All posts by Amanda N. Gunther

A full-time theatre reviewer in the Baltimore, Washington, and surrounding areas; Amanda holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Maryland Baltimore County as well as a minor in Creative Writing. Having spent two of her five years at college studying abroad at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, she has learned a great deal about improv, devised work theatre, and interpretive movement pieces. Striving to promote theatre of all types, she can often be found in a theatre of some type, even on her nights off.

Review: Shrek at Charm City Players

Reviews March 19, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s a big bright beautiful world, with possibilities everywhere— including the Charm City Players as they mount their spring musical production of Shrek. The big green ogre and all his friends from the original DreamWorks animated feature movie are coming to the CCP stage all spring long. Directed by Stephen Napp with Musical Direction by Kathryn Weaver, this musical party is showing that traditional fairytales are indeed overrated. The Books and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and Music by Jeanine Tesori reminds theatergoers everywhere to wave your freak flag and to wave it proud.

(L to R) Shaun Mykals, Jhermaine Drakeford, Joseph Eldridge, Bryan Jeffrey, Cedric D. Lyles, and Tavonne Hasty

Review: Sincerely, Men at ArtsCentric

Reviews March 19, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Music is our saving grace; we can save the world through music. Though it’s said that the sequel is never as good as the original, ArtsCentric is defying that logic with their new musical revue Sincerely, Men. Following the smashing success of last summer’s production of Sincerely, Me, the all female version of African-American artists who have had a strong influence in shaping music through the decades,

Move Toward the Darkness: Part 5 Meet Wednesday and Lucas

Interviews March 18, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

A secret in the house: a girl, a boy, a ring! Wednesday’s growing up— she’ll be Thursday before you know it! And she’s got herself a secret! His name Lucas Beineke and he comes from the “Normies.” Watch out, Addams family, there’s a whole lot of normal coming your way! In Part 5 of “Move Toward the Darkness” we sit down with MaryKate Brouillet and AJ Whittenberger to psychoanalyze the deep dark hole that is the love between Wednesday Addams and Lucas Beineke.

Review: The Spoof, The Whole Spoof, and Nothing but The Spoof at Hexagon

Reviews March 16, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

60 years is a very long time to be poking fun at politics and not have gotten arrested. In a form that is true to satire, where absolutely everybody leaves offended, Hexagon is proud to present their 60th Anniversary show: The Spoof, The Whole Spoof, and Nothing but The Spoof. As Washington’s only original political satirical musical comedy revue, Directed by Malcolm Edwards with Musical Direction by Brock Holmes, this zippy,

Review: The Revelation of Bobby Pritchard at Iron Crow Theatre

Reviews March 15, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

There are some things that have to be said. Baltimore playwright Rich Espey is saying them loudly and clearly with his striking new drama The Revelation of Bobby Pritchard. Receiving its world premier at Iron Crow Theatre, this poignant life-altering play is a reckoning of the times; a true engagement of lifestyles juxtaposed against religious beliefs. Espey’s work will not be done justice in print and must be seen to be fully appreciated,

Review: 13 Dead Husbands at Cohesion Theatre Company

Reviews March 13, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s a little too fantastical to be true. A theatre company that sprouts up overnight on the side of Charm City where there’s no theatre, and then proceeds to do incredible work like the regional premier of 13 Dead Husbands. But it is true at Cohesion Theatre Company where they are launching the Tom Horan absurdist fairytale. Meet Deedee, the world’s most beautiful woman, and her 12 dead husbands,

#WEIRDFRANCE: An Interview with the World’s Most Beautiful Girl as played by Casey Dutt

Interviews March 12, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

In the conclusory installment of #weirdfrance, TheatreBloom readers are invited to meet the woman behind the— well, the woman. The world’s most beautiful, albeit unlucky, woman, Deedee as played by actress Casey Dutt. Cohesion Theatre Company is nearly ready to debut their production of 13 Dead Husbands but not before hearing what Casey has to say.

Give us the usual introduction if you would be so kind.

Casey Dutt: I am Cassandra,

Review: Doctor Caligari at Pointless Theatre

Reviews March 12, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Ladies and Gentlemen! Step Right up! Witness the marvelous morose, the wondrous strange, the nightmares that inspire ephemeral fantasticality! Pointless Theatre presents an honest theatrical masterpiece with their production of Doctor Caligari, a devised theatrical ensemble extravaganza that entrances the mind, stimulates the senses, and shakes the core of reality in a surreal and fascinating fashion. Directed by Matt Reckeweg, this homage to the 1920 German Expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr.

The Spoof! An Interview with Hexagon Director Malcolm Edwards

Interviews March 11, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Are you ready for political shade? Are you ready to be offended? Political satire at its musical finest from Washington’s only original political satirical musical comedy revue, Hexagon is putting on its 60th Anniversary show: The Spoof, The Whole Spoof, and Nothing but The Spoof! Inspired by a long standing tradition, the oldest in Washington in fact, the show sets out to offend everyone through humorous political sketches and musical numbers.

Review: Time Stands Still at Peter’s Alley Theatre Productions

Reviews March 11, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

The camera is there to record life, not change it. A startling fact of life when dealing with war-torn unsettled countries; but in all facets of life, whether it is war or theatre, are not our recordings merely meant to document the ephemeral rather than shift the outcome? Peter’s Alley Theatre Productions presents Pulitzer Prize-Winning playwright Donald Margulies’ Time Stands Still; a compelling drama that investigates the purpose and conflicts that arise from living the life of the observer in a world of terror.

Review: Spamalot at Silhouette Stages

Reviews March 7, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Life is really up to you, you must choose what to pursue! Set your mind on what to find and you’ll find an epically entertaining production of Monty Python’s Spamalot at Silhouette Stages in Columbia. Directed by Debbie Mobley and Conni Ross, with Musical Direction by Michael Tan, the humor of Monty Python, Book and Lyrics of Eric Idle, and Music of John Du Prez come shining through to the brighter side of life on the narrow stage of Slayton House.

Review: Sunset Boulevard at Reston Community Players

Reviews March 4, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s magic in the making over at Reston Community Players as they teach the world new ways to dream with their production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard. With Book and Lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton based on the film by Billy Wilder, the tragic story of Norma Desmond is played out in vivid vibrant life with a score by one of Broadway’s longest running composers. There is intrigue,

Review: The Beauty Queen of Leenane at Spotlighters Theatre

Reviews March 4, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Aye, if ye be in the mood for a poitìn bit o’ good theatre, ‘specially the dark and funny like— now mind you, not the haha out loud sort o’ funny, but the ‘oh…’ sort o’ funny— then The Spotlighters is the place to be goin’. Though bundle up, ye’ll be needin’ th’ heat once ya’ get there. Despite several setbacks, the Martin McDonagh black comedy The Beauty Queen of Leenane carries on upon the stage-in-the-square with a vigorous shake that’ll light a fire in your belly.

#WEIRDFRANCE: An Interview with the Three Leading Actors

Interviews March 3, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Whet your appetite a little further on this curious cuisine of surrealist normalcy in an absurdist reality. In Part 2 of #weirdfrance, TheatreBloom continues its quest to learn about all the crazy things happening in the Cohesion Theatre Company production of 13 Dead Husbands. This time we’ve gathered the three leading men, Thomas Sinn, Bobby Henneburg, and Matthew Payne, to hear their take on #weirdfrance.

If you fellas can give us a quick introduction,

Move Toward the Darkness: Part 4 Meet the Beinekes

Interviews March 3, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

They’re normal people, not like you, not like me. Well, not exactly normal. One’s uptight and really boring, and the other one has rhyming poems that just sprout up through her whenever she feels stressed or blessed. But at least they’re not zombie butlers or dating the moon, right? In Part 4 of the Move Toward the Darkness interview series, we meet the Beineke Family— Mal and Alice— played by Darren McDonnell and Elizabeth Rayca respectively.

Express Yourself: An Interview with Cary Nokey

Interviews March 2, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Being comfortable in one’s own skin is the most important type of success one can achieve in life. Who better to kick off the interview series, “Express Yourself: Love from the Inside Out” than the mother of “Mother Monster” one of the founding discoverers of Lady Gaga, Rob Fusari. Living life to the fullest as the new stage personality Cary Nokey, TheatreBloom readers get a sneak peek into the performance life of Cary Nokey in preparation for the DC leg of the RuPaul BOTS 2015 Tour.

Review: Rabbit Hole at The Vagabond Players

Reviews February 28, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

People want things to make sense. People need things to make sense, especially when the universe upends all logic and forces grief upon life through loss. A poignant and evocative drama written by David Lindsay-Abaire, Rabbit Hole examines loss and more importantly coping and moving forward with loss in a world that no longer makes sense to those that have suffered. Directed by Eric C. Stein, this Vagabond Players production hits the mark in taking a myopically focused drama and making it readily available for everyone who has suffered loss in their life.

High Hopes for Theatre in Silver Spring

Interviews February 27, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Theatres all across the Washington DC and Baltimore metropolitan area are popping up like daisies in the spring time. Musical theatre companies, companies devoted to the classics, new edgy fringe-based companies; every city has a few dozen devoted to each if not more. But Silver Spring, a cozy suburb on the outskirts of the nation’s capitol proper, has a company that is truly unique. It’s almost 13 years old and was founded by Artistic Director Kevin Kearney,

#WEIRDFRANCE: An interview with the Creative Team behind 13 Dead Husbands

Interviews February 27, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

We’ll tell you a tale marvelous told. Of a beautiful girl like the stories of old. The most wondrous girl, and not just by chance…this story here happens inside of— Weird France? The Baltimore Area premier of Tom Horan’s 13 Dead Husbands is making waves…or perhaps corpses…over at Cohesion Theatre Company. As the second production of their inaugural season, this dark and humorous fairytale takes place in a “Paris of the imagination.” In a TheatreBloom exclusive 3-Part series entitled “Welcome to Weird France” we go behind the scenes with the designers and performers of this exciting new work,

Move Toward the Darkness Part 3: Meet Grandma Addams

Interviews February 25, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Living…dead…and…undecided! Every member of the Addams Family clan is welcome in this creepy and kooky interview series. And Grandma Addams is definitely on the undecided line of the family fence. Why, they aren’t even sure whose mother she is! In Part 3 of the Move Toward the Darkness Interview Series, veteran of the stage David James sits down with TheatreBloom to discuss his role in The Addams Family musical at Toby’s Dinner Theatre.

Move Toward the Darkness Part 2: Meet Lurch

Interviews February 22, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

You rang? Though you won’t hear the iconic TV series line from this butler, Lurch is still a prominent feature in The Addams Family musical over at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. Continuing on in Part 2 of the “Move Toward the Darkness” interview series, we are introduced to seasoned stage veteran David Bosley-Reynolds, who takes on the zombie-butler role with a unique panache all his own.

Let’s start off by introducing our readers to you.

Review: Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp at The Puppet Company

Reviews February 21, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

The Puppet Company in Glen Echo will show you a world; shining, shimmering, splendid! Their production of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp is a truly unique and magical experience for young audiences. Working brilliantly with hand-crafted rod-puppets, Company Co-Founder Christopher Piper Directs and performs in this enchanted fairytale written by Vera C. Hughes and Allan Stevens. Sticking closely to the original story as featured in 1001 Nights,

Review: Spamalot at The Milburn Stone Theatre

Reviews February 21, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

God, the all-knowing, has misplaced a cup and has tasked King Arthur of Camelot, along with his rag-tag bunch of British knights, to find it. As it turns out, it’s hiding at the Milburn Stone Theatre way up in North East Maryland. Look no further on this quest for grails, Broadway shows, and knights who say “Ni” as Monty Python’s Spamalot has been found. Directed by S. Lee Lewis with Musical Direction by Shane Jensen,

Review: Bucket of Blood at The Yellow Sign Theatre

Reviews February 20, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Life is an obscure hobo bumming a ride on the omnibus of art. But what makes art? And who determines what is art? The artist makes the art and the critics determine if it is actually art or not; or so I’m told. The Yellow Sign Theatre is making art of a bold and bloody variety. In this darkly unsettling, albeit humorous, stage adaptation of Roger Corman’s A Bucket of Blood,

Move Toward the Darkness Part 1: Meet Addams ensemble Member Julia Lancione

Interviews February 17, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

When you’re an Addams you need to have a taste for death! And there is plenty to taste over at Toby’s Dinner Theatre with their regional premier of Andrew Lippa’s The Addams Family musical. In a highly comical musical that reanimates the classic comic strip characters, this brilliant production sends the message to embrace your inner darkness and enjoy the world outside the boundaries of normal. What is normal anyway? In an exclusive series entitled “Move Toward the Darkness” readers of TheatreBloom will delve into the darkness with the cast of The Addams Family and find out just what being a part of this creepy and kooky production is like!

Review: Shrek at The Suburban Players

Reviews February 17, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Let your freak flag wave! Let your freak flag fly! And it’s waving high and proud over at the St. Demetrio’s Suburban Players as they celebrate their 40th season with a production of Shrek the musical! Directed by John Desmone, this fairytale masterpiece has a happy ending for everyone who comes to see it. A truly remarkable production, the Suburban Players are getting their happily ever after on and it’s a giddy delight.

Let Them Eat: John Vreeke on Cherokee

Interviews February 16, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Let them eat— s’mores? Following along through Season 35 at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, their world premier of Lisa D’Amour’s work Cherokee settles nicely into the “let them eat” theme of the season. In a TheatreBloom exclusive interview we’re talking with Woolly Company Member and Director John Vreeke about his involvement with the project and why it interested him.

Thank you, John, for taking time to phone in with us for this interview.

The Kensington Arts Theatre cast of "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"

Imaginative Interviews: Meet the spellers for the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Interviews February 15, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

In another installment of “Imaginative Interviews” TheatreBloom continues to make friends with the cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This rare exclusive, the likes of which can’t be found anywhere else, gives readers of TheatreBloom a chance to meet the characters from the show!

We’re continuing on and will now meet all six spelling contestants who are featured in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Imaginative Interviews: The Adults of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Interviews February 14, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

In a fun new interview series entitled “Imaginative Interviews” TheatreBloom will be delving into the creative cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee from a whole different angle. In a rare exclusive the likes of which can’t be found anywhere else, readers of TheatreBloom get to meet the characters from the Bee as they gear up to throw down in an epic battle of spelling!

We’re kicking things off with a quick interview with the adults responsible for Putnam County’s 25th Annual Spelling Bee.

Review: The Addams Family at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews February 14, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Full Disclosure: The Addams Family has risen up from the shadows and gloom and descended upon the stage of Toby’s Dinner Theatre. This wickedly entertaining new musical comedy is making its regional premier in the round; a tour de force of hilarious comedy, intoxicating dancing, and the creepiest of kooks all on one stage! Directed and Choreographed by Mark Minnick, with Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings, this charming, feel-good family fun musical is a tremendous success with extraordinary talent to be enjoyed all evening long.