Way Off Broadway's 20th Anniversary Revue to Run 10/24-11/15

The entire 2014 Season has been a year of celebration for The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre as it marks its 20th Anniversary Season. Since Way Off Broadway first opened it has been one of the region's most established and respected theatre organizations. To this day, it is the Frederick-area's only year-round producing theatre.

The last twenty years all come together for Way Off Broadway's 20th Anniversary Revue opening Friday, October 24th and running through November 15th. The show will bring back familiar faces from past seasons, as well as numbers from some of the theatre biggest and most popular productions. A very limited engagement, the Anniversary Revue only has eight performances and tickets have been selling rapidly since they went on sale.

The show will bring back cast members from as far back as some of the theatre's very first productions, in addition to performers who have appeared on the WOB stage over the last several seasons. Returning for this special engagement are Jessica Billones, Tina M. Bruley, Jeffrey Davis, Bill Kiska, Jaimie Lea Kiska, Trey T. Kiska, Jordan B. Stocksdale, Steve Steele, Jeremy Trammelle, and Shannon Wells. An interesting note is that Bruley and Steele appeared in the very first production the theatre did when it originally opened as the Keynote Dinner Theatre in 1990. Since then, they have continued to appear on stage at the theatre in a number of productions.

The Anniversary Revue was conceived and is directed by Justin M. Kiska, Way Off Broadway's President and Managing Director. Music direction is by Jordan B. Stocksdale, with choreography by Jaimie Lea Kiska.

Some of the shows from which numbers will be performed include 42nd Street, Mame, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Guys & Dolls, Grease, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Wedding Singer, South Pacific, Hairspray, The Music Man, and 9 to 5: The Musical.

It was 1995 when The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre first opened its doors. Located on the Golden Mile in Frederick, the theatre first opened as Keynote Dinner Theatre in 1990. It was the partnership of Bear Warfield, Pete Peterson, and Jim Watkins that renamed the theatre Way Off Broadway which, to this day, remains the Frederick area's only year round professional producing theatre. In 1996, Way Off Broadway expanded and opened its one-of-a-kind Children's Theatre, ensuring entertainment for all ages. With the 2002 Season, Way Off Broadway was acquired by the Kiska Family and began another phase of expanding its productions and operations. With a growing demand for quality youth theatre classes, the Way Off Broadway Actors' Studio was formed, giving young actors and actresses the opportunity to learn about theatre and performing.

Each season, Way Off Broadway's Mainstage produces five Broadway-style productions. Over the years, shows such as 42nd Street, Damn Yankees, Oliver!, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The King & I, Annie, Steel Magnolias, Guys & Dolls, Nunsense, Oklahoma!, Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, A Chorus Line, The Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Evita, CATS, The Full Monty, All Shook Up, South Pacific, Hairspray, Jekyll & Hyde, and Legally Blonde have all found homes at the Frederick Theatre.

Way Off Broadway has also become known, and has made a name for itself, by producing regional and area premiere productions. These include the first time Frederick productions of Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl - The Musical, Jerry Herman's La Cage aux Folles, Mel Brooks' The Producer, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Drowsy Chaperone, Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard. In 2009, Way Off Broadway was also one of the very first theatres in the country to receive the rights to produce a regional production of the musical comedy The Wedding Singer.

With each production running from two to two and a half months at a time, the lights are always burning at the theatre with a show that is already open and running or one that is in rehearsals.

Performances for the limited engagement 20th Anniversary Revue are Friday and Saturday evenings from October 24th through November 15th. There is one Sunday matinee that will be performed on November 2nd. All tickets for this special event are $50.

For additional information about any of Way Off Broadway's productions or events, call the Box Office at (301) 662-6600 or visit www.wayoffbroadway.com.

Way Off Broadway's 20th Anniversary Revue will be followed by the final production of the 2014 Season, It's Christmas.

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, under the direction of the Kiska Family since 2002, will celebrate its 20th Anniversary Platinum Season in 2014. Since it first opened in 1995, the theatre has been a leader in the area's performing arts community, proudly bringing both classic musicals, as well as regional and area premieres to the Frederick stage. Productions have included Sunset Boulevard, Legally Blonde, Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical, The Music Man, Jekyll & Hyde, Hairspray, South Pacific, The Drowsy Chaperone, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Full Monty, Mel Brooks' The Producers, CATS, The Wedding Singer, Evita, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Sound of Music, A Chorus Line, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, La Cage aux Folles, Guys & Dolls, Steel Magnolias, Bye Bye, Birdie, The King & I, ...Forum, Lend Me a Tenor, Joseph..., Oliver!, Blood Brothers, Mame, and 42nd Street. Way Off Broadway is also the home of a one-of-a-kind children's lunch theatre, offering entertainment for the entire family, and giving children a chance to see some of their favorite characters live on stage. The theatre also produces a number of special events throughout the year including a growing series of interactive murder mysteries.

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