CHARM CITY STAGE DOOR – 12/19/2006

CONTEST!  WIN TICKETS TO CHICAGO: THE MUSICAL IN BALTIMORE

Just posted! Win one of 5 pairs of tickets to Opening Night (January 2 at 8PM) of Chicago: The Musical at Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre!  What a great way to start off 2007!

The contest asks you to name famous folks who have played Roxie, Velma, Billy Flynn and Matron Mama Morton.  There are 35 questions, plus 10 tie-breakers, BUT you don't have to answer every question to win.  The entries with the most correct answers will win tickets.  Deadline for entries is NOON on DECEMBER 28th.  See the article which posted on 12/20/2006.  Good luck!

BROADWAYWORLD DISCOUNTS:

• Run of the Mill Theatre at The Theatre Project's Statements Made After an Arrest and/or Sizwe Bansi is Dead: A 38% discount - $16.00 tickets for just $10.00!  You must mention BroadwayWorld.com at the time of purchase either by phone or at the box office.
• Spotlighters' Man of La Mancha: A 33% discount - $15.00 tickets for just $10.00!  You must mention BroadwayWorld.com at the time of purchase either by phone or at the box office.
• Spotlighters' A Tuna Christmas: A 33% discount - $15.00 tickets for just $10.00!  You must mention BroadwayWorld.com at the time of purchase either by phone or at the box office.
• See both shows on the same night (Friday or Saturday) and get tickets to both for just $20.00!

READER INPUT WANTED!  WHAT WAS THE BEST THEATRE OF 2006 IN BALTIMORE?

As the first year of Baltimore.BroadwayWorld.com comes to a close, I am starting to prepare "Best of 2006" lists.  I would like to hear from all of you, about what you think I should include, and why.  Here's your chance, all of you who write to tell me how wrong I am!  Lists will include community theatre, resident/Equity and professional touring separately, with categories including actor, actress, supporting actor, actress, ensemble, director, sets, lights, costumes.  Name your favorite productions, actors and designers!  Email me at jameshowardbww@yahoo.com.  Deadline for submissions: December 20^th.

Note:  Don't forget to vote for shows at the Hippodrome, Everyman, CenterStage and RepStage!   And keep those community theatre votes coming in!  And no, we will NOT be posting a "worst of 2006 list" in any category! 

AUDITION NOTICE: TWIN BEACH PLAYERS

The Twin Beach Players are holding auditions for The Whispers of Saints, an award-winning play by local playwright Mark Scharf.  Auditions will be held on January 16 and 17 from 7PM to 8:30PM at the Northeast Community Center in Chesapeake Beach.  The group is auditioning for 1 male 20's, 1 female late 30's/early 40's, and 1 female late 50's/early 60's.  Performance dates are March 2 – 4 and 9 – 11 at the Black Box Theatre in the Union Church Education Building in North Beach. This play won 1^st place Best Play and 1^st place Best Production of the 2002 Baltimore Playwrights Festival.  Contact Janine Naus (co-director) at 443-624-1451 or email twinbeachplayers1@yahoo.com.

LOCAL THEATRE GIFT IDEAS

Do you still "Need a Little Christmas" and still looking for that special gift for the theatre lover in your life?  Or do you need to give loved ones ideas for you?  Here are a few:

CenterStage: With the holidays approaching, CENTERSTAGE is pleased to offer an exciting new gift-giving option that creates an all-inclusive experience beginning or ending at the theater. Via our Box Office or online gift shop at giftshop.centerstage.org, patrons are now able to purchase complete gift packages containing everything needed for a memorable themed excursion to a CENTERSTAGE performance and beyond. More than just gift certificates, these special gift arrangements each include additional treats designed to enhance your theater experience as well as tickets to CENTERSTAGE performances. With a variety of options and prices, there's definitely something for everyone. 

• About the Gift Packages:
• Date in a Box: choose from a Cheap Date with beer and Hershey's kisses; a Saturday-night Hot Date with champagne and gourmet chocolate; or grab some friends for a Double Date and enjoy a pre-show dinner at Iggie's.
• Dramatic Adventures: choose from an Urban Wilderness Family Adventure with a trip to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore; a Romantic Weekend Adventure with an overnight stay and breakfast at Mount Vernon's Peabody Court Hotel; or a Time Travel Theater Party, with a private backstage tour and catered dinner with members of the CENTERSTAGE artistic staff.
• Customize Your Own Gift: with a Fantastic Four-Play, you get four tickets to use however you want—gifts for one special person, yourself, or four lucky recipients; subscriptions are a gift that keeps giving for the rest of our dynamic season; and gift certificates are always in style.

For more information, call the CENTERSTAGE Box Office at 410.332.0033 or visit giftshop.centerstage.org. While you're there, don't miss our selection of items relating to this season's shows—available through our partnership with Amazon.com.

Toby's of Baltimore: Subscribe & Save!  A subscription of 4 tickets for $138.00!  Four tickets good for the entire 2007 Season: in Baltimore: It's a Wonderful Life (from January 3, 2007), The Full Monty, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease!, Dreamgirls, Holiday Hot Nostalgia

Toby's of Columbia: Subscribe & Save!  A subscription of 4 tickets for $132.00!  Four tickets good for the entire 2007 Season: in Columbia: Here's Love (from January 3, 2007), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, George M!, Little Shop of Horrors, Titanic and The Sound of Music.  (Subscribe to Columbia and get $10 off a Baltimore subscription!!)

• Get your subscription now; why pay full price?
• Tickets can be used individually for 4 shows or all at once for a single performance
  Priority seating for subscribers
  No standing in line at the box office
  Special Subscriber Hot Line
  Special discounts for special dates announced on our Subscriber Hot Line!
• Subscriber Benefits include extra coupons for:
• Children 12 & under. Why use your subscription tickets? Use the discount coupons in your subscription booklet for added savings off our already low children's prices.
  $10.00 Off any Sunday Brunch.
  Buy 1 Toby's Specialty Drink, get 1 FREE.
  Buy 1 glass of House Wine, get 1 FREE.
  $2.00 Off Toby's limited edition T-shirts.
• The Fine Print
• $3.50 surcharge per ticket used on Friday and Saturday evenings.
  All shows and dates are subject to change due to the nature of booking operations.
• Not valid on New Year's Eve.
  2007 subscription tickets are valid from January 3, 2007 - January 31, 2008.

Looking for a stocking stuffer?  Holiday Gift Certificates – Dinner and a Show at special rates!   Go to www.tobysdinnertheatre.com, select a location and click on "Gift Certificates" for details.  Both locations also have gift certificates in a variety of prices, good for one year from date of purchase, excluding New Year's Eve.

BEST BET OF THE WEEK: The Boys from Syracuse at CenterStage

• The Rodgers and Hart classic, The Boys from Syracuse, starring many of Broadway's biggest new talents plays through January 14^th at CenterStage in Baltimore.  This splashy, old-fashioned musical is full of fun characters, great tunes, terrific dancing, and comedy galore!  See below for more details! (Review posted 12/14/2006)

OPENING THIS WEEK:

• David Sedaris' The Santaland Diaries opens this week at RepStage's Howard Community College venue.  The comedy, directed by Joe Brady and starring Bruce Nelson (Stones in His Pockets, School for Scandal), runs December 20 – January 7.  Don't let the title fool you, though.  This is no Christmas kids show.  RepStage advises the play has adult content.  Performaces are Wed – Thur at 7:30PM, Fri – Sat at 8PM, Sat at 2:30PM, and Sun, 01/07 at 2:30PM and 7:30PM.  There is no performance 12/24/, 12/31, or 01/03.  (To be reviewed 12/23/2006.)

CONTINUING THIS WEEK:

• CenterStage presents the Rodgers and Hart musical classic, The Boys from Syracuse.  Based on Shakespeare's hilarious Comedy of Errors and set during the age of vaudeville and burlesque, this musical runs through January 14^th.  The cast includes veterans of these Broadway shows: Mamma Mia!, Bombay Dreams, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, La Boehme, 1776, Cinderella and Damn Yankees.  Tickets run from $10 - $65.  Students and senior citizens can receive a half price ticket with ID at the door, the same day they see the show.  An extensive article that includes more information and a performance schedule was 12/04/2006 on the Baltimore and DC pages, and a two part interview with Broadway stars Paolo Montalban (Cinderella, Pacific Overtures), Kevin R. Free (NPR Radio), Manu Narayan (Bombay Dreams) and Michael Winther (Mamma Mia!, Damn Yankees) posted on 12/11 and 12/18/2006. (Review posted 12/14/2006)
• Run of the Mill Theatre at the Theatre Project is in the midst of a South African play festival, and has performances of Sizwe Bansi is Dead, by Athol Fugard plays this week, December 21 – 23 at 8PM, December 24 at 3PM at the Theatre Project on Preston.  Statements After an Arrest by Athol Fugard returns December 30 and 31 at 5PM.  December 19 & 20 at 8PM, there will be a staged reading of Crossing by Reza De Wit.  For the full schedule and information go to www.theatreproject.org or call 410-752-8558.  Tickets are $16 general.  BWW readers get a 38% discount!  See above. The entire festival continues through December 31^st.  (Review of Statements posted 12/12/2006; Sizwe to be posted 12/22/2006)
• Spotlighters presents the American classic, Man of La Mancha, the musical version of Don Quixote.  This timeless show features the famous "Impossible Dream".  The show runs through December 24^th, Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, Sundays at 7PM.  Go to www.spotlighters.org for more information. (Reviewed 11/28/2006.)  See above for BWW discounts!
• Spotlighters presents its annual Holiday Late Show.  This year, it is the comedy A Tuna Christmas.  It runs Fridays and Saturdays only at 10PM, through December 24.  Go to www.spotlighters.org for more information. (Review posted 12/19/2006.) See above for BWW discounts!
• Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore is presenting is award-winning original musical, It's a Wonderful Life, based on the classic holiday film.  The production stars Matthew Schleigh (Buddy, Ragtime) in the Jimmy Stewart role.  The production runs through January 14^th, with a varying performance schedule.  Go to www.tobysdinnertheatre.com for full details.  (Review posted 12/05/2006)
• Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia presents the holiday musical classic, Here's Love: The Miracle of 34^th Street Musical, through January 14^th, 2007.  With a score by Meredith Willson, of Music Man fame, this seasonal treat is sure to be the perfect way to celebrate the holidays!  Go to www.tobysdinnertheatre.com for information.  (Review posted 12/08/2006)

COMING SOON:

• An interview with the dancers of The Boys from Syracuse!
• An interview with Toby's star Matthew Schleigh!
• Local Theatre New Year's Parties!
• And the best of theatre for 2006 lists!

Thank you for reading!  And have a blessed holiday season!  James