Articles Tagged With: David James

(L to R) Adam Grabau as Paulie, Patrick Gover as Rocky Balboa, Robert Biedermann as Mickey, and Ryan Sellers as Cornerman. 📸Jeri Tidwell Photography

Rocky at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Yo, Columbia! It’s Rocky and it’s here for you— live on stage at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. This is a knockout musical that will pull you to the edge of your seat by the end of the show. Directed by Toby Orenstein & Mark Minnick, with Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings, and Fight Choreography by Justin Calhoun, Rocky is not just a musical with boxing, it’s a story— an honest to God story about how one man wants to make something of himself,

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The cast of Spamalot at Toby's Dinner Theatre. Photo: Jerri Tidwell

Spamalot at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

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?

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The cast of White Christmas at Toby's Dinner Theatre. Photo: Jeri Tidwell Photography

White Christmas at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

When I’m worried and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep— blessings like the return of live, in-person theatre. Blessings like Christmas time together with family and friends again. Blessings like Toby’s Dinner Theatre bringing Irving Berlin’s White Christmas back to their stage after a decade of waiting for all that snow, Snow, SNOW!! The perfect way to kick off the holiday season, whatever joyous holiday you happen to celebrate this November and December,

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Godspell at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

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.

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

Kinky Boots at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

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,

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A Christmas Story at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

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 &

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The Bodyguard at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

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,

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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

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,

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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

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,

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Gypsy at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

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.

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The Little Mermaid at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

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.

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Mamma Mia at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

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,

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Newsies at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

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.

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

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,

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Young Frankenstein at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

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!

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Miracle on 34th Street at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

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.

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The cast of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Toby's Dinner Theatre

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Way, way back many decades ago— not long after the city of Columbia began! Toby Orenstein started up a dinner theatre— the finest one in all of Maryland! Toby’s! Dinner and show! That’s the place— this summer— to go! Toby’s! Dinner and show! They’re showing Joseph, just thought you should know! It’s a dazzling production of many colors, this Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Directed by Mark Minnick and Toby Orenstein.

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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

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!

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Review: A Christmas Carol at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

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.

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You Can’t Stop the Beat at Toby’s Dinner Theatre: Meet the Nicest Kids in Town- David James and Larry Munsey

Some folks can’t stand it— say time is a bandit— but not these two, because they’re timeless to everyone! Heading into the home stretch of the TheatreBloom “You Can’t Stop the Beat” interview series, we sit down with Toby’s veterans David James and Lawrence B. Munsey who are no strangers to theatre in the round nor to the roles which they’re currently reprising in Hairspray.

Thank you both so much for giving me a quick nugget of your time!

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Review: Hairspray at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Styles keep a changing, the world’s rearranging, but Toby’s Dinner Theatre is timeless as can be! Welcoming in the 60’s with their superior production of Hairspray, the summer stage-blockbuster is marching in through the front door in Columbia and is ready to shimmy and shake-up all of the theatergoers in the area. Directed and Choreographed by Mark Minnick with Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings, this sensational production is the must-see musical of Baltimore’s hot season!

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David James as Grandma Addams

Helen Hayes Nominee David James Speaks on His Fifth Nomination

The 32nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards is just around the corner celebrating live professional theatre of all shapes and sizes in the nation’s capital city of Washington DC. This year’s ceremony will be presented at the historic Lincoln Theatre on Monday evening May 23, where 236 nominees are being honored, representing 202 eligible productions produced in 2015. In a TheatreBloom exclusive interview, we’ve taken a few quick moments with nominee David James (nominated in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical— Helen Production,

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Review: Peter Pan at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

There’s no happier thought than magic and wonder and enchantment, especially not when it comes to the theatre! A place beholden of wondrous talent, magical moments, and enchanted evenings, Toby’s the Dinner Theatre of Columbia is now proudly presenting a timeless family classic with their production of Peter Pan. Directed by Toby Orenstein and Mark Minnick, with Musical Direction by Brandon Fullenkamp, this lively time-honored treasure will spark fond memories of childhood for the young and young at heart.

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Review: South Pacific at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Dites-moi pourquoi la vie est belle. Dites-moi pourquoi la vie est gai. Life is beautiful and life is gay because the Rogers and Hammerstein classic South Pacific has set a course for Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia and finally landed this 2016. Directed and Choreographed by Mark Minnick, with Musical Direction by Reenie Codelka, this heartwarming, feel-good musical is just the remedy to chase away the winter blues. With stunning talent, beautiful aesthetics,

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It’s a Wonderful Interview: Getting Wings with David James

If you’re gonna fly then you just gotta have wings! And the only way for Clarence Odbody, Angel Second Class, to earn his wings is by helping George Bailey hang onto God’s greatest gift! Acting veteran David James, well-known for his three decades of stage work in and around the Washington and Baltimore area, has returned to Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia once more, a performance venue he’s proud to call home for the holidays,

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Review: It’s a Wonderful Life at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Teacher says every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings! Holiday bells are ringing at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia as they welcome the holiday season with their very own original musical production of It’s a Wonderful Life. With Music and Lyrics by David Nehls with Book and Adaptation by Michael Tilford, this feel-good holiday classic is carefully crafted with love specifically for the intimate in-the-round staging at Toby’s Dinner Theatre and fits like a favorite holiday sweater.

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Review: Ragtime at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Giving the nation a new syncopation, Toby’s the Dinner Theatre of Columbia proudly presents a masterful production of the treasured Ahrens and Flaherty musical Ragtime. Rolling on the wheels of a dream, the production is Directed by house Artistic Director Toby Orenstein and Co-Artistic Director Lawrence B. Munsey. With Musical Direction by Ross Scott Rawlings, this evocative, soul-searing musical brings forth a hunger for justice and presents to theatergoers all across the Columbia and greater Baltimore and Washington Metropolitan areas a sensationally talented cast with earnest heart and emotional depth.

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The cast in its entirety of 1776 at Toby's Dinner Theatre

Vote Yes: Inside Independence Hall with Russell Silber

The secretary of the second continental congress will now take the attendance.  Actor Russell Silber, playing the congressional secretary, present with TheatreBloom as the third installment of Inside Independence Hall gets underway, and the labored debate for the vote on independence continues at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in their production of 1776.

If you could give us an introduction to yourself, tell us a little about where we might have seen you in the area on stage over the last year,

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The cast in its entirety of 1776 at Toby's Dinner Theatre

Vote Yes: Inside Independence Hall with David James and Matthew Hirsh

Hey, hey! Momma, look sharp. For you might just find two of Toby’s cast members of their current production of 1776 sitting down with TheatreBloom to talk about Independence Hall from the inside out. In Part Two of Inside Independence Hall, we sit down with Matthew Hirsh and David James to discuss the importance of the battlefield briefs being delivered to congress as they debate on the most important decision of our country’s history.

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The cast in its entirety of 1776 at Toby's Dinner Theatre

Review: 1776 at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Vote yes! Vote yes! Vote for independency! For God’s sake, theatergoers, sit down! And make sure you do it over at Toby’s Dinner Theatre where history comes to life in one of her most striking productions to date. 1776, a revolutionary tale of how the great nation of America got its start is well underway as spring gets started close to the nation’s capitol. Directed by Jeremy Scott Blaustein and Shawn Kettering,

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