Articles Tagged With: Jim Gross

76 Trombones In The Big Parade: A Music Man Interview with Tom Zepp & Samantha Grimes

Interviews July 31, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Use the patented ‘THINK SYSTEM’ put out there by one Professor Harold Hill— just THINK about The Music Man and a production will appear! Ta-daa! You’ve thought The Glyndon Area Players’ production of Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man right into existence. And we’ve sat down with two seasoned stage professionals— playing Professor Harold Hill and Marian Paroo— to talk all about what it’s like to be a part of this treasured,

Mary Poppins at The St. Demetrios’ Suburban Players

Reviews February 11, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

If you reach for the stars, all you get are the stars, but The Suburban Players of St. Demetrios have found a whole new spin! They have reached for the heavens— and they got the stars thrown in! Their current production of Mary Poppins is heartwarming, impressive, loaded with love and with talent, and above all it’s— Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! That fantastical nonsense word which means great joy, fantabulosity, and all things wonderfully excellent! Produced by Smaro Cook &

Spit Spot & Practically Perfect: An Interview with Suzi Eldridge & Jim Gross on Mary Poppins at Suburban Players

Interviews February 7, 2023 Amanda N. Gunther

Illusions may shatter, but memories stay… important lessons learned are all along the way! No strangers to Poppins, they’re giving their thanks! It’s Jim Gross and Suzi Eldridge— playing Mr. and Mrs. Banks! In a tale of what almost was once upon a time, these two area actors finally get to play opposite one another— this time for St. Demetrios’ Suburban Players— as the matriarch and patriarch of the Banks’ family in Mary Poppins.

Seussical at St. Gabriel Miracle Players

Reviews November 22, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

After all of those years being
stuck on a page, did you ever imagine it up on the stage?

And what is this “it” to imagine,
you ask? It’s some pretty big thinks; it’s a mighty big task!

As Christmas approaches, write to Santa,
say your prayers,

Because Seussical— the
musical! Is now on stage at St. Gabriel Miracle Players!

They went out of the box— and
their sky turned bright pink!

Barnum at Heritage Players

Reviews October 27, 2018 Amanda N. Gunther

Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Children of all ages! Step right up to The Heritage Players and see The Greatest Show on Earth! Why it’s a miracle! Of course, miracle is a pretty fancy word for humbug, or so Mrs. Barnum will tell you. But a bit of brass and humbug is just as good as silver and gold, Mr. P.T. Barnum will tell you than himself! Barnum, the musical of the circus legend tumblesaults its way up the aisles of the Thomas Rice Auditorium at the Spring Grove Hospital Campus and onto the stage of The Heritage Players,

First Date at Spotlighters Theatre

Reviews December 22, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther 3 Comments

How does it start? With a meet-cute little musical number featuring the cast of seven. How does it last? Those same seven sing and dance and talk and laugh and cry for 100 minutes every Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon* so that audiences all over Charm City can have an adorable feel-good alternative to the Christmas season’s traditional musical theatre offerings. Despite an unsuccessful run Off-Broadway, the current cast of the Spotlighters Theatre production of First Date is finding second life,

Heathers at How Do You Like Me Now Productions

Reviews October 20, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

The extreme always seems to make an impression, so color me impressed that How Do You Like Me Now Productions, as the theatrical producing entity of Erase Hate Through Art, is producing Heathers: The Musical this Halloween season! It’s a real scream! And totally an extreme example of what both HDYLMN and EHTA stand for, when it comes to creating a world that’s free of hate and bullying. Produced by Grant Meyers and Directed by Ed Higgins with Musical Direction by Andrew Zile and Choreography by Kristin Rigsby,

Seussical at The Heritage Players

Reviews July 3, 2017 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s most certainly definitely a sweltering summer!

But please, oh please, don’t let the weather be a bummer!

Because there are so many things you can think if you try!

Like a production of Seussical that you shouldn’t pass by!

Why, it’s The Heritage Players offering up their zany summer show!

And it’s a pretty darn good one, take it from me— I should know!

Review: Das Barbecü at Spotlighters Theatre

Reviews October 12, 2016 Amanda N. Gunther

There’s a ring of gold in Texas that hitched a tumbleweed coach to Baltimore and is kicking up more dust than a dozen road-runners aiming to outrun a pack of coyotes. Yeehaw, you dun heard right if what you heard was Das Barbecü, the musical that spins Wagner’s Ring Cycle as a witty Texas fable, coming to the stage of The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre! Sure ‘nuff it done been Directed by Greg Bell with that there Musical Direction by Michael Tan and the result is a dead ringer for comedic performance of the year.

Review: Mary Poppins at September Song

Reviews August 1, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Anything can happen if you let it! And often times all you need is just a spoonful of sugar, because it turns water into tea and cakes or in this case transforms ordinary people in a simple theatre into an extraordinary characters in a fantastical musical. Floating in for their annual summer musical, September Song welcomes 2015 with their production of Mary Poppins. Directed by Debbie Mobley, with Musical Direction by Rachel McCusker,

Review: Once Upon a Mattress at St. Gabriel Miracle Players

Reviews May 8, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

A genuine princess is exceedingly rare. A genuine fairytale is exceptionally brilliant. Having both together on one stage for a musical is nothing short of a miracle. The Saint Gabriel Miracle Players have found such a miracle with the tremendously talented cast and design team of their current production of Once Upon a Mattress. A rare treat to have such a silly story told with such stellar vocal quality; the music and lyrics of Mary Rodgers and Marshall Barer come to whimsical fruition against Jay Thompson and Dean Fuller’s book— there’s a happily ever after waiting for theatergoers who enjoy sparkling singers and gorgeous costumes.

Review: Spamalot at Silhouette Stages

Reviews March 7, 2015 Amanda N. Gunther

Life is really up to you, you must choose what to pursue! Set your mind on what to find and you’ll find an epically entertaining production of Monty Python’s Spamalot at Silhouette Stages in Columbia. Directed by Debbie Mobley and Conni Ross, with Musical Direction by Michael Tan, the humor of Monty Python, Book and Lyrics of Eric Idle, and Music of John Du Prez come shining through to the brighter side of life on the narrow stage of Slayton House.