Articles Tagged With: John Dignam

A Few Good Men at Lumina Theatre Company

Reviews November 23, 2024 Erin Klarner Leave a comment

author: Erin Klarner

A Few Good Men – the 1989 play by Aaron Sorkin which he adapted into the famous screenplay – is visiting the Howard County Arts Center for a limited one-weekend run in their black box theater, directed by Meghan Hackett of the Lumina Theatre Company. And it is well worth making time in your weekend to see.

With many short scenes, it is important to keep scene transitions quick so that the pace doesn’t get bogged down and lose the audience’s interest.

Dr. Doolittle at The Salem Players

Reviews May 1, 2023 Mike Zellhofer

It is the trial of the century! Every juicy piece of gossip you could imagine is wrapped up neatly, just waiting to be unraveled. There are men, women, and a strange woman. There are cops, judges, bailiffs, and animals. What? Animals? Yes, animals! In fact, some can even talk to them. Curious? Then you must see Doctor Dolittle being presented by The Salem Players.

Director Jen Sizer takes the ball to direct her first musical and delivers a touchdown.

Mister Roberts at The Salem Players

Reviews November 12, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

As the Christmas season runs rampant, many, many weeks before it’s really even Christmas season, a particular song from Irving Berlin’s White Christmas comes to mind. And yes, while White Christmas is no doubt on a theatre somewhere this early November weekend, it’s not at The Salem Players, and I promise, I’m making a point. It’s a ditty that the soldiers sing, “…we’ll follow the old man wherever he wants to go…” and it swells the heart a little because it showcases the loyalty (albeit humorously at first) of men in service to their leader.

Moon Over Buffalo at Spotlighters Theatre

Reviews October 31, 2019 Mike Zellhofer

Ken Ludwig’sMoon Over Buffalo is the second installment from Spotlighters
Theatre’s 58th season. If you are looking for some gut chuckling, tears
down your cheeks humor, then you won’t want to miss this show. Director Brandon
Richards has mentored his cast through door slamming, side splitting hysterics that
will keep you laughing all the way home.

Shealyn Jae Photography Moon Over Buffalo at Spotlighters Theatre. Photo: Shealyn Jae Photography

The first thing you notice upon
entering the theatre is the very cozy and well-designed set of Sam Martin.

La Cage Aux Folles at HDYLMN’s Stand Up for… Theatre

Reviews October 31, 2018 Mike Zellhofer

Every holiday season I search the idiot box for that feel-good show of the year. Little did I know that this year I would find it at the Chesapeake Arts Center, in Stand Up For…Theatre’s La Cage Aux Folles. Like Macy’s, Best Buy, SUFT brings Christmas early; only instead of a big box they use a black box.

Before I dive into the cast, crew, and show itself,

Laughter on the 23rd Floor at Cockpit in Court

Reviews June 23, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

Your entire future depends upon you finding a voice for your comedy! And there’s no truer a statement when it comes to Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor opening the cabaret series at Cockpit in Court this summer. Directed by John D’Amato, this zany, albeit dated, comedy finds purchase in today’s society with its striking relevance to the bullying process of censorship in media and entertainment.

Hayden Muller is at the top of his game with simplistic Scenic and Lighting Design (except for one slightly mis-angled overhead light which casts somewhat of a blinding beam of irritation into just one small section of the in-the-round spacing) for this production.

The Trial of the Catonsville Nine at Salem Players

Reviews May 19, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

You cannot know where you are going until you know where you have been; those who are ignorant of history are bound to repeat it. Never have words felt truer; the times in which we live call for a drastic examination of history to give us hope for moving forward as a society. A true historical event, recognized nationally in 1968 put 21228— the great community of Catonsville— on the map. Daniel Berrigan, a priest turned playwright,

The Graduate at Dundalk Community Theatre

Reviews February 27, 2018 Mike Zellhofer

Dundalk Community Theatre brings to stage the classic coming of age story, “The Graduate”, Directed by Todd Starkey, with scene/lighting/sound design by Marc W. Smith, and costumer Eva Grove. As I am a fan of Mr. Starkey’s work, I was very much looking forward to this production. Having seen his phenomenal direction of Assassins, and his brilliant portrayal of Professor Callahan, perhaps I set the bar too high for this one.

The Mousetrap at The Woodbrook Players

Reviews November 13, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

Three blind mice…three blind mice…see how they run…to The Woodbrook Players in the Brown Memorial Woodbrook Presbyterian Church this autumn to see the infamous Agatha Christie play The Mousetrap. Critically acclaimed as The West End’s longest running live theatrical show, The Mousetrap is filled with spine-tingling chills that only Agatha Christie can pen properly for the stage. Directed by Ron Oaks, the show is making its Towson area appearance just in time to put the post-Halloween shivers in the air.

Arsenic and Old Lace at Cockpit in Court

Reviews June 9, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

Madness, thy name is Brewster! Me thinks the aunties doth protest too much! Oh— wait a minute— the season of Shakespeare and all’s well that goes with that has concluded. Let’s try this again. Madness runs in the Brewster family; it practically gallops, though it isn’t quite the truth either. Madness doesn’t run through the Brewster family, it meanders slowly taking its time to get intimately acquainted with each and every member! And you’ll find out just how intimately insane the Brewster clan is but only if you venture out to Cockpit In Court for the first mainstage show of their 2017 season!

Peter Pan at The Salem Players

News May 5, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

Are you ready for today’s lesson? Listen to teacher, and repeat after me! I will fly second star to the right and straight on to The Salem Players to see their production of Peter Pan before it sails off to Neverland forever! I will believe in fairies and clap my hands to prove that I do! And most importantly, I won’t grow up, no matter what! If all of that makes sense then you’re in the right place for a magical and fun-filled evening’s entertainment!

Laughter on the 23rd Floor at Laurel Mill Playhouse

Reviews February 16, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

Funny is money and you can take it straight to the bank that Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor will have you rolling in riches before the night is through. Comically charged and full of political prescience that will knock your socks clean out the window, the latest production to hit The Laurel Mill Playhouse’s main stage is a hoot! Directed by John D’Amato, this charming comedy captures the epitome of the television screenwriter’s golden era of funny.

Review: Romulus at Memorial Players

Reviews November 14, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther 2 Comments

When tragedy only suits cold climates and comedy best suits the situation, will you find yourself prepared to— make Rome great again? I call upon you now— friends, countrymen, Baltimoreans! We call upon you in this time of irreproachable past and uncertain futures to live in the now! Live without great expectation but also without fear! Live in the present moment and presently get yourself to Memorial Players in Bolton Hill to see their production of Romulus,

The Rocky Horror Show at How Do You Like Me Now Productions

News November 2, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

The sword of Damocles is hanging over your head! And you’ve got the feeling someone’s gonna be cutting your thread if you don’t take a jump to the Brooklyn Park and then a step down Hammonds Lane to the black box theatre of the Chesapeake Arts Center to see The Rocky Horror Show. Presented by Erase Hate Through Art and How Do You Like Me Now Productions, the Richard O’Brien cult classic stage musical comes to life under Director Ed Higgins and Musical Director Eliza Van Kan.

Review: Willy Wonka at The Salem Players

Reviews May 16, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

Come with me and you’ll see a world of pure imagination. You’ll begin with a spin travelling in the world of their creation and what you see will truly defy explanation! If you want to view paradise, simply come to The Salem Players of Willy Wonka for the most Wonkariffic time you can imagine! There’s singing, dancing, Oompa Loompas, and candy! Directed by Anita Spicer-Lane with Musical Direction by Sterling Gray, this fantastical creation will take you straight to the heart of Roald Dahl’s enchanting tale about a young lad,

Review: The Royal Family at The Salem Players

Reviews November 6, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

The thrill you get from doing your work is the single most important thing in the world. When the good folks of The Salem Players take to the stage with as much dedication, commitment, love, and enthusiasm as they do for their current production of George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber’s The Royal Family, it is easy to see that they understand this line of thinking. Directed by John D’Amato, who makes his directorial debut with the comedy in three acts,