The Much-Needed Third Space: An Interview with Evan Crump on the New Musical “Welcome to Quarantino’s’
For me? It was the little dive barā The Angle Innā who was always pretty low attended, except on trivia nights and railroad-union worker meeting night, even before the lockdown so only allowing a limited number in at a time wasnāt ever really going to be an issue for them. That place that once the āsmall gatherings in public limited to X-number of peopleā were allowed to happenā¦that sacred āthird spaceā that wasnāt work and wasnāt homeā¦the place we all still retreat to even on this side of the pandemic and certainly before the pandemic,
Sweeney Todd at Vagabond Players
The history of the world, my sweet, is who gets eaten and who gets to eat! But fortunately itās also clearā that everybody goes down well with beer! And a side of ECT. Or at least thatās whatās being served up as Vagabond Players kicks off their 111th season this fall with their innovative and visionary new production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Matilda at Silhouette Stages
Silence, maggots! The smell of rebellion is in the air! And itās wafting through the atmosphere all the way over from Silhouette Stages in Columbia with their brilliant production of Roald Dahlās Matilda! Directed by Amy Haynes Rapnicki (assisted by Derek Cooper) with Musical Direction by Terin Kelsey and Choreography by Hunter Lubawski, this zesty, good-fun musical is filled with heart and is being enjoyed by the audience as well as everyone on the stage;
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
This story begins with a spark. A spark of light. A spark of life. A spark of humanity. Truly, an electrifying retelling of the iconic monster novel, now such a smashing success on stage that itās already received itās first extension before officially being open. Chesapeake Shakespeare Company jolts their 2026/2027 to thrillifying life with Mary Shelleyās Frankestein, by David Catlin, directed by Ian Gallanar and Lizzi Albert. This devilishly delicious sweet treat is the perfect pop of terrifying thriller to start spooky season on the right foot.
The Pansy Hour at Submersive Productions
āLike a pansy in winter, even the brightest things must fade.ā Tragically beautiful, a quote pulled from the āhistory wallā at the front of the āexhibitā before you fully submerse yourself into Submersive Productions The Pansy Hour. Conceived by Josh Aterovis and fabricated into fruition by The Creative Teamā Josh Aterovis, Aaron Barlow, Liz Gordon, Vicky Graham, Jacob Marrero,Ā Ursula Marcum, Glenn Ricciā this secretive, immersive theatrical experience delves into the history of Baltimoreās Queer social scene and visibility,
Dirty Dancing at The National Theatre
author: Steven Kirkpatrick & Charles BoyingtonĀ
Dirty DancingāThe Musical, now playing at The National Theatre, is a visually rich, energetic dance showcase built around the beloved 1980s filmās signature elements: the Catskills setting; the romance between Frances āBabyā Houseman (Annalese Starzec, who resembles Jennifer Grey) and dance instructor Johnny Castle (a muscular Blake Zelesnikar channeling Patrick Swayze); the famous lifts; and, of course, the climactic declaration that āno one puts Baby in a corner.ā
The audience was thrilled and the production is certainly worth seeing,
Where Dead Women Go To Dance at Theatre Prometheus
āLife can still be good; better than death.ā The quote may presently come from Stephen Spotswoodās Where Dead Women Go to Dance, but thereās a ubiquity and a universality to its truth. No matter what youāre facing, no matter what youāre going through, life can still be good; better than death. Itās a powerful notion that gets driven home in this new work, appearing under the direction of Lauren Patton Villegas at Theatre Prometheus.
Moon Festival Alice at MET FunCompany
Stories can borrow. Stories can change. Stories can put on new clothes. Perhaps youāre familiar with the story of the little girl who chasedā¦or followedā¦ a white rabbit down a rabbit hole in her garden one afternoon? What if it was a little girl who was gazing up at the moon, trying to write lyrics for a song for her Moon Festival Celebration? A story that has borrowedā¦and put on new clothes. That beauty and wondrous strange fun is whatās occurring at the Maryland Ensemble Theatreās Fun Company as they kickoff their 2026/2027 season with Moon Festival Alice.
It’s Alive: An Electrifying Interview with Vince Eisenson on Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s Frankenstein
āBeware, for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.ā
A quote that could readily send chills up the spine if taken out of context, or perhaps, even presented with context. A beautiful sentence, complex and nuanced, and yet eight simple words. From a creation to its creator, but there is beauty in power, strength too, and fearlessness is what it takes to continue to produce evocative art, challenging the norms, and pushing the envelope when it comes to that mythical,
Billy Elliot at Children’s Playhouse of Maryland
What the hell is wrong with expressing yourself? For trying to be freeā and lemme tell yaāā them wee bairns over at Childrenās Playhouse of Maryland are pretty flippinā special, oh yes they are! And theyāre expressing themselves just fine with this really heartfelt production of Billy Elliot. Directed by Liz Boyer Hunnicutt with Musical Direction by Charlotte Evans and Choreography by Lauren Stuart, this dance-focused musical tells a story about learning to love yourself and being accepted for who you are,
Cabaret at Rogue Swan Theatre Company
author: Andrew Worthington
Life is a cabaret, old chum. Come to the cabaret! In the heart of downtown Havre de Grace, MD, Rogue Swan Theatre company is presenting an impressive, though startling, rendition of the Kander and Ebb masterpiece, Cabaret. The cast and creative team have created a fabulous production filled with incredible music, impressive dancing, gritty storytelling, and a message that is needed now more than ever. Director Lilli Burril-Gordon,
Our Town at The Colonial Players of Annapolis
Some people aināt made for small town life. And everybody is entitled to their own trouble. Of course, thereās layers and layers of nonsense whenever you come near the human raceā and if our present day societal existence isnāt proving that one, I donāt know what is. But small town life, whether youāre meant for it or not, whether youāve got your troubles with it or not, has come to Church Circle in that little black-box-in-the-square of Annapolis because Colonial Players is kicking off their 78th season with Thornton Wilderās American chestnut,
The Drowsy Chaperone at Laurel Mill Playhouse
Do you know what I do when Iām sitting in a darkened theatre waiting for a show to start? Iām mostly wondering why the lights have gone down if the show hasnāt actually started. Though it sounds like me and āMan in Chairā of The Drowsy Chaperone infamy, have some similar thoughts. Like āplease, God, let it be a good show. And if not a good one, at least let it be short.ā And let me tell you,
Come From Away at Ford’s Theatre
You are hereā at the start of a moment:
9:37am Tuesday September 11th 2001. The buzzer-bell that should have dismissed second period at Western School of Technology & Environmental Sciences, is two minutes late and instead, the voice of Principal Don Weglein comes on the intercom, excusing the interruption to classes, to state that two planes have crashed into The World Trade Center, classes are to be dismissed in an orderly fashion, and all students are to proceed to their next class or the cafeteria for lunch period,
Into The Woods at The Maryland Ensemble Theatre
This was just a moment in the woodsā again, please!
165 minutes, give or take an intermission, to be semi exact, and theyāll do it again for 2,475 more minutes over the course of the next three weekends. Give or take, as I chose theatre and the arts not math and numbers. But whichever of your minutes you have to spare over the next several weekends, give them to The Maryland Ensemble Theatre by going to see their production of Into The Woods.
Maybe Happy Ending at The Hippodrome
Everything must end eventually. Now Iām asking you to trust me. When I say go see Maybe Happy Ending, I mean do it. The Tony Award-winning musical (six wins including Best Musical, with book & music by Will Aronson and book & lyrics by Hue Park) launches its National Tour debut from Baltimoreās Hippodrome Theatre and is playing through September 19th, 2026. Heartfelt, evocative, gripping, and gorgeous, this striking new musical, directed by Michael Arden,
The Producers at Phoenix Festival Theatre
author: Andrew Worthington
Opening night! Itās opening night! *jazz hands*
The opening night of Phoenix Festival Theatreās The Producers was met with a standing ovation from a packed house after hours of laughter and impressive performances. The cast, crew, and production team, including director John Desmone, music director Jarrett Rettman, and choreographer Leslie Perry, have a hit on their hands with a production that pays homage to the iconic performances of the 1967 Mel Brooks film,
Kim’s Convenience at Everyman Theatre
āLook sameā¦not same thingā¦ā a repeated phrase in the first several minutes of Ins Choiās Kimās Convenience, the opening bid to Everyman Theatreās 2026/2027 season. A perfectly humorous, deeply heartfelt, earnest exploration of family dynamic, expectations and dysfunction, this brilliant performance, as directed by Cara Hinh (in co-production with Indiana Repertory Theatre and Portland Center Stage) will tickle the funny bone, warm the heart, draw a tear or two to the eye,
Much Ado About Nothing at Ardeo Theatre Company
Be vigitant! And if you have legsā you will come! To the final production of the 2026 Frederick Shakespeare Festivalā Ardeo Theatre Companyās Much Ado About Nothing! Set in the bodacious and totally rad 1980s, this hilarious Shakespearean comedy is directed by Aaron Angello and features a mostly repertory cast from the FSF first main-stage show of 2026, Henry IV Part 1. Witty, humorous, heartfelt, and above all fun,
Sister Act at The Long Green Valley Players
Raise your strength, raise your spirit, raise it so the angels can hear it! Raise some heat! Raise some Cain! Raise it to a higher plane! And The Long Green Valley Players are RAISING IT!!! Not only have they raised themselves up like Lazarus after a good double-decade hiatus, but they are raising up the joyā the spiritā and their voices at St. Johnās this summer with their reboot-inaugural production of Sister Act.
The Notebook at Broadway at The National Theatre in DC
Inside the sadness there is joy; a powerful and universally true statement, no matter what your situation may be. And The Notebook is steeped deeply in both sadness and joy. Now touring Broadway at The National in Washington DC through the end of August, this tragically beautiful storyā with music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson and book by Bekah Brunstetter, based on the novel by Nicolas Sparksā has a lot of really exquisite moments woven throughout and features some incredibly talented performers to narrate that tale.
The Addams Family at Beth Tfiloh Community Theatre
Define normal. Because normal is an illusion, whatās normal for the spider is a calamity of for the fly! And what really is normalā a family? A secret? A ring? Sounds like youāre in for the least normal night of your lifeā¦or maybe the most normal if you go to the theatre every night like certain people do. Me. Iām the certain people. Buckle up, theatergoers, youāre in for anything but normal when it comes to spending one kooky night (or afternoon,
Speak Low If You Speak Love: A Round-Robin Interview with Ardeo Theatre Company’s Much Ado About Nothing Folk
I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be buried in thy eyesā and moreover, I will go with thee toā the black box at Tatem Arts to crash a rehearsal? Bet Shakespeare didnāt see that one coming! And neither, perhaps did the fantastic fourā Beatrice, Benedick, Claudio, and Heroā as they were beset upon by me for a romping jaunt of a round-robin interview! In a TheatreBloom sit down exclusive, weāve picked the brains of Shakespeareās living finestā¦Gillian Shelly,
The Inn at Spotlighters Theatre
Certainly everywhere is somewhere. And after all, isnāt it more important to know whether there will be weather than what the weather will be? Or am I perhaps conflating Norton Juster and upcoming playwright Elliot Kashner. The latter, I think. Though his current new work, The Inn, appearing at The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre as a part of the summer 2026 Baltimore Playwrights Festival offering, doesā to my mindā transport me to my first encounter with NPCs.
Snow White at Stand Up For…Theatre
No matter what happens, itās always important to believe in something! A very important lesson that Snow White is teaching us as Stand Up Forā¦Theatre had to believe in that age old adage of āThe Show Must Go On!ā Faced with thunderbolts and lightning (very, very frightening!) and a mini sprinkled downpouring deluge of rainā¦the poor companyās opening night was very nearly fraught with cancellation! BUT! They believe! In the miracles of making it happen,
Frozen at Glyndon Area Players
Love is an open door! Love is putting someone elseās needs before yours. Disneyās Frozen was a game-changer in redefining what an act of true love really could be; so many Disney fairytale animated features (and subsequent Broadway musicals) depended on the princess finding her prince and true loveās first kiss. And while thereās a total side-plot component in Frozen, this wintery-wonderland-fairytale musical is all about the love of family.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Other Voices Theatre
Redā¦yellowā¦greenā¦brownā¦scarletā¦blackā¦donāt tempt me. I know all 29 colors by heartā Sara Bosworth of Lansdowne Middle School ensured that every kid in that production could say, sing, spell, and recite in order the colors of Josephās coat in the spring of 1998. Iāve been married to this production for almost as many years as the coat has colors. And seeing my umpteenth production from church basements to national touring houses and everywhere in-betweenā Joseph &
The Importance of Being Earnest at Endangered Species Theatre Project
The very essence of romance is uncertainty! Will they? Wonāt they? Is it a Happily-Ever-After? Join The Endangered Species Theatre Project as they embark down the well-worn theatrical path of Oscar Wildeās The Importance of Being Earnest this summer as a part of the Frederick Shakespeare Festival. Co-Directed by Christine Mosere and Kayla Swain, thereās some giddiness abound in this indoor-festival production.
Part of this productionās challenge is the overall pacing,
Deathtrap at Cockpit in Court
Of these two things I am certain; all else is confusion:
- Cockpit in Court puts up five shows a year in their summerstock season; two main stage shows, two shows in the cabaret, and a junior show for youth performers over in the admin building.
- Deathtrap is arguably the best show theyāve produced up in the cabaret space this side of the pandemic.
Itās thrilleritis-malignus at its finest!
The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals at Wildwood Summer Theatre
Ā
author: Jake Schwartz
When the whole world starts to turn into a musical, you need to think about the implications! And in Wildwood Summer Theatreās production of Starkidās The Guy Who Didnāt Like Musicals, the implications are everywhere. As with any Starkid show, The Guy Who Didnāt Like Musicals is vulgar, violent, crass, bloody, and full of content warnings. Yet it has developed a cult following,