author: Chris Pence
When You Believe: The Prince of Egypt at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore
Anyone who has ever set foot in a church knows the story: a mother fearing for her firstborn’s safety sets the baby in a basket to flow down the Nile toward Egypt, and towards his fate. The baby grows into the most influential prophet of Judaism, as well as one of the most important in Christianity,
author: Chris Pence
Happy Mother’s Day 2025! If you need a gift for mom, or a reminder of all that mothers provide for us, Artistic Synergy of Baltimore’s Motherhood Out Loud is all you need! Conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein, Motherhood Out Loud is an all-encompassing view of motherhood, seen through a series of short scenes and monologues. Through honest, direct delivery, the show follows the mothering process from birth through schooling,
Sets. Costumes. Lights. Magic. They’ve actually got all of those things. Which is pretty dang impressive all things considered. Artistic Synergy of Baltimore is razzle-dazzling with their current production of Pippin, directed by Broadus Nesbitt with Musical Direction by Charlotte Evans and Choreography by Samantha Reynolds. Lending itself to the cobbled-together nature that church-basement-community theatre is often expected to present, this production of Pippin sets the bar high with its full and resonant ensemble,
The Very Model of a Modern Major Musical: Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore
W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan’s classic comedic opera comes to life at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore! The Pirates of Penzance follows hopeful orphan Frederic in his mistaken apprenticeship with a wild band of singing, dancing pirates! Frederic’s story takes a drastic turn when he falls in love with Mabel,
Do you know how many women have been pope? Nun. Did you hear that Mother Superior had to crack down on nuns in the convent wearing perfume? She wasn’t having any of that Nun-scents. But if you’re ready for Nunsense, the musical with singing, dancing nuns who are just trying to earn a buck to bury their frozen sisters— then The Salem Players of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Catonsville has got you covered!
Every story is a love story. That’s the message being preached by Artistic Synergy of Baltimore’s (established 2012) production of AIDA which opened on a rainy night in Rosedale, MD. Based on the Italian language opera of the same name, Disney purchased the book rights in 1994 to turn it into an animated feature film. However, it was instead reborn as a Broadway musical with music by Sir Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice.
I don’t believe it! There’s an American farce!? And it’s here in Baltimore!?!? With a first-time director and at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore!? I don’t believe it! Well, believe it! Because Whose Wives Are The Anyway? an American farce written by Michael Parker is here for a two-weekend engagement with Artistic Synergy and its being directed by first-time-director Cory Bauer. It’s an antics-loaded, shenanigans-laced nonsense show that will certain have you chuckling as the characters trip over one another,
Move over, Tom Stoppard (and also Disney-Marvel-verse). You no longer hold the market on “origin backstory/alternate POV” when it comes to Shakespeare. That’s right, there’s a new— okay, not new, per say— but there’s another option when it comes to doing weird stuff with Shakespeare that isn’t Shakespeare but still is totally Shakespeare. And Artistic Synergy of Baltimore’s children’s performance group has got it. The Rude Mechanicals, by Ed Graczyk, is now appearing on the ASoB stage,
The Biltmore Garage wants a
grand, but we ain’t got a grand on hand. And they now got a lock on the door to
the gym at Public School 84. There’s a stock room behind McKlosky’s Bar, but
Mrs. McKlosky ain’t a good scout. And things being how they are, the back of
the police station is out! So, come on down to Artistic Synergy of
Baltimore ‘cause that’s where the action is. Shhhhh!
ASoB The cast of Artistic Synergy’s Guys &
PUFFS! Spoiler alert— not everyone’s favorite house…but
when a hat speaks, you listen! Let’s be clear here, there will be much foolish
wand waving and silly incantations in Artistic Synergy of Baltimore’s production
of PUFFS or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic
and Magic. Fresh from Off-Broadway, and playing a limited four-show engagement,
PUFFS is the ridiculously absurd parody play that will banish all your
boggarts back into their closets with a healthy dose of laughter.
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” and this December, Artistic Synergy of Baltimore brings us one of our favorite holiday classics, Miracle on 34th Street—this time, as a spirited musical production with book, music,& lyrics by Meredith Willson! Directed by Melissa Broy Fortson, Music Directed by LeVar Betts, & Choreographed by Kristin Miller, this endearing show is sure to delight Christmas-lovers of all ages and make us believe once again in the magic of the season.
Happiness is finding a pencil, pizza with sausage, telling the time. Happiness is learning to whistle, tying your shoe for the very first time. Happiness is playing the drum in your own school band, and happiness is spending an evening with the cast and crew of Artistic Synergy of Baltimore’s You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Directed by Melissa Broy Fortson, with Musical Direction by Michelle Bruno.
ASoB has elevated their production from show status to a concept,
Territory folks should stick together! Territory folks should all be pals! The cowboys dance with the farmer’s daughters; the farmers dance with the rancher’s gals! Now I’d like to say a word ‘bout Artistic Synergy…they set up in the church basement and that’s fine! They do shows to make us smile, and they’re dancing’s real in style, and they’re doing Oklahoma! by Rogers & Hammerstein! Oh— territory folks should stick together— territory folks should all be friends,
Scrooge the Musical at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore hardly needs an introduction to tell you what it’s all about! It’s the timeless classic Christmas story of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, which has seen probably more interpretations and remakes than any other Christmas story in history, set to a wonderful score. While you have probably seen countless interpretations (or even other stage productions) of A Christmas Carol over the years,
Chin up! Chin up! Everybody loves a happy face! Wear it! Share it! It’ll brighten up the darkest place! Twinkle! Sparkle! Let a little sunshine in! You’ll be on the right side looking at the bright side up with your chinny-chin, chin up! Salutations! It’s Artistic Synergy’s reason to twinkle— sparkle— and let a little sunshine into the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church basement this summer! Presenting for the first time— a children’s production featuring the children of Artistic Synergy!
You’ve gotta be— sincere! You’ve gotta see it here! Cause when you see it here— at Artistic Synergy of Baltimore— you’re honestly going to see— sincere! If you’re seein’ it here— at Artistic Synergy— then it’s really sincere! And if you’re seein’ it here— Bye Bye Birdie that is— then it’s gonna be right, oh baby! Directed by Jeff Baker, this fast-movin’ 50’s feel-good musical is showing the east side of Baltimore that there’s such a lot of living to do!
To begin this review, a synopsis feels almost unnecessary because it would be difficult to find people who are not familiar with this timeless piece of comedy by Neil Simon. The Odd Couple had its original debut in 1965 on Broadway, and with its success, spurred a film in 1968, and then a TV series from 1970 – 1975. Since then it’s seen many adaptations and revivals (even a cartoon version in the 70’s!).
Here’s a picture of a neighborhood, there’s the corner where they all stood. The neighborhood is Rosedale, in the basement of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church to be exact, and the corner? That’s Artistic Synergy, a staple of a community theatre in that corner of Baltimore. Presenting Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller as their spring musical, the company puts forth an enthusiastic effort that is well met with strong vocal talent to the less than cohesive musical revue.
When taking a chance on an evening out at the theatre just what one gets? Well, one never knows, do one? But one will certainly be having a toe-tappin’ foot-stompin’ swingin’ ringin’ good time down at The Vagabond Players as their 99th season continues on with Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Fats Waller Musical Show. Conceived by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr. this jazzy swinging sensation of a musical revue hits the stage a stompin’ and has the whole joint jumpin’ before all is said and done.