Romance. Tragedy. Primal Murder. The urge of revenge. This looks like a job for—
Well it isn’t Sherlock Holmes, that’s for sure! In a Christie? He would never!
Hercule Poirot, but of course! And ooh la la, ooh la la, ooh la la, does he have a case for you! Er— a show. Yes, that’s it! A show! Murder On The Orient Express, based on Agatha Christie’s novel of the same name and adapted to the stage by Ken Ludwig,
The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances! That feels a little like any given week of theatre in the Baltimore area theatre scene! At any one time it feels impossibly like 100 shows are opening, closing, mid-run, in tech, or about to start rehearsals! So it’s no wonder that we found the second person ever to be featured in our “Local Limelight” series— Kelly Rardon, a well-known area performer for quite some time— at the start of her tech-week for the show she’s currently performing in,
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,
They’ll feed your fire! They’ll take you higher! They’ll light you up like a live wire! In those sexy, stunning— Kinky Boots! And we’re doing a TheatreBloom live, sit-down exclusive interview with J Purnell Hargrove, playing Lola, and Rob Tucker, playing Charlie Price! It’s fierce! It’s fabulous! And they’re both on fire!
Thank you both so very much for taking time out of your busy rehearsing schedule to show up today and sit down for this interview!
Sex and games in Brooklyn Park— gotta be played with flare and passion! Songs and dance at Chesapeake Arts (Center)— gotta be played with flare and passion! Welcome to Falsettoland! It’s so much more than just a ‘march of the Falsettos’ it’s the whole damn show— Falsettos— a half-decade in the making for The Maryland Theatre Collective, currently in residence at CAC. This brilliant production is the perfect close to their first,
If love be rough— be rough with love! Or get on down to Club Escalus for Mercutio’s Funky Boogie Woogie! Or both! All of the above. Groove to rhythm of ’75, baby— and nah, we don’t mean no 1575. We’re talkin’ 1975, ya dig? And we’re talkin’ Baltimore Baby! Closing out their 2023/2024 season on their Main Stage (and please join them for their fabulous summer fling out at the PFI in Ellicott City when R&J closes) Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is bringing you the grooviest production of Romeo &
Tell your children! Fight the menace! Kill the devil! Save our country! Because it’s—
Reefer Madness!
Now live on stage at The State Theater of Havre de Grace for two weekends only! Directed by Marion Jackson with Musical Director Jerrett Rettman and Choreography by Katie Gordon, this ‘cult-classic’ black-comedy musical has all the warnings you need to protect America from THE REEFER!
One of the most impressive things about the performance is how well-balanced the orchestra pit is.
Whodunnit!? Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center that’s who!! They’ve got CLUE coming the first full week in May! And you won’t want to miss your chance to see this comic thriller in action!
📷Evan Zimmerman
“Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! 
Don’t miss Clue on Tour at the Hippodrome Theatre May 7-12. Get tickets to the ultimate whodunnit inspired by the classic Hasbro board game.
Lessons can be blessings. Mistakes can be good. Finding a way to learn the lessons and take the ‘Beyoncé’ approach to making lemonade when life won’t stop raining fiery hot lemons down on your head is exactly what the Pulitzer Prize-Winning play The Hot Wing King, by Katori Hall is serving up in the Pearlstone Theatre of Baltimore Center Stage. It’s a limited engagement, playing through the end of the month of April but it’s a powerhouse piece that’s equal parts funny and heartfelt,
“It’s a song I was waiting to hear so long, so long ago.”
Five years in the making— a show that was planned and cast and ready to go before the pandemic, now finally appearing on the Maryland Theatre Collective Stage— Falsettos is rounding out MTC’s first full season in production and it’s a proper doozy well worth investigating! In a few minutes following their sitzprobe, Director and Musical Director Rachel Sandler and Associate Director and Performer Tommy Malek sat down to discuss the production and how thrilled they both are to finally be getting it up on its feet for an audience in 2024.
Broadway dreams. We’ve all had ‘em. And Scottfield Theatre Company is havin’ ‘em right now. They’ve got all you need to cheer you up right on the ends of their ankles! Side by side— they’re glorified— that amazing tap corps that makes up the splashiest, flashiest dance routines of 42nd Street. Directed and Choreographed by Becky Titelman, with Musical Direction by LaShelle Bray, this iconic golden-era Broadway musical is a true dancer’s dream and every bit the spectacular dance show one expects.
With the solar eclipse having just passed us by, here’s hoping everybody counted their plants both before and after! And that nobody ended up with any extra!! And if you did end up with an extra plant…perhaps one that has teeth and looks sort of odd…well you can bring it with you to see Little Shop of Horrors at Anne Arundel Community College Theatre opening this weekend and playing through April 21st 2024.
Innocence is only wisdom in a world without evil. But why is it we are so quick to believe that of which we are not certain? Why are we so quick to judge? The most innocent interaction can see seem sinister to a poisoned mind. Why do we let our minds be primed so readily with poison? In a striking and evocative drama now appearing on the Vagabond Players’ stage as the penultimate production of their 108th season,
Dear Diary,
My teenage angst bullsh*t now has a body count. But what’s your damage, Heather? Is your name even Heather? Just in case it isn’t, Third Wall Productions has a whole bunch of them (three to be in fact) with their fiery production of the screen-to-stage musical Heathers, now playing through April 14th 2024. Directed by Jake Schwarts with Musical Direction by Anton Van De Motter and Choreography by Kelly Williams Carlson,
Our subject tonight?
The Squirrels. Better still— The Squirrels at Maryland Ensemble Theatre as the penultimate production of their 2023/2024 main stage season. Written by Robert Askins (Hand To God) and Directed by Julie Herber…well… buckle up, you discerning patrons of the arts, because this one’s a doozey. Hell— I’ll say it. It’s nuts!
Playwright Robert Askins is wringing audiences in Frederick through the high-octane spin-cycle of this satirical washing machine.
Side by side, they’re glorified! In the other half of our dueling-divas interview exclusive (if you missed part 1, you can click here or catch the link at the bottom of the page to read the interview with Katelyn Dixon who is currently playing Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street) we get to sit down with Elizabeth Marion, currently playing the role of Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street at Scottfield Theatre Company.
Todos estamos juntos en esto.
We’re all in this together.
Changing the face of musical theatre, changing the soundscape of our nation’s narrative— Mexodus is the story of the Underground Railroad that led south; a story that they will have to pass down by word of mouth. It’s a moment omitted from the history books— but it’s a story of thousands worth a second look— rapture and release, visceral emotions and peace— this is one for the ages splitting time on two stages— but you get to be in the room where it happened first— The Head Theatre at Baltimore Center Stage.
Did we not learn our lesson about how we aren’t supposed to lie on our resume? And that taking the old adage of “fake it ‘til you make it” a step too far can result in disastrous consequences? In case you’re still out there learning that lesson (the hard way) and need a crash-course reminder in why this is a bad idea, Truest Ethos Theatre Company has a play for you! And it’s not even an ocean-front play in Arizona— wait,
We’re told we have to do what we’re told, but surely sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty! Like doing all those things you shouldn’t do— reading books, loving musicals, and going to Small Town Stars Theatre Company’s production of Matilda! Those are all naughty little things you absolutely should be doing— and the third thing on that list you should definitely be doing this weekend! Directed by Joel Roberson with Musical Direction by Kelly Stoneberger,
What was that word you just said? Havre de Grace? They’re offering you the chance to see the biggest musical the city’s seen in 20 years and you say— Havre de Grace? Now listen, readers, and listen good— cause you’re gonna wanna come on along and listen to— Scottfield Theatre Company as they present the splashy, flashy, big, lush, Broadway musical 42nd Street. And in a sit-down two-part interview session, we’ve got the show’s dueling divas answering some questions all about the production and their experiences!
Charming— (adjective) ‘Extremely pleasing or delightful.’ Compass Rose Theater is now producing the most charming production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee I think I can ever recall seeing— and that’s saying something as I’ve covered it over a dozen times in as many years, including just a month ago elsewhere! C-H-A-R-M-I-N-G. Directed & Choreographed by Tommy Malek with Musical Direction by Rachel Sandler, this feel-good, upbeat, absolutely adorable musical is perfectly parsed in the intimate staging space that Compass Rose Theater has at Maryland Hall;
Come spirit! Come charm! Come days that are warm! Come magical spell— they will help you get well! Come to their garden for the most extraordinary theatrical experience that is so stunning, so professional, and so polished you’ll find it hard to believe that it’s a community organization and playing in a church nonetheless! The Secret Garden now live in living color is appearing through the weekend of March 17th with the Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church and it is beyond remarkable,
Third Wall Productions, you know I love you. Did you see I waved? I believe in you and your show so tell me that I’m saved! If you’re ready to rock and roll along with the best of them, Third Wall Productions is bringing you that iconic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Jesus Christ Superstar and it’s the most solid production that they’ve had so far! (In their new home at Chestnut Grove Presbyterian.) Directed by Mike Zellhofer,
I dreamed I met a local thespian, a most amazing man. He had that look you rarely find— the happy, cheerful kind! So we’ll take some liberties with Lloyd-Webber’s lyrics to suit our story, but in the first of an on-going series entitled “Local Limelight” we bring to the table, Paul Ballard— an area actor who has been involved with theatre for over 20 years in the Baltimore community scene, and some several years prior to that with some decades of being a lawyer in-between.
Just below the coral— sea parents dream of who their kids will be! And live on the stage of Children’s Playhouse of Maryland— you can see how wondrous these talented kids can be! Just as long as you— JUST KEEP SWIMMING, JUST KEEP SWIMMING, JUST KEEP SWIMMING! And you’d better swim fast if you want a chance at catching this production of Finding Nemo Jr.— several of the performances have sold out!
Madness does not run through the theatre family; it gallops. With sardines. And while you’re certainly not going to get a gargantuan house on the postage stamp stage at The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre, you can definitely get a hilariously good time with their current production of Charles Morey’s Laughing Stock. Mild to moderate insanity with a dash of ‘WTF’ all balled neatly into the nonsense that is the lifestyle we choose when we jump into the world of theatre.
Theatre is forever reinventing itself; telling stories, telling tales and expanding itself. New formats and phases, growing and showing— there’s so many new ways that the theatre keeps going. And this new format of a two-person, live-looping musical telling the story of the Underground Railroad and how it ventured south into Mexico is one of those new innovations. Appearing first at Baltimore Center Stage before it travels over to Mosaic Theatre in DC, Mexodus— a blended hip-hop history musical,
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”?
As above— so below. From the profoundly deep to the oddly absurd, Adrift: A Medieval Wayward Folly, the latest live stage performance from Happenstance Theater, has it all. And also a strawberry. Appearing for a limited two-weekend engagement at Baltimore Theatre Project, this newly devised work comes the masterminds of Mark Jaster, Sabrina Mandell, Gwen Grastorf, Sarah Olmsted Thomas, and Alex Vernon, with their inspirations set ‘adrift’ on stage from the works of Hieronymus Bosch (amongst others) and will fill you with an oddly enlightened sense of wonderment,