Reviews

White Christmas at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews November 12, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

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,

Rent at Signature Theatre

Reviews November 11, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

In daylights. In sunsets. In midnights. In cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. 525,600 minutes— how do you measure— a year in life? For Signature Theatre and the rest of the world, for whom its been longer than 525,600 minutes since live theatre has occurred with in-person audiences on their stages, you celebrate with a production of Jonathan Larson’s incomparable musical, Rent. Directed by Matthew Gardiner, with Musical Direction by Mark.

Jisel Soleil Ayon (center) as Jenna in Waitress. Photo: Jeremy Daniel

Waitress at The Hippodrome

Reviews November 7, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

What’s inside? Everyone wants to know! It’s musical theatre at its finest; simple things like sugar, butter, flour now on stage in the form of the critically-acclaimed, award-winning production of Waitress. With book by Jessie Nelson (based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly) and music & lyrics by Sara Bareilles, this ‘slice of life’ musical chronicles the story of Jenna, a small-town diner waitress in a miserable marriage with an unexpected surprise on the way.

Blythe Spirit at St. Gabriel Miracle Players

Reviews November 7, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

It’s discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit! Don’t be deceived— though theatre has been far from us these many, many months— St. Gabriel’s Miracle Players are back! And they’re live, on-stage, in-person, with real, live audience members in the house! This fall, the Miracle Players, gratefully housed in the auditorium of the Watershed Public Charter School (same building, new school ownership), are bringing to you a delightfully charming,

The Addams Family at Children’s Theatre of Annapolis

Reviews November 5, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Ba-da-da-dum. *snapsnap*

Ba-da-da-dum. Ba-da-da-dum. Ba-da-da-dum. *snapsnap*

Spooky season my be over according to the calendar, but it’s just beginning over at Children’s Theatre of Annapolis as they bring to life their long-awaited and highly anticipated production of The Addams Family. *snapsnap* Directed by Atticus Boidy with Musical Direction by Emily L. Sergo and Choreography by Kristin Rigsby, you’re in for a creepy and kooky,

Cymbeline at The Rude Mechanicals

Reviews November 5, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Hello.

My name is Amanda Gunther.

You killed all 37.

Prepare to be reviewed.

Going out with a rather impressive bang— though by no means are they finished producing or existing— The Rude Mechanicals, now in full-time residence at The Greenbelt Arts Center, have attained one of their coveted company goals: Produce all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays. Cymbeline, Directed by Erin Nealer, completes the quest of all 37.

(L to R) Alex Vernon, Gwen Grastorf, Mark Jaster, Sabrina Mandell, and Sarah Olmsted Thomas in BrouHaHa.

BrouHaHa at Happenstance Theater

Reviews November 1, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Is this the end? A deep and troublesome question that a great many found themselves asking for many, many unending months as a global pandemic forced all signs of life as we know it to cease. In a thrilling and curiously strange, wondrously curious, and uniquely— well, Happenstance— piece of theatre, which pre-dates the global Covid-19 pandemic, BrouHaHa comes to the stage foreshadowing an existential apocalypse of sorts. A Happenstance Theater collaborative production,

Little Shop of Horrors at Small Town Stars Theatre Company

Reviews October 29, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Shing-a-ling, what a creepy thing to be happening! Shang-a-lang, feel the sturm and drang in the air! Sha-la-la stop right where you are— don’t you move a thing— until you get your tickets to Small Town Stars Theatre’s production of Little Shop of Horrors! Just in time for spooky season— literally in the nick of time as the production has just four performances over Halloween weekend, including a midnight performance going into the spooktacular day itself— Small Town Stars Theatre is bringing the cult-classic Little Shop of Horrors to the Panthers Performing Arts Center on October 29,

Scharf’s Shorts at Spotlighters Theatre

Reviews October 26, 2021 Mark Briner

Friday night, October 22, 2021, was a very big night for a small but important theatre, one of a select few that are the very soul of Baltimore theatre history. After nineteen months of darkness thrust upon them due to Covid-19 lockdowns and mandates, The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre, that diminutive little workhorse in the step down basement on St. Paul Street, opened again with a light fanfare and a comfortable crowd of faithful patrons to kick off their 59th Season.

Hadestown at The Kennedy Center

Reviews October 17, 2021 Steven Kirkpatrick

“Myth is an attempt to narrate a whole human experience, of which the purpose is too deep, going too deep in the blood and soul, for mental explanation or description.” – D.H. Lawrence

We need myth, as we need food and water, and this particular myth is deeply resonant at this time. This myth is a tale of love and mistrust; music and dance; and light and dark. It’s a tale of power and exploitation.

Noises Off at Players On Air

Reviews October 1, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Doors and sardines! On and off! That’s farce. That’s theatre. That’s life! And it’s farcical live theatre at Players On Air this October with their production of Noises Off directed by Michael Livingston. It’s a madcap comical farce of actors acting, drama being highly over-dramatized, and bloody sardines pulling a spectacular Houdini act! It’s a barrel of laughs, a bucket of fun, and a show you won’t want to miss.

Anyone familiar with Michael Frayn’s iconic play Noises Off will immediately recognize the set as a chaotic character and law onto itself.

Lisa Burl (left) as Olympe de Gouge and Rachel Manu (right) as Marianne Angelle in The Revolutionists. Photo: Madeline Reinhold,

The Revolutionists at The Maryland Ensemble Theatre

Reviews September 29, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Air and ink and make-believe. Isn’t that all theatre is when it comes down to it? But theatre isn’t flourish; it’s fundamental! Or so says the text of Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists now on the main stage of the Maryland Ensemble Theatre. Directed by Gené Fouché, this meta-play within a meta-play of a play is a fundamental exploration of liberté, egalité, and sororité! Deep layers of freedom, equality, and sisterhood enveloped in the flavor of The French Revolution is what’s coming to the stage and it gets a little confusing,

(L to R) Carey Bibb as Charlotte Corday, Samantha McEwen Deininger as Marianne Angelle, Mary C. Rogers as Olympe de Gouges, and Ryan Gunning Harris as Marie Antoinette in The Revolutionists at Colonial Players.

The Revolutionists at The Colonial Players of Annapolis

Reviews September 20, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Who are we without a story? Who are we without our power? Profound questions with moving answers, all of which will be explored in Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists, now appearing live on-stage at The Colonial Players of Annapolis. Directed by Jennifer Cooper, this evocative dram-com (because it’s hardly a rom-com but it’s not exactly a dramedy and if Lauren Gunderson can invent words…) takes audiences back to Paris circa 1793 and delivers an outrageous series of interactions between four impossibly powerful women,

The SpongeBob Musical at Tidewater Players

Reviews September 15, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Are you ready Havre de Grace? AYE-AYE, CAPTAIN! I can’t heeeaaar you! AYE-AYE CAPTAIN! Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Appearing at Tidewater Players is he! If nautical nonsense be something you wish! Then get your tickets right now and have fun with the fish! At The SpongeBob Musical now appearing live, in-person on the Havre de Grace Opera House stage with Tidewater Players! Directed and Choreographed by Bambi Johnson with Musical Direction by Nathan Scavilla,

Pippin at The Fredericktowne Players

Reviews September 10, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Rivers run where they can ramble…and theatres find stages where they can produce. The Fredericktowne Players, who are extremely grateful to be producing at The Weinberg Center for the Arts in downtown historic Frederick, are launching their limited run of Pippin for one weekend only. Directed by Matthew Bannister, with Musical Direction by Matthew Dohm, and Choreography by Laurie Newton, this musical theatre production goes beyond the dreams of running away with the circus and presents a refreshing,

Every Brilliant Thing at Single Carrot Theatre

Reviews September 9, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

The refreshing scent of a freshly shredded pile of pine mulch.

Strolling through the I-83 Farmer’s Market with my mother at 7:00am every Sunday morning from

April through December.

24,601. A cat that will sit on your yoga mat while you’re trying to do downward dog and meow loudly.

525,600. Live Theatre.

I never thought I’d ever have to include “live theatre” as one of the ‘brilliant things’ in my life;

Godspell at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews September 4, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

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.

Three Little Birds at MET’s Fun Company

Reviews September 3, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

One love! One heart! Let’s get together and feel alright! Everyone could stand to feel alright right about now. And what better way to do it than by coming out to see the MET Fun Company’s production of Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds? Directed and choregraphed by Ray Hatch, with Musical Direction by Valerie A. Higgs, this six-person ensemble on stage is jammin’! They’re jammin’ and they want you to come jammin’ too!

Cade Macfee (center) as William Barfee and the cast of Spelling Bee. Photo: Laura Wonsala

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Players On Air’s The Collegiate Players

Reviews August 5, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Superb— (adjective.) “excellent; impressively splendid; marked to the highest degree by grandeur, excellence, brilliance, or competence.” The Collegiate Players, the college-arm of Players On Air, has the most superb production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee appearing on their stage for just four performances, this weekend only! S-U-P-E-R-B. Directed by Justin Patterson, with Musical Direction by Maggie Flynn-Lebischak, and Choreography by Abby Upshaw, this delightfully comical musical, a tried-n-true musical chestnut of the more recent stage vintage,

42nd Street at Beth Tfiloh Community Theatre

Reviews August 3, 2021 Mike Zellhofer

Maya Angelou wrote, “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” For almost two years we were homeless; without our “safe place”. As we all settle into the “new norm”, Beth Tfiloh Community Theatre has given us a taste of the past, sprinkled with hope for the future, and laced with the safety of home. Theatre is back! And Beth Tfiloh’s production of 42nd Street,

Puffs at Small Town Stars Theatre

Reviews July 30, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Why be one thing when you can be everything else? Not a Smart? Not a Brave? Not a Snake? Well, don’t worry, there’s still the Puffs! They’ll take you! They take everyone. They’re no one’s favorite house and they fail… a lot. But it’s okay. They’re Puffs. (HI!) Small Town Stars Theatre is getting its first show of the 2021 season underway in the new Panther Performing Arts Center (formerly North Carroll High School) this summer.

Urinetown at STAR ltd.

Reviews July 29, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Look at the stream! Full of Hope and Bobby! What a wonder you’ll see— how you’ll laugh— maybe pee— when you look at the stream! AT THE STREEEEAM! STAR ltd., streaming live from the Black Box Theatre of the Chesapeake Arts Center (who is operating under limited capacity restriction and allowing performers only into the space at this present time), is bringing you the much-needed laugh of 2021 with their uproarious and hilarious production of Urinetown.

Jesus Christ Superstar at On Air Players

Reviews July 22, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Hosanna— Hey-sanna— sanna— sanna— wow! Hey JC, JC— you’re alright by me! And that’s saying something for my second-least favorite Andrew Lloyd Webber musical! Players On Air have outdone themselves with their return to live, in-person theatre this summer. Producing Jesus Christ Superstar (for one weekend/four performances only) with a full company, a fabulous concept, and some brilliant stage talent, really has me singing a different tune when it comes to the Nazarene-Superstar!

The Trail To Oregon! at The State Theater of Havre de Grace

Reviews July 22, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Friends don’t let friends ford the river! But it’s only a game, right? Or at least it was, until Starkid made it into one of their zany, irreverent musicals. Currently appearing at The State Theater of Havre De Grace, The Trail To Oregon! (based on the old Macintosh computer game The Oregon Trail) is a trip. Period. Down memory lane, also that, but mostly just an outrageous, tongue-in-cheek, ludicrous musical mishap that will put a barrel full of belly laughs out there for all to enjoy.

Niagara at Well Played Theater

Reviews July 18, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Hey, pal— feelin’ blue? Don’t know what to do? Hey, pal— I mean you! C’mon and— well…take a barrel over the falls? No job? Cupboard bare? One room, no one there? Hey, pal! Don’t despair! Don’t you want to— go over Niagara on a jet ski? Come on over in your own machine! A brand new musical is taking the scene, and everybody’s got the right to their dreams— even if those dreams involve soaring,

Elf at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews July 14, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

We need a little Christmas! Right this very season! Santa Claus & Buddy— and Toby’s has a reason— yes, they’ve got a little Christmas, right this very minute— they’ve got a little Christmas now! What finer way to welcome the world back to live theatre in the round than with all of the warmth, delight, and exuberant cheer that a Christmas musical can bring? Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia is giving the world exactly what they want and need this summer-long season.

Karli Cole in Midsummer: A Most Rare Vision

Midsummer: A Most Rare Vision at Maryland Ensemble Theatre

Reviews June 18, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say that indeed dreams— rare visions or not— do come true; live theatre with in-person audiences have returned to us once more. The Maryland Ensemble Theatre is at their finest in bringing a most peculiar, wondrous and intriguing theatrical endeavor to those of us who have waited so long to return to the theatre. Directed by Julie Herber,

Always, Patsy Cline at Free Range Humans

Reviews June 9, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

A secret’s no fun unless you tell somebody! So we’re gonna tell the world of the DMV that Frederick’s best kept secret is a little-known professional company slowly bursting its way back onto the scene with a semi-revival of a sold-out hit show from before the pandemic! Free Range Humans, roosting in Baker Park’s Bandshell for this show, is proudly producing Always, Patsy Cline, a light-hearted, feel-good musical to welcome audiences back to live theatre after what feels like an eternity away from the stage.

Variant Strains at Best Medicine Rep

Reviews June 7, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

As the 17-year brood-X cicadas are upon us, I recall distinctively the last time they were here— 2004. I recall it not because I remember the cicadas but because it forced my high school graduation ceremony indoors. In chain-reaction style thinking, I thought of my 11th grade American History teacher, who asked the class a question that garnered no clear answer then and plagues my mind ambiguously now: What makes an event history? Or more accurately,

Legally Blonde at The Suburban Players

Reviews June 5, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

They’re back in the game! Back on the case! If you out— that’d be a waste! They’ve lit a fuse and they’ll show you who’s— Legally Blonde! After what feels like an eternity, The Suburban Players of St. Demetrios has finally opened their production of the smash-hit musical Legally Blonde. And the best part is that they’re on stage, live, with an in-person audience! Directed by Lauren Spencer-Harris, with Musical Direction by Steven Soltow,