CHARM CITY STAGE DOOR – 05/23/2006

WIN TICKETS TO TOBY'S BALTIMORE – CONTEST ENDS THURSDAY!

In another first for the Baltimore page, Toby's Baltimore and BroadwayWorld.Baltimore have come together to offer a contest where you can win complimentary tickets to Toby's Baltimore!! Look for full details, rules, and the contest itself this posted elsewhere on the Baltimore page. The contest ends at noon on Thursday! Get those entries in!

TOBY'S BALTIMORE & COLUMBIA GOING STRONG

Delicious food, great performances and good times are to be had at Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia, with their dazzling production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. The show continues through June 18th. (Reviewed on BroadwayWorld.com – Baltimore 03/06/2006.)

The inaugural production at Toby's Baltimore – Disney's Beauty and the Beast is also doing well. That show continues through this Sunday, May 28th. (Reviewed on BroadwayWorld.com – Baltimore 03/25/2006.)

For tickets and information for both shows go to www.tobysdinnertheatre.com

MOBTOWN EXTENDS "Inventing van Gogh"

Known for exciting, cutting edge theatre, the Mobtown Players is extending the run of its current offering, "Inventing van Gogh." The play is dark this weekend, but returns with additional performances that have been added June 2nd and 3rd at 8PM. Go to www.mobtownplayers.com for more information and tickets. Although my formal review has not yet posted, I can tell you this – don't wait to reserve tickets! It's a winner. (To be reviewed on BroadwayWorld.com – Baltimore 05/24/2006)

READERS WHO WRITE

I get lots of great emails from readers every day. It is so great to hear from people as passionate about theatre as I am. (And that includes those of you who disagree with me – any discussion of theatre is time well spent!) Anyway, I got a review from Amanda on Caroline or Change at the Studio. Here's what she has to say about that show:

"I will warn that I have nothing against which to compare this production of Caroline - I didn't see the Broadway show - but the Studio did a great job in casting. However, Ms. Julia Nixon (Caroline) is phenomenal, with lots of sass, anger, and angst and can sadden the coldest heart. What a voice! Her powerful "Lot's Wife" will amaze you. Also, I was very, very pleased with the boy, Max Talisman, who played a fantastic smarter-than-his-eight-years Noah with a great voice and comedic timing. The ladies playing the Radio and the Washer and Moon are all very talented. I could defnitely tell that Elmore James, who was in several original Broadway casts including Big River and Beauty and the Beast and played the Dryer and the Bus, was of a high caliber of performance even though he's only in the show here and there. All the Jewish family members were a hoot and done very well. My favorite would have to be Tia Speros playing Rose Stopnick Gellman who is perfectly both hilarious and heartbreaking. And finally, I may be partial to my friend Trisha Jeffrey - but she was excellent! She has great dance numbers (especially with the two little boys as Jackie and Joe), pulls at your heart strings and is the fieriest character and cast member. "I Hate the Bus" and the Epilogue are awesome. I was very surprised by the creative set design. Even though I didn't see the original Broadway production, I have seen pictures of it, and I am so pleased with the Studio's rendition. It's very minimal and really plays into Kushner's partially imaginary world in Caroline. I think it does this show an injustice to have an overdone set. You are able to focus on the (very heavy) material so much more without so many other distractions. It suits that theatre space well too."

Thanks, Amanda! Sounds like a great night of theatre! And the rest of you, please feel free to share your ideas. Who knows? Maybe we'll post them here!

'Shrew' and 'Lear' IN THE PARK – MAJOR DISCOUNT ANNOUNCED

Acclaimed local troupe, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, celebrates the arrival of summer with their annual Shakespeare in the Ruins, with Taming of the Shrew and King Lear playing in true rep, with alternating performances, and the same cast in both shows, from June 2 – July 9. Both shows play outdoors at the historic Patapsco Female Institute ruins in Ellicott City. Also not to be missed is the picnicking, "The Show Before the Show" and Sunday Family Performances. The performances run Friday and Saturday at 8PM, Sundays at 5PM, with gates opening 90 minutes earlier. Shrew opens June 2; Lear opens June 9.

How's this for a discount? The generous sponsorship of Group 1 Software has allowed all kids under 18, accompanied by an adult to be admitted FREE! Tickets are $25.00 for adults, $22.00 for Seniors. CSC is also offering a two show package for adults for $40.00, and 4 for $40.00 Fridays, where a group of four under 21 can get in for just $40.00! This discount available only at the gate. To see a full performance schedule go to www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com. For tickets call Ovation Tickets at 866-811-4111, and for further information, call 410-752-3994.

JOYFUL "Crumbs" CONTINUES AT CENTER STAGE – SPECIAL PROGRAMS ABOUND

CenterStage's Crumbs from the Table of Joy by Lynn Nottage and directed by David Schweizer continues through June 11^th. 

In conjunction with the show, CenterStage is offering the following:

Kickin' It with the 'rents on Thursday, May 25^th at 8PM.  The program, sponsored by M & T Bank features the show, pre-show activities and a family style dinner for only $8.00 a person!  This show is appropriate for mature middle schoolers and up.

After Thoughts: Join members of the artistic staff for a post-show discussion of the production.  Sponsored by McDanielCollege, these free discussions follow the June 1^st (8pm), June 4^th (2pm) and June 8^th (7pm) performances.

Post-Show Conversations are scheduled after nearly every performance in the Talk Back area of the main lobby.  There will be NO Talk Backs on June 1, 4 or 8.  This event is free.

Graduation Celebration:  Book a graduation party for your daughter and 15 or more and pay only $20 per ticket!  Smaller parties enjoy a $5.00 discount per ticket.  Call 410-986-4008.

(Reviewed on BroadwayWorld.com – Baltimore 05/10/2006.)  My interview with 'Crumbs' star, Amina S. Robinson will be posted later in the week.

'Sunday in the Park' CONTINUES AT FPCT

Fells Point Corner Theatre presents the Baltimore premiere of Sondheim's Pulitzer Prize-winning Sunday in the Park with George, with performances running Friday and Saturday at 8PM and Sundays at 2PM through June 11th. This risky production is worth going to see for its two leads, Randall Dunkle and Santina Maiolatesi and some beautiful group vocals. Tickets are $17.00. For more information, call 410-276-7837. (Reviewed on BroadwayWorld.com – Baltimore 05/15/2006.) Interview with Mr. Dunkle to be posted shortly!

EVERYMAN'S "Candida" CONTINUES

They say that behind every great man is a great woman—but what if she's not yours? Candida, George Bernard Shaw's witty comedy of love, desire, marriage, and morality at Everyman Theatre tonight, and features Everyman company members Deborah Hazlett and Stan Weiman, as well as Helen Hayes Award-winner, Jenna Sokolowski (Urinetown).   Hazlett's performance is one of the best by a leading actress this year! Candida runs through June 25th, offering performances Tuesday through Sunday. For tickets call the Everyman Theatre Box Office at 410.752.2208 or online at www.everymantheatre.org. (Reviewed on BroadwayWorld.com – Baltimore 05/21/2006.)

NEW YORK REVIEWS FOR BALTIMORE AUDIENCES AVAILABLE VIA EMAIL

Due to a heinous hard drive crash, I have been unable to access my DRS review, which several of you asked for – my apologies. I'll have it available to you all by Thursday of this week, I promise! For those of you who are occasional readers, I have written reviews that are available to you via email. Currently, I have reviews of Broadway's Wicked, The Drowsy Chaperone (Nominated for 13 Tony Awards) and the long running hit Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the tour of which will be playing Baltimore's Hippodrome later this year. In June, I'll have reviews of Avenue Q, Sweeney Todd and Tarzan. And later in the year, I'll have The Times They Are A-changin', A Chorus Line, Mary Poppins and Jersey Boys. If you are interested, please email me at jameshoward@broadwayworld.com, and be sure to tell me which reviews you'd like.

LOCAL ACTORS OPEN IN NEW YORK

Several local actors, including RepStage's Karl Miller, recently in Hamlet, and James Flanagan, recently of Everyman's The Cripple of Inishmaan, made their off-Broadway debuts in columbinus, a play they originally performed at the Round House Theatre in Washington, DC. The play deals with the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. This production, which opened last night, is being presented at New York Theatre Workshop. For information and tickets go to www.nytw.org. The reviews I've read have singled out Karl Miller's performance as one of the eventual shooters. Congratulations, Karl and James!

A REVISION

Seems there is way too much information about Spotlighters and Everyman's summer programs for this column, so I'll post a separate article tomorrow. Same with the Baltimore Playwright's Festival, which I'll post over the weekend.

REMEMBER:

•Get your entries in for the Toby's tickets contest by noon on Thursday!

•Please continue to send me (or Charles Shubow) your Tony predictions. We will be posting a Tony predictions article very soon, and we might just include your picks.

•New York reviews are available via email at jameshoward@broadwayworld.com.

•SEE A SHOW! Everyone wins!

Thanks for reading, and have a safe Memorial Day! James

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