NEW AT BROADWAYWORLD.COM-BALTIMORE

• New Exclusive Discounts!
• Toby's of Baltimore is offering readers another Buy One, Get One Free deal!  This week it is for the Sunday Evening September 24th performance.  This discount is good only when you mention "BroadwayWorld.com" when reserving over the phone or purchasing at the box office.  This is an AMAZING deal!  Thanks, Toby!
• Fell's Point Corner Theatre is offering BroadwayWorld.com readers a 20% discount to any performance of their hit play, The Boys Next Door, playing through October 7th.  $15.00 tickets are only $12.00 when you mention "BroadwayWorld.com when you make a phone reservation or at the box office.  Thanks, FPCT!
• New Site feature – A monthly calendar, Charm City Theatre – September 2006!  It is updated frequently, with show information, critics' choice and discount offers for BroadwayWorld readers.

 

BEST BET OF THE WEEK: THE BOYS NEXT DOOR AT FPCT

            This funny and touching play is being revived at Fell's Point Corner Theatre as part of their 20th Anniversary season.  They are off to a terrific start!  See below for details or go to the CCTheatre Calendar for September for contact information.  

        Even better: FPCT is offering BroadwayWorld.com readers a 20% discount to The Boys Next Door!  $15.00 tickets are just $12.00 when you mention "BroadwayWorld.com" when you make phone reservations or buy tickets at the box office.

 

BALTIMORE PLAYWRIGHTS FESIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS

            Last night, Baltimore's theatre community gathered at CenterStage for a dinner buffet and awards ceremony to honor all of the participants of the Baltimore Playwrights Festival in its 25th year.  Celebrating youth seemed to be the theme of the evening.  Starting off the evening was the Lifetime Achievement Award, given to Baltimore Theatre legend Bev Sokal, of Fell's Point Corner Theatre.  The ever young, perpetually energetic lady gave a sweet speech recalling the origins of the festival and reminded everyone that with out the play, theatre would not exist - "The play's the thing!" she proudly proclaimed.   

            Then awards were given for Best Play Production - the presentation of the scripts selected for production.  The 3rd place winner was Mobtown's The Return of the 5th Sister, directed by Ryan Whinnem.  2nd Place went to Spotlighters' Hope's Arbor, directed by Jayme Kilburn.  And the Best Play Production award went to Uncommon Voices' production of Split, directed by Ian Belknap.  Two of the three plays focused on the coming of age of a teen girl (Hope's Arbor) and a college boy (Split), and they were directed by two twenty-somethings, featuring casts made up largely of high school and college students.  

            Finally, awards were given for Best Play - to the playwrights for their work individually.  3rd place went to Ira Gamerman for Split.  2nd place went to Kimberley Lynne for her play, The Return of the 5th Sister.  And the Best play of the 2006 festival went to Rich Espey for Hope's Arbor.  Congratulations to all!

 

SPELLING BEE CONTEST WINNERS AND ANSWERS!

            Congratulations to William Statham of Virginia Beach, VA, Victor Cheung of Arlington, VA, Ruth Edmonds of Annapolis, MD and William Kamberger of Towson, MD!  All four winners had all ten answers right AND spelled correctly.  Only 6 out of nearly 100 entries had everything right and spelled correctly.  Below are the answers and a few notes…  

1.      M-A-M-M-A  M-I-A-! (LOTS of people spelled "Mamma" wrong!)  

2.      C-O-N-E-Y-B-E-A-R (And the character's name IS spelled LEAF, not LEIF)  

3.      T-H-E  W-A-L-T-O-N-S (John Boy would be so pleased!)/ C-H-E-E-R-S (Not N-O-R-M, as one person wrote in!)  

4.      A-L-T-A-R  B-O-Y-Z  (Among my favorites for this one: O-L-D-E-R  B-O-I-S)  

5.      N-O-R-B-E-R-T  L-E-O  B-U-T-Z (Not one error on that one, but…) W-I-C-K-E-D (T-H-O-U  S-H-A-L-T  N-O-T)  (2 people answered this!) is not touring…thank God)  

6.      W-A-R-B-U-C-K-S (ZERO ERRORS!!!)  

7.      G-A-L-I-N-D-A (This was not a trick question, though several of you said it was…)  

8.      M-O-N-T-Y  P-Y-T-H-O-N  A-N-D  T-H-E  H-O-L-Y  G-R-A-I-L  (You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I got for this… at least A Fish Called Wanda starred John Cleese…)  

9.      S-A-L-L-Y  B-O-W-L-E-S (Sometimes getting letters reversed gets funny answers…)  

10.  D-O-U-B-T

 

Thanks to everyone who entered!  Look for more contests this season.  NOTE: I do not know if I'll have tickets to give away for WICKED (I doubt it), and NO I can't "hook you up" with an inside source - I don't have one.  If something comes for Wicked, you who read this column every week will be the first to know.  I promise.

 

NATIONAL TOUR OF SPELLING BEE PREMIERES IN BALTIMORE

            The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a hot Broadway ticket, and Baltimore makes theatre history again when it hosts the premiere of the First National Tour of this crazy audience participation musical.  Not since Hairspray's tour premiere at the Mechanic Theatre a few seasons ago has Baltimore had this honor.  

            The show runs September 19 – October 1, Tuesday-Saturday at 8PM, Saturday at 2PM and Sundays at 1PM and 6:30PM.  Prices vary.  Contact the Hippodrome Theatre for more information (or watch the hilarious ads now playing on TV)!  See monthly calendar.  (To be reviewed on BroadwayWorld.com-Baltimore on 09/20/2006.)

           

CENTERSTAGE TO PRESENT THE THREE SISTERS

            CenterStage, the State Theatre of Maryland opens is 2006-2007 season with Anton Chekhov's classic, The Three Sisters.  The drama will play September 15 - October 29 at the Head Theatre at the CenterStage complex on St. Paul.  Irene Lewis directs.  Show times vary, but performances run Tues - Sun.  Tickets range from $10 to $60.  Purchase tickets at www.centerstage.org or 410.332.0033.

(To be reviewed on BroadwayWorld - Baltimore 09/21/2006.)

 

REPSTAGE OPENS 2006-2007 SEASON WITH STONES IN HIS POCKETS

            Rep Stage, the professional theatre in residence at Howard Community College, will open its 2006-07 season with Marie Jones' Irish comedy Stones in His Pockets, September 22 - October 8, 2006 in the college's Smith Theatre. This two-man comedy won London's Olivier Award for Best Play in 2001 and enjoyed long runs in Ireland, Great Britain and the United States. 

An American movie company filming an Irish epic in their County Kerry village hires two local villagers, Charlie and Jake, as extras.  Playing a cross-section of 15 characters that inhabit the film industry as well as the town, actors Bruce Nelson and Michael Stebbins experience whiffs of glamour and moments of heartbreak in a fast paced satire on Hollywood's romantic remake of rural Ireland and the universal dreams we all have for fame.  Lee Mikeska Gardner who formerly directed Three Tall Women at Rep Stage will direct this production.    Show times are Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2:30pm and 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:30pm and 7:30pm with an additional Thursday 7:30pm show on October 5.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 410-772-4900 or online at www.repstage.org.  Ticket prices are Thursday $12, Fridays $22, Saturday matinees $16, Saturday evenings $24, Sunday matinees $20 and Sunday evenings $18.  Tickets for high school and college students are $12 any performance.  Special group rates are available for groups of 6 or more.   

There is a free opening night reception with the cast and production team following the Friday, September 22 performance, and a post-show discussion following the Friday, September 29 performance. (To be reviewed on BroadwayWorld.com-Baltimore on 09/24/2006.)

 

MOBTOWN PLAYERS OPENS SEASON WITH AREA PREMIERE OF ALBEE'S THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA

The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia?, written by Edward Albee and directed by Alex Willis, will play at Mobtown Players' Hampden venue, September 29 through October 21, 2006. The 2002 Tony Award-winner for Best New Play tells the story of one man's outrageous love affair and its devastating effects on his family. The play also won the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards. Mobtown's production will be the Baltimore premiere.  See monthly calendar for ticket information.  (To be reviewed on BroadwayWorld.com-Baltimore on 09/29/2006.)

 

EVERYMAN THEATRE'S SMASH HIT OPUS

            Violist turned playwright Michael Hollinger's latest play, Opus, captures the richness and power of great music while it explores the individual artist's contribution to the collaborative process.  With only a few days left to rehearse Beethoven's Opus 131, a renowned string quartet struggles to prepare for their highest profile performance ever. Their rehearsal room turns pressure cooker as passions rise, personalities clash, and the players are forced to confront the ephemeral nature of their life's work.

            Everyman Theatre's production of Opus provides the Baltimore/DC premiere of the play, running through October 15, 2006.

            Everyman Theatre is a professional Equity theatre company with a resident ensemble of artists from the Baltimore/DC area dedicated to presenting high quality plays that are affordable and accessible to everyone. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 410.752.2208 or online at www.everymantheatre.org.  See the September Charm City Theatre calendar for contact information.

(Reviewed on BroadwayWorld - Baltimore on 09/12/2006.)

 

FELLS POINT CORNER THEATRE REVIVES THE BOYS NEXT DOOR  

Fells Point Corner Theatre, as part of their 20th anniversary, presents a revival from their 3rd season. The Boys Next Door, by Tom Griffin.  The play is about four mentally handicapped men who live under the supervision of an earnest, but increasingly "burned out" young social worker.

Richard Dean Stover directs a cast that includes John Pruitt, Josh Waters, John Hurley, Russell Wooldridge, Mike Robinson, Sarah Zietlow, and Dave Gamble.

            The show runs through October 7, 2006, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m.  Call 410-276-7837 for reservations.  Tickets are $15, Seniors/Students $12.  Mention "BroadwayWorld.com" at the box office or when you make phone reservations and get your tickets for only $12.00 each - that's 20% off!

(Reviewed 09/18/2006 on BroadwayWorld – Baltimore.)

 

SPOTLIGHTERS OFFERS ECCLECTIC MIX AND A DISCOUNT FOR BWW READERS!

            Leave it to the folks over at Spotlighters to be unconventional!  As they open their 45th season, they chose to celebrate with an eclectic mix of theatre, all by new and local artists, which is in keeping with the mission of the theatre as set forth by founder, Audrey Herman.  Currently, they have the Young Actors Academy presentation of two hilarious Shakespeare spoofs - MmmBeth and Hamlette. Both plays will comprise an evening's entertainment, running Saturday at 2PM, September 23, and Sundays at 7PM, September 24. 

            But the fun doesn't end there!  "An Evening of Shorts" is up next, running September 22 at 8PM, 17 and 24 at 2 PM.  The evening will consist of 4 one acts presented by local talents.  The first two, "Date with a Stranger" and "The Cagebirds" mark a return of two popular comedies from this summer. (Reviewed on BroadwayWorld - Baltimore on 08/23/2006.)  They are being paired with two new comedies, "Sex Sells" and "Why Not?" 

And finally, a night of cabaret will grace the stage at Spotlighters - September 23rd at 8PM will have InHarmony.

            Tickets for each evening are $15.00, but readers of this column will receive a $5.00 discount per ticket by mentioning BroadwayWorld.com at the door or when reserving tickets by phone.  See the September Charm City Theatre calendar for contact information.

 

RAGTIME AT TOBY'S BALTIMORE

            Baltimore's newest theatre, Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore, is presenting Baltimore's newest must-see event.  Ragtime: The Musical is a sweeping saga about America coming of Age at the turn of the last century.  Featuring several standout performances, Broadway caliber singing, dancing and musicianship, this is a show not to be missed!  Plus it includes a full course dinner buffet!  Sweet deal!  See below for ticket info or go to the monthly calendar.  (Reviewed on BroadwayWorld - Baltimore on 09/12/2006.)

KISS ME, KATE AT TOBY'S COLUMBIA  

            Toby's Columbia has Kiss Me, Kate.  This lavish musical based on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew will delight classic musical lovers!  Featuring an amazing ensemble, the dance numbers include the classic "Too Darn Hot".  Times and prices vary.  For more information about this classic crowd-pleaser, call 1-800-88TOBYS or go online at www.tobysdinnertheatre.com. See the September Charm City Theatre calendar for contact information.

(Reviewed on BroadwayWorld.com – Baltimore on 09/18/2006) 

   

JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE PLAYS VAGABONDS

            The late, great August Wilson's play Joe Turner's Come and Gone opens the 91st season of theatre at the Vagabond Players in Fells Point.  The play, which represents the 1910's in Wilson's 20th Century cycle, runs through October 1st.  Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 2PM.  The theatre is located at 806 S. Broadway and tickets are $15, $13 for seniors and students.  Call 410-563-9135 for reservations.

If you see this show, please send me your review to post in the CCSD column!  See the September Charm City Theatre calendar for contact information.         

   

Remember:

• Support local theatre!

   

• When you see a local show, please tell the box office and theatre staff that you read about them here on Baltimore.BroadwayWorld.com.  It helps them to know that we are a valuable source of information to local theatre goers.  And the more they know you are reading us, the more times they'll offer exclusive discounts and ticket giveaways.

   

• Comments, suggestions and items to include in Charm City Stage Door should be sent to me at jameshoward@broadwayworld.com.  

   

Thanks for reading!  James

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