Charm City Call Board: September 23 - 29

Welcome to Charm City Call Board for the week of September 23 - 29, keeping you up to date each week with all that is theater in Baltimore and the region.             

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 "Backstage Babble" - news bites, your letters and book/CD recommendations and "Theatre Events" are at the end. 

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

 

NEW THIS WEEK!:

• BEST BET! Take Me Out at FPCT!
• Auditions at Spotlighters, Vagabonds and Laurel Mill Playhouse!
• CSC has Macbeth on the move this fall!

Be sure to click above for links to current reviews and the Fall Theatre Preview!   

BROADWAYWORLD.BALTIMORE DISCOUNTS! 

• Elegies: For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens at Spotlighters: ONLINE discount ONLY!  Get $5.00 off each ticket!  Go to www.spotlighters.org, click on "Tickets" and enter code: BWW-EPAQ. Offer good for all performances, 09.26 - 10.05 (Thursday - Sunday)!  

  

CONTESTS

Look for another contest soon!

 

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 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.  

 

 

Legally Blonde at the Hippodrome

CURTAIN UP!  Shows opening this week.

• ◊◊◊ Elegies: For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Play with Music): Spotlighters Theatre.  Through 10.05.  2 hours, 30 minutes including intermission.  Adult language, sexuality.  Review posted 09.29.  www.spotlighters.org or 410.752.1225  See above for BWW discount!
• You Can't Take It with You (Play): Laurel Mill Playhouse.  Opens 09.26.  Through 10.19.  www.laurelmillplayhouse.org or 301.617.9906 (press "2")
• ◊◊◊◊ The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Play) Signature Theatre Through 11.16.  1 hour, 35 minutes, no intermission.  Adult language, mild sexuality, horror film gore and heavy use of firearms. www.signature-theatre.org or 703.573.7329.  Review to be posted 09.30.
• Legally Blonde: The Musical (National Touring Company): Hippodrome.  Opens 09.30.  Through 10.12.  Review to be posted 10.01.  www.broadwayacrossamerica.com or 410.547.SEAT

 

The Matchmaker at CENTERSTAGE and Take Me Out at Fells Point Corner Theatre

NOW PLAYING!  Shows currently open.     

• Doubt: A Parable (Play) Everyman Theatre.   Through 10.05.  www.everymantheatre.org or 410.752.2208. 
• ◊◊◊◊ 1/2 The Matchmaker (Play): CENTERSTAGE.  Through 10.12.  2 hours, 22 minutes, including intermission.  Review posted 09.18.  www.centerstage.org or 410.332.0033.
• ◊◊◊◊◊ Take Me Out (Play): Fells Point Corner Theatre.  Through 10.19.  2 hours, 45 minutes, including 2 intermissions.  Parental Advisory: Play contains adult language, themes, and full frontal male nudity.  Review posted 09.20.  www.fpct.org or 410.276.7837.  BEST BET 09.23!
• ◊◊◊ The Phantom of the Opera (Original Musical - Dinner Theatre): Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore.  Through 11.23.   2 hours, 5 minutes, not including intermission.  Stylized violence and firearm use.  Review posted 09.19.  www.tobysdinnertheatre.com or 1.866.99TOBYS.
• ◊◊ 1/2 The Producers (Musical - Dinner Theatre) Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia.  3 hours, including intermission.  Adult language, situations and sexuality.   Review posted 09.15.  Through 11.23.  www.tobysdinnertheatre.com or 1.800.88TOBYS.

 

Phantom of the Opera at Toby's Baltimore and The Producers at Toby's Columbia

CLOSING THIS WEEK! Your last chance...  

• ◊◊◊◊ Trumbo (Play): RepStage.   Through 9.28. 95 minutes, no intermission.  Adult themes and language.  Review posted 09.08.  www.repstage.org or 410.772.4900.  BEST BET 09.09!
• ◊◊◊ ACE (Musical): Signature Theatre.  Through 09.28.  Review posted 09.04.  703.573.7328 or www.signature-theatre.org. 

 

ACE at Signature Theatre

COMING SOON!  Opening later this month!

• A Chorus Line (Musical): Winters Lane Productions.  Opens 10.03.  Through 10.19.  www.winterslaneproductions.org.  Review to be posted 10.04.
• Intelligence (Play): RepStage.  Previews 10.08.  Opens 10.12.  Through 11.09.  www.repstage.org or 410.772.4900.  Review to be posted 10.13.
• Food for Fish (Play): Single Carrot.  Opens 10.09.  Through 10.26.  www.singlecarrot.com or 443.844.9253.  Review to be posted 10.10.
• Macbeth (Shakespearean Play): Chesapeake Shakespeare Company.  Opens 10.10.  Through 10.26.  www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com or 410.313.8874.  See below for related article!
• Hats! The Musical (Musical): Spotlighters.  Opens 10.10.  Through 11.02.  www.spotlighters.org or 410.752.1225.  Review to be posted 10.11.
• The Shape of Things (Play): CCBC Essex.  Opens 10.16.  Through 10.20.  www.ccbcmd.edu.
• Gore Vidal's The Best Man (Play): Mobtown Players.  Opens 10.17.  Through 11.08.  www.mobtownplayers.org or  410.467.3075.  Review to be posted 10.18.
• Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Play): CENTERSTAGE.  Previews 10.22.  Opens 10.29.  Through 11.30.  www.centerstage.org or 410.332.0033.  Review to be posted 10.30.
• The Crucible (Play): Towson University.  Opens 10.24.  Through 10.31. www.towson.edu.  Review to be posted 10.25.
• Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Musical) Dundalk Community Theatre.  Opens 10.24.  Through 11.02.  www.ccbcmd.edu.  Review to be posted 10.26.
• Dracula (Play): Vagabond Players.  Opens 10.24.  Through 11.23.  www.vagabondplayers.org. or 410.563.9135.  Review to be posted 10.27.
• Arcadia (Play) JHU Barnstormers.  Opens 10.31.  Through 11.09.  www.thejhubarnstormers.org.  Review to be posted 11.01.

  

AUDITIONS: 

London Suite 

• WHO: Spotlighters Theatre
• WHEN: Sunday, September 28,2008, from 6-9pm, and Monday, September 29, 2008, from 7-10pm.  Call backs, if necessary, on Saturday, October 4, 2008 from 10am -Noon
• WHERE: The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre, 817 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD
• WHAT TO PREPARE: Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.  Please bring a headshot, resume and any known rehearsal conflicts between October 13 and production dates.
• RUN DATES: Performances will be January 9, 2009 through February 1, 2009 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with an added evening performance on Thursday, January 29, 2009. 
• WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR:

"Settling Accounts"

• Brian - about fifty, Welsh accent, out to settle accounts with his embezzling agent.
• Billy - about fifty, glib and Brian's agent. 

"Going Home"

• Lauren - about thirty, grounded, sensible, tries to assume parenting role to her mother.
• Sheryl - mid-fifties, compulsive shopper, good natured, knows what is important to her. 

"Diana and Sidney"

• Grace - mid-thirties, American, secretary, efficient, true fondness for her employer.
• Diana and Sidney - These roles have already been cast. 

"The Man on the Floor"

• Mark - late 20s to early 40s, has lost his Wimbleton tickets and wrenched his back.
• Annie - late 20s to early 40s, trying to help her husband, Mark.
• Mrs. Sitgood - 30s to 50s, hotel associate manager, Scottish accent, pleasant.
• Bellman - late teens to 20s, concerned and helpful.
• Dr. McMerlin - late 30s to 50s, Irish accent, cheerful and helpful. 

Possibilities exist for doubling some roles. 

REHEARSALS: Rehearsals will begin October 13, 2008.  Care has been taken to ensure adequate "time off" for Thanksgiving, winter and New Year holiday events.

 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 

• WHO: The Laurel Mill Playhouse
• WHERE: 508 Main Street, Laurel, MD
• WHEN: Saturday, October 4 at 1:30 pm and Tuesday, October 7 at 7pm.
• WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR: 12 male and 15 female roles, ages 10 to 60
• WHAT TO PREPARE: Directors Jeaneo Binney and Patti Knazik will have sides available for cold readings from the script of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
• RUN DATES: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will run November 28 through December 21 on Friday and Saturday evenings with two selected Sunday matinees and one selected Thursday evening performance.
• CONTACT: Maureen Rogers at 301-452-2557 or maureencrogers@gmail.com, email lmp@laurelmillplayhouse.org or visit www.laurelmillplayhouse.org.

 

Romance/Romance 

The Vagabond Players will hold auditions for its January production of ROMANCE/ROMANCE, two one-act musicals, with music by Keith Herrmann and book & lyrics by Barry Harman.  The show will be directed by Bill Kamberger with musical direction by Michael Tan.  Please note that this is not an Equity production and no actors are paid.

• RUN DATES: January 9 to February 8, 2009
• AUDITION DATES: October 14 and 15, 2008 from 7 PM - 9 PM.  Callbacks: October 16
• WHERE: Bertha's Restaurant, 734 S. Broadway, 2^nd Floor (Use Lancaster Street entrance)
• HOW: Please prepare a song. An accompanist will be provided.
• ABOUT THE SHOW: Romance/Romance premiered on Broadway in 1988, and earned Tony nominations for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, Best Actor, and Best Actress. This will be its first Baltimore production in 17 years. 

Act I is set in Vienna at the turn of the 20^th century. Alfred, a "dashing rake," and Josephine, a high-class courtesan, have never met, but they each have grown tired of their empty lives and dream of finding true love. Bored and dissatisfied with the upper classes, they decide to disguise themselves as a poor poet and a shop girl, respectively, in the hope of finding a simple, honest lover. Naturally, they find each other, but can their newfound romance survive the deception? 

Act II is set in the present day in the Hamptons. Sam and Monica are old friends, each happily married to another person, and the two couples are sharing a beach condo for the summer. Late one evening, as their spouses are sleeping, Sam and Monica begin to consider acting on the attraction they have each felt for years but never dared to admit. Throughout the Act, the spouses, Barb and Lenny, appear as a spectral "Greek Chorus," fretting and warning about the danger of acting on these "romantic notions."

• CHARACTERS: In the original production, the roles of Alfred/Sam and Josephine/Monica were doubled, and the actors playing Barb and Lenny also portrayed a variety of cameo roles in Act I. At the Vagabonds, we are open to other possible combinations. The age range for all the characters is late 20s to 40s.
• Alfred - High Baritone or Tenor
• Josephine - Mezzo/Belt
• Sam - Tenor
• Monica - Mezzo/Belt
• Barb - Soprano
• Lenny - Tenor or High Baritone
• FURTHER INFORMATION:  Please contact Bill Kamberger at 410-537-3076 or bkamberger@mde.state.md.us 

Have an audition coming up?  Send your info to jameshoward@broadwayworld.com

 

BACKSTAGE BABBLE!  News, Best Bets, etc. (New items in RED.)  

BEST BET: Take Me Out at Fells Point Corner Theatre

Finally!  A baseball success story in Baltimore and it isn't happening at Camden Yards.  Local theatre is taking the big leap into the major leagues at Fells Point Corner Theatre with their fantastic production now through October 19.  You do not want to miss the play that people will be talking about all year.  See above for ticket information!

 

LAST CHANCE ON BROADWAY: Xanadu and [title of show]

People write to me (and sometimes even stop me at a local show) asking what I recommend that is playing in New York.  For months, I've been recommending the little show that could, Xanadu.  This non-stop laugh riot on wheels (they roller skate!) is funny, touching and has a great score of songs originally sung by Olivia Newton-John and E.L.O.  This little gem is playing at the Helen Hayes Theatre.  I also heartily recommend another little show that could, [title of show], which made the big leap to Broadway this summer.  It features an endlessly witty score and book about creating a musical about creating a musical.  This is playing at the Lyceum Theatre. 

Alas, Xanadu is closing on September 28 and [tos] is closing October 12!  So support the little guys with big Broadway goods before they go away!  (I suspect, though, that this won't be the last we've heard of either!)  If you shop around the theatre sites, you can find SUBSTANTIAL discounts to both.  You won't be sorry.  If you go, let me know what you thought!

  

October 9: Spinning Straw: Transforming Conflict in Everyday Life

Seven years ago, CALM (Community Alternative Mediation) approached Maryland Ensemble Theatre about creating a theatrical production to explore conflict resolution.  On October 9^th, that show, "Spinning Straw," will return to the MET stage.  "Spinning Straw" is a lively, engaging look at the kinds of knots we get ourselves into - in relationships at work, at home and in our neighborhoods - and how they can be untangled peacefully.  

Rooted in improvisation, the show combines human sculptures, slides and humor to show various relationships, their conflicts and how conflict mediation can transform both the conflict and the relationship.  The process of conflict mediation is the specialty of CALM, a nonprofit organization working to end conflicts in the home, workplace and community. 

Spinning Straw will be performed on October 9^th at 8pm.  All tickets are $15.  For tickets or more information call 301-694-4744 or visit www.marylandensemble.org

  

October 10 - 26: CSC's Scottish Play on the Move

CSC had previously announced its fall production to be Shakespeare on Ice, an evening of one acts and scenes dedicated to the Bard, but demand to see and hear Shakespeare was high.   Instead, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company announces it will remount its extremely successful 2008 production of Macbeth with a new and highly imaginative version that puts Macbeth on the move.  CSC's Macbeth, which toured to Virginia, Baltimore County and the maximum security Patuxent Institution, will finds its home this October in a progressive production amidst the haunted Ruins of the Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park in Ellicott City.   

Audiences will begin their adventure outside the gates of the PFI, where they will be greeted by a bloody soldier who will lead them up towards the Ruins as he relates the latest battle of Macbeth.  From there audiences will journey with Macbeth and company through the Ruins watching scenes as they unfold in different rooms, fields and levels of the old stone school.  Macbeth runs October 10-26, 2008; Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 6pm.  Patrons are highly encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress in layers appropriate to the weather. 

Tickets (Adults $25, Seniors $22) can be purchased online through our website www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com, by phone at 866-811-4111 or immediately prior to the performance at the box office. Groups of 10 or more, please call 410.313.8874. 

  

Through October 19: FPCT Opens Season with Baseball Drama  

Take Me Out, the recipient of a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, opens Fells Point Corner Theatre's 22nd season.  Th play centers around Darren Lemming, a young, iconic baseball star, is at the top of his game, both personally and professionally.  When he calls a press conference that results in a shocking admission to the media, Lemming sends a ripple of effects through the team, the fans and the nation.  Both hilarious and hard-hitting, Take Me Out strips baseball bare, exploring issues of celebrity, homophobia, race and friendship.  

With Take Me Out, Terry J. Long directs his 7th show at FPCT.  He directed two shows when the theatre opened, back in 1988.  His FPCT credits include A Christmas Carol, March of the Falsettos, Reckless, and Lips Together Teeth Apart.  He is known around Baltimore for his campy shows such as Pageant, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom and many others.  

The lead roles of Darren, Shane, Kippy and Mason are played by Maboud Ebrahimzadeh, Sean Mullin, Tony Viglione and Edward Zarkowski, respectively.  The ensemble includes Aaron Andron, Gary Deleon, Charles DeLong, Joe Dunn, Robbie Heacock and Shane Louge.  

Performances of Take Me Out run from September 19 - October 19, 2008, and are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM, with matinees on Sundays at 2:00 PM.  There will be no performance on Sunday, October 5th, due to the Fell's Point Fun Festival.  For tickets, go to www.fpct.org or call 410-276-7837 

PARENTAL ADVISORY:  Take Me Out contains mature themes and full frontal male nudity.    

 

Through November 8:  Family Friendly Musical Comes to MET  

The Fun Company kicks off their 2008-2009 Children Theatre series with the quirky original musical Lucy Rose: Here's the Thing About Me at The Maryland Ensemble Theatre. Lucy Rose is an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind girl with spark, spunk and one great pair of cowgirl boots! The excitement starts September 20th! 

Katy Kelly started the Lucy Rose series in 2005. A rookie novelist at the time, she introduced children to a lovable character who's an original thinker and has enough creative ideas in her head to fill an Olympic size pool. The character Lucy Rose, in some ways, is very similar to the life of the author's. She grew up on CapitAl Hill, her parents are like Madam  & Pops and she has a dog named Gumbo. Ms. Kelly's writing credits include being a reporter for People magazine, a feature writer for the Life section of USA Today and she was a Senior Editor at US News & World Report.  Ms. Kelly will make at least one appearance during the run of the show to sign books. 

Lucy Rose: Here's the Thing About Me also includes music by local artist, Meryl Cullom.  Ms. Cullom last wrote the song & lyrics for The Fun Company's original musical Cinderella. Ms. Herber, who also directs, and Stage Manager Lorrie Tripp, has assembled an outstanding cast: Karen Paone, Mark Barnhart, Shelia Blank, John Kearns, Clayton Myers, Michelle Simms and Genevieve James as Lucy Rose. Ms. James was last seen in MET's mainstage production on Lysistrata. Set Design is by JoAnn Lee.  

Lucy Rose: The Thing About Me performs every Saturday at 2:00pm from September 20th - November 8th at The Maryland Ensemble Theatre in Historic Downtown Frederick (31 W. Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701). All tickets are $12. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit   www.marylandensemble.org or call 301-694-4744.  Birthday packages are available.

  

PHOTOS: Legally Blonde courtesy of Broadway Across America - Baltimore, photo by Joan Marcus; The Matchmaker by Richard Anderson; Phantom of the Opera and The Producers by Kirstine Christiansen; Take Me Out by Ken Stanek; [title of show] by Carol Rosegg; Xanadu by Peter Lueders of Paul Kolnik Studio; ACE by Stan Barouh.

 

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