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,
One would think that even 26 years after its creation, Jonathan Larson’s opus Rent would be more relevant than ever in these days of widespread poverty, desperation, unction toward landlords, and overall societal decline. It certainly seems to be evergreen due to its inherent diversity, minimalist set, and countercultural appeal. Nevertheless, from the pre-show playlist to the excessive flannel of the costumes, ArtsCentric’s production – Directed by Kevin S. McAllister – has a strong feeling of romantic anachronism,
Nubia will never die! And Baltimore’s own ArtsCentric is making sure of this is a known fact in their production of Aida, with music by Elton John, Lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang. Kevin S. McAllister, Cedric D. Lyles, and Shalyce N. Hemby skillfully band together to bring a first-rate rendition of this timeless love story.
Kevin S. McAllister does a masterful job with his direction of this production.
Outside life is grim, filled with smut and scandal to the brim. But here within these ArtsCentric walls, the cast of Sister Act has the remedy and the cure for all that is wrong with the world. Directed by Kevin S. McAllister with Musical Direction by Cedric D. Lyles and Choreography by Shalyce N. Hemby, this cast is raising their voices and making a joyful noise that will ring all through the Christmas season.
Listen to the beat and you’ll hear what’s in their soul! Live from the center of your radio dial— just at the tippy-top end of Station North coming to you directly from The Motor House— ArtsCentric is bringing you the sensational smash hit musical Memphis. Directed by Kevin S. McAllister with Musical Direction by Cedric D. Lyles and Choreography by Torens Johnson, this stellar production is the music of your soul like you’ve never heard heart and soul and rock and roll and rhythm and blues before.
Ladies and Gentlemen, you are about to see a story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery, and treachery: all of those things that ArtsCentric holds near and dear to their hearts! Presenting for the first time an all African-American production of Kander and Ebb’s Chicago, ArtsCentric is raising the bar of expectation— lucky Lindy never flew so high! Directed by Kevin S. McAllister with Musical Direction by Cedric D. Lyles and Choreography by Shalyce N.
The fireside is blazing bright, and they’re caroling through the night! This Christmas will be a very special Christmas— just so long as you head over to ArtsCentric, now residing at The Motor House in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District, and celebrate the holiday season with their production of Sincerely, Holidays. The third in the Sincerely series, Conceived and Directed by Kevin S. McAllister, this beautiful musical revue celebrates African-American holiday musical traditions and is so full of joy that you’ll be bursting at the seams with the holiday spirit before the evening is over.
Miracles happen all the time in the world of R&B. So too do they happen in the world of MT— Musical Theatre. ArtsCentric is currently presenting a stupendous miracle, thankfully for more than just one night only with their stellar production of Dreamgirls. Directed by Kevin S. McAllister with Musical Direction by Cedric D. Lyles, this visionary display of storytelling is laced with exceptional talent, determined dedication, and earnest heart and soul that will leave you dreaming of more and yearning to come back and see it again and again.
Your dream is about to come true if you open your eyes to what’s in front of you! And that’s the ArtsCentric production of Dreamgirls now playing at The Motor House in Baltimore’s very own Station North Arts District. Live for one night only— well, one night each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening over the course of eight weekends— they will indeed be your Dreamgirls as only the fine talents of ArtsCentric can be!
All shall know the wonder of purple summer who are lucky enough to have attended the ArtsCentric Summer Institute’s production of Spring Awakening. Presented as a final showcasing of the Summer Institute’s hard-working students under the Direction of Artistic Director Kevin McAllister and Musical Director Cedric D. Lyles, this stellar production of young performers brings their radiant vocal talents to light in a show that rings true for adolescents of today despite being set in a time long ago.
Pins. Saltpeter. Does love and marriage have a place in pre-revolutionary America? One had better hope so otherwise Abigail Adams and Martha Jefferson will serve no purpose in Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards’ 1776. In the sixth installment of Vote Yes: Inside Independence Hall, TheatreBloom sits down with Santina Maiolatesi and MaryKate Brouillet, the only two female performers in 1776 to find out what it’s like to be a part of the independency revolution as a woman.
It’s family first and family last and family by and by! When you’re an Addams? You do what Addams’ do or die! Finishing out the Move Toward the Darkness interviews, we bring the series to a close with the patriarch of the family, Gomez Florencia Addams. Toby’s Co-Artistic Director is back to the stage after nearly a year’s acting hiatus and is loving every minute of what this creepy and kooky papa character has to offer.
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,
Have you heard about po’ chile Celie? Have you heard about The Color Purple? Have you heard about ArtsCentric? The blossoming Baltimore-based company is bringing a quality show to the stage this holiday season with their production of the Alice Walker Pulitzer Prize-Winning novel-inspired musical. Directed by Kevin S. McAllister with Musical Direction by Cedric D. Lyles, this emotionally provocative, gripping musical is a heart-changing, inspiring story perfect for this time of year when everyone’s heart could use a little reminder of faith,
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,