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.

Elf at Tidewater Players

Reviews December 9, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

If you find yourself short on cheer just think about that special year (no, not 2019 that was a different year…same story) that Tidewater Players reached up on their shelf…and put up on their stage a musical called Elf! It’s sparkle-jolly-jingle-twinkly! Or however it goes (this Christmas Grinch over here still hasn’t finished writing out her Christmas cards…) but however it goes— it goes with lots of razzle-dazzle seasonal pizzazz! Elf at Tidewater Players is a heart-warming,

Moulin Rouge! at The Hippodrome

Reviews December 6, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Hello, Chickens!!! Are you ready to experience the epicenter of your passions? The apogee of your desires? Of course you are, you radiant reprobates and rascals!

Truth

Beauty

Freedom

Love

They’ve got it all in Montmartre— it’s all there to titillate the senses, tease the mind, sway the heartstrings— it’s all there inside The Moulin Rouge! And Moulin Rouge has landed itself grandly at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre for a limited two-week engagement just in time for the holiday season.

Neverland: A New Musical at Children’s Playhouse of Maryland

Reviews December 5, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

What if you can’t remember the last time you were able to let go, have fun, and just be yourself? Well isn’t that exactly what theatre is for? A place to let go, have fun, and just be yourself! And Children’s Playhouse of Maryland has always been that place for all of the up-and-coming theatrical talents that pass through their doors over in Essex. Celebrating the holiday season with a very special, brand-new-production (written and conceived by their musical director and her father) Children’s Playhouse of Maryland is thrilled to present Neverland: A New Musical.

L to R, Front to Back - Alix Fenhagen, Britt Olsen-Ecker, Molly Margulies, Hailey Withrow, Jem Creuzter; Meghan Stanton, Heather Morrison ???? Kiirstn Pagan

The Lights Went Out Because of a Problem: A Found Opera at The Acme Corporation

Reviews December 4, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Merriam-Webster defines the word Opera as a noun— “…a drama set to music and made up of vocal pieces with orchestral accompaniment and orchestral overtures and interludes.” Merriam-Webster also defines theatre as— well, a whole lot, see here for yourself, but the one I like the best is definition 5b— Spectacle sense— 1a (dramatic or theatrical quality or effectiveness) followed by 5c— entertainment in the form of a dramatic or diverting situation or series of events.

Ensemble of Cinderella (Enchanted Edition) at ArtsCentric & Baltimore Center Stage????J Fannon

Cinderella at ArtsCentric & Baltimore Center Stage

Reviews December 2, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Glass Slipper? ✔

Pumpkin Carriage? ✔

Lousy step-family, prince and princess, big ol’ ball? ✔✔✔

But if you think you know the story of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, think again. To quote my 63-year-old mother (who at the time of this review, we’re now 12 hours post leaving the theatre and she’s still telling me things she discovered and was awestruck by and enjoyed), “that was the best,

Inebriated Holiday at Maryland Ensemble Theatre

Reviews December 1, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Deck the MET with cans and corks! Fa-la-la-la-laa! La-la-la-laaa!

Gather round ye hist’ry dorks! Fa-la-la-la-laa! La-la-la-laa!

Don you now your drunk apparel! Fa-la-la-la! La-la-la! La-la-laaaa!

And hear the tale of A Christmas Carol! Fa-la-la-la-laa! La-la-la— hold-up. Nah. That’s not right. Shoot.

Inebriated Holiday. D’oh! That’s the one this one is about! Good grief, how many Three Kings draft beers did I have at Maryland Ensemble Theatre last night!?

'Twas The Night Before....Cirque du Soleil Acro Table Performers ???? Kyle Flubacker

‘Twas The Night Before… at The Hippodrome

Reviews November 25, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

And what to our wondering eyes should appear— why it’s a holiday extravaganza live at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre! Dashing in from the rooftops to kick off the holiday season, Cirque du Soleil proudly presents ‘Twas The Night Before…, a wondrously enchanting, theatrical spectacle that combines the vivaciously thrilling acrobatic and aerial work that Cirque-shows are known for with a cherished Christmas classic, Clement Clarke Moore’s poem, A Visit From Saint Nicolas.

Witch! at Stillpointe Theatre

Reviews November 18, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Which

Inquisitive

Theatre

Challenges

Humanity?

Not nearly as clever as some of the textual incarnations of the acronym of the show’s title— like “Why Is The Church Heretical?” or “Why Is This Continually Happening?” or “What Is This Cult Hollywood?” but I wanted to throw my broomstick in the cauldron so to speak.

Big at Scottfield Theatre Company

Reviews November 4, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Fun! It isn’t planned! It isn’t programmed! Though you may have to do some planning and programming to make sure you get this big ol’ dose of fun into your calendar sometime over the next couple weekends. See what I did there? ‘big ol’ musical?’ I’m talking about Big, of course, now appearing— making its area premiere— at Scottfield Theatre Company to close out their 2023 calendar. Based 20th Century Fox Film (of the same name,

The Last Five Years at CJ Productions

Reviews November 3, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

When you see a show as many times as I (and has anyone seen these shows as many times as I?) you tend not to forget the very first time you saw the production and the most recent time you’ve seen it. Occasionally there will be stand-outs (for good and bad reasons) that stick in the mind, but the two that resonate strongest tend to be the first one and the most recent one. I’ve certainly never forgotten The Last Five Years the very first time I saw it— at a semi-active,

Outward Bound at Spotlighters Theatre

Reviews October 31, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

“…to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave…”

Christmas starts in October for everyone else, so why not use a lesser-recognized Dickens’ quote to welcome in the latest show of Season 61 at Spotlighters? (And if you need more Dickens in your life, beyond this hook-quote, be sure to book your tickets for the cherished annual performance of Phil Gallagher’s one-man A Christmas Carol coming this December) But this particular quote feels apropos for Outward Bound,

Katerina McCrimmon as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. ???? Evan Zimmerman

Funny Girl at The Hippodrome

Reviews October 25, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

She must shine in every detail! And we ain’t just talking about the perfect showgirl, no sir! We’re talking about the costumes, the lights, the choreography, the singing, the movement, the atmosphere— if you want to impress as a major Broadway musical these days— you’ve got to tick all the boxes! And with 36 expressions, Funny Girl has all the pip and pizazz! It’s a dazzling revival musical harkening back to the golden days of Broadway and the audiences of Baltimore are here for it!

Chess at Vagabond Players

Reviews October 23, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Throw the rulebook right out the window. It won’t help you anyway. And forget what you think you know about Chess as that won’t help you here either. Can’t even say “not your Grandfather’s Chess” because there are so many different variations on this concept album-turned-musical-come-concert-album that it’s hard to pinpoint which one is the one for a standard basis of comparison. Based on an idea by Tim Rice, inspired wholly if not incompletely by historical events.

The Nine Nutballs of DitS' "Evil Dead: The Musical- 2023 Edition" with the reviewer that got bled all over (center, Mandy Gunther) ???? Lithia Knopp

Evil Dead: The Musical at Deer In The Spotlight Productions

Reviews October 21, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Forget about the Time Warp! And the Monster Mash’s no good!

You’ll have a much better trip rolling with these five to their CABIN IN THE WOOOOOOOODS!

Hi, I’m Amanda. And I work at S-Mart run a reviewing site that has all your theatrical ‘in-the-know’ needs (just like S-Mart only with fewer tires and frozen fish sticks.) I also can’t count (which is why I chose a profession in theatre.) Evil Dead: The Musical is now in its seventh year of production!

Nunsense at The Salem Players

Reviews October 20, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Do you know how many women have been pope? Nun. Did you hear that Mother Superior had to crack down on nuns in the convent wearing perfume? She wasn’t having any of that Nun-scents. But if you’re ready for Nunsense, the musical with singing, dancing nuns who are just trying to earn a buck to bury their frozen sisters— then The Salem Players of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Catonsville has got you covered!

Nathan Russell (left) as Sweeney Todd and Kelly Stoneberger (right) as Mrs. Lovette at Small Town Stars Theatre Company. ????Mort Shuman

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Small Town Stars Theatre Company

Reviews October 20, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

No one can help. Nothing can hide you. Isn’t that Sweeney there beside you? Sweeney— Sweeney— there— there! There! THERE! And if you’re in the state of Maryland the demon barber of fleet street is literally everywhere right now. With no fewer than three theatres producing the bloody Sondheim classic, it’s no wonder that Small Town Stars Theatre Company wanted to throw their hat in the ring and invite you to attend their tale of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Bonnie & Clyde at Just Off Broadway

Reviews October 18, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

A farm-boy from Telico. A waitress from Rowena. Gun-sling, song-singing, they’ll make you feel alive.

But only if you’ve got your tickets to see the at Just Off Broadway’s Bonnie & Clyde.

‘Cause ain’t nuthin’ rhyme with ‘Clyde & Bonnie!’

Serving as the Baltimore area premiere of the historical-gangster musical, Bonnie & Clyde offers a wicked alternative to the dozen or so production of Sweeney Todd happening in and around the area this autumn season.

The SpongeBob Musical at Silhouette Stages

Reviews October 14, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s the best day ever! The best daaaay eveeer— but only if you’ve got your tickets to see Silhouette Stages’ production of The SpongeBob Musical! Campy and wholesome, this quirky little diamond-in-the-kelp musical comedy is suitable for all ages and is bubbling over with talent, enthusiasm, and a great deal of F-U-N to be had by all! Co-Directed by Debbie Mobley and Robyn Yakaitis, with Musical Direction by Mari Hill, and Choreography by Tori Worth,

Ainsley Deegan (center) as Tobias Ragg and th ensemble of Sweeney Todd at Other Voices Theatre. ????Oktober Hollow Photography

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Other Voices Theatre

Reviews October 6, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Splendors you never have dreamed all your days— my lucky friends! With spooky season upon us, you’ll have your pick— there seems to be a Sweeney in every market this October! Live in or around Frederick and that side of the state? Other Voices Theatre has got your covered with their production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Directed by Amy Hebb, with Musical Direction by Paul Cabell,

RIchard Goldberg (left) as Ben and Todd Krickler (right) as Russ in Rich Espey's "When We're Ninety" ???? Robin Davis Miller

Think Pink! at Pink Pen Theatre

Reviews October 5, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Love is love is love is love. We’ve all heard it, and yet that message seems to still fall on deaf ears. We live in unique times, trying times, and what better way to draw the line in the sand and then make our stand than through art? Launching its inaugural production, the new theatre company, Pink Pen Theatre, is proud to present Think Pink! a gay play festival featuring ten world premiere short plays (and one Baltimore premiere short play) from local playwrights,

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company presents As You Like It ???? Kiirstn Pagan

As You Like It at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company

Reviews October 4, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

It was a bright and cold day in September and the clocks were striking 13. No, that’s not quite right.

We that are true lovers run into strange capers. That’s more like it. Or rather, Shakespeare’s As You Like It, as directed by Ian Gallanar now appearing on the stages of Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s boards for their fall-opening of the 2023/2024 season. Though one could readily meet the confusion of “Am I watching George Orwell’s 1984 (or even L.

God! That’s Good! An Interview with Other Voices Theatre’s Sweeney, Lovette, and The Director of Sweeney Todd

Interviews October 2, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

*gasp* A theatre!

Wait! What’s your rush? What’s your hurry?

You’re in for such a treat— thought that they were closed—

Hang on a minute, go and sit! Sit you down! SIT!

They’re so excited, they haven’t seen an audience for months—

Did you come in for a show, folks?

Do forgive them, they’re putting Sondheim on the stage…

What was that?

Matt Wetzel (left) and Geraden Ward (right) on interview night, pre-rehearsal for SpongeBob: The Musical at Silhouette Stages

Nautical Nonsense: An Interview with Matt Wetzel & Geraden Ward on playing SpongeBob & Patrick at Silhouette Stages

Interviews September 29, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

If nautical nonsense be something you wish—

Then hop on the deck and flop like a fish!!

Or… maybe less fish-flopping and more… box-office buying? Yep. That’s the ticket. You can fish-flop to the Silhouette Stages Box Office (online!) and get your tickets to their upcoming production of SpongeBob: The Musical. Touching, hilarious, and full of heart— this zany, cartoon-come-stage-musical is splashing into Columbia and we’ve got the scoop from SpongeBob and Patrick Star!

Think Bill: An Interview with Founder Bill Kamberger on Pink Pen Theatre’s Inaugural Playwright Showcase ‘Think Pink!’

Interviews September 28, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

The pen is mightier than the sword. We are certainly headed into a fight with the direction this world is heading and now is the time to arm ourselves with knowledge, because it is power, and take to the streets with weapons of massive creativity! A brand new theatre company— Pink Pen Theatre, a company dedicated to the work of LGBTQ+ playwrights— is starting its hopeful existence with a brand new play festival— Think Pink!

The Wiz "No Bad News" ???? Jeremy Daniel

The Wiz at The Hippodrome

Reviews September 27, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Everybody look around! Because there’s a reason to rejoice and shout— everybody come on down! You owe it to yourself to check it out! Can’t you feel a brand new day? That brand new day has come! Charm City has the hottest ticket in town with the Broadway-bound production of The Wiz. Directed by Schele Williams, with Musical Supervision & Orchestration by Joseph Joubert, and Choreography by Jaquel Knight, the book (by William F.

Anastasia at Children’s Playhouse of Maryland

Reviews September 26, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Dancing youths…painted scenes…things I almost remember… then a song— someone sings… once upon a…September… when the Children’s Playhouse of Maryland presented the area premiere of Anastasia, the much-anticipated, full-length musical. A sparkling gem, a radiant endeavor, this delightful and charming show is both beautiful and serene, full of humor and heart, and a spectacular start to the 2023/2024 season at CPM. Directed by Liz Boyer Hunnicutt, with Musical Direction by Charlotte Evans Crowley,

(L to R) Austin Barnes as Barry Mann, Heather Wadler as Cynthia Weil, Julie Parrish as Carole King and Mark Briner as Don Kirschner in 'Beautiful' ????Matthew Peterson

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Tidewater Players

Reviews September 25, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Hey. I gotta prediction. You wanna hear it? Tidewater Players production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is going all the way! Don’t write off this jukebox musical, featuring the music & lyrics of Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil (and a book by Douglas McGrath) because its actually a heartwarming story that reads extremely well on an intimate stage, like the one Tidewater Players is working with at The Opera House.

Circle Mirror Transformation at Spotlighters Theatre

Reviews September 21, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

For a season of harmony and balance, nurture and compassion, Circle Mirror Transformation seems an odd choice, especially as the kick-starter for said season. Annie Baker’s esoteric theatrical exercise-come-stage-play is now appearing at Spotlighters Theatre through October 1st 2023 under the direction of Nick Cherone.

The play itself is deeply problematic— not because it hits on any hot-button issues or is outdated/outmoded or offensive but rather because it feels unfinished. There’s sort of a beginning,

The Sound of Music at Phoenix Festival Theatre

Reviews September 15, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

I go to the theatre, when my heart is lonely. I know I will hear what I’ve heard before. And my heart will be blessed with The Sound of Music… and I’ll review once more! Bel Air, Maryland may not exactly be the hills or the mountains, but Phoenix Festival Theater (currently across the street in the Amoss Center at Harford Technical High School) will bless your heart and your ears with Rogers &

Tick, Tick, BOOM! at State Theater of Havre de Grace

Reviews September 14, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s life affirming to own multiple accessories! Even if you don’t have the exact shade of lime-green stilettos to match your green, green dress. (Which has neither the 20 buttons nor the strap!) You know what else is life-affirming? Good, obscure-ish musical theatre at affordable prices! It renews the hope and faith in the theatrical world as we know it. If you want to feel life-affirmed, State Theater of Havre de Grace has got you covered with their production of Tick,