Articles Tagged With: Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Spamalot at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews January 29, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

When you’re feeling in the dumps— don’t be silly chumps! Just purse your lips and whistle— for a ride to Columbia where you can see the phenomenally funny Monty Python’s Spamalot at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. Directed and Choreographed by Mark Minnick with Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings, this beaming burst of sunshine is enough to brighten anyone’s day with its comedic antics, feel-good foolishness, vibrant singing, and energetic dancing.

Not a Monty Python fan?

Godspell at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews September 4, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

The light of the world is lighting up all of Columbia as Toby’s Dinner Theatre brings Godspell to the stage this autumn season. Co-Directed by David James and Mark Minnick, with Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings, and Choreography by Mark Minnick, this uplifting, joyous Stephen Schwartz musical is a dazzling night of live theatre, waiting to fill audiences’ hearts with happiness. Hope and glee are omnipresent in this production and it is one show you won’t want to miss this season.

DeCarlo Raspberry (left) as Lola and Matt Hirsh (right) as Charlie Price in Kinky Boots. Photo: Jeri Tidwell Photography

The Sex Is In The Heel! Talking Some Kinky Boots with Kinky Boots Stars and Helen Hayes Award Winners Matt Hirsh and DeCarlo Raspberry

Interviews February 12, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

PINK is for playthings.

YELLOW’s for warnings.

PURPLE for princes.

BLACK for wannabes.

GREEN is for pickles.

But RED… RED IS FOR SEX!!!

Serving up all the sex, the sauce, the sassiness, and the
serious heart and soul, Kinky Boots is all the rage at Toby’s Dinner
Theatre of Columbia. Marking the regional premiere of the production, whose
successful run on Broadway sent it touring around the country before it finally
landed in Columbia,

DeCarlo Raspberry (center in blue) as Lola and The Angels in Kinky Boots. Photo: Jeri Tidwell Photography

Kinky Boots at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews January 26, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

The sex is in the heel! And the heels are all over that
stage at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia as they are serving up a big old
helping of Kinky Boots for dinner this winter. Marking the regional
premiere of Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper’s Broadway sensation, Kinky
Boots has a world of joy to offer. Under the superb direction of Mark Minnick,
with Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings,

A Christmas Story at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews November 21, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s almost nearly getting close to counting down to Christmas!
It’s almost time to see the show light up the stage for Christmas! It’s really
only just 34* days away! It’s almost nearly getting close to counting down to
Christmas Day! And what better way to spend your festive holiday? Then by
seeing A Christmas Story at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia! Directed
by Shawn Kettering with Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings and Choreography
by Mark Minnick &

The Bodyguard at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews September 25, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

I hope life treats you kind. And I hope you have all you’ve
dreamed of. And I wish to you joy and happiness— but above all this, I wish you—
to go and see the stellar regional premiere production of The Bodyguard at
Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia. Directed by Mark Minnick and Toby Orenstein
with Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings and Choreography by Shalyce
Hemby, the iconic 90’s film turned stage musical finds its footing with a true
focus on the story in the well-seasoned hands of Mark Minnick,

Grease at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia

Reviews June 6, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

I got chills! They’re multiplying! And I’m telling you to go—
‘cause the show that they’re supplying— it’s electrifying! Why, it’s more than electrifying,
it’s Grease lightning! You’re gonna
need to meditate in Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia’s direction for some real
summer lovin’ this 2019 summer season because Grease is the word and Toby’s production is the one that you want.
Directed and Choreographed by Mark Minnick with Musical Direction by Ross Scott
Rawlings,

Jessica Bennett (left) as Esmerelda and Sam Kobren (right) as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Jeri Tidwell Photography)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews April 10, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

Here it is— the moment you’ve been waiting for! Here it is—
you know exactly what’s in store! A story like you’ve never seen or heard
before! Now’s the time to head to Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia to see the
DC-regional premiere of The Hunchback of
Notre Dame. Directed by Toby Orenstein & Mark Minnick, with Musical
Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings, this musical masterpiece inspired by the
Victor Hugo novel with musical selections from the Disney animated feature film
presents a hauntingly beautiful tale with striking,

Gypsy at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews February 2, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

Amanda N. Gunther | TheatreBloom

Everything’s coming up Toby’s! Everything’s coming up— TOBY’S!
Let them entertain you with their stunning, thrilling, exciting, and magical
production of Gypsy. Directed by Mark
Minnick and Toby Orenstein with Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings, the
truth of a brilliant story is told in earnest, with the heart of that gripping
tale at the forefront of the show creating honest theatrical magic for everyone
who comes to the table and lets the cast and crew of Gypsy entertain them.

The Little Mermaid at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews December 5, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

Watch and you’ll see— you too can be— part of their world! If you book your tickets quickly, that is, you too can be a part of the irresistible holiday magic happening at Toby’s Dinner Theatre this Christmas. Presenting Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Directed and Choreographed by Mark Minnick with Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings, this epic adventure will bring you under the sea and into the fully animated world of Disney’s cherished coming-of-age tale about a little mermaid and her dreams to be part of the human world.

Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews September 21, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

Are you ready to get the join jumpin’? Because Ross Scott Rawlings and his seven piece orchestra are ready to wail away and tickles those ivories all night long over at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia. Jumpin’ to the stage after a sold-out summer of Abba, comes the music of Fats Waller by way of the show Ain’t Misbehavin’. Directed by Monique Midgette with Choreography by Shalyce Hemby and Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings,

Mamma Mia at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews July 7, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

They can dance! They can jive! They’re having the time of their life! And you will too when you come to see Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia present the professional regional premiere of the world famous production Mamma Mia! Available for the first time since the infamous Abba-based production ended its seemingly endless tour, Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia has all your favorite Abba songs, all of the flashy costumes and marvelous dancing,

Newsies at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews March 23, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther 1 Comment

Toby’s Carries Banner! Makes Newsies Smash Success!

Toby’s on a mission! Kills competition with stellar new musical production!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Newsies makes area premiere at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia! Directed by Mark Minnick & Toby Orenstein with Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings and Choreography by Ilona Kessell, this moving and inspirationally sensational Disney musical inspired by the 1992 Disney film is a regular prize-winning affair.

Together Again For The First Time: An Interview with David James and Jeffrey Shankle on Toby’s Young Frankenstein

Interviews February 11, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

Like Laurel and Hardy, like Coke and Bacardi, like Romeo and Juliet, ebb and flow, to and fro! Together again for the first time! They’ve only met in a— wait— when did they meet? Two of Washington DC’s most seasoned musical theatre actors, Helen Hayes-nominated and winning performers Jeffrey Shankle and David James are together again for perhaps the millionth time on the stage, but in a rare setup where they’re playing leading opposites! In a TheatreBloom exclusive interview,

Young Frankenstein at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews January 26, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

If you’re blue— and don’t know where to go— why don’t you go where theatre’s fine?

See Young Frankenstein!

Different songs to really please the ear— dancing feet to watch and you’ll cheer— it’s sublime!

See Young Frankenstein!

Dressed up like a million-dollar trooper! Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper— it’s SUPERDUPER!

You won’t get to see a better show— and Columbia is the place to go— take their word and mine!

Miracle on 34th Street at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews November 29, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s that time of year when the world falls in love and every song you hear seems to say… buy this toy for Christmas! Purchase that thing for Christmas! Spend, spend, spend for holiday cheer! Armed to the teeth with the true spirit of Christmas and holiday bliss, Toby’s the Dinner Theatre of Columbia is fully prepared to combat Christmas commercialism and slay seasonal cynicism with their superb production of Meredith Willson’s Miracle on 34th Street.

Dreamgirls at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews September 8, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

And I’m telling you— you ARE going to Toby’s Dinner Theatre this autumn to see Dreamgirls. It’s more than just a dream— it’s a fantasy come true with sparkle, energy, enthusiasm, and raw talent that will blow you away. Dreamgirls, appearing live on the Toby’s stage as the fall musical of the 2017 season, is filled with the heart and soul of the 60’s and 70’s,

Go! Go! Go! See MaryKate Brouillet as The Narrator in Joseph at Toby’s

Reviews August 16, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

A Narrator’s story…a narrator’s story…strange as it seems, it’s been a summer full of dreams, for this quintet of narrating women for this Joseph run…and it has been fun! Pulling into the final leg of the summer-long production of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and rounding out the last of the rotating carousel of narrators, MaryKate Brouillet steps up into the role and brings the story home for the final two weeks of the show.

Wood Van Meter (left) as Joseph and Cathy Mundy (right) as The Narrator

Go! Go! Go! See Cathy Mundy as The Narrator in Joseph at Toby’s

Reviews August 6, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

Guess what? In their heads— two co-directors had a crazy dream! Five narrators all summer long, was the dream of Mark Minnick and Toby Orenstein! No one knew exactly what that would mean! What to do— it was such a crazy dream! And strange as it seemed— that crazy, crazy dream, brought five women who interpret musical theatre with astonishing brilliance to the stage for the summertime run of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts’ Teen Professional Theatre

Reviews August 6, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

Now, here is a riddle to guess, if you can— hear the bells of Notre Dame! What makes a monster and what makes a man? Sing the bells…bells…bells…of Notre Dame! You’ll only discover the answer to this mystifying riddle in the stunning, stirring, brilliant, and breathtaking production of Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts’ Teen Professional Theatre this summer. Directed by Stephen Fleming with Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings and Choreography by Mark Minnick,

Sing the Bells of Notre Dame with Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts Teen Professional Theatre’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame

News August 4, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther 2 Comments

Morning in Columbia the city awakes— to the bells of Notre Dame!

The merchant man sells and the baker man bakes— to the bells of Notre Dame!

Toby’s Teen Professional Theatre, as a part of Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, is offering up a bold regional premiere this summer with their production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Based on the infamous Victor Hugo novel with songs from the iconic Disney animated film,

Look Out. Look Out! LOOK OUT! Little Shop of Horrors Invades Purple Light Theatre Company

Interviews July 31, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

On the 16th day

Of the month of August

In an early year of a decade

Not too long before our own

The Baltimore Theatre Scene

Suddenly encountered

A vivacious resurgence

To its very existence!

And this nearly-forgotten company surfaced

As such companies often do

With the seemingly most innocent

And unlikely of productions…

PURPLE LIGHT!

Go! Go! Go! See Coby Kay Callahan As The Narrator In Joseph At Toby’s

Reviews July 17, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

Strange as it seems, there’s been a run of crazy dreams— the dream of playing The Narrator in this 2017 summer production of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. And a woman who can interpret the way Miss Coby Kay Callahan does will go far— in fact? She’ll become a star! Taking her place as the third narrator in this rotating series of leading ladies, Callahan presents a convivial and honest narrative character right from the get-go.

GO GO GO SEE Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat this summer at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

News June 13, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

Go! Go! Go! Go go see Joseph…

That’s what the papers say! As Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia celebrates the 45th year of Columbia Center for the Arts (CCTA) and the 50th anniversary of the city of Columbia, what better way to celebrate than with five show-stopping female leads, all of whom have starred on the Toby’s stage in the past, now lined up to be a part of Toby’s present?

Nicki Elledge (center left) as Belle and Jeremy Scott Blaustein (center right) as Lumiere in Beauty & The Beast

Beauty & The Beast at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews March 31, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

Ma chere Mademoiselles— and monsieurs— it is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that Toby’s the Dinner Theatre of Columbia welcomes you tonight. They invite you to relax, to pull up a chair as they proudly present Disney’s Beauty & The Beast. Be— their— guest! Be their guest! Put their service to the test! With exquisite food, a stunning show— here you’ll only get the best! They’ve got song! They’ve got dance!

Show Boat at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews January 21, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

Look what they got! How can they fail? You’ve never seen a show like this before! They make the evening bright, and once you’re through tonight, they guarantee you’ll come back tomorrow for more! Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia is setting sail up and down the Mississippi River with a grand old production of Show Boat. A rarely produced theatrical treasure, this musical theatre gem of yesteryore is an iconic foothold and earnest classic in the history of musical theatre.

Review: A Christmas Carol at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews December 2, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Christmas bells are ringing! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and the happiest of holiday seasons, Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia is proud to present their stellar production of the musical version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Directed by David James with Musical Direction by Pamela Wilt, this iconic classic brings the true meaning of Christmas to kids from ages one to 92 and beyond and everywhere in-between.

Little Sisters of Toby’s Dinner Theatre: Inside the Cloister of Sister Act with Ashley Johnson and Lynn Sharpe Spears

Interviews November 12, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

Gloria in excelsis Deo! Hallelujah! Raise some heat— raise some Cain— raise it to a higher plane! Raise it up and rejoice— raise your voice! Closing out a sensational practically sold-out ten-week run, the very last of The Littler Sisters of Toby’s interview series has graced the readers with its arrival! Featuring Ashley Johnson and Lynn Sharpe Spears in the leading roles of Deloris Van Cartier and Mother Superior, we take one last trip into the convent to get real with the sisters of Toby’s Sister Act.

Little Sisters of Toby’s Dinner Theatre: Inside the Cloister of Sister Act with Teresa Danskey and Amy Haynes

Interviews October 21, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

If you want the world to listen, stand up tall and proud! And these sisters have the whole world listening as they raise their voices on the fourth installment of the Little Sisters of Toby’s interview series. This time around we’re featuring Sister Mary Robert and Sister Mary Patrick, played by Teresa Danskey and Amy E. Haynes. We sit down with both ladies to hear their take on the Sister Act experience.

Thank you both for joining us!

Little Sisters of Toby’s Dinner Theatre: Inside the Cloister of Sister Act with Samantha McEwen Deininger, Ashley K. Nicholas, and Elizabeth Rayca

Interviews October 20, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

Tossing everything in and digging deep inside, the third round of The Little Sisters of Toby’s are ready to raise their voice. Sitting down with Samantha McEwen Deininger, Ashley K. Nicholas, and Elizabeth Rayca, we find out just what it’s like for these sisters to be a part of the sisterhood happening in Sister Act playing now through November 13, 2016 at Toby’s Dinner Theatre.

Thank you ladies for giving us a quick pinch of your time!