Articles Tagged With: Andrew Lloyd Webber

He’s Here: The Phantom of The Opera- A Quick Chat with Ron Legler about Phantom of The Opera’s 2025 National Tour Launching from Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre

Interviews November 14, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther Leave a comment

Fondest Greetings, Good Monsieurs…did you think that I had left you for good?

We’ve been waiting. Since Sunday April 16th 2023…when Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera played its final performance at The Majestic Theatre on Broadway. After 35 years and 13,981 performances (marking it as the longest running musical in Broadway’ illustrious history), there was a darkness that overtook The Great White Way, though not without the promise of a return…and that return has finally arrived.

Evita at Just Off Broadway

Reviews November 6, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther Leave a comment

Just listen to that! The voice of Argentina! They are loved and adored! Just Off Broadway throwing their hats into the ring for this autumnal season’s offering of Evita. Directed by Jason Crawford, with Musical Direction by Patty DeLisle, and Choreography by Katie Noppinger, this Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber operatic musical (with no spoken dialogue) comes to Epiphany Lutheran Church via Just Off Broadway for two weekends only this November and it has its moments and it has its style.

Evita at Silhouette Stages

Reviews October 19, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther Leave a comment

What makes a city hum? Who gives it life? Evita! Evita! And Silhouette Stages’ current production of the Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita will have the whole city of Columbia more than just humming. You’ll cheer. You’ll cry. You’ll be moved. Directed by Daniel Douek, with Musical Direction by Ginny Moses, and Choreography by Amie Bell, this tragically beautiful tale of Argentina’s first lady— the first ‘princess of the people’— is in gloriously capable hands under Daniel Douek’s direction and his production team’s innovative practices on stage.

Ellie Paquin (center) as Summer Hathaway and the kids of School of Rock ????Images Production Co.

School of Rock at Scottfield Theatre Company

Reviews August 17, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Rock the house and make a scene and crank the amps to 17! There’s no way you can stop— Scottfield Theatre Company’s School of Rock!!! Directed and Choreographed by Becky Titelman with Musical Direction by LaShelle Bray, this unconventional Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is a little extra— it’s bringing you some very talented youngsters and they’re playing their rock-n-roll instruments LIVE on stage all night long! Filled with energy and enthusiasm these kids (and their supportive,

Cats at Cockpit in Court

Reviews July 20, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Turn your face toward Cockpit in Court…let your memory lead you…open up enter in (to the F. Scott Black Theatre inside the Robert & Eleanor Romadka College Center) you will find there…the meaning of what happiness is… and a new show…will begin. If it was mystical the first time, magical the second, it will certainly be memorable, magnificent— truly Jellicle— the third as Bambi Johnson (who has become synonymous with Andrew Lloyd Webber and T.S.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Grizabella

Interviews July 19, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Glamourous. Or fallen from Grace? Memory…

With only one cat remaining, I think it’s pretty clear who you’re playing, but just in case people haven’t been following along, tell us who you are and who you are playing!

Lisa Pastella: I am Lisa Pastella and I play Grizabella.

Tell us all about Grizabella.

Lisa: I feel like I am Grizabella, where coming back into theatre after five years…after Covid…after Covid and of course having the baby…I am surrounded by lots of younger people that are incredibly talented.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Victoria

Interviews July 18, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

All hail the queen? We’ve got royalty cats in this show? Sure! Why not? Jellicle Cats are a great many things…not the least of which are kings and queens!

Thank you so much for giving us some of your time. Why don’t you tell us who you are and who you play in this production of Cats.

Ryann Reich: My name is Ryann Reich and I play Victoria.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Asparagus

Interviews July 17, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

A Jellicle Cat is a theatre cat! And a theatre cat in more ways than one!

Thank you for joining us again, Sam. Pleasure to have you back! Why don’t you remind the readers out there who you are and tell us who you’re playing this time with Cats?

Sam Ranocchia: I’m still Sam Ranocchia but this time I’m playing Gus, the Theatre Cat!

And remind me— and everybody else— who you played last time at Tidewater.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Jennyanydots

Interviews July 17, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Winding down with just a few more cats to go, one might almost say that the ‘hustle and bustle’ of the Jellicle Ball is done…but not before this cat has her say!

Thanks for joining us! Tell us who you are and who you play in this production of Cats!

Laura May: I’m Laura May and I play Jennyanydots.

Tell me all about Jennyanydots!

Laura: Well I haven’t quite found her all the way yet.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Old Deuteronomy

Interviews July 16, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Father of the clowder, leader of the tribe, revered and exalted, he now hath arrived! Make for…

Thank you for joining us today, tell us who you are and I think given the lead-in to this interview we all know who you play, but please do tell us anyhow.

Ryan Garbee: I’m Ryan Garbee and I am in fact playing Old Deuteronomy.

Tell us all about Old Deuteronomy.

Ryan: He is the leader of the clowder.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Rum Tum Tugger

Interviews July 16, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Curious Beast! The RTT— which has TWO T’s, which rhyme with P and that stand for…Cat? (The ‘p’ is silent in cat? There’s nothing more TROUBLE than a cat, let’s be honest.)

Thank you for joining us! Can you tell us who you are and who you play?

Adam Goldsmith: I’m Adam Goldsmith and I’m Rum Tum Tugger.

Ooh. So you’re Rum Tum. Got it. Tell me all about him!

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Bustopher Jones

Interviews July 15, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Different types who wear a day coat— pants with stripes and cutaway coat— perfect fits— or is it cats in spats? Man Mel Brooks is gonna come for me. What show is this again?

Hello, Wayne! Welcome back to the Jellicle Ball! Remind us who you are and what you’re doing here?

Wayne Ivusich: I’m still Wayne Ivusich. And I’m playing Bustopher Jones again— I like to call him Bustopher Version Two.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Munkustrap

Interviews July 15, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Meow! Meow! Meow! Hear them? They’re all meowin’ ‘cause he’s the leader of the pack! MEOW! Well…the leader of the pack when the actual leader isn’t hanging around— you get the picture.

Thank you for joining us! Tell us who you are and who you play!

Jared Shiver: I’m Jared Shiver and I play Munkustrap.

Tell me a little bit about Munkustrap.

Jared: Munkustrap is the second cat in command.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Tiggalily

Interviews July 14, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Jellicle Cats are Made-Up Cats. And not just that kind of made-up! It’s a whole beauty palette coming at you from this Jellicle Cat!

Thank you so much for spontaneously agreeing to be a part of this series. Becky Flickinger has surprised us both with deciding that this was happening— right now* —as you, she, and Bambi were walking back from the theatre, previewing what the space was going to look like! So we’re both going to be doing a little impromptu improvisation!

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Cassandra

Interviews July 14, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Could it be? Another— *gasp* CAT!? (Well you didn’t think we’d suddenly switched to Dogs: The Musical, did you?)

Thank you for giving us some of your time today! Could you tell us who you are and who you play?

Alyssa Bell: Sure! My name is Alyssa Bell and I play Cassandra.

Tell us a little bit about Cassandra?

Alyssa: Cassandra is an Egyptian cat.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Jemima

Interviews July 13, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Jellicle Cats are…ducks and pancake syrup!? Wait a minute…

Thank you so much for sitting with us today! Could you tell us who you are and who you play in this production of Cats?

Meagan Jenkins: I’m Meagan Jenkins and I play Jemima.

Tell me about Jemima!

Meagan: Well, my lore or the show’s lore?

Either or! Or both! Whatever makes you happy!

Bambi Johnson (standing center) directing a rehearsal of Cats at Cockpit in Court

Local Limelight: Director & Choreographer Bambi Johnson on Jellicles, Theatre, and All That Jazz

Interviews July 13, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

I’ve been a reviewing critic for nearly 15 years. And there’s no irony lost on me that on the day my personal publication, TheatreBloom, turns 10 years old, Cats at Cockpit in Court will be closing its three-week run, concluding the main-stage 2024 season for that company. The “Local Limelight” was a series of interviews that was cooked up during the pandemic, when everyone was wondering if we’d ever get to “theatre” again (like it was a true verb.) And it’s designed to shine a spotlight on someone in the community who gets up to great things,

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Exotica

Interviews July 13, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Jellicle Cats are dancing cats…Jellicle Cats are returning Cats…once a combo cat now…

Welcome back! And thank you for giving us some of your time! Tell us who you are, who you were before, and who you are once more? This is getting complicated!

Katelynn O’Connor: I’m Katelynn O’Connor, that is still the same. But last time I was a combination of Victoria and Jemima and this time I’m playing Exotica!

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Alonzo

Interviews July 12, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Meow? I’ll bet you a pound of catnip we’re about to meet another cat. I win. Don’t worry, it won’t go very far with my six at home, but hey, catnip is catnip. Maybe they’ll finally tell me their super secretive names. In the meantime, you go meet this amazing cat.

Thank you for joining us! Please tell us who you are and who you play in Cats.

Aaron Knight: I’m Aaron Knight.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Admetus

Interviews July 12, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

A fancier, sensible cat. T.S. Eliot might have even named this one in that one poem about naming the cats! Are you ready to meet another Jellicle Tom? No, there are no cats called Tom.

Thank you for joining us! Could you tell us who you are and who you play here at Cats?

Michael Shipman: I am Michael Shipman and I play Admetus.

Tell me a little bit about Admetus.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Mungojerrie

Interviews July 11, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Riffraff. Streetcat. I don’t buy that! Man, I’ve been spending too much time on the Disney channel. But announcing in this corner, the talking-weight-champion of the Cats interview series, weighing in at 9 minutes and 24 seconds… a record previously held by Rob Tucker in the 2022 production of Cats (8 minutes and 9 seconds though while holding the role of Quaxo/Rumpus Cat…not Mungojerrie, which he did play in the 2016 production of Bambi’s Cats…anyone need a graph-chart yet?) We are pleased to present MUNGOJERRIE!

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Rumpleteazer

Interviews July 11, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Which one is which? Is it Mungojerrie? Or Rumpleteazer? Rumpleteazer? Or Mungojerrie? (Well, we’ve learned that if you’ve ever or are currently playing Mungojerrie you have the potential to have had…or hold…the longest ‘talking cat’ record… IYKYK) So this must be…

Thank you for joining us! Why don’t you tell us who you are and which one of the frick-n-frack twins you happen to be playing?

Veronica Lane: I’m Veronica Lane and I play Rumpleteazer!

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Joe the Ticklin’ Ivories Cat

Interviews July 10, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

One of the most iconic parts of Cats is its music…certainly one of the things that people love most about it. So we’ll take you on a brief journey through the Heaviside Layer to a different type of cat…a magical, musical cat!

Thank you, Nathan, for joining us in this series! We know you’re the Musical Director for Cats. But tell us, why did you want to come out and be a part of this whole thing with Bambi?

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Jellylorum

Interviews July 10, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

I am glad you have a cat but I do not believe it so remarkable a cat as my cat…there never was such a Lilliecat…and its name is…

Tell us who you are and who you’re playing, and thank you, of course, for joining us!

Sara Ulrich: I’m Sara Ulrich and I’m playing Jellylorum.

Tell me a little bit about Jellylorum.

Sara: Jellylorum is like the Mama Bear of the kittens.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Mr. Mistoffelees

Interviews July 9, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Oh! Well, I never! Was there ever a cat so magical as magical… well, you know who…

Thank you for joining us! Why don’t you tell us who you are and who you’re playing for this production of Cats, as you are in fact one of five Erin/Aarons in this production! (I swear it comes in Bambi’s rider that any production of Cats must have at least two or more Erin/Aarons in it…)

Aaron Fletcher: My name is Aaron Fletcher and I’m playing Mr.

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Macavity

Interviews July 9, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

For he’s a fiend in feline shape! A monster of depravity… you guessed it! It’s time to meet— *GASP* where’d he go?

Thank you so much for joining us! Please tell us who you are and who you’re playing in this production of Cats!

Kapone Washington: I’m Kapone Washington. And I play Macavity. And I’m also Tumbulbrutus.

That’s awesome. Can you tell me a little bit about Macavity?

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Bombalurina

Interviews July 8, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Peculiar and more dignified, so says that magical, Jellicle book of poems…a combination of bombastic and ballerina…can you guess, can you really, really guess which cat we’re meeting today?

Thank you so much for joining us! Tell who you are and who you’re playing!

Lizzie Detar: I’m Lizzie Detar and I play Bombalurina.

Tell us a little bit about Bombalurina.

Lizzie: Bombalurina is the sultry,

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Demeter

Interviews July 8, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Three times ascended through the Heaviside Layer. A rare three-peat, as it were, and rarer still that this Cat has only ever played one role…are we ready to meet Demeter?

Erin, it’s such a pleasure to see you again! Welcome back! And thank you for joining us! And this is officially your third time performing as Demeter with Bambi in Cats. Why keep throwing your hat into the ring for this show?

RETURN TO THE JELLICLE BALL: MEETING THE NEWEST 2024 ADDITIONS TO THE CLOWDER OF COCKPIT IN COURT’S CATS: Gaffer

Interviews July 7, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Jellicle Cats are Scenography Cats! And Scenography Cats are Jellicle Cats! I don’t think T.S. Eliot or Andrew Lloyd Webber had any idea that cats could build sets! Or maybe they did and just wanted to keep that a secret…like a hidden third name…from all the rest of us!

Thank you for giving us some of your time today! Tell us who you are and how you fit into this Cats configuration!

Return to the Jellicle Ball: Meeting the Newest 2024 Additions to the Clowder of Cockpit in Court’s Cats: Queenie

Interviews July 7, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Jellicle Cats are choreographical cats!

While this cat is no stranger to cats…she’s on the techie-side layer for this production…please meet the first of two threepeaters, our very own— Queenie Cat!

Thank you so much for joining us, Whitney! We’re thrilled to have you back with us again! Now you are a rare cat— just one of two— who is what we call a magical Threepeater!

Whitney Russell: I am!