, serving as the perfect sparkling cap to the five-show season. Adapted and Directed by Jenny Koons,
Step aside, Cinderella! Move over, Imelda Marcos! Because Dundalk Community Theatre is here! And they are lighting up the stage like a live wire with Lola’s Kinky Boots! Directed by Roger Schulman, with Musical Direction by Catina Ramis McLagan, and Choreography by Rachel Miller, this stunning production of a gloriously heartwarming tale invites you to embrace yourself for who you are, live your best life, and to simply— just be!
Buckle up for a trip to Northampton as seasoned Technical Director Marc W.
I’m reviewing— the situation! Or as the case may be— the production! Of Oliver! at Tidewater Players this spring. And it is not your grandma’s Oliver! which is arguably one of the best things that can be said for a production of this show, as so many people write it off as either a children’s show or Annie with boys. This production is neither of those things and I’ll raise all the flagons of ale in the tavern in a grateful cheer to that!
It was Mr. Green! In the billiards room! With the dagger! Cue elaborate explanation— hold— drop lights— “That’s not how it really happened. Because we know who actually did it!” REWIND! RESET! GO! It was Clue! At The Hippodrome! With a stage show! Murder, mystery, mayhem, a manor and— six!? SIX DEAD BODIES!? That’s a lot of bodies piling up on the floor! Or in the lounge! Or wherever they’re piling up!
Right and wrong don’t matter in the woods… only feelings. And the feeling is that Woodbrook Players has some talented vocalists appearing in their current production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods. Directed by Ron Oaks with Musical Direction by Bryan Alston, this iconic fairytale-gone-wrong musical brings all of your favorite storybook characters together to unravel their stories amid the darkness of the woods. Sondheim is a bear at the best of times (not featured in this particular woodsy setting,
Plastic, glitter, and rhinestones don’t shine like these stars do! And Children’s Playhouse of Maryland is closing out their 2023/2024 season with some of the shiniest stars around with their production of Mean Girls (High School Edition). It’s so phenomenal— IT’S FETCH!! Directed by Liz Boyer Hunnicutt, with Musical Direction by Charlotte Evans, and Choreography by Rachel Miller, this fabulous and cautionary tale is an extraordinary way to end their season and showcases some of the area’s brightest and most talented stars making their way out into the theatrical universe one twinkle at a time.
The thing about songwriting is that you can’t have just one catchy line. You have to tell a story and get at that truth. Enter Cynthia Kaplin, her three-man band— all named Mike— and her Cock Show, which is a metaphor. And also not a metaphor. Buckle up, kids, this one is something else! Directed by Dani Davis, this one-woman, one-hour clusterbang of chaos is quirk and off-color whilst being a little entertaining, and a whole lot of in your face politically.
Get in, Losers! We’re going— interviewing!? And Shut. Up. NONE OF THEM WORE PINK. Except Regina George, of course. That is so FETCH!! Just like these fabulous, five performers that I was fortunate enough to snag before their rehearsal this morning at Children’s Playhouse of Maryland! If you haven’t figured out whether or not butter is carb by now, you probably have no idea what we’re talking about…like— DUH— MEAN GIRLS (High School Edition) which is closing out the CPM mainstage 2023-2024 season!
Romance. Tragedy. Primal Murder. The urge of revenge. This looks like a job for—
Well it isn’t Sherlock Holmes, that’s for sure! In a Christie? He would never!
Hercule Poirot, but of course! And ooh la la, ooh la la, ooh la la, does he have a case for you! Er— a show. Yes, that’s it! A show! Murder On The Orient Express, based on Agatha Christie’s novel of the same name and adapted to the stage by Ken Ludwig,
The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances! That feels a little like any given week of theatre in the Baltimore area theatre scene! At any one time it feels impossibly like 100 shows are opening, closing, mid-run, in tech, or about to start rehearsals! So it’s no wonder that we found the second person ever to be featured in our “Local Limelight” series— Kelly Rardon, a well-known area performer for quite some time— at the start of her tech-week for the show she’s currently performing in,
Small pleasures! Small pleasures! Who would deny us these? (Not me!)
Two kiddos— large measures! No skimpin’ if you please! When you get to sit down and have a chit-chat with BOTH Colton Roberts and Hazel Vogel, it’s a fine, fine life! And these two young performers couldn’t be more of a delight to chat with! I got the pleasure of catching them at the end of their rehearsal for Oliver! to talk to them about playing the titular role,
The grass is green and dense! On the right side of the fence! And it’s a fine life! A fine life— to be doing Oliver! at Tidewater Players this spring. You’re always going to get the raw and nitty gritty of a dark show when it comes to one directed by Bambi Johnson and that’s what we’re here for! Sitting down with Ryan Geiger and Emily Jewett, playing Bill Sikes and Nancy, respectively,
They’ll feed your fire! They’ll take you higher! They’ll light you up like a live wire! In those sexy, stunning— Kinky Boots! And we’re doing a TheatreBloom live, sit-down exclusive interview with J Purnell Hargrove, playing Lola, and Rob Tucker, playing Charlie Price! It’s fierce! It’s fabulous! And they’re both on fire!
Thank you both so very much for taking time out of your busy rehearsing schedule to show up today and sit down for this interview!
Sex and games in Brooklyn Park— gotta be played with flare and passion! Songs and dance at Chesapeake Arts (Center)— gotta be played with flare and passion! Welcome to Falsettoland! It’s so much more than just a ‘march of the Falsettos’ it’s the whole damn show— Falsettos— a half-decade in the making for The Maryland Theatre Collective, currently in residence at CAC. This brilliant production is the perfect close to their first,
If love be rough— be rough with love! Or get on down to Club Escalus for Mercutio’s Funky Boogie Woogie! Or both! All of the above. Groove to rhythm of ’75, baby— and nah, we don’t mean no 1575. We’re talkin’ 1975, ya dig? And we’re talkin’ Baltimore Baby! Closing out their 2023/2024 season on their Main Stage (and please join them for their fabulous summer fling out at the PFI in Ellicott City when R&J closes) Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is bringing you the grooviest production of Romeo &
Tell your children! Fight the menace! Kill the devil! Save our country! Because it’s—
Reefer Madness!
Now live on stage at The State Theater of Havre de Grace for two weekends only! Directed by Marion Jackson with Musical Director Jerrett Rettman and Choreography by Katie Gordon, this ‘cult-classic’ black-comedy musical has all the warnings you need to protect America from THE REEFER!
One of the most impressive things about the performance is how well-balanced the orchestra pit is.
Whodunnit!? Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center that’s who!! They’ve got CLUE coming the first full week in May! And you won’t want to miss your chance to see this comic thriller in action!
????Evan Zimmerman
“Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! 
Don’t miss Clue on Tour at the Hippodrome Theatre May 7-12. Get tickets to the ultimate whodunnit inspired by the classic Hasbro board game.
Lessons can be blessings. Mistakes can be good. Finding a way to learn the lessons and take the ‘Beyoncé’ approach to making lemonade when life won’t stop raining fiery hot lemons down on your head is exactly what the Pulitzer Prize-Winning play The Hot Wing King, by Katori Hall is serving up in the Pearlstone Theatre of Baltimore Center Stage. It’s a limited engagement, playing through the end of the month of April but it’s a powerhouse piece that’s equal parts funny and heartfelt,
“It’s a song I was waiting to hear so long, so long ago.”
Five years in the making— a show that was planned and cast and ready to go before the pandemic, now finally appearing on the Maryland Theatre Collective Stage— Falsettos is rounding out MTC’s first full season in production and it’s a proper doozy well worth investigating! In a few minutes following their sitzprobe, Director and Musical Director Rachel Sandler and Associate Director and Performer Tommy Malek sat down to discuss the production and how thrilled they both are to finally be getting it up on its feet for an audience in 2024.
Broadway dreams. We’ve all had ‘em. And Scottfield Theatre Company is havin’ ‘em right now. They’ve got all you need to cheer you up right on the ends of their ankles! Side by side— they’re glorified— that amazing tap corps that makes up the splashiest, flashiest dance routines of 42nd Street. Directed and Choreographed by Becky Titelman, with Musical Direction by LaShelle Bray, this iconic golden-era Broadway musical is a true dancer’s dream and every bit the spectacular dance show one expects.
With the solar eclipse having just passed us by, here’s hoping everybody counted their plants both before and after! And that nobody ended up with any extra!! And if you did end up with an extra plant…perhaps one that has teeth and looks sort of odd…well you can bring it with you to see Little Shop of Horrors at Anne Arundel Community College Theatre opening this weekend and playing through April 21st 2024.
Innocence is only wisdom in a world without evil. But why is it we are so quick to believe that of which we are not certain? Why are we so quick to judge? The most innocent interaction can see seem sinister to a poisoned mind. Why do we let our minds be primed so readily with poison? In a striking and evocative drama now appearing on the Vagabond Players’ stage as the penultimate production of their 108th season,
Dear Diary,
My teenage angst bullsh*t now has a body count. But what’s your damage, Heather? Is your name even Heather? Just in case it isn’t, Third Wall Productions has a whole bunch of them (three to be in fact) with their fiery production of the screen-to-stage musical Heathers, now playing through April 14th 2024. Directed by Jake Schwarts with Musical Direction by Anton Van De Motter and Choreography by Kelly Williams Carlson,
Our subject tonight?
The Squirrels. Better still— The Squirrels at Maryland Ensemble Theatre as the penultimate production of their 2023/2024 main stage season. Written by Robert Askins (Hand To God) and Directed by Julie Herber…well… buckle up, you discerning patrons of the arts, because this one’s a doozey. Hell— I’ll say it. It’s nuts!
Playwright Robert Askins is wringing audiences in Frederick through the high-octane spin-cycle of this satirical washing machine.