Grease is the word…is the word…is the word… is the word… it’s on stage… it’s here now…
At Tidewater Players for two weekends only (and be careful to pick your Grease very carefully when you make your ticket selections because Tidewater is offering Grease-OG and Grease-Elite, where the Elite production cast is comprised of performers age 55+ so if you’re hoping to see someone you know,
I’m reviewing— the situation! Or as the case may be— the production! Of Oliver! at Tidewater Players this spring. And it is not your grandma’s Oliver! which is arguably one of the best things that can be said for a production of this show, as so many people write it off as either a children’s show or Annie with boys. This production is neither of those things and I’ll raise all the flagons of ale in the tavern in a grateful cheer to that!
Small pleasures! Small pleasures! Who would deny us these? (Not me!)
Two kiddos— large measures! No skimpin’ if you please! When you get to sit down and have a chit-chat with BOTH Colton Roberts and Hazel Vogel, it’s a fine, fine life! And these two young performers couldn’t be more of a delight to chat with! I got the pleasure of catching them at the end of their rehearsal for Oliver! to talk to them about playing the titular role,
The grass is green and dense! On the right side of the fence! And it’s a fine life! A fine life— to be doing Oliver! at Tidewater Players this spring. You’re always going to get the raw and nitty gritty of a dark show when it comes to one directed by Bambi Johnson and that’s what we’re here for! Sitting down with Ryan Geiger and Emily Jewett, playing Bill Sikes and Nancy, respectively,
Reset your mind to island time. Because it’s five o’clock somewhere. And for the next two weekends, it’s five o’clock in Havre de Grace as the Tidewater Players presents Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville. Directed by Dickie Mahoney, with Musical Direction by Chris Rose, and Choreography by Evyo (and tap-choreo by Bambi Johnson), this ‘throw-your-cares-away’ silly good time show is just what the doctor ordered in these chilly winter months. And if you really want to be on “island time”?
If you find yourself short on cheer just think about that special year (no, not 2019 that was a different year…same story) that Tidewater Players reached up on their shelf…and put up on their stage a musical called Elf! It’s sparkle-jolly-jingle-twinkly! Or however it goes (this Christmas Grinch over here still hasn’t finished writing out her Christmas cards…) but however it goes— it goes with lots of razzle-dazzle seasonal pizzazz! Elf at Tidewater Players is a heart-warming,
Hey. I gotta prediction. You wanna hear it? Tidewater Players production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is going all the way! Don’t write off this jukebox musical, featuring the music & lyrics of Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil (and a book by Douglas McGrath) because its actually a heartwarming story that reads extremely well on an intimate stage, like the one Tidewater Players is working with at The Opera House.
Let’s live before we die, let’s laugh before we cry— let’s hold each other close and dance! And there couldn’t be a more in-love, truly romantic couple filling out the roles of Morticia and Gomez Addams than Michele and Greg Guyton. They’re so goofy and crazy about one another, the whole interview was almost a half an hour, 20 minutes of which was the pair of them laughing and canoodling and laughing while canoodling. Which is why they’re a perfect match for these star roles in The Addams Family musical opening at Tidewater Players in Havre de Grace.
Puppy dogs with droopy faces…
Unicorns with dancing mice…
Sunrise in wide open spaces…
Disney World— I’ll go there twice!
Maybe don’t go there twice, but consider going to see Tidewater Players’ production of The Addams Family? They’re creepy and kooky…and all that jazz… and we’ve got two of them— Wednesday and Pugsley here to chit chat about the process and give you some doom and gloom— I mean,
“I don’t want to start a riot. I don’t want to blaze a trail. I don’t want to be a symbol or a cautionary tale.” Musical theatre is story first. Always has been. It’s the lyrics in the music which transports the story to the audience and at the end of the day, the story at the heart of The Prom is just about a person wanting to live their life like any other normal person and get to have all the things that any other normal person has.
She just wants to go to the prom. And take her girlfriend. Why can’t the world be more accepting instead of prejudiced, homophobic, and closed-minded? In the final installment of our ‘It’s Time To Dance’ interview series with the Teen Corps from Tidewater Players’ The Prom, we get to chat with Lizzie Sprague and Sammi Flickinger, playing Emma and Alyssa, one on one with what it’s like to be a part of this area premiere.
Got your glittery Converse to match your sparkly dress? We’ve got two more chit-chat conversations with cast members from the ‘teens’ of The Prom here for you!
Thank you so very much for coming to chat with us! Tell us who you are and who you play in this!
Shelly Squire: My name is Shelly Squire and I’m in the teen ensemble.
Why I you want to come out and be a part of The Prom?
Will you be this year’s Prom Queen? Are you ready for this year’s Prom dance? We’ve got a couple more members of the ‘teens’ from Tidewater Players’ production of The Prom to get you totally psyched about coming out to see the show!
Thanks so much for sitting with us! Really thrilled to be talking with you about The Prom. Tell us who you are and who you play!
Do you have your tickets to The Prom? If you’ve been following along so far we’ve had four members of the ‘teen’ group tell us all about what’s so special and why you should come! Here’s a couple more for your consideration!
Thanks for joining the conversation and sitting down to chat with us— tell us who you are and who you’re playing?
Tristin Goodenough: I’m Tristin Goodenough and I’m part of the teen ensemble.
Who’s ready to add some Zazz to their Prom? Two more ‘teens’ from the area premiere of The Prom here to chat with us about their prom experiences!
Thanks for sitting down with us, why don’t you tell us who you are and who you play?
Maggie Donahue: I’m Maggie Donahue and I play Shelby.
Tell me a little bit about Shelby.
Maggie: Shelby is a cheerleader.
One thing’s universal— life’s no dress rehearsal! Do you have your perfect prom dress? Shoes? Gown or tux? Or— *gasp* date!? For the area premiere of The Prom, Tidewater Players has given us their “teens” to have some “Prom-Goss” (also known as gossip) about what it’s like to be a part of the area premiere of this sensational new show that’s currently sweeping the nation.
Thank you so much for sitting down with us,
Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Local Actress Makes Off-Off-Broadway Debut!
Look out, Hollywood! Move over, Tinseltown! Because Kerri Heineman is making her Off-Off-Broadway debut this weekend! As a featured ensemble member in Tidewater Players’ A Christmas Story, Miss Heineman will be playing not one, not two, but three different characters for her stage debut!
Playing a dashing devil during a daring dream sequence, a towns-person, and the most important ensemble role of all- Mrs.
Goodbye November! Thanksgiving’s gone! Now every house in Havre de Grace has a plastic reindeer on its lawn. The season’s starting— I’ll give you proof! Tidewater Players bought a nine-foot dancing Santa for the HdG Opera House roof!* ‘Cause it’s almost nearly getting close to counting down to Christmas! It’s almost time to see their stage light up the town for Christmas! It’s something like fifteen-thousand and forty-two minutes away— before A Christmas Story opens on opening day!
With Cats some say one rule is true: get your tickets for Tidewater Players’ production this fall. It is like no other production of Cats ever seen or that will ever be seen. The stunning immersive world of T.S. Eliot and Andrew Lloyd Webber come swirling together in a mystical, magical, Jellicle production directed and choreographed by Bambi Johnson with musical direction by Chris Rose. There are singing cats, there are dancing cats,
Turn your face to the moonlight…let your memory lead you…in a fitting finale for our feline features with the Tidewater Players’ cast of Cats, we finally get to feel the mind of the glamour cat. Meow.
Thank you for giving us a moment of your time! Please tell us who you are and who you play!
Ariel Chaillou: I am Ariel Chaillou and I play Grizabella.
Tell me about Grizabella!
For he was once a star of the highest degree… as we wind down to our last two felines remaining…are you ready to meet Asparagus? Or might you better know him as…Gus? MEOW!
Thank you for taking a moment of your time to talk with us, could you tell us who you are and who you play?
Mark Briner: My name is Mark Briner, you know that. Don’t I write for you?
Oh well I never! Was there ever a cat so clever? You might even call this cat…Meow-gical! Hehe. MEOW!
Thank you for giving us a few moments of your time! Please tell me who you are and who you play?
Sammi Flickinger: My name is Sammi Flickinger and I play Mr. Mistoffelees.
What is it like getting to play Mr. Mistoffeles?
Sammi: It’s really fun! I don’t usually get chances like this;
He’s the bafflement of Scotland Yard, The Flying Squad’s despair. For when they reach the scene of crime…Macavity’s not there! Macavity! Macavity! But also the railway cat? Meow-meow? Double trouble with this feline feature!
Thank you for giving us a moment of your time, if you could tell us who you are and who you play that would be a great place to start!
Stanley Evans: I’m Stanley Evans. I play Skimbleshanks and Macavity.
Spry as a kitten, sage as Old Deuteronomy, with talents and graces and kindness and joy…one could hardly wait to hear the words of the Director, the magical, Jellicle, Bambi Johnson-cat! We’ll call her… Bastet… mother and goddess of cats! MEOW!
Thank you so much for giving us some of your rehearsal time and all of your actors to participate in this series. We are just so excited to do this with you!
And his numerous progeny prospers and thrives, and the village is proud of him in his decline. Ancient and wise and the leader of the Jellicles…he took a little more time to get to you because he’s lived so very, very long… Meow.
Thank you for giving us some of your time, if you would tell us who you are and who you play, that would be great!
Bob Sullivan: I’m Bob Sullivan and I play Old Deuteronomy.
Practical cats. Dramatical cats. Pragmatical cats. Fanatical cats. Purr? Mrow.
Thank you for giving us a moment of your time! If you could tell us who you are and who you play, that would be lovely.
Vera Roell: My name is Vera Roell and I play Exotica.
Tell me a little bit about Exotica.
Vera: The thing with Exotica is that she’s one of the more ensemble cats.
Jellicle Cats are white and black. Jellicle Cats are of moderate size. Jellicles jump like a jumping jack. Jellicle Cats have moonlit eyes. And they like to…dance. *hiss*
Thank you for giving us some of your time! If you could tell us who you are and who you play in this production, that would be wonderful.
Whitney Russell: My name is Whitney Russell and I play Etcetera.
Tell me a little bit about Etcetera.
In the whole of St. James’ the smartest of names is the name of this Brummel of cats. And we’re all of proud to be nodded or bowed to by the cat about town in white spats! Me-ow!
Thank you for a few moments of your time! If you could tell us who you are and who you play in this production of Cats that would be great!
Wayne Ivusich: My name is Wayne Ivusich and I am portraying Bustopher Jones.
With a smokey belt, she purrs it out…that fiendish song about Macavity (who’s not there!) Yes, the feline feature we’ve all been waiting for…miss bombastic, miss dance-n-sing…well…you know. Meow!
Thank you so much for giving us a moment of your time! Tell us who you are and who you play in Cats.
Lindsey McCumber: My name is Lindsey McCumber and I play Bombalurina.
Tell us about Bombalurina.
Can you ride on a broomstick to places far distant? Are you familiar with bell, candle, and book? Who better than to ‘know the book’ than the someone from the directing team? Purrpurr.
Thank you so much for giving us some of your time! Tell us who you are and how you got involved with this production of Cats.
Becky Flickinger: I’m Becky Flickinger and my role with this production is the assistant director and Tidewater Liasson/Production Manager.