Articles Tagged With: Jake Schwartz

Newsies at Other Voices Theatre

Reviews August 2, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Victory! Guts and glory! They’re a front-page story— they’re the kings of— Frederick! You heard it here first, folks, and the papes don’t lie! Newsies at Other Voices Theatre is a real smash sensation! OVT is on a mission, kill the competition! And they’re doing it right! Directed by Ashely Gerhardt with Musical Direction by Tyrus Mataban-Ward, and Choreography by Kiersten Gasemy, this exuberantly energetic production is carrying the banner of excellence and engaging the audience with their enthusiasm and heart from start to finish.

Heathers at Third Wall Productions

Reviews April 8, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Dear Diary,

My teenage angst bullsh*t now has a body count. But what’s your damage, Heather? Is your name even Heather? Just in case it isn’t, Third Wall Productions has a whole bunch of them (three to be in fact) with their fiery production of the screen-to-stage musical Heathers, now playing through April 14th 2024. Directed by Jake Schwarts with Musical Direction by Anton Van De Motter and Choreography by Kelly Williams Carlson,

Elf at Third Wall Productions

Reviews December 4, 2023 Leonard Taube

In 2003 actor/comedian Will Ferrell oozed his way into the hearts and minds of people worldwide as Buddy the Elf in the Christmas smash motion picture Elf. So popular was the film that, worldwide, it grossed $223.9 million…quite a feat for a film with a production budget of $33 million! A few years later it was turned into a musical with a score by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, and book by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan.

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,

Zac Brightbill (left) as Aaron and Cera Baker (right) as Casey in First Date ???? Alison Harbaugh, Sugar Farm Productions

First Date at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre

Reviews July 5, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Delicious, well-seasoned, and rare. And a big enough portion to share! Bring me all of the heartache, a small side of woe— that flavor of longing that I long to know— yes I’d order love! Well, maybe that’s a tall order for a— *gasp* First Date! But it happens. Sometimes. Almost never. But sometimes!! The fairytales we all grew up on, the soap operas and prime-time dramas we’re all addicted to— the fiction books and even the musical librettos.

First Impressions: From 13 to First Date an Interview with Jake Schwartz

Interviews June 29, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

First impressions, wearing the right thing, not saying the wrong thing, and all the butterflies, nausea, and chaos that typically accompanies a first date. We’ve had them. (Most of the waking world that is.) Most of us can even remember a disastrous first date. And now Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, for it’s mid-season musical, is premiering First Date that low-key musical that debuted on Broadway a decade ago, starring that young girl who had just finished originating Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family musical.

The Rocky Horror Show at Stand Up For Theatre

Reviews October 23, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s a science fiction— whoa-ooh-ooh double feature— well… maybe just a singular two-act musical feature? It must be spooky season because Stand Up For… Theatre has got The Rocky Horror Show bouncing all over its stages! Directed by Ed Higgins with Musical Direction by William Zellhofer & Andy Kay Wojciehowski, and Choreography by Lilou Altman, this bawdy cult classic has all the iconic, recognizable numbers and some of your favorite Halloween characters to make your evening wild.

Bright Star at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre

Reviews July 9, 2022 Erin Tarpley

“Joy and sorrow never last, I’ll die trying not to live in the past”

Banjos, bluegrass, and bright dreams grace the stage at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre this summer with their production of Bright Star. Playing now through July 23rd, appropriately under the bright stars shining over Annapolis in the summery open air, Bright Star will delight audiences with its wholehearted Americana folksy twang.

Bright Star follows the tales of a young aspiring writer just back from war who seeks out the approval of a stern but talented editor-in-chief with an aspirational past of her own.

Loserville at The Fredericktowne Players

Reviews February 1, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

Pinch me! Is this real? I got a one-way ticket into Loserville—
the musical! Now appearing on the Jack B. Kussmaul Theater at Frederick Community
College with The Fredericktowne Players, Loserville, the incredibly
underrated and fabulously feel-good musical all about communication is under
the superb direction of Matthew Bannister with Musical Direction by Matthew Dohm
and Choreography by Laurie Newton. The tagline’s not wrong— think Grease
meets The Big Bang Theory— but it’s so much more than that.

Emma at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore

Reviews August 14, 2019 Mike Zellhofer

There is a jukebox musical that has all of Rosedale
shakin’! It’s Emma! A Pop Musical, now playing at Artistic Synergy of
Baltimore. There is so much energy from the cast they will have you toe tapping
and maybe even dancing in the aisle.

Amanda N. Gunther | TheatreBloom

First time Director Jake Schwartz burst onto the scene
and even shows up in a scene or two.

Dog Sees God at Wolf Pack Theater Company

Reviews May 3, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

The broken parts of a dead body will never heal. Sticks and
stones may break my bones but names— will scar me so deep that I just may never
recover. Good grief. When the iconic, albeit off-kilter, happiness of one’s
childhood, hits puberty and spirals off course with tough life lessons and
harrowing high-school truths, you get Bert V. Royal’s Dog Sees God. Fitting into the wheelhouse of Wolf Pack Theatre
Company productions,

Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean at Cockpit in Court

Reviews July 26, 2018 Mark Briner

In the final days of the summer of 1955, a definitive cultural event rocked teenaged America when screen idol James Dean was killed in a car accident at the age of 24. Having starred in only three major films (Rebel Without a Cause. East of Eden, and Giant), he defined the prototypical rebellious, misunderstood teen and resonated with American youth unlike any actor ever. Despite his minimal time in the public eye,

Much Ado About Nothing at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore

Reviews May 10, 2018 Jim Gerhardt

Artistic Synergy of Baltimore (ASoB) presents a splendid rendition of Much Ado About Nothing, one of Shakespeare’s most well-known classic comedies. Most are probably familiar with the material already through literature class, seeing it performed elsewhere, or from the various movie versions (most notably the 1993 version directed by Kenneth Branagh), but for those who are not familiar, it can be summed up briefly as two love stories intertwining with misdirection,

The Music Man at Third Wall Productions

Reviews February 2, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther 1 Comment

O-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin’ down the street! Oh please let it be for me! O-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin’ down the street— and I know, I know, I know what it must be! Why it’s bringing something special— a classic production— just for me! And all of Charm City as Third Wall Production presents The Music Man as their winter stage offering of 2018. Directed by Mike Zellhofer with Musical Direction by Andrew Zile and William Zellhofer,

Wonderful Life at Third Wall Productions

Reviews December 13, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

What do you want, Baltimore? Do you want the moon? Just say the word and George Bailey will throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Third Wall Productions seems to think that’s a pretty good idea. So they’re going to give you the moon— in the form a musical adaptation of Frank Capra’s Bedford Falls icon, called A Wonderful Life. With Books & Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and Music by Joe Raposo,

Romeo and Juliet at The Green Globe Theatre

Reviews June 3, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

Now, thou art what thou art, a production of Romeo and Juliet. Though this production, at The Green Globe Theatre (Baltimore’s only producing eco-friendly theatre) is beyond the simple notion of star-crossed lovers meeting in fair Verona. Of course, one must be full well in all five wits to endure the length of this production, but tis worth the patience and endurance for the cinematic elements and uniquely conceived approach to placing the star-crossed lover’s tragedy in WWII Nazi occupied France circa 1944.

Fiddler on the Roof at Third Wall Productions

Reviews February 17, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

The papas! The mammas! The daughters! The sons! They’re all there as tradition would dictate— but! This isn’t your grandfather’s Fiddler on the Roof happening as Third Wall Productions approaches its one-year anniversary! Directed by Lance Bankerd, with Musical Direction by Edward Berlett, this reimagined production of a time-weathered classic is an innovative look at how the flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all. Pulling the production out of the dreary,

Review: 13: The Musical at Third Wall Productions

Reviews May 13, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

We’ve all got a little more homework to do when it comes to life. Learn not to judge, learn not to label, learn to be yourself! That’s the message that sixteen amazing young performers are preaching at Third Wall Productions and their current presentation of 13: The Musical. Directed by Kali Baklor with Musical Direction by Eliza Van Kan, this up-tempo life lesson of a musical is full of heart and teenage spirit and guaranteed to bring you back to middle school quicker than you can say “popular.”

Middle School nostalgia comes flooding back to the senses with Scenic Designer and Artist Amy Rudai and Set Designer Jordan Hollett,

A Little More Homework: Studying the Cast of 13: The Musical at Third Wall Productions- Meet Jake Schwartz

Interviews May 12, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

He’s the coolest kid in school and he’s never done— the T. The T? The Tongue! Bret wants to give Kendra The Tongue! Oh my god, you guys! Heading into the homestretch of our TheatreBloom exclusive interview series, “A Little More Homework” we sit down with Jake Schwartz of Third Wall Productions’ 13: The Musical to get the “t” about “The T.”

Thanks for sitting with us, Jake, would you give us a quick introduction to yourself and we’ll get started?