CHARM CITY STAGE DOOR – 01/16/2007

BROADWAYWORLD DISCOUNTS:

• Spotlighters: Mary, Mary tickets 33% off!  Mention "BroadwayWorld" at the box office or when ordering by phone and get your tickets for just $10.00 each, instead of $15.00!
• Fells Point Corner Theatre: LIFE X3 tickets 33% off!  Mention "BroadwayWorld" at the box office or when ordering by phone and get your tickets for just $10.00 each, instead of $15.00!

PLEASE CONTRIBUTE!

Expand your theatre's awareness by being included on the number one regional page of the fastest growing Theatre Site on the Internet, BroadwayWorld.com – Baltimore.  This year, I'd like to include more audition notices, help wanted/help offered notices, and production photos.  Email me for details!

BEST OF 2006 REDUX

Several of you have written to ask if I made a list of Best of 2006 shows in Baltimore.  I sure did!  Actually, I wrote 4 lists and 2 articles.  Here are the links:

• Up and Comers from 2006: http://baltimore.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=14672
• 2006 Theatre News in Baltimore: http://baltimore.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=14670
• Best of College Theatre: http://baltimore.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=14773
• Best of Community Theatre: http://baltimore.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=14805
• Best of Regional Theatre: http://baltimore.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=14739
• Best of Professional Touring Theatre: http://baltimore.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=14701

CENTERSTAGE OFFERS PERFORMANCE OF NEW WORKS BY STUDENTS; NEXT SESSION ANNOUNCED

          CenterStage's Encounter program, now in its 11th season, announces the culmination of its first session of the 2006­–07 Season: a performance on January 15, 2007, at 7 pm. CenterStage patrons and members of the community are invited to experience the original pieces of theater created over the past several months by a diverse group of 35 high school students. At weekly after-school meetings, participants explored the issues most important to them through group discussion, writing exercises, and visits with guest speakers and artists. They then collaborated on original works—managing all aspects of production, from writing and choreographing to marketing and publicizing the final event. 

           The theme for the 2006–07 Encounter Season is risk. Students have been conducting physical research about risk and examining the role of risk in their lives. Says Education Coordinator Rosiland Cauthen: "Through acknowledging their differences and validating each others' strengths, participants develop the trust needed to explore difficult issues in a safe environment and be open to theatrical inspiration. The creative thinking and leadership skills honed during Encounter serve them well, as many become socially active in their communities."

           Tickets for Encounter's performance on January 15th are available through the CenterStage Box Office (410.332.0033) and are Pay-What-You-Can (with a $5 suggested price).

           The second session of Encounter runs January 29–May 21, 2007; students wishing to participate can find an application (due by January 15th) at www.centerstage.org. For more information, contact CenterStage's Department of Community Programs & Education at 410.986.4050 or education@centerstage.org.

           Encounter is sponsored in part by the Citigroup Foundation and Legg Mason, with additional support from the Aber D. Unger Foundation, Lockhart Vaughan Foundation, and VSAarts and MetLife Foundation. Generous in-kind donations have been provided by Blimpie, Chipotle, Dunkin' Donuts, GT Pizza, Heavenly Ham, Oriole Pizza, Roly Poly Subs, and Trader Joe's.

CENTERSTAGE IS LOOKING FOR YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS!

          CenterStage invites Maryland students in grades 1 through 12 to submit original plays to the annual Young Playwrights Festival. Presented by the Department of Community Programs & Education with the support of Provident Bank, Washington Gas, and Comcast, the Young Playwrights Festival will celebrate its 21st anniversary with productions of selected plays on April 17th, 2007. 

          Each play must be the original, previously unpublished work of one or two students (one play per author, please!); all submissions must be either hand-delivered to CenterStage or postmarked by February 9th. CenterStage receives about 300 scripts per year, and the staff looks forward to reading them all. Prior to the festival on April 17th, chosen playwrights will participate in a day-long workshop with professional theater artists on March 31st. Guidelines and entry forms are available at YPF.centerstage.org, where you can also view the YPF public service announcement currently airing on Comcast channels.

          For more information, contact the Department of Community Programs & Education at either 410.986.4050 or education@centerstage.org.

BEST BET OF THE WEEK: Listen to My Heart at Vagabonds

This is a very entertaining musical review, featuring 9 of the best voices in Baltimore!  The show runs through Feb. 11.  See below for details!

OPENING THIS WEEK:

• Wednesday: Everyman Theatre presents the Baltimore/DC premiere of Lee Blessing's play Going to St. Ives, running January 17 – February 25.  The play stars Lynn Chavis and Kimberly Schraf, and is directed by Juanita Rockwell.  Tickets are $17 - $30, and may be purchased online at www.everymantheatre.org. (Review to be posted 01/20/2007)
• Thursday:  The Baltimore premiere of a new theatre company, Single Carrot Theatre!  Their first offering is a weekend short play festival featuring works by local playwrights Rich Espey, Ira Gamerman and Mary Steelsmith.  The production runs Thursday – Sunday at 7:30PM, and Sunday at 2:30PM, at the Mobtown Theatre at Meadow Mill.  See the BroadwayWorld article that posted on 01/07/2007 for more details and ticket information. (Review to be posted 01/19/2007)
• Friday: Fells Point Corner Theatre:  LIFE X 3 by Yasmina Reza is as witty and acerbic as ART as it examines the contrasting worlds of the scientist's search for the mysteries of the universe, while being incapable of dealing with the domestic realities of everyday life.   LIFE X 3 is directed by Richard Dean Stover, a twenty year veteran of Baltimore theatre and long time member of the FPCT Board of Directors.  In addition to LIFE X 3, Rick has also directed The Boys Next Door, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Eyes for Consuela, Black Snow, Vast Difference and Cosi, all at FPCT.  Featured in the cast are Vic Cheswick, Shannon Miller, Adele Russell and Mike Ware.  The show runs January 26 – February 18, 2007, 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.  See BWW Discount above! (Review to be posted TBA)

CONTINUING THIS WEEK:

• Baltimore Shakespeare Festival presents Paula Vogel's Desdemona, A Play About a Handkerchief through January 28^th at the Elizabethan stage at St. Mary's.  Performances run Thursday – Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 5PM.  Thursday performances are $15.00, and $25.00 regular Friday – Sunday, with $20.00 tickets for teachers, students, seniors and artists of any genre with ID.  See www.baltimoreshakespeare.org  or call 410-366-8596 for details and to order advanced tickets.  The play is directed by Raine Bode, and features Tara Garwood and Beth Hylton (both members of Actors Equity).  (Review posted 01/13/2007)
• Spotlighters brings the classic comedy Mary, Mary to its space through February 4.  Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, Sundays at 3PM, with a special Thursday performance at 8PM on February 1.  The show, directed by Sherrionne Brown, features Steve Avelleyra, Christina Enoch, Roy Hammond, Denis L. Latkowski, and Vicki Margolis.  Avelleyra, Enoch and Latkowski were featured in last year's And Then There Were None, and Margolis was featured in Mobtown's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?  For tickets and information, go to www.spotlighters.org. (Review posted 01/09/2007)
• Vagabond Players presents the musical review, Listen to My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman through February 11 at its Fells Point space.  The show, directed by Tom Wyatt, features a cast of 9 that includes Jeff Burch (Cockpit's Full Monty), Ken Ewing (Toby's Thoroughly Modern Millie), Chuck Graham, Dan Johnson (Cockpit's Full Monty), Holly Pasciullo (Vag's Steel Magnolias), Elizabeth Ruddy (MAF's Beehive), Alyson Shirk (DCT's Jane Eyre), Beth Weber (Vag's The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Dennis Wood, and Shannon Wollman (RepStage's Tintypes).  Mr. Wood and Mr. Burch alternate in their roles.  Performances are Fri & Sat at 8PM, Sun at 2PM.  Tickets are $20.00.  Call 410-563-9135 for information and reservations.  (Review posted 01/16/2007)

CLOSING THIS WEEK:

• No shows are closing!

COMING SOON TO BALTIMORE.BROADWAY WORLD.COM:

• Unsung heroes for January!
• Plus reviews of new shows at Everyman, CenterStage and the long awaited Wicked!

Thank you for reading!  James