News

CLUE COMES TO BALTIMORE’S HIPPODROME THEATRE

News April 18, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther Leave a comment

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.

Finding Nemo Jr. at Children’s Playhouse of Maryland

News March 3, 2024 Amanda N. Gunther

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!

US premiere of Théâtre de la Dame de Coeur's performance of Acupunk

Acupunk at The Kennedy Center

News February 23, 2024 Erin Tarpley

On a chilly winter’s evening, a gathering took place at the Kennedy Center’s Reach Plaza this week. Bathed in darkness (but luckily not bathed in rain), the audience gathered with rapt attention focused on the two giant figures set off to the side of the Plaza grounds. But as the showtime began, these two 18-foot puppets sprang to life in movement, sound, smoke, and light to present the US premiere of Théâtre de la Dame de Coeur’s performance of Acupunk.

Pat McPartlin (left) as Santa Claus, with Talis Tighe (center) as Mac Adamia, and Josh Handal (far right) as Felix Navi-Dodd in 'Murder on 34th Street' 📷ANG Pix

Murder On 34th Street at Do or Die Productions

News December 13, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

They’ve lived to kill another day! After a tumultuously ubiquitous 30th Anniversary Season, Do Or Die Productions has landed steadily in their Monday Night Mystery venue— Perry’s Restaurant of Odenton— and is thrilling and killing just in time for Christmas! Making its world-premiere, new script Murder on 34th Street, written and directed by the company’s founder, CJ Crowe, is— as the tag-line promises— a killer show with a dinner to die for!

The Prom at STAR Ltd. Apples & Bees Casts

News August 4, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

You can predict what the reviews will say before the next notice arrives!

These YA-kids over are STAR Ltd. are nightly changing lives! It’s such an important show to be producing right now that literally every theatre and their mother is doing it. Including STAR Ltd. (And they’ve got the ‘Apples’ and ‘Bees’ cast and this reviewer saw them both!) and their YA summer production, in partnership with the Chesapeake Arts Center. It’s the show of 2023 (every year gets one,

Kerri Heineman as Mrs. Claus in A Christmas Story. 📷Jason Q Standish

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Local Actress Makes Off-Off-Broadway Debut!

News December 9, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

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.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas at Pasadena Theatre Company. 📷Kathleen Swain

Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas at Pasadena Theatre Company

News December 1, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot…

But the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville— did not!

Now Pasadena Theatre Company loves Christmas— the whole Christmas season

And everyone knows why— they have so many different reasons!

They’ve got the memory of Chuck Dick, the spirited glue of PTC

They’ve got friends, family, and loved ones— just like you and like me!

A Little Princess at St. Gabriel’s Miracle Players

News November 8, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

Let’s play a game of pretend. We’ll pretend it’s London, England in 1904 at Miss Minchin’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies… where only the most prestigious of young girls are sent to learn schooling and etiquette. Having fun playing along yet? That’s exactly what the almost all-female cast of A Little Princess is doing at St. Gabriel’s Miracle Players this November. Adapted from the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett, in special production arrangement with The Dramatist Publishing Company of Woodstock,

Erin Tarpley (left) as Ann White, Amanda Gunther (center) as Dana Friendly, and Morgan Czosnowski (right) as Tawney Tepper in Death Warmed Over. 📷CharlieB

Death Warmed Over at Do Or Die Productions

News August 16, 2022 S. Wu

Death Warmed Over, Do or Die Production’s interactive murder mystery for the month, was captivating and hilarious to watch. The scenario for the night brought audience members into the filming of a livestream for the true crime reenactment television show Wanted: Dead or Alive. Due to its outdated formatting and script, Wanted: Dead or Alive’s ratings have dropped to an all-time low, and with an attempt to gain new audiences,

The Rude Mechanicals at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore

News July 28, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

Move over, Tom Stoppard (and also Disney-Marvel-verse). You no longer hold the market on “origin backstory/alternate POV” when it comes to Shakespeare. That’s right, there’s a new— okay, not new, per say— but there’s another option when it comes to doing weird stuff with Shakespeare that isn’t Shakespeare but still is totally Shakespeare. And Artistic Synergy of Baltimore’s children’s performance group has got it. The Rude Mechanicals, by Ed Graczyk, is now appearing on the ASoB stage,

Honk Jr. at Children’s Playhouse of Maryland

News March 7, 2022 Amanda N. Gunther

Come on down— don’t be strangers in their duck-yard of free-rangers! That’s right, folks! Children’s Playhouse of Maryland is welcoming you back to the theatre— live and in person! And they’re welcoming you back with their great big honkin’ production of Honk Jr.! Directed by Liz Boyer Hunnicutt, with Musical Direction by Charlotte Evans, and Choreography Emily Davis, this fun-loving barnyard musical teaches kids that it’s absolutely o-a-kay to be different and just how boring life would be if we all looked the same.

(L to R) Erin Tarpley as Mae East, Pat McPartlin as Sheriff Zee Duke, Amanda Gunther as Spinster Molly Todd, Mike Rogers as Dr. Willis Danforth, Matt Wetzel as Clifford Hangar, and CJ Crowe as Perdie 'Wider' Johnson in Do Or Die Prodcutions' "It's Murder, Pilgrim!"

It’s Murder, Pilgrim! at Do Or Die Productions

News November 10, 2021 Steven Kirkpatrick & Charles Boyington Steven Kirkpatrick & Charles Boyington

Seeing an interactive murder mystery can be a treat. With Do or Die Productions currently in residence at Hellas Restaurant and Lounge, it is often more than that. You arrive and are escorted to your table and given an option of entrees, beverages, and the option to order alcoholic drinks, as well. Our food came out very quickly and we were able to chat with the table next to us about theatre and other murder mystery groups we have seen.

RE Hawkins, BirdcageTheater, CC BY-SA 3.0

Remembering The Birdcage Theatre

News November 7, 2021 Robert Shelling

The United States is packed with interesting and appealing theatres, all steeped in history and tradition.

Some are still in use, hosting everything from Shakespeare to Cats, whilst others have become part of folklore, locations with a rich historical background that continue to be revered today. It is fair to say that the range of theatres across the US caters for every taste in terms of shows, opulence and grandeur. One of the most historic only opened for a decade or so but has become something of a legend.

Previewing Poe’s Last Stanza at Do Or Die Productions

News October 8, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Men have called him mad. But the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence. What if you could discover for yourself? What if you could spend an evening in rapt attention and questionable company uncovering the enigma that is the master of the macabre? What if you could spend one evening in close company with Edgar Allan Poe as he drinks, gambles, flirts, and muses his way through his delirious mind?

Full Speed Ahead! Maryland Ensemble Theatre launches their 2021-2022 season, back on stage LIVE!

News July 2, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s a surreal experience— being in a crowd of enthusiastic, energetic, theatre people after over a year of being isolated from that crazy, amazing, loving bunch of people who have so much to offer to the performing arts community in Frederick. But in minutes of being amid the Maryland Ensemble Theatre 24th season launch gala, it felt as if no time had passed at all, as if just last season this exact thing had happened.

Zoomin’ Speech & Debate at The Baltimore Theatre Collective

News June 12, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

In an overzealous, albeit admirable, attempt to commit to producing their previously announced season, The Baltimore Theatre Collective— one of Baltimore’s most recent live-theatre incarnations pre-Global-Covid-19-Pandemic— Artistic Director Tommy Malek alongside four talented area actors set their sights on delivering their production of Stephen Karam’s Speech and Debate. Directed by Tommy Malek and featuring Seth Fallon, Amanda Matousek, Pamela Northrup, and Max Wolf, this show is the mark of a true effort in the “keeping the faith” movement of theatres all across the world whose stages have been darkened by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Terrifying Thrills with Baltimore Theatre Collective’s Creepy Kooky Cabaret

News November 14, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

They’re being pulled in a new direction! Quite literally in
all senses imaginable too! Baltimore Theatre Collective, formerly known as The
Purple Light Theatre Company, has progressed into its next phase of life, now
under the auspices of Baltimore Theatre Collective. And just as their first
major cabaret was attempting to get underway, a snag in their original performance
venue pulled them right over to Genesis Arts, a dance studio in Columbia’s Red
Branch corridor.

What to Expect From Aaron Sorkin’s To Kill a Mockingbird

News October 21, 2019 Robert Shelling

Deadline Photo Credit- Deadline

Acclaimed director Aaron Sorkin’s is taking his
adaptation of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird on the road next year, starting
in August 2020 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in
Washington.

It will eventually go coast to coast, bringing the classic tale of racial
prejudice in the deep south to theaters across the U.S. It’s
been hugely successful on Broadway and up until March 2019 it hadn’t played to
a single empty seat since opening
in December 2018.

Tina Marie DeSimone (left) as Rosie, with Heather Marie Beck (center) as Donna and Coby Kay Callahan (right) as Tanya in Mamma Mia.

Mamma Mia! Here They Go Again: Reviving Mamma Mia at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

News August 21, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

Mamma Mia! Here they go again! My, my, just how much you’ve missed them! Mamma Mia! What a show again— my, my, how could you resist them? Well don’t resist too much longer as they’re just at the midway point of their six-week revival engagement of the sold-out stage production of Mamma Mia! at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. After sensational success last season, with a 13-week engagement that made getting tickets for Hamilton look easy,

Phantom of the Opera Tickets Now on Sale at The Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore

News July 26, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

He’s here— The Phantom of the Opera! He’s with us, it’s the show! He’s here! The Phantom of the Opera! Return to Baltimore’s Hippodrome Broadway Theatre after much too long an absence! Andrew Lloyd Webber’s fantastical The Phantom of the Opera returns in a spectacular new production by Cameron Mackintosh and tickets are on sale today— July 26, 2019!

Matthew Murray Quentin Oliver Lee as ‘The Phantom’ and Eva Tavares as ‘Christine Daaé’ in The Phantom of The Opera.

Much Ado About Nothing at Storytellers: A Theater Arts Academy

News July 19, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

Marry, sirs and madams and those of all genders, I shall
commit no false report; moreover, I will speak no untruths; secondly, I shall not
be a slanderer; sixth and lastly, I shall belay a jovial account; thirdly, I
shall verify only just things pertaining to this account; and to conclude, I
send ye my most polished praises to this Storytellers: A Theater Arts Academy’s
production of Much Ado About Nothing. Hopping houses,

King James: Pulitzer Prize Finalist Rajiv Joseph’s Play to Star LeBron James

News June 24, 2019 Robert Shelling

King James: Pulitzer Prize Finalist Rajiv Joseph’s Play to Star LeBron James

Few things are more riveting than a good old-fashioned sports story, and few athletes are more prominent than NBA superstar Lebron James. For Rajiv Joseph, then, it’s a simple act of putting two and two together: Joseph’s play, King James, is inspired by LeBron James’s life and career, which is set to premiere in 2020.

Amanda N.

Les Miserables at Storytellers: A Theater Arts Academy

News May 2, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

The time is now. The day is here. Les Miserables is on stage at Storytellers: A Theater Arts Academy!
Boldly tackling the iconic behemoth that is Les
Miserables, under the Direction of Terry Sweet Bouma, with Musical
Direction by Chris Pinder, this talented cast of young performers weaves a
story like no other with their spirited and emotionally intense retelling of
Cameron Macintosh’s Les Miserables.

Amanda N.

A Little Pre-Tonys Seasonal Speculation

News December 13, 2018 Guest Author

Late Season Broadway & Tony Potential

The 2018 season on Broadway hasn’t come to an end just yet, and in fact there are some exciting openings and previews this month. However, with the date set for the 2019 Tony Awards, which will recognize achievements in the 2017-18 season, it’s not too early to talk about award potential, particularly for some of the more recent shows.

At this early stage,

Poe’s Last Stanza comes to Elkridge Furnace Inn

News August 28, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

Halloween. Ghosties and Ghoulies. Scarecrows and Skeletons. Pumpkins and Poe. Yup. Poe. We all know Poe…master of the macabre, father of the modern murder mystery…and ravens…and tell tale hearts…and black cats. Some of us love him. Some of us would be happy to hear him nevermore.

Poe and Halloween – they just seem to go together. Poe’s legacy has become a tribute to madness, moodiness and morosity. We forget the rapier wit,

Twelfth Night at Storytellers: A Theater Arts Academy

News July 27, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

I have unclasp’d to thee the book even of my secret soul. Where lies my text? In Storytellers: A Theater Arts Academy’s bosom! In what chapter of their bosom? To answer by the method, in their current production of Twelfth Night. Directed by Terry Sweet Bouma with Assistant Directors Alyssa Bouma and Alex Foley, this true comedy of errors and mistaken identities is a fine showcase of youth digesting and transforming Shakespeare.

Maryland Ensemble Theatre Announces 2018/2019 Season

News June 18, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

They are not throwing away their shot! Maryland Ensemble Theatre may not be producing Hamilton for their 2018/2019 season (though they are raffling off a pair of tickets to see the highly sought-after show through August 4, 2018— click here to not throw away your shot!) but they are certainly bringing a fantastical new line-up to their stage for the coming season. With three regional premieres and a little something for everybody from classics to new and edgy,

Chicago: A Burlesque Review at Bunns of Steele

News April 28, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

Start the car, I know a whoopee spot where the leather is cold and the dancers are hot! It’s just a leather bar where these burlesquers are— and all— THAT jaaaaaazzzzz…..hatcha! Whoopee! Skadoo…and all that jazz! That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, Bunns of Steele is bringing you the finest burlesquers in Baltimore as they come together to present that sinfully stellar musical Chicago. Directed by Tommy Gunn and Produced by Bunny Vicious with Choreography by Tapitha Kix,

Beatles Celebration Comes to the National

News March 14, 2018 Guest Author

Let it Be: A Celebration of the Music of the Beatles is coming to Washington, DC. On April 14, 2018, the acclaimed concert that wowed Broadway and London’s West End is going to be staged in the nation’s capital at the historic National Theater.

First staged in 2012 under the direction and musical supervision of John Maher, whose credits include directing Thriller Live (a Michael Jackson tribute concert),

One of the Gang at Do or Die Productions

News March 7, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

Start the car— I know a whoopee spot! Where the gin is cold and the piano’s hot! Well, not exactly. The gin might be cold…but they sure ain’t got no piano. But what they do got is the head of The Irish Mafia, Kieran Padgett Jr., and the head of The Italian Mafia, Fabrizio Santorini, settling down into Maggie’s House…for a peace negotiation. Only it ain’t Miss Maggie’s House no more because she done left it to Charity.