The cast of MAMA MIA which was in town over Thanksgiving week at the Hippodrome stopped by SHOWTUNES VIDEO MADNESS and stayed until closing. They mingled with the crowd and requested several videos. Everyone had a great time.
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Toby’s Has a Winner!!!
By Ben Ryland
Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Baltimore has just opened the mid-Atlantic premiere of the recent Broadway version of, ‘Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS.’ Based on the beloved film starring Bing Crosby, Donald O’Conner and Rosemary Clooney it has been a TV perennial for decades. The story as well as the iconic holiday songs hold up well and the show at Toby’s is a treat for the entire family.
Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have been best friends since their stint in World War II commanded by a General who all the men loved, respected and brought them back alive.
Now years later the successful entertainers Wallace and Davis, while in their attempt to latch on to a new opening sister act, both professionally and personally, stumble on to the information that their now retired former leader owns a failing lodge in New England. Sensing a chance to score on both fronts (putting on a show to pay his bills and getting next to the sisters) creates the opportunity for them to follow the girls north.
Boys meet girls, boys land girls, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. Like so many of these movie factory musicals in Hollywood’s Golden Age, most of the songs are not integrated but come out in the show-within-the-movie.
Larry Munsey (Bob), Phil (David James), Betty (Janine Gulisano-Sunday), and Judy (Toby’s newcomer Julia Lancione) comprise the quartet of lovers. When they arrive at the lodge they discover a Sergeant/Housekeeper in the form of Jane Boyle who has to juggle the books and run a tight military style household unit to keep the general happy. Boyle is up to the task; it was wonderful to encounter this fine comedic actor back on stage again in a meaty role using many of her stage talents.
The boys go on Ed Sullivan to announce the show calling for all the soldiers who served under General Waverly (a nice portrayal by veteran actor Samm Huffer) to buy tickets and bring their families to the resort for the Christmas holiday. If you have seen the movie you know how it all ends and the nicest touch is the General and housekeeper realizing how much they care for each other. Toby’s crew of regulars in other roles including Ray Hatch, James Biernatowski, Jen Kohlhafer and David Jennings give their best as usual.
Director Darren McDonnell has put it all together in a wonderful Christmas package judging from the reaction of the sold-out audience last Sunday afternoon. He is a master in bringing out the nuances of a characterization in his individual cast members; as very talented directors seem to do effortlessly. Of course the plot is corny but what isn’t in holiday stories. But oh those Irving Berlin songs! Almost every one is a familiar hit and this cast can sing them. My only problems with the production was the pacing in the first act which could have been tighter and a better use of the dancing that often went on much too long. Worst of all is the decision to use mostly recorded music is doing a disservice to these talented vocal performers.
Toby’s Dinner Theatre Baltimore until January 10th
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Around the World at Center Stage
by Lou Cedrone
Irene Lewis, artistic director at Center Stage, was visiting Chicago when she saw a Lookingglass Theatre production of Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days” and was so impressed with it that she invited the company to bring it to Baltimore, to Center Stage.
You might wonder, for the first 40 minutes or so, why anyone would be that taken with the production, then the props kick in. They are, you might say, the stars of the show. In the 1956 movie version of the novel, Mike Todd used every film star he could sign. Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, David Niven, Shirley MacLaine and Jose Greco were among the many names that peppered the screen and helped it win the “best film of the year award” at the Oscars.
Here, it’s the staging that gives this production its distinction. If you know the plot of the novel you know that Phileas Fogg bets members of his club that he can circumnavigate the globe in so many days and will do it by elephant, ship, sled, any means of transportation, and these are the props that give this “80 Days” its energy. There is also a storm that is staged with so much force and invention that it deserves the hand it gets from the audience. And the cast is as good as the props.
So go and enjoy. Just give it some time.
It will run there through December 20, and the prices are right, $10 to $60.
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Arena Stage presents the Intimate Show- THE FANTASTICKS
It is an interesting question to as the reason why Arena Stage in DC would present a warhorse musical, 40+ years old as their holiday offering. With a cast of only seven, THE FANTASTICKS, one would fear that it was an economical one. Arena has had a varied history presenting Broadway shows. Hits like DAMN YANKEES, and clunkers like- CAMELOT and SOUTH PACIFIC. There are several lovely songs in THE FANTASTICKS; though many theatre goers would be hard pressed to name even one. However storywise it’s barren and simple yet imaginative staging seems to be the element to its success and successful production.
Here lies the paradox at Arena. It is simply overly staged. Set in an amusement park we meet the protagonist, El Gallo as a magician overseeing the story. Or is he creating it? I saw the show only once on stage previously and remember little of it. The entertaining film version was substantially changed so I literally have no frame of reference except what I have read about the show and its creators.
But in the Arena staging it doesn’t seem to work as intended. As Lou Grant famously stated, “I hate spunk” when referring to perky Mary Tyler Moore in the newsroom of her show, I your humble theatre reviewer, “HATE WHIMSY!!!” There I have said it, err… written it for the entire world to know about me. The set is clever but the magic tricks (of which there are far too many) are very cheesy and there is only one actor of the seven that is not chewing the scenery- Sebastian La Cause as El Gallo. His wonderful singing voice redeems his performance.
Using fans to blow confetti snow and rain along with flowers and balls sleight-of-hand plus characters disappearing in boxes are just childish effects and bring the show down. This ain’t a Vegas lounge. Add in two actors playing the boy and the girl who sort of fall in love but have no chemistry in their performance relationship and the show is sunk. Yes, it’s full of metaphors, in fact it is so heavy with them that composers Jones and Schmidt even included a song with that one word title. So why attempt to add more?
With all the professionalism of the creative team this venture was lost on me and apparently some of the audience. After producing incredible shows last season including, NEXT TO NORMAL and 33 VARIATIONS & presenting WISHFUL DRINKING, maybe more was expected; something unattainable and ‘bigger’ on a smaller scale.
Arena Stage at the Lincoln Theatre, DC until January 10th.
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THE ADDAMS FAMILY: The Musical in Chicago</strong
The Addams Family Musical has begun performances in its two month try-out in Chicago before heading to Broadway. So we left on a jet plane and headed west to see the show last weekend. The famous Oriental Theatre (where WICKED played a 4 year run) is almost sold out for the creepy, kooky family musical. In fact we were in row X of the orchestra for the third preview performance and I had purchased the tickets six months ago! The show is hot, hot, hot with ticket buyers. But does it deliver?
The auditorium house lights fluttered and crackled before the overture began getting the audience ready. Strains of the TV show theme song and tango style music rose from the pit as the curtain was opened by a bodyless hand revealing the graveyard in the rear of the familiar looking Addams house located somewhere in Central Park.
NOTE: For several reasons including-
- the show is brand new and still being worked on,
- we attended only the third complete performance ever in front of an audience,
- and finally, press aren’t allowed to review it in the Windy City until December 9th
But I am going to tell you about the show however not really critique it.
With this cast consisting of 2X Tony winning performers, Nathan Lane (THE PRODUCERS) as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth (CHICAGO) as Morticia, plus stars Kevin Chamberlin (SEUSSICAL, THE RITZ) as Uncle Fester, Jackie Hoffman (HAIRSPRAY) as Grandma along with Terrence Mann (Javert in Les Miz) and Carolee Carmello (PARADE) as pivotal plot characters, the show has outstanding pedigrees.
In that first scene we come to find out that daughter Wednesday (Krysta Rodriguez) no longer a kid, has a boyfriend. She has outgrown her childish games of torture with brother Pugsley (Adam Riegler aka Cubby Berstein). So, what is the reaction of this disclosure? The strangest family in New York wants to invite the lad and his parents to dinner Friday night.
That is about all the plot you are going to get from me but rest assured all the creepy and kookie things are present including Lurch, strange creatures (effectively portrayed by puppets) and another major character in the show which is the house its self.
The scenic designer has created one of the coolest sets ever for a Broadway stage. The exterior but mostly the interior of the mansion moves, it turns, it literally dances. Add in the wonderful lighting and you will see where much of the rumored $17 million budget was spent: On talent and production values. The set received applause several times during the show, it is that outstanding.
The unmemorable music by Andrew Lippa has ups and downs and the first act closer, a number called ‘Full Disclosure’ involving a truth game goes on for more than 15 minutes is way too long and needs to be replaced. The book is by Woody Allen scripter, Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice who co-wrote “Jersey Boys.” The first act has tons of comic setups for the well-known idiosyncrasies of the Addams Family and the second half is more sentimental.
All of the actors with one exception are still finding their character. But Chamberlin has hit the ground running as he skillfully navigates our way through the story with his commentary. He also has a wonderful scene in Act 2 where as he sings of his love- the moon – so he rockets off the set and into to the heavens to be with her. It is one of the many major special effects and along with the song- ‘The Moon and Me’ it has plenty of emotion and heart attached. Lane is hysterical and his Gomez is as horny as ever (stating “Fuck dancing” it’s bedtime) but incredibly touching when dealing with his daughters adulthood in the song, ‘Happy/Sad.’ He was born to play this role on stage and will be difficult to replace at the end of his NY contract. Newirth looks great but sings a bit raspy (but they are rehearsing constantly and tired). Her dancing is astonishing considering that she recently had two hip replacements. And that dress! Wow, she is busting out all over as they say and Bebe is perfect for Morticia. Her big number, ‘Second Banana’ is revelation about getting older and her tango song with Gomez complete with scary sword play are wonderful.
Love and family (if dysfunctional) is the overall theme; it’s not corny but instead comes organically from the characters and is heartfelt. Directors/Designers Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch come from the world of opera and understand full grand productions. Being grand is something which always concerns this weird family and it works incredibly well in this live staging.
The show needs to lose at least 20 minutes and the dialog tightened but that is what out-of-town tryouts are for. Tickets are already on sale in New York and smart theatre goers should grab their’s fast or you’ll have to wait until 2011 to see it. I believe this show when finished will be a highlight of the 2010 Broadway season and look for Chamberlin to finally get that richly deserved Tony Award.
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Click on HOT NEWS!!! for some Holiday gift ideas for your theatre friends and a GLEE update…..
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Check out the new Theme Nights at SHOWTUNES VIDEO MADNESS at the Club Hippo including ticket giveaways for ‘Dreamgirls’ at the Hippodrome, ‘HAIRSPRAY’ at the Lyric Theatre, ‘The Mystery of Irma Vep’ at Everyman Theatre and much more including SHOWTUNES First Anniversary Party on January 5th. Click on the tab above for all the latest information.
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BREAKING THEATRE NEWS
The 74 year old star Topol who has been heading a National Tour of “Fiddler on the Roof” has sustained an injury that will prevent him from continuing. He requires surgery for the shoulder problem and a long recovery period.
However the tour is not being canceled for the cities planned instead the tour will continue in Toronto with multi-Tony award winner Harvey Fierstein!!!! To my knowledge this is the first time that the actor has gone on the road in a musical. 
If you are big fan of his the tour will be at the National Theatre in DC in April. This will still be a must-see show and we will keep you up to date about tickets.
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There are new Theme Nights scheduled for SHOWTUNES VIDEO MADNESS in the next few months. Click above for all the details.
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London’s original stage MARY POPPINS is now performing the role on Broadway. Laura Michelle Kelly and Christian Borle (Tony nominee for Legally Blonde: The Musical) are now heading the cast of this wonderful musical.
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One of the biggest flop musicals in history is being revised and heading back to Broadway according to Michael Reidel (the evil queen of broadway) in the New York Post. A private reading of the updated script is scheduled with Marin Mazzie as the mother of all mothers and Sutton Foster as the gym teacher/mentor.
The title actress is being kept secret at this point.
We have heard the music and read Ken Mandelbaum’s account of the original production in his book, ‘Not Since Carrie” and we can’t wait to see it on stage.
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The ‘WICKED’ party at SHOWTUNES was terrific and a huge crowd turned out. There were 17 prize packages given away and a ‘WICKED’ cake for all to share. Click the button at the top see the pictures.
The first person to identify the above photo as ‘Carrie the Musical’ was Debbie Z. She won the Original Cast CD. Congrats to all the winners of the samplers too. 
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WIZARD OF OZ Actor Looks Forward to Baltimore Engagement at the Lyric Theatre
By Ben Ryland www.stagesbaltimore.wordpress.com
Beau Hutchings has been on the road for two seasons in the ensemble of THE WIZARD OF OZ which makes a stop at the Lyric Theatre November 13th-15th.
I recently spoke to him during their engagement in nearby Hershey PA about the show and life on the road. Being only 23 and OZ being his first professional tour [now in it’s 2nd year] he was still very exciting about performing in this show. Beau is a graduate from Western Michigan College and after getting his degree in musical theatre he naturally headed to New York to find a show. His wait was only 2 weeks. Hired by Networks Tours (headquartered in Columbia, MD) he immediately hit the yellow brick road.
“The Wizard of Oz it’s a complete spectacle, a spectacular big musical and there is a lot of fantasy elements and big sets, colorful costumes and special effects including flying. Geared towards kids and adults. It’s just a good fun time at the theatre. The same classic story as the movie of Dorothy and friends but with a few new elements for a live theatre audience.” Beau is a great ‘press agent’ for his tour.
The script was written by the Royal Shakespeare Company in London and was staged at Madison Square Garden more than 10 years ago in their upstairs theatre which holds almost 6000 people. Roseanne starred as the witch and it was a huge smash. It has been staged in tours ever since. Beau explained that, “It’s the same version pretty much but with new things that will surprise the audience. We have about 22 in the cast so it’s large for a touring show.”
Asking him about a scene that I’ve heard about that he performs that stops the show nightly seemed to slightly embarrass him. “It’s probably my favorite scene to perform in. It’s the scene where Dorothy meets the Scarecrow with the ‘If I Only Had a Brain’ song. There is like 3 backup singers, 3 dancing crows and is kind of wacky…..” But I don’t want to give anything away so you will have to go see Beau and company perform it. He continued, ”It’s fun and we sing backup for the scarecrow and it’s really goofy. The audiences really dig it.”
Hutchings plays several characters- a crow, a dancing poppy, an Ozian, and a jitterbug. But I asked, no munchkin? “No, there have 6 shorter members of the ensemble and 6 taller.” So you must be tall? “Yes, about 6 feet, I’m too tall,” which takes care of him not having to play a munchkin.
Any city on the tour that you really liked? “We haven’t been to big, big cities yet, Hershey is one of the more well known [I reminded him that they did play DC last year and the classic Dupont Theatre just up I-95 in Wilmington] the Dupont is a beautiful it was a really nice place to play. We were in Worchester Mass. and heading to Peoria next week before Baltimore. It’s always nice to play a lot of different places, this is a great way to see the country; we cover so much ground.” He explained that he is single.
“I like touring. I kind of struggled with the decision to leave New York after I had just gotten there and had planned on moving to for years. But I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tour, to do a show like this and I am really glad I did.” Beau grew up in Marshall, Michigan. He misses family and friends but they have been very supportive of his desire to perform and tour. But is obvious that this is what he wants to do right now and the best time to do it being single.
Any mishaps on stage during the show or strange theatres? “Every theatre is different because they have different size stages. Our show is so huge sometimes we have to fit it into the house but it doesn’t affect the show. Hershey is a big beautiful house and we use the full show. It’s cool.
“People in Baltimore need to order tickets now because our weekends fill up very quickly and this show sells very well. Everybody loves The Wizard of Oz. People will have a lot of fun and they should come for an enjoyable night at the theatre. Times are rough, it’s a good way to go and escape and realize that there is positive energy to be had. I love it.”
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FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Opens the Hippodrome Season
by Lou Cedrone
It still has an enormous effect on the audience. After all these years, “Fiddler on the Roof” still moves the spectator. It’s one of those shows.
It’s been around for forty-five years. It appeared at Washington’s National Theater in 1964, on it’s way to New York. I was a correspondent for Variety at the time and Abel Green, the editor of Variety, wrote and asked what I thought of the production.
It had played Chicago before it came to Washington and the Chicago Variety correspondent had given it a pan. There was some flack and Green wanted my opinion – did it have any promise?
It did, I said. I thought the musical drama (with comedy) was an elegant production, a skillful blend of music, book and clowning. The star, after all, was Zero Mostel, and that was his specialty, clowning.
Well, Mostel is no longer with us, but Topol is. He did the 1972 film version and with Mostel no longer around, the Israeli-born actor has more or less made the show his own.
Is he as good as Mostel? Yes, he is. He clowns a bit, the way Mostel did, but he is as much Tevye as Mostel was. He is currently doing the show at the Hippodrome through November 1 and it’s a solid production, a thoroughly satisfying one. The Jerome Robbins choreography is faithfully and expertly recreated and the cast, to the player, is most professional.
To those who don’t know the plot of “Fiddler,” Tevye is a resident of Anatevke, a small village in Tsarist Russia where the townspeople must cope with planned pogroms and a changing society that affects Tevye, his wife and their five children.
And don’t forget the score. It was and is one of the most popular ever written.
In a recent interview, Topol was cagey about the announcement that this would be his “farewell” It probably won’t be. At 74, he is well up to the demands of the role.
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If you respond before October 23rd you can pickup tickets to see Arena Stage (DC) upcoming production of the world’s longest running musical- “THE FANTASTICKS” for only $25 bucks. Vist their website (www.arenastage.org) or call 202-488-3300. The show runs November 20th thru January 10th.
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Overly Mannered Productions Affect Two Local Shows
By Ben Ryland
The murder mystery, “NIGHT MUST FALL” by Emlyn Williams is the creakiest script I have ever witnessed in a stage play. Toss in a production style of epic affectations of character and…… Well, you get the idea.
Set in the sitting room of Mrs. Bramson’s bungalow in Essex, England the cast of characters are introduced as the old matron terrorizes her relatives and staff. Throw in an inspector (why is there always an inspector stalking around in these potboilers?) a mysterious stranger, a sexually frustrated niece, the new nervous maid, and a bull dyke cook; all is ripe for murder. In fact the murder’s identity is telegraphed to the audience in the first half. There is no thriller here this time at Olney Theatre Center; just the fear in thinking how long is it to the final curtain.
Director John Going must be as responsible for this mish-mosh including the ugly barely functional set as much as the playwright. Instead of spark and even a semblance of suspense we get heavy handed melodrama that would make Edith Anderson spin in her grave.
Veteran stage and ‘Soap’ Actress Rosemary Prinz plays the matron who comes to her end (we all hoped she would) and Going doesn’t even use her to the shows advantage. But the worst is Tim Getman. His scenery-chewing is even more intense than the rubber-suited actor who ate Tokyo in ‘Godzilla.’ I found him difficult to even watch in this role.
Olney always has done fine classic suspense plays in the past as well as wonderful musicals. “CAMELOT” is their next offering- let’s hope for the best.
Olney Theatre Center – Rt. 108 & Sandy Springs Rd in Olney, MD
Performances through October 25th.
www.olneytheatre.org
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THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
CenterStage’s season opener has many similar problems. Although here they are working with a famously entertaining classic script by Oscar Wilde the production suffers from lack of energy while rooted in the mannered acting (with one exception) that causes the evening to drag instead of soar. In this great example of Wilde’s wit the farce around it has some holes and it takes a long time getting to the conclusion.
If not for the performances of two wonderful actors, Luke Robertson as Algernon (Earnest’s friend) and popular and oh so very talented actor Laurence O’Dwyer as Lady Bracknell it would be a tough almost 3 hours. Woefully miscast Ben Huber as Earnest fails to bring to the audience any longing for romance; instead he seems merely bewildered. Nicole Lowrance (Cecily) has a flair for this type of comedy but appears to have been restrained by her director. Here too we have an unwieldy set that contributes little but photos of Wilde himself hanging largely downstage over looking the proceedings. With these photos visible during the entire show what was the motivation of director Irene Lewis to drop in another during the curtain calls? Couldn’t they have just hit the others with spotlights?
This is the smallest of Lewis’ problems in this production. It is slow and prodding when it should be light and energetic. Pretty costumes do not a performance make either, give your actors some insight into their roles too. Most are speaking in a sing-song monotone cadence to the point of being barely audible. Where the scenes are meant to sparkle here they have little luster. The play is not a dinosaur, why treat it as such.
Putting O’Dwyer in a dress was inspired and he handles Oscar’s most famous women character like the professional he is. But when the audience continually giggles when he is onstage because it’s a guy in a dress, it is ludicrous. The sponsors and well heeled donors in the crowd opening night sniggered like they were watching Uncle Miltie on a 9 inch black and white TV screen. It was a distraction that could have been avoided if staged more cleverly in service to the play. It’s a guy in a dress, get past it.
I find it impossible to recommend either of these productions because it may encourage more like them in the future. Don’t rest on your laurels folks; bring your audience innovation along with their entertainment. But please be careful- I remember a production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ a lot of years back at CenterStage highlighting S & M leather costumes that they were busting out of. It was not pretty!
The Importance of Being Earnest – CenterStage,
700 North Calvert Street
Now until November 8th
www.centerstage.org
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CenterStage will be presenting 4 Cabaret shows this season with the first October 15th – 18.
- Tony Winner for ‘Phantom” and original star of Mamma Mia – Judy Kaye will open the series next Thursday thru Sunday. Ms Kaye was the star of ‘Souvenir’ closing the 08-09 season at CenterStage.
- November 12th – 15th will be Euan Morton who starred on Broadway as Boy George in ‘Taboo’ and was the headliner at the theatre’s gala last year.
- Feb 11th – 14th brings E. Faye Butler back to CS after her performance in ‘Caroline or Change’
- To end the season on April 29th – May 2nd TV’s ‘Cold Case’ cast member and star of the film version of ‘RENT’
Baltimore’s Tracie Thoms will perform with ‘friends’
For more information: www.centerstage.org
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Maryland Public Television began showing the New York based show- THEATRE TALK at 12:30am nightly during the summer totally unannounced. The episodes were from last Fall and early 2009. Many of the shows had closed but it is still a pretty cool talking-heads program hosted by the ‘evil queen of Broadway’ Michael Reidel.
Stupidly they only offered it on MPT2 knocking out the entire audience covered by Comcast which doesn’t carry it. Now the show has disappeared!!! A spokes person at MPT could not tell us why it is off the schedule (but he did offer the usual corporate robot answers, in fact he didn’t seem to know what the show even was).
Be sure to remember how they treat us when they ‘beg’ for your money during pledge drives. After all it’s for all that great theatre programming they offer us. It’s funny however that they have shown so many dinosaur shows recently. Maybe that’s what their company really is- a dinosaur; not all of us watch Lawrence Welk and Doo-Wop. And remember it is “the corporation” for Public Broadcasting.
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Love! Valour! Compassion! – the
Best Production of the Year
By Ben Ryland
I have reviewed Terrence McNally’s Love! Valour! Compassion! at least a half-dozen times including the original and replacement Broadway casts (for Metro Weekly in DC) plus productions in DC, Philly and Baltimore. The layers of the script never fail to surprise me with new meanings and insights. As the winner of the Tony Award for Best Play in the mid-nineties it is a tough, ambitious undertaking for even the most accomplished theatre group. Therefore, as consideration of this entire production I will now declare it as the best show I have seen this year.
Unfortunately due to linage, time and requirement of real income constraints it is impossible to cover every local show. My website helps with linage but unhappily working out a schedule to attend plus write reviews takes an enormous amount of time. Now when newspapers are failing and struggling to get advertising to survive our readers are called upon to support us. Many papers have discontinued reviews and when was the last time you have seen a regular Entertainment Reporter on a TV news show? So when there is a project that far exceeds expectations as this one currently at the Fells Point Corner Theatre, it’s entirely worth the effort to get your tickets to attend and spread the word.
L!V!C! is, yes, the gay play but it much more than that. Death of a Salesman is not about selling products or Mr. Roberts about World War II. It is about the humanity of the living whether about parents and their children, people thrown together in a wartime situation of possible death or a group of friends who just happen to be gay.
If you clear your mind and ride the wave of McNally’s emotionally funny script an audience can have that epiphany that comes with works of art. Director Fuzz Roark has put together a cast of community theatre actors (probably all with day jobs) in one of the most emotional roller-coaster plays that you may ever see. No other local theatre including CenterStage or Everyman (with their union actors and big budgets) have mounted this work. Only the little Axis Theatre tried many years ago in a very uneven version in Baltimore.
As Gregory (a famous choreographer) and Bobby (his blind much younger lover) invite friends to their country home for the Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day holidays the plot unfolds. Gregory is getting old, his body and his muse are failing him. Frustration has set in. Along comes Arthur and Perry the perfect couple who have doubts about why they are together for life when so many others aren’t. Show Queen Buzz relates everything to Broadway musicals to escape the realities of his loneliness and health problems from being HIV positive. The multi-levels of the set work with the characters to bring out the layers of the script. Bravo to Fuzz Roark for bringing all of his talents together in one incredible work.
John Jeckyll and his twin, James are polar opposites. John is hated by many because of his self-hatred of being homosexual. James is dying of the plague but has a loving positive outlook that eventually brings Buzz into his world. John has a boyfriend, Ramon, who is young, hot, and represents all that gay men want in this world according to most straight people and the bitchy queens who can’t have them. Truths and contradictions abound- just like life.
Youth is lost on the young, but not on this group. They are all gay men, but they are also humans attempting to live in a world that is barely accepting them.
They want to run around and swim in the lake naked. Some want hot sex and grab it when it’s offered but in the end they are just humans. And they want love…. no more, no less.
There is not a bad performance from any in the cast of 7; in fact you will be hard pressed to not be moved at the conclusion of the story. There are so many powerful moments in the script that are brilliantly played that you will probably remember this show for a long time.
L!V!C! is an epic play running more than 3 hours but the time flies by as the audience barely notices. They are too busy hanging on every word and the witnessing the exceptional acting that they are seeing on the Fells Point Theatre stage.
Love! Valour! Compassion! – Fells Point Corner Theatre, 251 S. Ann St.
Weekends until October 18th with a special $10 performance- Thursday October 15th.
www.fpct.org
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Johnny Cash- RING OF FIRE at the Allenberry Playhouse
by Priscilla Mack
Allenberry Playhouse delivers high energy entertainment with this show.
“Cash Ring of Fire” is much more than just a show about the legendary singer Johnny Cash.
The show begins with country tunes and gospel songs about the tough life that Johnny Cash and his parents endured in Depression-era Arkansas.
Johnny had to endure the death of his brother.
Throughout his childhood, young Johnny had encouragement from his mother (Jennie Malone)to go and sing.
Viewers of this show were entertained by having three male performers play the role of Johnny Cash. (Michael Hudson Heath; Steve Lasiter and Dan Walters).
Two fine young female performers played June Carter Cash (Jennifer Collins and Libby Tatum).
The duets between Johnny and June Carter Cash will bring a tear to your eye as your remember this loving couple.
The band for “Cash Ring of Fire” was excellent and extra kudos goes to master fiddle player, Amberly Rosen.
Viewers of this show were entertained to all of Johnny Cash’ music classics such as: “Walk the Line;” “Ring of Fire;” “Boy named Sue;” “Going to Jackson.”
The Allenberry players did such an excellent performance in the acting of the tough life that Johnny Cash and his family lived.
Also these performers came through on the power of the music.
“Cash Ring of Fire” runs through October 4. Call 1-800-430-5468 for tickets.
-Next up is “Murder at the Howard Johnson” from October 7 through October 31.
We hear this show has lots of laughs.
Also Allenberry Playhouse in beautiful, rural Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania will have from October 23, 2009 through April 18, 2010, the funny, audience participation, murder mystery weekends. Have fun solving a murder.
So have fun this fall and take in the beauty of Allenberry and enjoy a weekend getting involved in a murder mystery. Look forward to seeing you.
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The award-winning cable show- THEATRE TALK is now being shown on MPT2 almost every night at 12:30am. Hosted by the ‘evil queen of Broadway’ Michael Reidel the show interviews lots of theatre’s movers and shakers and often includes video clips/musical performances. What a great reason to keep your VHS machine, tape it nightly. ======================================================================================================================
Two Large Scale Musical Revues of Broadway
By Ben Ryland
The American Music Theatre on Rt. 30 East of Lancaster is like a stranger in a strange land. It resembles a music venue straight out of Branson or Gatlinburg hosting either celebrity performers or in-house production shows. They just closed ROCKMEN, their salute to Billy Joel and Elton John and their annual, hugely popular Christmas show opens in November.
During September into early October they are hosting their second incarnation of,
BROADWAY’S BEST.
Performed in a large balconied auditorium, a couple of lobby concession stands and a large gift shop you will swear that you’re in the Smokey Mountains. But no you are only about 45 miles north of Baltimore.
The first act is nothing special material wise. The local cast of 7 talented singers and 4 dancers in tuxes and formal gowns take you though the Golden Age of Broadway musicals; highlighting Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Irving Berlin and early Sondhiem/Berstein classics. The nine piece orchestra with a brilliant arranger/composer
attempts to sell the songs however it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.
After intermission it takes off in a more modern oeuvre. Costume appear, choreography abounds and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Les Mis, Phantom, Movie Musicals, Disney on Broadway and currently running shows take over.
The singers are capable and sell the songs to an appreciative audience of bus trippers and families who sing along to all their favorites. But when the new shows appear such as JERSEY BOYS, MAMA MIA, RENT & WICKED they sit back in awe. All of the performers are guilty of using only head-voice with the exception of Michelle Mishler who blows everyone away with, ‘Defying Gravity’ from WICKED. 
The onstage orchestra and set are similar to the staging of the Christmas show (without the trees and snow) but the use of projections of the original Broadway casts in the shows around the stage are effective and unique.
It’s a fun show, especially the second half, and worth your time especially if you take your mom for a birthday or anniversary. The theatre will even announce your occasion to the crowd.
Broadway’s Best -
American Music Theatre, 2425 Rt. 30E, Lancaster, PA
Tickets: www.americanmusictheatre.com
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FIRST YOU DREAM Concert at Signature Theatre
Now through Sunday only, the 2009 Tony Award winning Signature Theatre presents a high caliber production show on their main stage presenting the music of its mentors- John Kander and Fred Ebb. Who?
That is one of the problems. Everyone knows some of their shows but few know who wrote them or many of their other creations. Stop for a minute and count how many you know before you continue………………….
How did you do? Three, maybe four. Well when you leave FIRST YOU DREAM you will have heard songs from (I counted) seventeen of their shows, TV specials and films.
As you are seated in the theatre you will see a 19 piece orchestra on risers on the stage ‘Chicago’ style- The show not the city. Overhead is a large screen with a picture of K & E which morphs into different pictures as their voices fill the hall talking about their work. Downbeat of the overture into a musical medley of ‘Cabaret’ and ‘Steel Pier.’ What the hell is Steel Pier? It was a huge expensive horrible flop about marathon dancing and flying bi-planes years ago. Aren’t you sorry you asked? I was one who actually saw it and paid good money to do it.
But on the whole I love Kander and Ebb shows and I had the pleasure of interviewing them for MW Magazine over in DC when ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ arrived on tour. Director Eric Schaeffer has used little originality in the staging; the risers are so steep and tall I feared for the performers as the strode up and down them all evening, especially the women in heels.
The performers (all Broadway performers with multiple credits) are incredible from the goose bump resonance of Norm Lewis’s vocal instrument to the fun of Heidi Blinckenstaff’s vocal pyrotechnics. Julia Murney recently of ‘WICKED’ falls to rise to Heidi’s performance level but can still sell a song with flair.
It appears that Signature is interested in taking this show further, at least to license it to other venues according to rumors but much work needs to be done. The static staging is a polar opposite to quality of the material (mostly) and the performers (all). It’s a love letter to the composers (Ebb passed away a couple of years ago) and at 80+ years old Kander was able to finish their love letter show to showbiz, ‘Curtains’, which had a respectable run in NYC starring Tony winner David Hyde Pierce plus gathering many other nominations include Best Musical.
FIRST YOU DREAM
is a classy show with the required tuxes and gowns which seems to be standard equipment to represent class. Unfortunately this formality works against the character and themes of most of K & E songs so much it needs to be re-thought.
Signature Theatre – Arlington, Va
Through September 27th only
Tickets: www.signature-theatre.org
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Read an interview with the boys from
‘LOVE!
VALOUR!
COMPASSION!’
now at the Fells Point Corner Theatre and Scott Nevins who is bringing his one-man show to the Spotlighters Theatre on Oct 16-17.
Hit the button for HOT NEWS!!!! to read the interviews
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Dirty Blonde
By Ben Ryland
The 2009 Tony winning Best Regional Theatre is right in our backyard. Some know of its productions, others don’t. I have been reviewing them in various publications for 18 years. Now Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA is opening their 20th season with a unique, rarely revived show- Dirty Blonde. Claudio Sher wrote and starred in the Broadway production in 2000 and locally we have a Broadway star performance too. Emily Skinner (Tony nominated for SIDESHOW) portrays Mae West and one of her biggest fans in this 3 person show.
Mae West was larger than life, she made being a sexpot respectable (sort of) and lead the way for many others to follow. But she bucked the system back in the early 20th century on the stage and in movies. She was arrested, preached against and loved by millions (“but one at a time please”). She was a tough girl that doesn’t want to meet your mother. In the age of homemakers West wanted to dress up and go dancing instead.
Very quotable to this day- “If you’re good boys, you’ll come when I call you” – “Come up and see me sometime,” are probably the most famous. She was responsible for the first wardrobe malfunction heard around the world and played Vegas well into her 80’s.
Playwright Sher stated, “(West) was my teenage fantasy, my mother’s revenge. She had my favorite quality- attitude.” Though the script brings out highlights of her career and life it doesn’t fail to show the rough times along the way. Dirty Blonde reveals the spirit behind Mae West and why many are still fascinated by her. The play jumps around with several other characters time-shifting her life. Jo, also played by Skinner, is an avid fan who meets a lonely compatriot ( Hugh Nees) at West’s tomb. Playing her life long friend, piano player, husband and confidant is 3 time Helen Hayes award winning actor, J. Fred Shiffman. All are brilliant in their roles.
Directed by Signature Artistic Associate, Jeremy Skidmore has built a funny, wonderful production that has settled in for a long run through Oct. 4th. Even with the limiting qualities of the script the cast and director along with designers Dan Conway, Helen Huang and Dan Covey have brought it up to a higher level of entertainment that is on the written page.
Interspersed with music and songs, Dirty Blonde is a great introduction to those unfamiliar, or closer examination for the mere fan or a refreshing visit with an iconic personality in these days of one-hit-wonders.
Emily Skinner brings an often imitated entertainer to life; hers is not a mere impersonation but a flesh and blood human being who knew every step of her life what she wanted.
Dirty Blonde – Signature Theatre, Arlington, VA (near Pentagon City)
Now until October 4th
www.signature-theatre.org
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The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre will be bringing in ‘Scott Nevins’ for a fund-raiser on Friday Oct. 16th and Saturday Oct. 17th. Tickets are only $25 for the popular host/performer who does his comedy act all over the country (with lots of gossip and insider stuff) plus Scott MC’s many Broadway Cares benefits. He is also the host of Curtain Call Live most Monday nights at SplashbarNY after Showtunes. Check out his website at: www.scottnevins.com and get your tickets for his Spotlighters performances before they sell-out.
StagesBaltimore will be interviewing Scott for this website under Hot News!!! after it appears in the next issue of BALTIMORE OUTLOUD on Friday September 25th. 
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Check out just announced new theme nights for Sept/Oct at SHOWTUNES VIDEO MADNESS by clicking on the tab at the top of the page. Every Tuesday Night at the Club Hippo. 8:30pm – 12:30am
Free Admission and everyone is welcomed.
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THEATRE REVIEWS:
Little Shop of Horrors by Priscilla Mack
Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre
If you’re looking for a fun dinner theater show close to Baltimore then “Little Shop of Horrors,” at Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre in Northern Virginia suits the bill.
Lazy Susan’s performers deliver on all the laughs and bizarreness of this former movie and Broadway show.
Mr. Mushnik (Carl Bowman) is struggling with his floral shop.
It doesn’t help that Mr. Mushnik’s shop is located on skid row.
Helping Mr. Mushnik at his floral shop is Audrey (Kathleen McCormick) and the nerdy Seymour (Ryan Schaffer).
It looks like Mr. Mushnik’s business will go bankrupt, but Seymour saves the day.
Seymour introduces a beautiful exotic plant to the shop which catches many people’s attention.
Suddenly, Seymour’s exotic plant, the Audrey 2 helps Mr. Mushnik’s shop with new business.
All are fascinated by this Venus Flytrap which grows bigger all the time.
What most don’t know is the Audrey 2 Venus Flytrap gets larger by, eating people (eek, gross).
Suddenly Seymour is famous because more and more people want to see and hear about the growing plant.
Seymour has a real dilemma.
Should he keep his mouth shut about how Audrey’s abusive boyfriend, the crazy, funny Orin (Christopher Culosi) has met his fate in the belly of the now famous Venus Flytrap at Mr. Mushnik’s store?
Seymour will find out that fame and fortune can truly have it’s price.
As mentioned, a fun show for the whole family.
“Little Shop of Horrors” runs at Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre until September 27th.
Then the tongue-in-cheek, Gospel, Country, comedy show “Smoke on the Mountain” opens at Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre from September 30th to November 29th.
For tickets call 703-494-6311.
Uncle Chick’s Last Wish by Priscilla Mack
Rainbow Dinner Theatre
Located in East Lancaster, Pennsylvania is a very enjoyable dinner theatre called Rainbow Dinner Theatre.
This theatre is known for it’s comedies, and is always good for a laugh.
Now playing at Rainbow is “Uncle Chick’s Last Wish.”
This show was more than just about a person’s last wish.
In the beginning of the show we see Chick (Jimmy Cosentino), and Rose (Sara Buck) at the beautiful Mermaid Hotel in Florida.
It is Chick and Rose’s honeymoon night in 1953.
Chick really has to work at making the young and scared Rose comfortable for her special honeymoon night at the Mermaid Hotel.
The next act starts in 1973 and Rose and Chick are back at the Mermaid for their 20th year anniversary.
Both Rose and Chick have changed, but they still love each other.
Rose (Regina Harbour) is now in her early 40’s and Rose is now a liberated woman.
Rose feels shew has more to offer the world and Rose wants to be a school teacher – not just a housewife anymore.
Her husband Chick (Scott Rossell) plays a little joke on his wife Rose and tells her no! she can’t go back to work.
Really Chick is happy if his wife is happy.
As time marches on, in 1989 Rose and Chick make their third visit to the Mermaid Hotel.
Rose and Chick get interupted by their niece Carly (Alisa Stamps) who unexpetedly arrives at the hotel and Carly is almost ready to give birth.
The last scene is 2009 where Rose wants to honor her late husband’s wish, to be scattered on the beach near the Mermaid Hotel.
Rose is joined by her niece Carly, and Carly’s daughter, Amanda (Maria Jones).
There’s more wimsy to follow, but I just can’t give away the end.
Not only does this play have humor, but this show is touching.
The audience after all is there for many of Rose and Chick’s big moments in life.
“Uncle Chick’s Last Wish” is the brainchild of playwright, Linda Oatman High.
Certainly the audience at Rainbow Dinner Theatre were touched, thrilled and humored by this original show.
“Uncle Chick’s Last Wish” runs through October 31st.
Then up on the boards at Rainbow is “Peace, Love, and my Mother-in-law, 11/10/09 – 12/29/09. This looks like a real good laugh.
Rainbow Dinner Theatre number is 717-687-4300.
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Theatre icon, Chita Rivera, will receive the Medal of Freedom from President Obama at the White House on August 12th. ===========================================
Sad news from Broadway today:
‘9 to 5: The Musical’ is closing on September 6th.
The critics seemingly loved taking pot shots at this show beginning with it’s pre-Broadway mounting in San Diego.
Once again they won. They did have some help from the Tony voters damaging the production when ‘Rock of Ages’ took the 4th slot in the Best Musical category in June.
If you have seen ‘9 to 5′ you are aware that it’s just a feel good musical birthed from the 80’s film that was one of the most popular attractions of the decade.
But the Broadway League and monied producers are a tight-knit group that doesn’t like newbies infringing on their turf. If you don’t believe me (#1) that’s ok but I ask that you check out the current website for the Kimmel Broadway Season in Philly. They have a return engagement of ‘Wicked’ schedule for a two week run in January and the orchestra seats are $150.00 each. Yes one seat, any seat in the orchestra is $150.00. PLUS service charges and fees.
Additional note:
You can no longer buy tickets at the Warner Theatre in DC in person at the boxoffice at face value. Window ticket sales now include a $5 per ticket fee for advance sales or a $10 per ticket day of performance fee. What a deal for last minute sales- you not only have to pay ten bucks for the honor of coming down to the show, plus maybe also paying for parking and dinner, you’ll be forced to pay fees for the left over seats just before the show begins. Isn’t that what TKTS and in DC Ticketplace (and other cities) were created to do? Offer the left over tickets 1/2 price to help fill empty seats? Greed is not good, venues are closing all over the country and they are gouging theatregoers who could stay home, fix dinner and watch their high cost cable instead? Support community theatre with ticket purchases instead and watch Broadway and road tours drop their prices.
[STOP THE MADNESS]
If you don’t believe me (#2)-’Avenue Q’ a fun show that has unfortunately all of it’s clever writing in the songs not the script beat ‘Wicked’ in the Best Musical category 6 years ago and is closing in September. If it hadn’t won the Tony beating the odds on favorite ‘Wicked’ the younger, hipper audiences in New York and in road house cities wouldn’t have gone to see it & the show would have been loooooong gone by now from Broadway and the road too. I liked
‘Avenue Q’ but it wasn’t anywhere near the caliber of a Best Musical winner in that or any other year.
I paid half price for a preview ticket to ‘9 to 5′ and enjoyed it very much along with the rest of the audience. It was a very funny, singing and dancing show that people are always lamenting the lack of in today’s Broadway offerings. The actors were terrific and many of the new songs by Dolly Parton were showstoppers.
I will take a dozen ‘9 to 5′ s over one
‘Spring Awakening’ type dreck.
If you are in NYC before Labor Day I would highly recommend to catch the show; but check for discounts…….don’t give any producers or money hungry theatre owners those crazy full price ticket dollars (and service fee kick-backs).
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Two Summer Theatre Productions Worth Attending
By Ben Ryland
It seems that there is less and less summer theatre available in the Baltimore area every year. Thankfully there are two recently opened shows that you should check out.
Cockpit in Court at ECC presents ‘Crazy For You,’ a revisal of Gershwin’s classic ‘Girl Crazy’ which made Ethel Merman a star with her show-stopper- “I Got Rhythm.” The story is similar to the original where a NY banker heads out west to foreclose on a theatre property in Dead Rock, Nevada. Of course the banker, Bobby Child, is a frustrated song and dance man (this is a 30’s musical after all folks). The theatre owner has a daughter……you can figure out the rest. But within the comic mind of playwright Ken Ludwig (Lend Me A Tenor) the story becomes a wonderful farce full of colorful characters, mistaken identities, a couple of love stories and of course an effort to save the theatre. If it seems a bit Mickey and Judy (“let’s put on a show and raise the money’) believe me it is- they starred in the 1943 movie version called Girl Crazy.
But the major factor in ‘Crazy For You’ are all the wonderful Gershwin tunes including many interpolated from other shows that the brothers created. The song list in the program reads like the American Songbook. Hit after hit, dance number after dance number director Robert Oppel and choreographer Stephanie Skinner have created an almost carbon copy of the Broadway production. Utilizing professional sets and over the top costumes it is old fashioned musical theatre heaven.
It’s great to hear a full orchestra overture which seems to have recently disappeared along with show curtains. Here we get both, plus a car on stage.
Baltimore ‘Tap Dance Kid’ appearing on the Cockpit in Court Stage 25 years after his debut- Gary Dieter is all smiles as Bobby dancing throughout many songs. Becca Vourvoulas is wonderful as the theatre owner’s daughter he falls for, Polly Baker. Her beautiful voice wrapped around Gershwin lyrics soars into the rafters.
There are many other standouts within the large cast in this entertaining production. It only runs until August 2nd so get your tickets now. Who could ask for anything more for about twenty bucks a ticket?
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The Baltimore Premiere of THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED
A brand new theatre company is offering the area premiere of a popular recent nominee for the Best Play Tony Award. “The Little Dog Laughed” has been popping up all over the country but it took a new group to bring it to Baltimore. Teatro101 in residence at the Mobtown Players Theatre has ‘an artistic vision of producing LGBT works, foreign plays, new works, and even musicals using unconventional and unexpected concepts’.
David Gregory plays Mitch Green, an on the verge of super-stardom movie actor with
intermittent bouts of homosexuality. In a drunken stupor he calls a male escort service while in New York looking at a Broadway play as a possible movie venture. Of course that play revolves around a gay love story, but more on that below. When the rentboy shows up he is a sweetly innocent (and straight) soul looking for love. Within the 4 character story his girlfriend turns out to be a bigger hustler in her own way than he is. He falls for Mitch who is not ready to go public and would prefer they just stay in bed and sleep side by side. However the boy wants a relationship, and love. Something he is not getting from his girlfriend.
Narrated in a different way by Mitch’s agent, Diane, she is the Hollywood player of the story trying to save the actors’ career as well as her own. The play takes many twists and turns including said gay play turning into a hetero love story for the movies after a ‘take away all the rights of the playwright’ contract who, though never seen, is kicking and screaming about them screwing up his original work. (The film needs to play multiplexes after all). Diane is a barracuda, not lovable but fully in charge. Actress Shannon Maddox has the role down but she is too young and not worldly enough to pull off the characterization completely realistically. But as the role is written she does portray the agent’s bluntness and power.
The best in the cast is Ryan Haase as Alex or Bryan or whatever name you want to use when you pay him. Haase is a local actor to watch and had the entire audience on his side. When the final scenes arrive and Diane has made everything work to HER advantage, outcast Alex is the real winner- stronger and ready to make his life work by changing it.
I really liked the light-handed direction of Joseph Ritsch; “The Little Dog Laughed” is a play that should unfold in front of the audience not be thrust upon it. His style of the production has made it the most affecting version of Douglas Carter Beane’s play of the three staging’s that I have seen in the last year. I wish Teatro101 well in future efforts.
Performances continue at the Mobtown Players Theatre until August 2nd.
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StagesBaltimore happily welcomes a new theatre writer to our website -Priscilla Mack.
Priscilla has written film and theatre pieces in Baltimore for many years and we are happy that her reporting will now be included on our site:
‘Mary Poppins in Chicago’
by Priscilla Mack
We were treated to an outstanding show of “Mary Poppins,” at the classic Chicago theatre, Cadillac Palace on Friday, July 9th.
Sorry the show is no longer in Chicago, but “Mary Poppins” is in New York City, at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
It was lot’s of fun and quite entertaining. The props, and the actors added so much excitement to the show.
Even though the “Mary Poppins” movie came out 45 years ago, the show was just as good. I can remember seeing this with my mother, and her buying me a “Mary Poppins” doll complete with umbrella, and carpetbag.
The original stars of this show Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Gavin Lee (Bert) plus the cast bring out all the wonder and magic of this show.
Who can forget songs like, “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifraglisticeexpaldocious.”
Also playing in Chicago is “Jersey Boys.”
Coming up for the fall and winter in Chicago are “Young Frankenstein,” and “The Addams Family.”
Call 312-902-1400 for tickets.
(Mary Poppins will play the Kennedy Center during the summer of 2010)
Tommy Guns Garage
Welcome to the “Roaring 20’s.”
A show complete with gangsters, flappers, and you are in the coolest Speakeasy in Chicago.
All the walls are covered with pictures and motifs of life in Chicago in the 1920’s. Pictures of Al Capone, and the mob adorn the walls.
Before or after the show you can look like a gangster, a dancing flapper woman, modeling next to a 1928 Model A Ford.
Wow, this is a great show full of comedy and dance. It was great to watch the actors doing the Charleston dance and their piano player and drummer play classics from Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Benny Goodman and others.
This show is an absolute hoot, even my husband got picked to go on stage to do a skit. As this show says they are Chicago’s longest running audience interactive dinner show. The food and service are great also.
For tickets call 773-Rat-a-Tat.
“Tommy Guns Garage” is located at 2114 South Wabash Avenue.
They mentioned they should have a special Christmas Gangster show which should be great.
Million Dollar Quartet
Now playing at Chicago’s Apollo Theatre is the fantastic rock celebration called “Million Dollar Quartet.”
One special evening, (December 4, 1956) at the tiny Sun Records recording studio, four rock legends, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins all get together to play Rock and Roll and banter with each other.
The cast includes (Lance Guest) as Johnny Cash, (Eddie Clendening) as Elvis Presley, (Lenny Kreis) as Jerry Lee Lewis, (Rob Lyons) as Carl Perkins, and (Brian McCaskill) as Sam Phillips.
Mr. Phillips was the shrews small record operator who helped Elvis, Carl, Johnny, and Jerry Lee to fame.
You’ll rock out on songs like “Blue Suede Shoes;” “Who do you love;” “That’s all right;” “Great Balls of Fire;” and much more.
This show is here until August 30th, but “Million Dollar Quartet” has been extended twice to meet the demand of Chicagoans.
Word is that this exciting show may eventually come to Broadway in New York City.
For tickets to this show in Chicago, call 773-935-6100.
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Baltimore’s annual Book Festival in Mt. Vernon (September 25 – 27) will host a number of free local theatre performances during the weekend.
Spotlighters, Winters Lane, Rep Stage and the Strand Theatre companies will present a preview of their upcoming season and/or high-lights of previous shows.
The Pasadena Theatre Company will offer songs from their upcoming production of ‘1776′.
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The League of New York Theatre Producers and the Tony committee announced Tuesday July 14th that theatre critics and publication writers will no longer be allowed to vote on the Tony Award nominations and ultimate winners.
New York publications are in shock at the announcement; the league must have forgotten if you hit a journalist expect a bigger hit back. Watch out, it’s about to hit the fan.
This is the dumbest move by the league in history, but of course the producer members don’t want ink on shows like ‘Next to Normal’, ‘The Seafarer’, ‘Love Valour Compassion’, and dozens of other critical hits to win the prizes because they won’t gross on the road. Remember, it’s all about the money. What were ticket prices before the strike? The producers mostly got what they wanted from the new stagehand deal and your price to see a show still soared. In fact almost every production now has the premium tickets for the high-rollers at $400 to $500 each. Plus I haven’t even mentioned the new deal with the Ticketmaster (devil) about service fees heading to 25% of a tickets face value.
Did I mention it’s all about money?
Rebel!!!! Only buy your tickets from www.broadwaybox.com and tkts.
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The new Disney (touring only) musical:
‘101 Dalmations’ will make a stop at the Warner Theatre in DC for two weeks, November 3-15. 
No other area theatre will be presenting the show. As of today there is nothing on the Warner Theatre Website about this engagement or any other Broadway tours they will feature in the upcoming season.
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Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig will star in the limited 12 week Broadway engagement of: ‘A Steady Rain’, tickets are on sale as of today July 25th.
Since previews will begin on September 10th it is a possibility that they might be participating in the Broadway Cares Flea Market.
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Upcoming events at SHOWTUNE VIDEO MADNESS –
More events to be announced Soon!!!!
SHOWTUNE VIDEO MADNESS
Every Tuesday 8:30pm – 12:30am
Everyone is Welcomed!!!
The Club Hippo is located at 1 W. Eager Street at Charles/Mt. Vernon
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Theatre News-
Fells Point Corner Theatre hasn’t released their 2009-2010 show schedule but their first production will be Terrance McNally’s ‘Love! Valour! Compassion!’
Opening sometime in September.
Mobtown Players are presenting the popular comedy/drama- ‘The Little Dog Laughed’
July 17th until August 2nd. This is the Baltimore premiere.
‘Crazy For You’ runs at Cockpit in Court at Essex CC July 7 until August 2.
Greenbelt Arts Center is doing- ‘You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown’ – 7/10-8/1
The Broadway production of ‘Disney’s Little Mermaid’ is closing on August 30th
and the Tony Award-winning Best Musical ‘Avenue Q’ is ending it’s long run on September 13th.
The Pullo Center in York, PA will be presenting a one-night performance of the national tour of ‘Avenue Q’ on October 15th. Their number is 717-505-8900 or
http://pullocenter.yk.psu.edu/performances.php for details. It is a beautiful venue and we’ve seen excellent bus and truck productions of ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ and ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ there last season. Check them out.
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In this week of celebrity deaths there were three you may have missed:
– Harve Presnell (75) the orginal stage and movie Johnny Brown in the musical, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” who also starred in many tours as Daddy Warbucks in “Annie.” Our favorite was his performance in the film version of “Paint Your Wagon” performing ‘They Call the Wind Maria.’
– Karl Malden (97) film and stage star most remembered on Broadway for the original production of “Streetcar Named Desire” with Brando and Kim Hunter and TV’s “Streets of San Francisco.”
– Molly Sudgen, British star best known in America as Mrs. Slocombe in PBS “Are You Being Served?”. You know you loved her and her pussy (cat).
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Damn Yankees at Toby’s Baltimore
By Ben Ryland
Was there ever a better show for dinner theatre than Damn Yankees? In what is a perfectly timed summer production; Toby’s Baltimore location is sizzling hot with ‘the’ baseball musical.
Director Larry Munsey and the cast have put together a terrific show perfect for a June, July or August indoor entertainment. George Abbott’s 1955 Broadway hit was a vehicle for superstar Gwen Verdon based on the novel, “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant.” Bob Fosse staged the musical numbers and the show is full of popular songs-
‘Heart,’‘Two Lost Souls,’ ‘Whatever Lola Wants,’ and ‘Those Were the Good Old Days.’ Composers Richard Adler and Jerry Ross wrote a few other shows (including The Pajama Game) but nothing had the impact and staying power of Damn Yankees.
Middle-aged Joe offers his soul to the devil if the Washington Senators could beat the New York team. Up pops Mr. Applegate, the devil, offering the chance for Joe to be 25 years old again and becoming a power player to lead the Senators to victory in the pennant race. He grabs the offer but demands an escape clause for his soul. Applegate reluctantly agrees and then uses all his power to seduce Joe into failing to use the escape. First with the seductress Lola and when that doesn’t work he turns to treachery and deceit which ultimately fails too.
Love and loyalty win out in the end (as it often does in musicals) with the team pulled together by the superstar player; loving him as much as the hapless and long suffering Washington Senators fans.
Lynne Sigler and Dan McDonald play the older couple whose love is stronger than hells pulling force. At my performance Charlie Abel as the coach along with the teammates prove that you, “gotta have heart,” to play the game of baseball… and life!
With formidable but comfortable looking scenic designs by David Hopkins I only wish his focus spots worked as well as the sets. Huge scenes are lit wonderfully but it’s during those intimate ballads that several times left the performer(s) in the dark.
David Bosley-Reynolds as Mr. Applegate is sinister and very funny as he attempts to
bring another soul south of the border. You feel his pain and outrage as he demonstrates how to drop in a funny line and make it even funnier. Plus what he does with his eyebrows, wow. He is a master of comic timing.
Matthew Schleigh as the young Joe plays the wide-eyed innocent like a pro. His strong singing makes him the perfect leading man. The ensemble of singing actors and actresses, mostly Toby’s regulars, are working hard to entertain and it pays off. Their joy in performing multiple roles is infectious but the team players are the standouts.
Lauren Spencer-Harris as the noisy out-of-place female sports writer (it is the 50’s after all) is supported by the team in the rousing number- ‘Shoeless Joe from Hannibal Mo’.
Ilona Kessell’s choreography especially here is very athletic stretching across the wide stage to great effect. The team including Jamie Foreman, Gabe Veniziano, David Jennings and the others accomplish the intricate choreography without breaking a sweat.
With all these notable performances the stand out is a new comer to Toby’s in the Verdon role. Kirstin Riegler is marvelous as Lola the seductress. Her good looks, dancing abilities and singing are pitch perfect for this character. She is an actress to watch in the future.
The film version released in 1958 was directed by Mr. Abbott and Stanley Donen starring Verdon and fellow Broadway cast member Ray Walston as Applegate along with newcomer Tab Hunter as Joe. The movie is extremely faithful to the Abbott/Fosse staging and is gem but there is nothing like seeing this tuneful and heart-tugging show on stage; especially in this lively production.
DAMN YANKEES – Toby’s Dinner Theatre Baltimore, at the Best Western Hotel Travel Plaza, 5625 O’Donnell Street (easy access north of the tunnel on I-95)
Now until August 30th
Reservations: 410-649-1660
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New York Bus Trip now taking reservations
The on-your-own- bus trip to the
BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS ANNUAL FLEA MARKET
is now taking reservations for seats. The date is Sunday September 27th. Payment is due before September 1st, but reservations are due ASAP. This trip always sells out.
Call 410-400-1886 for questions or to make a reservation.
For more information – click on HOT NEWS at the top of the page.
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