Articles Tagged With: Jeff Baker

The Music Man at Third Wall Productions

Reviews February 7, 2025 Amanda N. Gunther Leave a comment

Four venues and seven years ago— they had trouble! Right there in Bawlmer County. And they’re at it again! Further up here in Bawlmer County…which starts with a B and that rhymes with P and that stands for pool! Them rootin’ tootin’ gosh-darn Iowa-stubborn Third Wallers certainly know the territory! And they’re bringing you a rollicking good musical theatre classic— Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man. With 76 trombones! (Well…one trombone, played by Harry B.

Once Upon a Mattress at Third Wall Productions

Reviews November 2, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

Fill the moat to overflowing and raise the goblet high! Third Wall Productions is giving a ball— wait…no…no that’s not right. They’re building a wall— around the swamp? No…wait a minute…which fairytale-ever-after is this one? (*double checks the program*) Aah! Yes! Once Upon a Mattress! The original swamp-princess and a silly good time with campy good characters, up-tempo music, and a living pea! Directed by Kristen Cooley, with Musical Direction by Will Zellhofer,

Sweeney Todd at Rogue Swan Theatre Company ???? James Craig

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Rogue Swan Theatre Company

Reviews September 27, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

The more he bleeds the more he lives…he never forgets and he never forgives…not Sweeney… not Sweeney Todd…and you do not wish to be on his hit list, I assure you. Rogue Swan Theatre Company, celebrating their ten-year anniversary, has gone all out— not just the spacious stage and auditorium of Havre de Grace’s STAR Centre— but they’re producing Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street on said STAR Centre’s mainstage and this beast of a Sondheim musical is waiting with glistening razor edge and an unusually unique Rogue Swan hallmark stamped across its existence.

Jesus Christ Superstar at Just Off Broadway

Reviews October 12, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

Roll on up for the price is down, come on in for this show’s in town— see with your eyes— what this company’s done— hear with your ears— as they sing as one. Won’t you go see— their Jesus Christ? Won’t you go hear their Jesus Christ? That’s Jesus Christ Superstar, the Andrew Lloyd Webber raging rock musical version of select sections of the new testament up to and including the crucifixion of Jesus.

Shrek at Charm City Players

Reviews March 22, 2018 Mike Zellhofer

I thought that love was only true in fairytales…. Then I saw Shrek, directed by Stephen Napp, at Charm City Players and now I’m a believer! The Charm City Players are in residence at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Auditorium at Mercy High School.

If it were possible to capture the very definition of “collaborative theatre”, then there would have to be a reference to Charm City Players. From the moment that you walk into the theatre,

Oklahoma! at Artistic Synergy

Uncategorized March 8, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

Territory folks should stick together! Territory folks should all be pals! The cowboys dance with the farmer’s daughters; the farmers dance with the rancher’s gals! Now I’d like to say a word ‘bout Artistic Synergy…they set up in the church basement and that’s fine! They do shows to make us smile, and they’re dancing’s real in style, and they’re doing Oklahoma! by Rogers & Hammerstein! Oh— territory folks should stick together— territory folks should all be friends,

Clue: The Musical at ArtisticSynergy

Reviews September 8, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther 2 Comments

Professor Plum in the ballroom with the knife! Or— wait, no, no, no. That’s not right. It was Mrs. White in the library with the wrench! Or perhaps it was Mr. Green in the study with the rope! No! It was Artistic Synergy of Baltimore in the basement of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church with Clue: The Musical! Making his directorial debut, Nickolas Epps spearheads the zany board-game turned stage musical in the right direction,

Bye Bye Birdie at Artistic Synergy

Reviews March 8, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

You’ve gotta be— sincere! You’ve gotta see it here! Cause when you see it here— at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore— you’re honestly going to see— sincere! If you’re seein’ it here— at Artistic Synergy— then it’s really sincere! And if you’re seein’ it here— Bye Bye Birdie that is— then it’s gonna be right, oh baby! Directed by Jeff Baker, this fast-movin’ 50’s feel-good musical is showing the east side of Baltimore that there’s such a lot of living to do!

Anthony "Tony" Paul Ringer Sr. (center) and the ensemble of Smokey Joe's Cafe performing "Jailhouse Rock"

Review: Smokey Joe’s Cafe at Artistic Synergy

Uncategorized April 21, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

Here’s a picture of a neighborhood, there’s the corner where they all stood. The neighborhood is Rosedale, in the basement of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church to be exact, and the corner? That’s Artistic Synergy, a staple of a community theatre in that corner of Baltimore. Presenting Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller as their spring musical, the company puts forth an enthusiastic effort that is well met with strong vocal talent to the less than cohesive musical revue.

The cast of Seussical! The Musical at Charm City Players

Review: Seussical! The Musical at Charm City Players

Reviews March 15, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

Dearest Reader, an adventure awaits you— both bold and daring!

But with effort abound, tons of creativity and caring

A spectacular spectacle, and you must doubt those naysayers,

Comes Seussical! The Musical at Charm City Players!

It’s all been done before, it’s been done too many times

Why that musical about Seuss with all of its rhymes!

But I’m telling you this,

Legally Blonde at Cockpit in Court

Reviews July 22, 2014 Amanda N. Gunther

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!