Reviews

Review: Amadeus at Centerstage

A note of music is either right or wrong; not even time can change that. Centerstage is hitting notes of marvelous perfection as they launch their 52nd season with a resplendent production of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus. Directed by Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah, the epic masterpiece of one man’s struggle against God comes to Baltimore in time to welcome in the autumn days. The tale is invigorating; a stunning exposure to the raw humanity that drives mortal men to unspeakable sins all spurned from jealousy.

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Review: Masquerade at Wolf Pack Theatre Company

Pain. Illness. Death. These are all parts of our lives. All too often the socially unacceptable topics along these lines creep in unnoticed and are swept away into taboos. Suicide becomes one of those un-discussable topics, the white elephant in the room as it were. The founding Artistic Director of Wolf Pack Theatre Company is pushing to change that convention with a brand new work entitled Masquerade. Playwright and Director William Leary embarks on a journey with a cast of six to create an honest conversation about the topic of suicide with his compelling new work;

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Review: Game Show at Spotlighters Theatre

Ladies and Gentlemen! Step right up and come on down! You’re the next contestant on Game Show! Taglined as “The Comedy You Play” The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre kicks off their 53rd season with a unique audience interactive show. Directed by Kristen Cooley, this zany participatory program keeps the audience laughing and involved in a real live game show while a melodramatic comic plot unwinds around the host and all the members of the production team.

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Huey Calhoun (L- Greg Twomey) and Felicia Farrell (R- Ashley Lauren Johnson) meet in Delray's club for the first time.

Review: Memphis at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia

Well, Hockadoo! Don’t touch that dial, you good folks of Baltimore and Washington DC because coming to you straight from the center of Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia is the regional premier of the smashing Broadway sensation Memphis. Winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this stunning tale of underground rock & roll and rhythm & blues comes exploding onto the stage at Toby’s with electrifying choreography,

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The company of Rent at Phoenix Festival Theatre

Review: Rent at Phoenix Festival Theatre

How do you document real life when real life’s getting more like fiction each day? The Phoenix Festival Theatre is documenting the musical that captures that essential message with spectacular brilliance in their current production of Jonathan Larson’s Rent. Directed by Laurie Starkey with Musical Direction by Terri Mathews, this timeless musical of life, love, and humanity comes roaring to life straight off the stage in Harford County with punch,

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Guy & Girl from the touring company of Once

Review: Once at The Hippodrome

Love’s all very well but in the hands of people it all turns to soup. There is a delicious soup like no other presented in the form of Broadway’s 8-Tony Award-Winning musical Once making it’s Baltimore debut at the Hippodrome Theatre as a part of the 2014-2015 Broadway Across America— CareFirst Hippodrome Broadway series. Stunning music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markèta Irglovà and book by Enda Walsh,

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Nigel Reed (l) and Valerie Leonard (r) as Bryce Cannon and Vanessa Wells- Hollywood's hasbeens.

Review: Four Weddings and an Elvis at Bay Theatre Company

Just like the tides that crash into Annapolis harbor, the Bay Theatre Company is on its way back into town. Alive and kicking, though currently not producing, the company is endeavoring to raise a fund to get back up on their feet and wants the public to be aware. After a successful, albeit brief, run of Theresa Rebeck’s Bad Dates back in January, the company hosted a one-evening-only staged reading of an uproarious comedy Four Weddings and an Elvis,

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Review: The Hero’s Tale at Greenbelt Arts Center

They’re the 1342 Dupont Circle Heroes! And they are appearing for a limited run engagement at the Greenbelt Arts Center. An evocative story of humanity and human nature written by Cheryl Poole, this one-act production is a striking performance that touches the deepest part of the audience’s souls. Directed by Gregory Poole, the story follows the memories of a quartet of men— self-proclaimed the Dupont Circle Heroes— a bumpy stumble down memory lane to a darker time that may have all but escaped their minds as time left them in the past.

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The speaking cast of 'We Are Samurai' at Venus Theatre.

Review: We Are Samurai at Venus Theatre

It has happened before. It will happen again. Cats. Souls. Revenge. Samurai. Venus Theatre is taking a daring new leap in the middle of ‘Fierce14’ with their 49th production. Unlike anything previously staged at the Playshack, Director Deborah Randall is giving Daria Marinelli’s We Are Samurai its regional premier. As a promenade style performance, this ensemble piece takes place in five different locations set both inside and outside the theatre;

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Review: Art at Vagabond Players

What is it that binds us to other human beings? On what do we base our friendships with others? And can something as insignificant as a disagreement in artistic tastes be the basis for ending a deep and lasting relationship with a best friend? All of these questions are answered as the Vagabond Players mount their 99th season with a production of Yasmina Reza’s Art. Directed by Howard Berkowitz,

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Review: White Suit Science at Single Carrot Theatre

Ladies and gentlemen! Step right up! The circus has come to town! Only, not exactly. Hold onto your brain-balls, it’s about to get a little bit “thinky” over at Single Carrot Theatre as they launch the first production of a brand new initiative called their ‘Featured Second Series.’ Existing outside of the Carrots’ 8th season, this second series will serve as a theatrical incubator; a safe space for shows that take big risks on tiny budgets.

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Review: Yentl at Theater J

Mysteries of appearances. Deceptions of the heart. Androgynies of the soul. These are no longer dated topics held applicable to only women of the Jewish faith. As Theater J opens its 18th season with an invigorating and refreshing new production of Yentl, theatergoers are compelled to reflect upon the change for everyone that this particular show inspires. Directed by Shirley Serotsky with Musical Direction by Jonathan Tuzman, this strikingly beautiful tale is a remarkable work,

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The Understudy at Everyman Theatre featuring resident company artists Danny Gavigan, Beth Hylton, and Clinton Brandhagen.

Review: The Understudy at Everyman Theatre

Silence is not beautiful. Understudies are not bitter. Silence is a failure of words; silence is defeat. And understudies are real actors that are failed to be recognized in light of a big name draw to a Broadway show. This riveting and uproarious concept, albeit completely true, is wrapped up in Everyman Theatre’s production of Theresa Rebeck’s The Understudy. Directed by Joseph W. Ritsch, this exciting dramadey is more than just a metaplay about real life actors and Kafka.

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The Brighton Beach Memoirs Family Photo- Top Row L to R: Stanley Jerome (Mike Culhane), Eugene Jerome (Casey Baum) and Nora Morton (Sophia Speciale) Bottom Row: Blanche Morton (Jill Goodrich), Laurie Morton (Annalie Ellis), Kate Jerome (Nora Zanger) and Jack Jerome (Steve Feder)

Review: Brighton Beach Memoirs at Prince George’s Little Theatre

Advice is free. If it doesn’t fit you can always return it. And just like any shopping endeavor, good advice is often hard to find. Prince George’s Little Theatre is a great place to go looking for it in their production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, the first of three shows in the 55th season. A poignantly witty, well received , emotionally touching comedy, the family featured in the Neil Simon classic puts the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional.

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Tarzan(Frankie Rowles) and Jane (Carli Smith)

Review: Tarzan at The Milburn Stone Theatre

With every ending comes a new beginning and that’s exactly what is swinging into town up at The Milburn Stone Theatre as they present Tarzan, the stage musical based on the epic Disney film. With book by David Henry Hwang, and Music and Lyrics by Phil Collins, this catchy family show is filled with fun for everyone. Directed by Bambi Johnson, this production is quickly earning a spot in the hearts of audiences everywhere.

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ImprovAcadia in Bar Harbor, Maine

ImprovAcadia: Theatre on Vacation

When one takes a vacation the last thing one thinks about is work, generally speaking. But when you work in and around the theatre it is hard not to enjoy the chance to see performance at an out of town venue. Especially when it’s the only little Improv Troupe in all of Bar Harbor— if not the whole of Mount Desert Island up in Maine. Ten years in the running, ImprovAcadia has a brilliant little hybrid form show that they have compiled right in the main thoroughfare of downtown Bar Harbor.

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Review: Macbeth- The Instruments of Darkness at The Rude Mechanicals

Light and darkness make fools both of the eyes. But it is oft better to live in the bliss of darkness than in the harsh intelligence of the light for once a thing is known and learned it can never be unknown. The Rude Mechanicals illustrate this concept with exception as their bring their 2014 Capital Fringe Festival production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth: The Instruments of Darkness to the Greenbelt Arts Center for a limited five show engagement.

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Review: Godspell at Pasadena Theatre Company

To see thee more clearly, to love thee more dearly, to follow thee more nearly, day by day. These three things I pray, and you will find them all at the Pasadena Theatre Company’s production of Godspell. Reimagined, reinvented, and completely remarkable the performance, which is Directed by Chuck Dick and Musically Directed by Kim Murray,is opening the eyes of theatergoers everywhere. Proving that small community theatres can do exceptional work that really motivates people to feel honest emotions while still enjoying tried-and-true musicals,

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MotherSON at Baltimore Theatre Project

Review: MotherSon at Baltimore Theatre Project

No one comes out alone. The tag line for a thrilling solo work that is taking to the stage at Baltimore Theatre Project for just four short engagements! MotherSON, an innovative solo work written and performed by Jeffrey Solomon, is making its Baltimore debut at the Preston Street stage. A show 16 years in the making— first performed in 1998— it has received a great deal of recognition for its subject matter and motivational message laid right into the plot and themes of the show.

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Review: Under The Poplar Trees

Children are history moving forward. History is but words on a page. A brilliant and poignant message layered into the finely honed theatrical drama written by Baltimore area playwright Rosemary Frisino Toohey, Under the Poplar Trees makes its Baltimore debut as a part of the Baltimore Playwrights’ Festival 2014 at the Fells Point Corner Theatre. An intensely compelling and evocative tale of life focused through the lens of struggling to survive in Dachau— the first Nazi concentration camp— this play is a startling gem;

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Monkeying around with a few members of the cast of All in the Timing. Photo courtesy of Joshua McKerrow.

All in the Timing at Heritage Players

Life is but a moment? Or life is what you make of it. Heritage Players are making life out to be a hilarious evening of comic curiosities with their summer production of David Ives’ All in the Timing. Co-Produced by Ryan Geiger and Stephen Deininger, this grouping of six one-acts is a hilarious series of unrelated vignettes that examine the minutia of life in an absurd fashion. Treating the project like a theatrical incubator of sorts,

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The Company of Glyndon Area Players production of Les Miserables. Photo courtesy of Kevin Grall.

Les Miserables at Glyndon Area Players

Here upon the Sacred Heart stage they will build their barricade. And build a barricade they did! Presenting in its entirety the international musical sensation, the Glyndon Area Players take on Les Miserables as their 2014 production selection. Directed by Homero Bayarena with Orchestral Direction provided by Matthew Hartman and Vocal Musical Direction provided by Jeff Morrison, audiences everywhere will hear the people sing if only for nine performances.

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Stupid Fucking Bird- (left to right) Rick Foucheux, Brad Koed, and Darius Pierce- photo by Stan Barouh

Stupid Fucking Bird at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

This review will begin when you say “Start the fucking review!”

Presuming you’ve said that— or at the very least read that— then you’re in the right mind frame to enjoy the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company’s remount of Aaron Posner’s original work Stupid Fucking Bird. Inspired by and loosely adapted from Chekhov’s The Seagull, the production’s initial popularity has called for a resurgence in its existence.

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The Cast of "Sincerely, Me!" at ArtsCentric

Sincerely Me! at ArtCentric

This is all the music that your grandma ever prayed to. This is all the music that your mama ever cooked to. This is all the music that your aunt ever sang karaoke to. And this is all the music that your little sister ever twerked to. This music is the music that made music what it is today. The stories of African-American female artists who paved the way, set the tone, and made pop,

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The cast of Purple Light Theatre Company’s ‘Into The Woods.’ Photo by Brighter Future Photography.

Into The Woods at Purple Light Theatre Company

Be careful what you wish for! Or you might just find yourself tumbling into a fairytale at the Purple Light Theatre Company. Of course, all fairytales have happy endings, don’t they? Or perhaps an ending that is a little more interesting as Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods comes to life in this new minimalist approach. Directed by Tommy Malek with Musical Direction by Benjamin Nabinger, this musical is the company’s second production;

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The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife at Cockpit in Court

An afternoon or evening of obfuscation and intellectual calisthenics with a little bit of adult humor and a lot of good life lessons stirred in gets you the final offering in the upstairs cabaret series at Cockpit in Court for the 2014 summer season. The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Directed by Linda Chambers, is a poignant and edgy comedy that puts a spin on how to live life deeper than just what is on the surface.

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The One-Act Play Festival at The Montgomery Playhouse

The things some theatres come up with to while away the hours of summertime until full seasons begin. The Montgomery Playhouse has come up with a most clever and entertaining format of entertainment in their One Act Play Festival this 2014 summer. Eight shows running on alternating nights in groups of four, there’s a little something for everyone. And if there is a play that doesn’t particularly strike your fancy?

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Legally Blonde at Cockpit in Court

It’s time to get serious! Less of a classic, more of a pop hit! Serious! It’s a fun musical that they’re doing at Cockpit— in Court, that is. And it’s Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin’s Legally Blonde! Wowee! Sisters of Delta Nu unite! With book by Heather Hach, and under the Direction of Robert W. Oppel and Musical Direction of Michael Clark, and conducted by Jeff Baker, this is one upbeat summer show that will have you recalling fondly that movie that swept the nation by storm when it debuted nearly 15 years ago!

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The Tempest at Olney Theatre Center

How beauteous mankind is! Particularly the beauty found in those willing to brave the natural tempest of Maryland’s summer weather at Olney Theatre Center this summer season. A fantastical stormy adventure, by way of the Bard, sets shore upon the Root Family Stage beneath the stars and The Tempest provides a brilliant evening of classic theatre for a warm summer’s night. Directed by Jason King Jones, this retelling of love,

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Much Ado About Nothing at Baltimore Shakespeare Factory

Tis indeed summer and that to the world of the Bard means Much Ado About Nothing. And the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory is no exception to that rule as they mount their first in-the-round production this summer. Taking the well recognized comic back to its simplistic basics, the BSF strips away the scenery and all the other convolutions that can often clog-up Shakespeare’s wittiest comedy and present it in its original essence.

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