Charm City Call Board: January 15 - 21

Welcome to Charm City Call Board for the week of January 15 - 21, keeping you up to date each week with all that is theater in Baltimore.      

Format Change:  "Backstage Babble" will focus solely on news, best bets, and your letters, and will appear at the end of the column.  "Theatre Events," arranged by date, will appear below all of the show listings.  Newly added events will be titled in red. 

Discounts and contest notices are listed first.  "On Stage" listings follow in this order: opening this week, in previews, current running productions, closing this week and upcoming productions.  Audition and help wanted notices will be next (arranged by date), followed by "Theatre Events,"  and "Backstage Babble" - news bites, your letters and book/CD recommendations are at the end.   I hope you find this format even more user friendly! 

Please feel free to send me suggestions/comments at jameshoward@broadwayworld.com.  

NEW THIS WEEK!:

• BEST BET: Light Up the Sky at Vagabonds
• Local playwright opens an art exhibit
• Sketch comedy troupe announces performances at Maryland Ensemble Theatre
• Spotlighters to hold open house and backstage dedication

If you have some news or an event you'd like added, please contact me at jameshoward@broadwayworld.com. 

BROADWAYWORLD.BALTIMORE DISCOUNTS!

• La Cage aux Folles at Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore:  BWW Readers get 25% off all Thursday and Sunday Evening Performances of the award-winning musical!  Call 1-866-99TOBYS and mention this discount!  This offer good through February 24 only.
• The Mousetrap at Spotlighters: BroadwayWorld.com readers get $5.00 off per ticket for any performance of Agatha Christie's murderous thriller, The Mousetrap.  Order tickets online at www.spotlighters.org and use code BWW-MT or bring a copy of this article to the box office to receive discount!  See below for details about performances.
• Off the Map at Fells Point Corner Theatre: BroadwayWorld.com readers get $2.00 of per ticket for any perfomance of Off the Map. To receive discount, bring a copy of the article with you to the Box Office.  See below for details about performances.

CONTESTS!

• Look for your chance to win tickets to the opening night of Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy later today!  Contest will post this afternoon, and will end this Saturday at noon.
• Coming soon… your chance to win a family four pack of tickets to the opening of Disney's High School Musical!

ONSTAGE THIS WEEK!

A five star system will be utilized in order to differentiate between the various levels of success: artistry and entertainment value.  This system is not directly numeric, however.  That is, a 4 rated show isn't necessarily twice as good as a 2 rated show; neither is a 4 rated show a "B" or an 80%.

◊◊◊◊◊ - The absolute best theatre has to offer!  Missing this should not be an option!
◊◊◊◊ - This is excellent theatre!  Do not miss this show!
◊◊◊ - This is a very good production.  Try to get to this one!
◊◊ - This is a fair production.
◊ - Save your money.

Be sure to contact the theatre directly for show times, dates and prices.  All shows subject to change.  

 

CURTAIN UP!  Shows opening this week.

• ◊◊◊◊◊The Turn of the Screw (Mystery-Thriller): Everyman Theatre. Through 2/24.  1 hour, 25 minutes, no intermission.  www.everymantheatre.org or 410-752-2208.  Review posted 1/19.
• ◊◊ 1/2Off the Map (Drama): Fells Point Corner Theatre. Through 2/17.1 hour, 50 minutes, including intermission.  Adult themes.  www.fpct.org or 410-276-7837.  Review posted 1/21.  See above for BWW discount!
• ◊◊◊◊◊ La Cage aux Folles (Musical – Dinner Theatre): Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore. Through 3/9.  12 hours, 35 minutes, including intermission.  Adult themes, situations.  www.tobysdinnertheatre.com or 410-649-1660 or 1-866-99TOBYS.  Review posted 1/21.  Look for information about BroadwayWorld Night at Toby's II, coming soon!   See above for BWW discount!

 

NOW PLAYING!  Shows currently open.  Click on the links to the reviews, above!

Now What? at CENTERSTAGE; The Mousetrap at Laurel Mill Playhouse.

• ◊◊◊◊Now What? (One Man Show – Comedy): CENTERSTAGE.  Through 1/20.  1 hour, 40 minutes.  Adult language and themes.  Review posted 1/4.  www.centerstage.org or 410-332-0033.  Look for interview with Josh Lefkowitz posted on 1/5!
• ◊◊Twelve Angry Jurors (Drama): Laurel Mill Playhouse. Through 2/3.  1 hour, 20 minutes, no intermission.  Adult language and situations.  www.laurelmillplayhouse.org or 301-617-9906.  Review posted 1/12.
• ◊◊◊ 1/2The Mousetrap (Mystery-Thriller): Spotlighters. Through  2/3.  2 hours, 15 minutes, plus intermission.  Adult situations.  www.spotlighters.org or 410-752-1225. Review posted 1/13.   See above for BWW discount!
• ◊◊◊◊1/2 Light Up the Sky (Comedy): Vagabond Players.  Through 2/10.  1 hour, 50 minutes, plus two brief intermissions.  Mild adult language.  www.vagabondplayers.com or 410-563-9135.  Review posted 1/14.  BEST BET 1/15!
• ◊◊◊◊◊ The Sound of Music (Musical – Dinner Theatre): Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia.  Through 2/15.  2 hours, 35minutes, including intermission.  Review posted 12/10.  www.tobysdinnertheatre.com or 1-866-99TOBYS. BEST BET 12/11!

 

The Sound of Music at Toby's Dinner theatre of Columbia.

CLOSING THIS WEEK! Your last chance…

There are no shows scheduled to close this week!

 

SPECIAL THEATRE EVENTS!

• SKETCH (Comedy Troupe) at Maryland Ensemble Theatre 1/25 and 1/26 at 8PM.  See below for details and ticket information.

 

OPENING SOON!  Shows opening in January.

• Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy (Performance Piece): Hippodrome Theatre.  1/22 – 2/3.  www.broadwayacrossamerica.com or 410-547-SEAT.
• Mrs. Warren's Profession (Drama): Rep Stage.  1/23 – 2/24.  www.repstage.org or 410-772-4900.

 

AUDITION NOTICES:

A Year with Frog and Toad 

• WHO:  Catonsville Theatre Company
• WHAT: A Year with Frog and Toad: The Musical.  Director: Lauren Spencer-Harris, Musical Director: Aaron Broderick.  She will ask you to read from the script.
• WHAT TO WEAR AND PREPARE: Please wear clothes for movement.  You will be asked to read from the script and sing 16 bars of a song of your choice, with piano accompaniment. No CD's or a capella.
• WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR:
• Frog – Baritone
• Toad – Baritone
• 2 women – Mezzo/Alto
• 1 man – Tenor – up to a High A
• All ages and ethnicities are encouraged to audition. Non-traditional casting, all roles are open. 
• WHEN TO AUDITION:
• Sunday, January 20, 2008     3-5 PM
• Monday, January 21, 2008    7:30 – 9:30 PM
• Call Backs Tuesday January 22, 2008   7:30 – 9:30 PM
• WHERE: Barn Theatre on the CCBC-Catonsville campus, 800 S. Rolling RD 21228.
• SHOW DATES: May 2 – 17^th 2008
• INFORMATION:  410/455-4400 or email catheatrecompany@aol.com   

 

Brigadoon

• WHO: The Sky is the Limit Theatre Company
• WHAT: Brigadoon
• PREPARE: Interested performers should be ready to sing and/or dance and bring a picture.  The Sky is the Limit provides opportunities for people with and without disabilities to perform together in a barrier free environment. 
• WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR: All roles are open.
• WHEN TO AUDITION: January 26: 12 – 3PM and January 28: 6:30PM – 8:30PM
• WHERE: 7701 Wise Avenue, Dundalk
• SHOW DATES: May 1 - 4
• INFORMATION: Cathy Steffen at 410-282-0939 or email her at clsact92149@aol.com.

 

 THEATRE PERSONNEL NEEDED

Technical Crew Members Needed at Spotlighters

Crew members are needed for several of our upcoming MainStage and Do or Die Murder Mystery Productions.  Training provided for all areas - - - and comp tickets!

Needed:
 - Light Board Operator
 - Lighting Designer Assistant (some basic understanding of lighting design needed, but training provided)
 - Sound Board Operator
 - Assistant Stage Manager
 - Props & Wardrobe Manager
 - Front of House/Box Office Staff - some understanding or experience in customer service and cash handling needed.

Please contact FUZZ@spotlighters.org for more information or to schedule a training session.

 

THEATRE EVENTS (New items in RED.)

January 15: Monthly Meeting of the Baltimore Playwright's Festival, Including 2 Play Readings

This month's meeting of the Baltimore Playwrights Festival will take place on Tuesday, January 15 at 7:00 p.m. at Fell's Point Corner Theatre, 251 S. Ann Street.
The meeting, as always, is open to the public.
Following the meeting we will have readings of two short works:
Two Shorts, by Lee Sapperstein
Labor Day, by Brent Englar

 

January 18 – 27: QuestFest at Theatre Project  

From Jan. 18-27, medieval morality tales will leapfrog into the 21^st century when Theatre Project presents Ramesh Meyyappan's visual adaptation of Dario Fo's Mistero Buffo. Hailed as "beautiful and sensitive" by the UK's Sunday Times, Mistero Buffo is a series of humorous vignettes that poke equal fun at government, religion, the rich and the poor.  

The theatre of Dario Fo animates the physical body of the actor and this provides the perfect opportunity for Ramesh Meyyappan, a deaf performer, who manages to skewer society without saying a word. 

Meyyappan portrays multiple characters in this one-man-show. The drunkard seen throughout this adaptation is the common man who is judged by a self-righteous angel for purely wanting to enjoy life. The drunk himself believes that if man was put on earth by a higher power, then the higher power wants man to enjoy life. The drunk sees gluttony and greed in the upper classes, is exploited by his own boss, and tortured by a power- crazy pope. As in Fo's play, Christ appears in this adaptation -- not as a God-like Symbol -- but a positive life-affirming symbol who cares for and assists the drunk in his times of need. 

As a curtain raiser before each show, Tim Chamberlain and Iosif Schneiderman will perform Swept Away. Featuring bits of mime and clowning, this short production details what happens to an immigrant artist who is separated from his family, country, language and art.  

Both shows are presented at Theatre Project as a part of QuestFest, a two-week festival celebrating visual theatre. Mistero Buffo plays run at Theatre Project Jan. 18-27.  Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 seniors and artists and $10 students. Tickets can be purchased at www.missiontix.com or by calling 410-752-8558.

 

January 18:  Fells Point Corner Theatre Starts 2008 with Off the Map Opening

The first production of 2008 at Fells Point Corner Theatre will be Joan Ackerman's Off the Map, opening January 18, and running Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, and Sundays at 2PM through February 17.  Tickets are $17.00 General, $15.00 Students and Seniors.  Tickets and Information at www.fpct.org or 410-276-7837.

Bo Groden looks back on the summer when she was eleven years old and everything changed.  She sifts through the memories of an unusual childhood, spent in the wilds of northern New Mexico, where her enterprising parents forged a rich life off the land and the local dump. This offbeat, evocative comedy has a compelling and lyrical quality.  Through love and compassion, the characters stumble into glimpses of self-discovery and unexpected moments of grace.

Off The Map is directed by Barry Feinstein, who has been directing plays for Fell's Point Corner Theatre since its beginning in 1987 with Fool For Love.  He has also directed True West, Liaisons Dangereuse, Dancing at Lughnasa, Heaven, Three Sisters, Recent Tragic Events, Henry IV, Ella's Song, Air Ice and Forty Million Dollars, If You Want It, at Fell's Point Corner Theatre, where he also teaches acting workshops and works with FPCT's Challenged Ensemble. 

Appearing in Off The Map is a cast of local veteran actors that include Alex Hewett, Rachel Condliffe, Mike O'Connell, Richard Cutting, Laura Gifford and Michael Zemarel.

 

January 19 & 20 and continuing: UPDATED: WORKSHOPS AT SPOTLIGHTERS

This information is more up to date than previous articles on Charm City Call Board.

The Actors' Guide to Reading Music
Saturday at 10:30am - 12:30pm
Beginning - January 19th - 10:30am

Taught by Michael Tan - local musical director and vocal coach.
This is a three week workshop designed to assist the singing actor in understanding and reading a musical score.
The actor will 
 - understand standard key and time signatures;
 - understand general dynamic notation;
 - understand notes, chords and intervals.
Cost of the workshop - $65.00 for the three weeks.
BTA members:  $57
Held at SPOTLIGHTERS Theatre
Registration Forms available online at www.spotlighters.org.

The Actors' Intensive

Sunday at 6pm - 9pm
Beginning - January 20th - 6pm

Taught by Alex Carney - local director and acting coach.
This is an initial six week workshop, with the option of continuing as the actor chooses.
This workshop will assist the actor in taking their performance skills to the next level.
The actor will
 - develop their skills for character development;
 - develop their own personal method for acting;
 - workshop a single or multiple characters with input from instructor;
 - workshop specific areas that the individual actors selects.
Cost of workshop - $250 for the initial six workshops, additional workshops are $45 each or the actor may select an additional 6 week session.  BTA members:  $225 for the initial 6-week workshop, and $41 for additional workshops.
Held at SPOTLIGHTERS Theatre
Registration Forms available online at www.spotlighters.org

January 25 and 26: SKETCH Comedy Troupe Unveils New Project at Maryland Ensemble Theatre

 

Three maverick filmmakers, being Brian Artusio, Jack Colliver, and Matt Lee, have crafted a comedy show unlike anything you have seen before.  Combining improvisation, sketch comedy, video shorts, live music, and even physical challenges, "Sketch" is truly a one-of-a-kind comedy troupe.  Veterans both on stage and behind the camera, the three have brought their skills together to take the Maryland Ensemble Theatre by storm.  These bold actors have been developing their twisted sense of humor and performance skills by involvement in many artistic venues in the Frederick community including: The Maryland Ensemble Theatre's Ensemble School, Actor's Anonymous, TJ Stage, Smithereens Productions, Frederick's 72 hour Film Festival Competition and countless hours of  Guerilla-esque filming projects.   

The members of "Sketch" have been keeping a cloud of mystery over their project, teasing potential audiences with vague marketing images and tempting invitations.  The word on the street is that the project gathers much inspiration from current events, local color, avant-garde performances of film and theatre and Nickelodeon's popular television show "Slime Across America".  The three young artists relay, "And if you still don't want to come see the show, just remember the "Sketch" motto: Everyone gets a prize no matter what". 

Warning:  "Sketch" is recommended for audiences 14 and up. 

"Sketch" will be presented January 25th and 26th at 8 p.m. at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre. FSK Hotel, 31 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD.  Tickets are $10, and a large portion of the proceeds will be benefited to a charity chosen by the audience.   The show will be co-produced by The Maryland Ensemble Theatre's MET-X, which provides opportunities for alternative performances by artists in the community and MET ensemble. For more information or to make reservations call the MET Box office at 301-694-4744 or purchase at www.marylandensemble.org.

January 27: Spotlighters Holds Open House and Dedication of New Backstage

SPOTLIGHTERS Theatre invites BWW readers to an OPEN HOUSE and DEDICATION of their newly renovated Back Stage Area on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 6pm, including a lite fare reception.

The dressing rooms will be dedicated in memory of Maria Lakkala and Bob Perry two Baltimore stars who left our spotlight in 2007.

RSVP by January 22 to Info@spotlighters.org or 410-752-1225.  There is no charge for this event.

Through January 27: QuestFest Returns to Baltimore/Washington Venues

Life changing…a whole new way of looking at theater: That is how participants describe their experiences at QuestFest, an international visual theater festival produced by Quest, in partnership with Towson University, Baltimore Theatre Project, Creative Alliance, Round House Theatre, Center Stage, and Gallaudet University. QuestFest will return to the Baltimore Washington area festival January 14–27, 2008, with performances and residences in venues and schools throughout the Baltimore Washington area. 

The festival will feature an international roster of deaf and hearing artists in an array of family-friendly, cutting-edge work that welcomes all people.

This year marks the third QuestFest.  This year's festival will feature performances such as Mistero Buffo, directed and performed by Ramesh Meyyappan from Singapore. Meyyappan wowed audiences at QuestFest 2006 and the QuestFest partners knew they had to invite this brilliant and innovative artist from Singapore to return; I Carried the Flag directed by Tim McCarty; Mosaic, conceived and directed by Miriam Ganz; The Snow Queen, directed by Mara Neimanis; and the Hong Kong Theatre of Silence.

Performance venues will include the Baltimore Theatre Project, the Creative Alliance in Baltimore, Round House Theatre in Silver Spring, and the Studio Theatre, the New Studio Theatre and the Dance Studio, all at Towson University.

In addition to performances, QuestFest will also offer master classes, panel discussions, residencies, workshops and post-show discussions.

QuestFest is produced by Quest, a Lanham, Md. – based organization that is internationally recognized for its innovative work in visual theater and its leadership in welcoming peopled from diverse backgrounds. QuestFest is completely accessible to deaf and hard of hearing audiences, and no sign language interpreters are required for any of the shows.

To reserve tickets or for more information about QuestFest go the Web site at www.questfest.org or call the Towson University Box Office at 410-704-ARTS (2787).

BACKSTAGE BABBLE!  News, Best Bets, etc.

BEST BET: VAGABONDS' LIGHT UP THE SKY!

A 50's backstage comedy that is as edgy today as it was back then, Light Up the Sky is truly one of those "they don't write 'em like that anymore" shows.  And the excellent production of this classic at Vagabonds makes a real case for bringing back the genre!  A top notch cast featuring three of Baltimore's funniest ladies, Beth Weber, Holly Pasciullo and Carol Evans, and superb direction by John W. Ford make this a "Don't Miss It!" play.  See above for details. 

NEWS: PLAYWRIGHT WINS WRITING AWARD; PLAY TO BE READ LOCALLY

Mark Scharf's new play, Keeping Faith has won the Robert J. Pickering Award for Playwriting Excellence from the Coldwater Theatre in Coldwater, Michigan! 

That play will have a reading at FPCT on January 19th at 1 pm.  Directed by John Sadwosky, and featuring: Frank Moorman, Marianne Angelella, Janine Harouni, and Brian Douglas.

NEWS: LOCAL PLAYWRIGHT HAS ART GALLERY OPENING

Local playwright Joe Dennison, most recently of Perpendicular at last year's Baltimore Playwrights Festival, shows that his talents reach far beyond the page and the stage.  He has an art exhibit, which will be on display at Magnolia Design at 246 South Conkling Street from January 19 – February 23^rd. 

The official opening reception will be January 26^th at the gallery from 6 – 8PM, with Mr. Dennison speaking at 7PM. For more information, please contact the gallery at 410-327-7035. 

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