author: Amanda N. Gunther
The thing you have to remember is spirit and teamwork! And that happiness is anything and anyone that’s loved by you. And you’ll just love all the spirit and teamwork that’s coming together in Stand Up For…Theatre’s production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! It may not be the Broadway revival version (so no Sally, no “Beethoven Day” and no “That’s My New Philosophy”) but it’s still adorable,
Stand Up For…Theatre (SUF…T) is bringing its stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz to the DoodleHatch Interactive Art Museum in Columbia from June 9 to June 18. This timeless tale, in which Dorothy travels from Kansas over the rainbow to the magical Land of Oz, is sure to delight kids of all ages who want to join in on the adventure and follow the yellow brick road to see the great Wizard of Oz!
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.
Tumble on the stage and they’re
hopin’ and a wishin’! They’ve poured themselves a cup of ambition— Stand Up For…
Theatre! is doing 9 to 5. They’re singin’ and a dancin’; they got their
blood pumping! Dolly Parton’s musical will really keep you jumping! I’ll say it
again— they’re producing 9 To 5. Produced by Grant Myers, Directed by Ed
Higgins, with Musical Direction by Brandon Seehoffer, and Choreography by
Lenore Florez,
Sometimes you can only shake your
head and ask, “Why?” Why the need to turn everything into a musical? Shows like
Pipe Dream, Kelly, and Via Galactica top Smithsonian.com’s list
of Broadway’s Top Ten Musical Flops; also
making the list, Carrie the Musical. Carrie opened on Broadway in 1988 and
after 16 previews and 5 performances it closed. In 1991, Ken Mendelbaum wrote a
book chronicling the history of Broadway musical flops,
Whenever
I am assigned to review a show presented by Stand Up For… Theatre, I know for
sure that I am going to be challenged to examine my conscience. For years now SUFT,
the theatrical division of Erase Hate Through Art, has been giving us
productions that challenge us to not only look at the world around us and the
role we play in it, but our perception of the madness that surrounds us.
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,