Reviews

Serious Adverse Effects at Rapid Lemon Productions

Reviews May 8, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Your mind is boundless. Allow this notion to guide you closure to the fullness of you. Or allow Rapid Lemon Productions and their first live on-stage performance of 2021 to guide you to the fullness of you. After over a year’s hiatus from live, in-person, on-stage performances due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, Rapid Lemon Productions is back in action with a world premiere of Serious Adverse Effects by upcoming playwright Derek Lee McPhatter.

Newsies at Mount Saint Joseph High School

Reviews April 24, 2021 Amanda N. Gunther

Now is the time to seize the day! After over a year of live-theatre being suspended due to the Covid-19 Global Pandemic, the world is slowly starting to open up again and that includes the stage. And the stage at Mount Saint Joseph High School with their three-performance production of Disney’s Newsies. Directed by Michael V. Hartsfield with Musical Direction by Susan Esserwein and Choreography by Katie Sheldon and Brook Urquhart, this energizing tale of Newsboys on strike for their rights as working members of society is a fantastic way to welcome audiences back to the stage after such long,

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company

Reviews March 7, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

To laugh? Or not to laugh? That won’t really be much of a
question as Chesapeake Shakespeare Company attempts all 37 of Shakespeare’s
plays with three guys, one stage, and 2 hours traffic upon it. Yes, the Bard’s
almighty collection— as condensed, despoiled, and distilled by Adam Long,
Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield— also entitled The Complete Works of William
Shakespeare Abridged— now finds its way onto the Globe-esque stage of Chesapeake
Shakespeare Company under the direction of Artistic Director Ian Gallanar.

Steel Magnolias at MAD

Reviews March 3, 2020 Rachel Zirkin Duda

It’s the
1980s. Fashions are colorful. Big hair is in. Clouds of hairspray linger in the
air. It is against this backdrop that the latest offering from NASA Goddard’s
MAD Productions is set. Steel Magnolias
(directed by Paul Morris and produced by Katrina Jackson)tells the story of a gaggle of women in Chinquapin, Louisiana, who
spend their time socializing at the fictional “Truvy’s Beauty Shop” –
gossiping, getting their hair and nails done,

The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On at Tidewater Players

Reviews February 28, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

They are family! They got all their sisters— you’ll see! That’s
right, they’re back! All four original Wonderettes— Cindy Lou, Betty Jean,
Missy, and Suzie— are back and dreaming on, this time to celebrate their
favorite home-room teacher— Mrs. McPherson (watch out, audience!) and her
retirement party after 39 years as a Springfield High Chipmunk! Tidewater
Players knows how to put on a show when it comes to everyone’s favorite
foursome; their production of The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On is wholesome
family fun that features four talented individuals breathing new life and
dreams into many iconic tunes of the late 60’s and late 70’s!

The Wanderers at Theater J

Reviews February 27, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

Not all those who wander are lost; time has tested such a
proverb, but what if those who are lost don’t know they are wandering? Wandering
from their faith, wandering from their lives, wandering from themselves, life
is short and full of illusions, so who really understands whether or not they
are happy? An evocative and poignant new drama by Anna Ziegler wanders through
these notions, exploring the paths our lives take when we are lost and
wandering.

Footloose at The Suburban Players

Reviews February 24, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

I’ve got this feeling— that nothing’s holding them down;
they’re hitting the ceiling— they’re tearing up the east side of town— with
their production of Footloose! Footloose! They’re kicking off their weekday
blues! With the hottest production of the dated 80’s classic this side of Charm
City, The St. Demetrios’ Suburban Players are giving audiences all over Carney,
Parkville, and Baltimore a thrilling joyride through Bomont! They’re cutting
Footloose! And you won’t want to miss it!

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at The Heritage Players

Reviews February 21, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

Baltimore is full of theatre shows; some comedies, some with
duels, but I prefer a company that produces flashy jewels! A show on your stage
might be quite continental— but “in concerts” are your new best friend! At
least, they are for The Heritage Players this winter. On their third annual “musical
in concert” The Heritage Players breathes new life into a golden oldie— Gentlemen
Prefer Blondes. Directed and Choreographed by Tommy Malek (with Lori
Struss-Weatherly),

Steel Magnolias at Showcase On Main

Reviews February 21, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

Too twisted for colored TV, Showcase On Main is bringing
everyone’s favorite beauty-shop-gossip-fest to their stages this February. That’s
right, come on out to Elkton, MD and take a whack at— Steel Magnolias,
Directed by Lee Lewis. With just six people in the cast, and the cozy intimate
setting of SoM’s playing space, it’s a narrative experience filled with heart,
soul, and everybody’s favorite emotion— laughter though tears. There are some powerful
performances and some unique twists that make the show specific to Showcase On
Main;

Legally Blonde at Third Wall Productions

Reviews February 15, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

They’ve got that beeeeeend and SNAP! See how good they’re
getting? Beeeeeend and SNAP! All the fun they’re having? They’ve sprung the trap;
you’ll cheer and clap for their beeeeeend and SNAP! And generally for their
production of Legally Blonde! Third Wall Productions breaks up the
midwinter blues with their second show of the 2019-2020 season— Legally
Blonde! Directed by Henry Cyr with Musical Direction by Patty DeLisle, and
Choreography y Cecilia &

Talia Suskauer as Elphaba. Photo: Joan Marcus

Wicked at The Hippodrome

Reviews February 14, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

Magic is a demanderating mistress! And who better to know
that than the witches of Oz! Yes, for one short day— well, several short days
(through March 8, 2020)— you too can see the Emerald City, and hear the
splendor, and experience the glory that is the Tony Award-winning musical Wicked
as it defies gravity and lands once more in Baltimore! Green with envy yet?
You will be if you don’t get your tickets and they’re red hot like ruby
slippers!

Give Me Moonlight

Reviews February 12, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

There are somethings that you cannot put into words;
experiencing the joy of a world premiere is one of those things. Rapid Lemon
Productions presents the world premiere of Give Me Moonlight by Ariel
Mitchell. This surrealist tale of historical happenings in rooted in the truth
of Albert and Bessie Johnson, who eventually built a castle in Death Valley. Directed
by Noah Silas, the play features just four actors and carries a loosely woven
narrative of hope and despair,

The 39 Steps at Constellation Theatre Company

Reviews February 12, 2020 Steven Kirkpatrick

Constellation
Theatre does amazing work. However, The 39 Steps, while delivering
vibrant performances and a reasonable proportion of laughs, does not quite rise
to the level of theatre we expect from this company, largely due to an
inconsistent vision for this adaptation of a classic film to the stage.

Patrick
Barlow’s play — a long running success in both London and New York–adapts the
1935 Alfred Hitchcock adventure film, The 39 Steps,

Loserville at The Fredericktowne Players

Reviews February 1, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

Pinch me! Is this real? I got a one-way ticket into Loserville—
the musical! Now appearing on the Jack B. Kussmaul Theater at Frederick Community
College with The Fredericktowne Players, Loserville, the incredibly
underrated and fabulously feel-good musical all about communication is under
the superb direction of Matthew Bannister with Musical Direction by Matthew Dohm
and Choreography by Laurie Newton. The tagline’s not wrong— think Grease
meets The Big Bang Theory— but it’s so much more than that.

9 To 5 at Stand Up For…Theatre

Reviews February 1, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

Tumble on the stage and they’re
hopin’ and a wishin’! They’ve poured themselves a cup of ambition— Stand Up For…
Theatre! is doing 9 to 5. They’re singin’ and a dancin’; they got their
blood pumping! Dolly Parton’s musical will really keep you jumping! I’ll say it
again— they’re producing 9 To 5. Produced by Grant Myers, Directed by Ed
Higgins, with Musical Direction by Brandon Seehoffer, and Choreography by
Lenore Florez,

Next To Normal at The Kennedy Center

Reviews January 31, 2020 Mark Briner

The
Kennedy Center’s Broadway Center Stage series drastically shifts gears but
continues to strike gold with their current production of Tom Kitt and Brian
Yorkey’s Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical Next to Normal. They have enjoyed great success for the last three
seasons mining a pleasing blend of golden age musicals like How to Succeed in Business Without Really
Trying and The Music Man and
modern age classics like In the Heights and The Who’s Tommy,

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

Kinky Boots at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews January 26, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

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,

The North American Tour of Cats. Photo: Matthew Murphy

Cats at The Hippodrome

Reviews January 22, 2020 Amanda N. Gunther

Practical cats, dramatical cats, pragmatical cats, fanatical
cats! Oratorical cats, delphioracle cats, allegorical cats, metaphorical cats!
And then of course there’s the Jellicle Cat. What— you ask— is a Jellicle Cat?
Well…no better way to learn than to venture out in the moonlight to Baltimore’s
Hippodrome Theatre and see them live in action. Cats, the first show of
the 2020 calendar to land in Charm City will mesmerize you, enchant you, and
have you glowing with delight.

Jesus Christ Superstar at The Hippodrome Theatre

Reviews December 18, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

Strip away myth from the man and you get a strangely vexing
yet utterly intriguing new-age production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus
Christ Superstar. Now appearing, albeit unseasonably, at The Hippodrome
Theatre in the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, this original rock opera,
the first of its kind back in 1970 is now celebrating its 50th
Anniversary Tour. Directed by Timothy Sheader with Choreography by Drew McOnie,
the production is a post-apocalyptic amalgamation of its rock musical concert
roots and modernity that burble caustically in some spots but gel smoothly in
others.

The cast of Second City's Love, Factually

Love, Factually at The Kennedy Center

Reviews December 12, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

If you look for it, love actually is all around you.
Unless you’re bitter-pill Cassie, whose got an icepick up her hoo-hah over
love, romance, and happy endings. As the zany and quirky title might imply,
Second City’s Love, Factually, is bringing you the jaded and hardened
look at the warm-n-fuzzy feel goods of the holidays this December at The John
F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Appearing through December 29 in the
Theatre Lab,

Yehezkel Lazarov (center left) as Tevye, and Jonathan Von Mering (center right) as Lazar Wolf & the Cast of Fiddler on the Roof. Photo: Joan Marcus

Fiddler on the Roof at The National Theatre

Reviews December 11, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

Fiddler on the Roof for Christmas? Unthinkable.
Unheard of. On the other hand, it’s a brilliant story with glorious music. On
the other hand, it’s not A Christmas Carol or some other stalwart
tradition in the nation’s capital. On the other hand, The National Theatre is
bringing tradition to their stage for a limited week-long engagement smack in
the middle of December this year. With original Direction by Barlett Sher
(recreated here by Sari Evans) and original choreography by Hofesh Shechter
(recreated here by Christopher Evans),

Elf at Tidewater Players

Reviews December 6, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

There’s a saying that they have up in Havre de Grace

That helps keep happy smiles on their face

“If you want a Christmas show filled with glee— make sure
that it’s sparkle-jolly-twinkle-jingle-y!”

And The Tidewater Players is sparkling, twinkling, jolly,
jingling their way across the stage of the Havre de Grace Opera House with
their seasonal production of Elf! Directed by Laurie Sentman Starkey,
with Musical Direction by Stephanie Carlock Cvach and Choreography by Carissa
Lagano,

The Illusionists: Magic Of The Holidays at The National Theatre

Reviews December 4, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

What is magic? Is it just a misdirection that a magician attempts to hide their secret moves? Or is it something more than that? You’ll have to find out this holiday season at The National Theatre as The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays lands for a one-week limited engagement in the unprecedented 16-show season of one of DC’s national artistic treasures. Featuring world-class magicians— The Elusive, The Trickster, The Daredevil, The Delusionist, The Manipulator,

Latin Histsory for Morons at The National Theater

Reviews November 22, 2019 Mark Briner

Actor/writer/one-man-force-of-nature John Leguizamo
entered the National Theatre opening night to thunderous applause, which he
immediately attempted to quell. “We can’t waste any time,” he interjected, “We
have to unteach everything you’ve learned so far, and that’s a lot of shit to
undo.” He was not wrong, in the next two hours proceeding to offer a strong
opposition to the whitewashed revisionist history we’ve all been taught in high
school. Expertly guided by Tony Taccone’s taut direction,

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!

A Christmas Story at Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Reviews November 21, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

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 &

Kaenaonālani Kekoa (left) as Jasmine and Jonah Ho'okano (right) as Aladdin. Photo: Deen van Meer

Aladdin at The Hippodrome

Reviews November 15, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

Gotta keep— one jump, ahead of the box-office line! One
swing— ahead of the rest! Disney’s got a show that truly tops the rest! So make
way— for Disney’s Aladdin! Make way— for Disney’s Aladdin! Coasting
in on a magic carpet just in time for the holidays this highly adventurous, memorably
Disney stage show brings you a cave of wonders and them some when it comes to
theatrical spectacle.

Occupant at Theater J

Reviews November 14, 2019 Steven Kirkpatrick & Charles Boyington Steven Kirkpatrick & Charles Boyington

“Interviewer: Did you ever think
maybe you were no good?

Nevelson: …No, I don’t think I ever thought that, but I did think I’d maybe never get where I knew I could–to that space I knew was supposed to stand in… To occupy.”

The compulsions that drive an artist to fame, and the nebulous line between truth and created persona, animate Edward Albee’s Occupant, directed by Aaron Posner, which opened last night in a sharply mounted production at the Aaron and Cecile Goldman Theater at the Edlavitch Jewish Community Center (Theater J).

The Company of the RENT 20th Anniversary Tour. Photo: Amy Boyle

Rent at The National Theatre

Reviews November 13, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

How can you connect in an age when strangers, landlords,
lovers, your own blood cells betray? What binds the fabric together when the
raging, shifting winds of change keep ripping away? RENT! While often
appreciated as somewhat of a “period piece” or an iconic stamp in musical
theatre history, now entering its 25th years (in the fourth
incarnation of the 20th Anniversary Tour), Rent is still
incredibly relevant to today and all that’s happening around us in our 525,600
minutes.

Man of La Mancha at Third Wall Productions

Reviews November 12, 2019 Amanda N. Gunther

Hear me now! Oh thou bleak and unbearable world— thou art in
need of good quality musical classics on the stage! There’s a company, with
their banners all bravely unfurled now hurling their gauntlet to thee— they are
they— Third Wall Productions— bringing you the Man of La Mancha and all
of its exquisite fantasy! They are they— Third Wall Productions— with their Man
of La Mancha and your destiny calls you to go!