Reviews

Review: The Odyssey at Baltimore Theatre Project

Reviews December 8, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

What sort of performance doth await you here? Be it civilized or savage? Humane or hateful? Before the child of morning, Rosy-fingered Dawn, arrives, well, you’ll see exactly what sort of wily adventure you’re in for at Baltimore Theatre Projects. As one of precious few non-holiday shows this December, solo artist Charlie Bethel returns to the stage with his one-man performance of Homer’s epic tale. The Odyssey is Bethel’s adaptation of Odysseus in a fashion the likes of which seems impossible.

Review: It’s A Wonderful Life at Howard Community College Arts Collective

Reviews December 6, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

No man is a failure who has friends. At this festive time of year it is easy to lose sight of such a simple message among all the decorations and holiday events. Howard Community College’s Arts Collective reminds us of the true joys of Christmas with their resplendent production of It’s A Wonderful Life. Directed by Gareth Kelly and Anthony Scimonelli, this heartwarming classic is reimagined to the stage in a most spectacular fashion.

Belle (L- Lauren Giglio) Tiny Tim (C-Sophia Nasreen Riazi-Sekowski) and Scrooge (R- Ray Converse) celebrating a Christmas miracle.

Review: A Christmas Carol at Wolf Pack Theatre Company

Reviews December 3, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

The bells of St. John are ringing you in for holiday season. Wolf Pack Theatre Company is proud to present an original adaptation written and directed by William Leary of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. When everyone is popping this holiday classic onto their stages this time of year as the Christmas Cash-cow, Leary’s socially brilliant commentary brings the story to modern day times and highlights the social issues that are so prevalently buried in Dickens’ original text that are all too often forgotten or overlooked in favor of spectacle.

Review: Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol at Adventure Theatre MTC

Reviews December 1, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Deck the halls with boughs of holly! Fa-la-la-la-la! La-la-la— wait a minute— that’s a different Christmas story all together. Of course, so is the inventive reimagined retelling of the Dickensian Christmas classic this holiday season at Adventure Theatre Musical Theatre Center. Making its world premier in Glen Echo Park, this exciting new adaptation by Ken and Jack Ludwig engages children of all ages into the fantastical Christmas tale written by Charles Dickens so many years ago.

Review: The Wizard of Oz at Charm City Players

Reviews November 30, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Just click your heels three times and say “There’s no place like Charm City Players. There’s no place like Charm City Players. There’s no place like Charm City Players!” in the first production of their 2014/2015 calendar season, Charm City Players is taking its audience down the well-traveled yellow brick road to the Emerald City with their production of The Wizard of Oz. A timeless stage classic, the family-friendly musical offers a sweet alternative to the holiday shows popping up all across town during this festive time of year.

Review: The Nutcracker at The Puppet Company

Reviews November 29, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Now entering its 26th year as a holiday tradition in Washington DC, The Puppet Company proudly presents Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in all its resplendent Christmas glory in a fashion that can only be seen upon the magical stage at Glen Echo Park. Originally taking the stage in 1988 with the Arlington Symphony, the production is gloriously remounted with Director and Puppetmaster Christopher Piper at the helm. Spearheading a team of performers including Joshua Aaron Rosenblum,

Review: It’s A Wonderful Life at Pasadena Theatre Company

Reviews November 29, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Every time a bell rings an angels gets his wings; so listen closely to see if you can hear the bells ringing at the Pasadena Theatre Company presents the non-musical version of the Frank Capra film It’s A Wonderful Life. Directed by Chuck Dick and Sharon Steele, this timeless holiday classic will warm the cockles of your heart as it reminds audiences everywhere of the simplest of joys at the holidays— family and friends.

Review: The Man Who Came To Dinner at Spotlighters Theatre

Reviews November 23, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

During this festive season the overwhelming urge to invite friends and family around to the house for dinner creeps up out of nowhere, much like the sharp biting winter chill of the season. The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre reminds people everywhere why dinner guests are an atrocious idea, especially at this time of year with their zany and highly amusing production of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart’s The Man Who Came to Dinner.

Review: Coriolanus at Cohesion Theatre Company

Reviews November 22, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

The end of war is uncertain; Cohesion Theatre Company making an impact in the Highlandtown Arts District with their inaugural production Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, is certain. Exploding onto the scene with one of the lesser performed tragedies in the Bard’s repertoire, the new Baltimore-based company settles in with an ambitious first show, delivering on their company’s namesake a hybrid of classic tragedy with modern minimalist influences. Directed by company Co-Founder Alicia Stanley,

Review: Five Guys Named Moe at Arena Stage

Reviews November 21, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

You can’t eat away the blues. You can’t wish away the blues, heck most of us can’t even sing away the blues. But Arena Stage, in a co-production with Cleveland Play House is going to blow away the blues with their production of Clarke Peter’s Five Guys Named Moe. Directed by Robert O’Hara with Musical Direction by Darryl G. Ivey, this bouncy musical zinger features the greatest hits of Louis Jordan.

Review: The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide…at Theater J

Reviews November 19, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Dreams are what sustain the human need for remaining alive. They perpetuate the notion of living until they are achieved. But what happens when one’s dream is to no longer be living? Reality implodes upon itself in a chaotic and cosmically imbalanced sense the result of which is life viewed through the lenses of comically dark reality. Everyone has problems, some more than most, and Theater J proudly presents the Washington DC area premier of The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures,

Review: Seminar at Fells Point Corner Theatre

Reviews November 17, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Fiction is fiction. The type of truth that fiction is sets a bomb off in your soul and Fells Point Corner Theatre is busy setting off emotionally and comically charged bombs galore in their production of Theresa Rebeck’s Seminar. Directed by Steve Goldklang, the biting wit of Rebeck’s esoteric literary comedy lands with grand aplomb just in time to shake up the scene for the holiday season. Not your typical Santaland story or in any way,

Review: The Little Mermaid at Olney Theatre Center

Reviews November 16, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Look at Olney’s main stage, isn’t it neat? Wouldn’t you think that their season’s complete? Wouldn’t you think they’re the theatre— the theatre that has everything! They’ve got singers and dancers a plenty, they’ve got talented performers galore. You want glittery costumes? They’ve got plenty! It’s amazing, it’s a big deal— and they’ve got more! Olney Theatre Center is giving audiences the chance to be a part of that spectacular magical world with the regional premier of Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

Review: Fiddler on the Roof at Arena Stage

Reviews November 13, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Sunrise. Sunset. Do not let too many of those pass between now and when you attend the Arena Stage production of Fiddler on the Roof. An exceptional reboot of the virtually timeless classic written by Joseph Stein, with Music by Jerry Bock and Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, this time-honored tradition is now being displayed under the Direction of Molly Smith and Musical Direction of Paul Sportelli. Featuring original choreography created by Jerome Robbins now adapted and restaged in Arena’s Fichandler stage in the round by Parker Esse,

Review: Virus Attacks Heart at Venus Theatre

Reviews November 10, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Words are everything. Everyone wants everything and words are everything. The profundity of such statements and similar can be found in Venus Theatre’s edgiest work to date. Concluding their 14th season with their 50th production, Venus is proud to present Virus Attacks Heart, a new work by Shannon Murdoch. In alignment with the company’s mission statement of setting flight to the voices of women, this production features a strong female character coping with life in the face of mortality.

Review: Gruesome Playground Injuries at Boom Theatre Company

Reviews November 9, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Scars heal, glory fades, and all we are left with are the memories made. Boom Theatre Company is assuring that you make potent new memories of what intense emotional theatre is meant to feel like with their production of Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries. Directed by Ryan Nicotra, this two-person show is an intense look at the way traumatic injury experiences can inexplicably bind friends in emotions that dig much deeper than the surfaces of the average friendship.

Review: As You Like It at Shakespeare Theatre Company

Reviews November 4, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

All the world’s a stage and the men and women of the Shakespeare Theatre Company are divine players in the 2014/2015 season opening production of As You Like It. One of Shakespeare’s more amusingly confusing comedies with romantic subplots twisted hither and thither all throughout, the play entreats theatergoers to delight in the marvels that are love, folly, and foolishness whether ye be man or woman. Directed by the critically acclaimed Michael Attenborough,

Review: The Addams Family at Kensington Arts Theatre

Reviews November 3, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s family first and family last and family by and by! And the Kensington Arts Theatre knows all about families of all varieties as they present their fall musical, featuring one of the creepiest and kookiest families of all times! Andrew Lippa’s The Addams Family comes to the KAT stage under the Direction of Craig Pettinati and Musical Direction of Stuart Y. Weich. With Wednesday all grown-up and in love with an outsider,

Review: Richard II at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company

Reviews October 28, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

What can we bequeath save our deposed bodies to the ground? Shakespearean essence in its purest sense; we are the stuff that dust is made of and our legacy is little more than our fragile mortal coil. An innovative new way of experiencing Shakespearean tragedy is striking up discourse on the stage of Chesapeake Shakespeare Company as the 2014 season progresses. The rarely performed Richard II is reinventing the meaning of tragedy under the skillful direction of Kevin J.

Review: The Cabaret Macabre at Happenstance Theatre

Reviews October 26, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s creepy and it’s kooky! Mysterious and spooky! And it isn’t The Addams Family! When so many other theatres are mounting musicals or late night zombie shows, Happenstance Theatre is presenting their 4th Annual Cabaret Macabre to delight audiences all over Baltimore. The deliciously ‘Gorey’ show is a series of darkly comic vignettes created by the Happenstance Theatre company ensemble, featuring inspiration from all sorts of fantastically dark and dreary places including the tales of Edward Gorey.

The cast of Picasso at the Lapine Agile at The Salem Players

Review: Picasso at the Lapine Agile at The Salem Players

Reviews October 21, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

What is there to hate about a century? Wasn’t the 20th century the grandest that had yet to come in its time? The century where no political movement will be as glorious as the movement of the line across the paper, the note across the staff, or the idea across the mind; that century is captured in The Salem Players 2014 production of Picasso at the Lapine Agile. A brilliantly poignant comic play written by Steve Martin,

The ensemble of Not My Monkey: featured left to right The Green Clown (Sarah King) The Orange Clown (Jack Novak) Ringmaster Tekla (Anna Jackson) and The Pink Clown (Alani Kravitz)

Review: Not My Monkey at InterAct Story Theatre

Reviews October 21, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Step right up to see the most amazing show under the big tent that the city of Gaithersburg currently has to offer! The Cyrk Zaba has come to the stage on tour with the InterAct Story Theatre and is here with their brand new production of Not My Monkey. The show, which is written and directed by Ali Oliver-Krueger and the InterAct Story Theatre Ensemble,

Review: The Rocky Horror Show at Spotlighters Theatre

Reviews October 20, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s just a jump to Mount Vernon. And then a step to St. Paul. Stop at 817, and take the steps but don’t fall! See it’s those crazy shows that really drive you insa-ay-ay-ay-ane! Let’s go to Spotlighters again! Let’s go to Spotlighters again! Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show in its full fabulous glory is time warping its way through The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre in time for Halloween this 2014.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff at The Puppet Company in Glen Echo Park

Review: The Three Billy Goats Gruff at The Puppet Company

Reviews October 20, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Once upon a time there was a magic little puppet theatre who told exciting children’s stories with even more exciting puppets! The Puppet Company at Glen Echo Park is moving further into the fall with their production of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Narrated and performed by Company Founder Christopher Piper, the tale as you remember it is perfect for children of all ages and is customary has a few little humorous nods for the grown-ups in the audience as well.

Review: Grounded at Everyman Theatre

Reviews October 18, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

A pilot is the blue. A fighter pilot becomes the blue through sweat, brains, and guts. Grounded, an evocative one-woman show written by George Brant, has landed at Everyman Theatre this fall. An award-winning sold out sensation in London, this co-production with Olney Theatre Center takes flight for the Baltimore-Washington area premier and soars with flying colors as an exceptionally well-penned and phenomenally well-performed dramatic production.

Review: Ain’t Misbehavin’ at The Vagabond Players

Reviews October 17, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

When taking a chance on an evening out at the theatre just what one gets? Well, one never knows, do one? But one will certainly be having a toe-tappin’ foot-stompin’ swingin’ ringin’ good time down at The Vagabond Players as their 99th season continues on with Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Fats Waller Musical Show. Conceived by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr. this jazzy swinging sensation of a musical revue hits the stage a stompin’ and has the whole joint jumpin’ before all is said and done.

Review: Next to Normal at Centerstage

Reviews October 16, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Life is insane but crazy can be done. Crazy is oft the norm when normal can’t be found. Centerstage is taking crazy to the next level with their fall production of the Tony and Pulitzer Award-Winning musical Next to Normal. The emotionally poignant musical is a groundbreaking work that infusing real life dysfunction into musical theatre in a jarring but exhilarating fashion. With music by Tom Kitt and Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey,

Review: God’s Country at Strand Theatre

Reviews October 11, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

The Strand Theatre is alive and well in Baltimore, presenting a newly furnished work written, created, and performed by Michelle Antoinette Nelson aka LOVE the poet. An hour-long explorative piece of theatre that confronts God in the modern world through the voices of eight individual characters where the ninth voice is meant to be that of the audience, Nelson’s new work brings a series of creative mediums together in one performance that is provocative and touching as well as poignant and relevant to anyone that ventures out to see it.

Review: Social Creatures at Single Carrot Theatre

Reviews October 10, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Warning: The theatre is no longer safe. The infection has spread. There are rules to follow to remain safe and save what remains of mankind. Follow the rules and you might survive. Single Carrot Theatre is no longer safe. Social Creatures is taking over. Instructions for basic survival as well as all dialogue witnessed inside the containment collective has been documented by Jackie Sibblies Drury. Kellie Mecleary previously served as a director of operations,

Vanishing Point at Stillpointe Theatre Initiative

Reviews October 9, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

Adventure! Amelia Earhart vanishes over the Pacific Ocean: 1937. Mystery! Agatha Christie disappears from roadside, her car is found but she is not: 1926. Spectacle! Aimee Semple McPherson disappears in the ocean without reason: 1926. All three of these enigmatic exciting tales are coming together under one roof in one brand new musical at Stillpointe Theatre Initiative this fall. As the opening show in their 2014/2015 season, Vanishing Point, a new musical with Books and Lyrics by Rob Hartmann &