Baltimore Backstage - January 27, 2006

The Lyric Opera House is presenting an independently staging of Disney's
"Beauty and the Beast". The run ends on Saturday, Jan. 28. Baci Management, Inc. is responsible for this rendering which heads to Las Vegas on Feb. 1 at the Aladidin Resort and Casino. The amateurish ads on television do not make this inviting.

Best Bet: The Edgar Allan Poe Birthday Celebration to be presented at Westminster Hall, Fayette and Greene Streets on Saturday, January 28 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, January 29 at 4:30 p.m. The Poe House is presenting both "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Cask of Amontillado". "Usher" is directed by noted DC director JohnSpitzer. "Amontillado" is to be performed in "traditional radio play style", adapted by Tony Tsendeas.

Jeff Jerome, Curator of the Poe House and Museum will give the popular apple cider "Toast to Poe" at the conclusion of the program.

Adult tickets are $25. To order tickets visit http://poecelebration.tripod.com.

Speaking of Poe, the incredible musical "Nevermore" at the Signature Theatre has been extended a week, to Feb. 26. Don't miss it. Call 800-955-5566 for tickets.

Ford's Theatre will present a reading of the Scott Schwartz adaptation of Willa Cather's "My Antonia", with his dad, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) on piano, on January 30 at 7 p.m. This play with music is directed by David Muse, associate director of the Shakespeare Theatre. To reserve seats, call 202-347-6262. The reading is FREE!!! Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Looking forward to the Rep Stage production of "Fully Committed" featuring Michael Stebbins which runs from Feb. 3-26. This devastatingly funny play follows a day in the life of Sam, an out-of-work actor who mans the red-hot reservation line at Manhatten's number-one restaurant. Saw this play in DC a few years back and it is hilarious. Call 410-772-4900 for tickets. The theater is located on the campus of Howard Community College in Columbia.

Also showing this week-end, "Months on End" at the Spotlighters, "The Cripple of Inishmaan" at the Everyman (see website for reviews), "Dinner with Friends" at Fell's Point Corner Theatre, "Joseph" at the Hippodrome (see website for reviews), and "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" at the Vagabond (see website for reviews).

For more info. on these plays...log onto www.baltimoreperforms.org.

On Sunday morning's "Breakfast with the Arts" on A&E between 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. "The Phantom of the Opera" will be saluted. On January 9, 2006, "Phantom" became the longest running show on Broadway. Composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Director Hal Prince, Producer Cameron Mackintosh, choreographer Gillian Lynne and the original Phantom Michael Crawford come together for in depth interviews.

Finally, try a discussion on Center Stage's next play during your lunch hour on Wed. Feb. 1 at Clayton Fine Books and Cafe, 317 N. Charles St. Join Resident Dramaturg Gavin Witt for a casual lunchtime conversation about Motti Lerner's haunting new play, "The Murder of Isaac". Go to www.centerstage.org for more info.