CHARM CITY STAGE DOOR – 01/02/2007

CHICAGO TICKETS CONTEST WINNERS!

Thanks to all of you who took the time to enter the />/>Chicago tickets contest!  The answers have been posted to that contest page.  Looks like we need to start a letter writing campaign to get Nicole Kidman/> to join the cast!  Anyway, the winners are: Joseph Crock of Baltimore, MD, Taavon Gamble of Baltimore, MD, Billy Christopher Maupin of Richmond, VA, Brandon Pfeltz of Bel Air, MD, and Amanda Zeller of Nottingham, MD.  Congratulations!

BROADWAYWORLD DISCOUNTS:

• Spotlighters presents the comedy Mary, Mary:  $15.00 tickets are just $10.00 when you mention "BroadwayWorld.com" at the box office or when making a phone reservation.  Thats at 33% savings!

YOU WRITE, I RESPOND!

Occasionally, I get letters that ask the same basic things, so instead of answering individually, I’ll respond in CCSD.  Over the past couple of weeks, several of you have asked me these questions.  The young lady below asked it the simplest, so I’ll use her letter here.  She writes:

Dear James,

You sure do see a lot of shows in this area!  Do you ever get to />/>New York to see shows?  What were your favorites this year?  And why don’t you post reviews (if you see them) of />/>New York shows?

Happy New Year,

Jenny T. from />Randallstown

Well, Jenny, yes, I do see a lot of local theatre (I reviewed 80 productions in 2006), but I also go to />/>New York frequently to see things, both on and off Broadway.  I don’t post reviews for those shows, because Broadway World has its own critics for NY, and it requires quite a bit of doing getting on the press list.  Since this is an official media outlet, I have to leave that to the guys in the Big Apple.  However, I can certainly share my point of view with you about my 10 favorites of 2006, plus a few older shows that opened before then.  Here goes! (Alphabetically) A Chorus Line – This show changed my life when I was 13, and having it back, almost exactly like it was then, was like seeing a long lost friend.  I need to go back so I can see the finale again – I bawled through the whole thing and couldn’t really see it!  Company – As someone who is a single male, and who celebrated a milestone birthday this year myself, Company stung a little more than I expected it to!  Raul Esparza and Barbara Walsh/> were both amazing!  And I loved the instrumentation.  The Drowsy Chaperone – Absolutely the funniest thing for someone who identifies very closely with The Man in Chair, as I do.  I am him, and it scares me!  But who can beat />Sutton Foster and Beth Leavel/>!!??  The Little Dog Laughed – Julie White/> is an absolute scream in this show, and Johnny Galecki/>, is, well, amazing.  Had the added benefit of seeing it the same weekend TomKat got married, and the jokes were even funnier!  Mary Poppins – An absolute triumph for all involved!  I oohed and ahhed like a little kid at the spectacle, but weeks later I still smile at the warmth and depth of it.  Those of you who automatically poo poo Disney, take a chance with this one. The show has as much to offer in terms of theatre as it does in spectacle.  And Broadway’s newest star is born in Ashley Brown/> as Mary.  Spring Awakening – I saw this off-Broadway this past summer and was blown away!  It is everything everyone says it is.  If you had a rough puberty, this will hit home especially hard.  And Thank Heaven Broadway is embracing it! (It will be my first Broadway show of 2007 – this Saturday!)  Sweeney Todd – Brilliant!  A revelation!  My favorite show of all time was even better this time around!  Tarzan – Ok, so it isn’t the best musical ever, but the first 20 minutes were literally breathtaking, and the chemistry between />Jenn Gambates/>e and />Josh Stricklan/>d is steaming hot.  [title of show] – I laughed from start to finish and was disappointed when it was over!  This is THE show for people who love the art form of the American Musical.  The CD has not left my player since July!  The Wedding Singer – The second time I saw it.  Everyone in the cast grew into their roles.  The whole time I sat there, I kept thinking, “why didn’t the critics see it now?”  As someone who grew up in the 80’s this was a fun (if silly) trip down memory lane.  This year I also had the opportunity to revisit some old classics, and found all of them to be in excellent shape – Avenue Q, Chicago (I saw two of the company members opening tonight in Baltimore – Michelle DeJean/> – a terrific Roxie, and Christopher MacDonald, a great Billy Flynn), The Phantom of the Opera – Howard McGillin/> finally gives us a scary Phantom!  It is a horror story, remember?  And he has one of the best voices on Broadway!, and Wicked – saw Megan Hilty/> and />/>Eden Espinosa… loved ‘em both!  I’m thoroughly Qzified now!

Thanks for writing!

Please send your letters to jameshoward@broadwayworld.com.

OPENING THIS WEEK/BEST BET OF THE WEEK: />/>Chicago: The Musical at the Hippodrome

• If you’ve seen it before, see it again!  If you’ve only seen the movie, you HAVE to see the Fosse-style choreography!  This may be the sharpest, sexiest and most sophisticated show to hit />/>Baltimore in years!  (See my response to a reader above about members of this cast)  This Razzle-Dazzle musical is in town for one week only, beginning tonight.  Performances are Tues – Sat at 8PM, Sat at 2PM and Sunday at 1PM and 6:30PM.  See www.france-merrickpac.com for all the details! (Review to be posted 01/03/2007)

ALSO OPENING THIS WEEK:

• Spotlighters brings the classic comedy Mary, Mary to its space, beginning January 5 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. (To be reviewed 01/05/2006)

CONTINUING THIS WEEK:

• CenterStage presents the Rodgers and Hart musical classic, The Boys from Syracuse.  Based on Shakespeare’s hilarious Comedy of Errors and set during the age of vaudeville and burlesque, this musical runs through January 14^th.  Tickets run from $10 - $65.  Students and senior citizens can receive a half price ticket with ID at the door, the same day they see the show.  An extensive article that includes more information and a performance schedule was 12/04/2006 on the Baltimore and DC pages, and a two part interview with Broadway stars Paolo Montalban/> (Cinderella, Pacific Overtures), Kevin R. Free (NPR Radio), Manu Montalban (Bombay Dreams/>) and Michael Winther/> (Mamma Mia!/>, Damn Yankees) posted on 12/11 and 12/18/2006, and tomorrow, 01/03/2007, an interview with two of the featured dancers will be posted! (Review posted 12/14/2006)
• David Sedaris’ The Santaland Diaries continues this week at RepStage’s />/>Howard />Community College venue.  The comedy, directed by Joe Brady/> and starring Bruce Nelson (Stones in His Pockets, School for Scandal), runs through January 7.  Don’t let the title fool you, though.  This is no Christmas kids show –  RepStage advises the play has adult content.  Performaces are Wed – Thur at 7:30PM, Fri – Sat at 8PM, Sat at 2:30PM, and Sun, 01/07 at 2:30PM and 7:30PM.  There is no performance 01/03.  (Review posted 12/29/2006.)
• Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore is presenting its award-winning original musical, It’s a Wonderful Life, based on the classic holiday film.  The production stars Matthew Schleigh (Buddy, Ragtime) in the Jimmy Stewart role.  The production runs through January 14^th, with a varying performance schedule.  Go to www.tobysdinnertheatre.com for full details.  (Review posted 12/05/2006)
• Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia presents the holiday musical classic, Here’s Love: The Miracle of 34^th Street Musical, beginning November 23^rd through January 14^th, 2007.  With a score by Meredith Willson, of Music Man fame, this seasonal treat is sure to be the perfect way to celebrate the holidays!  Go to www.tobysdinnertheatre.com for information.  (Review posted 12/08/2006)

COMING SOON:

• An interview with the dancers of The Boys from />/>Syracuse! (To be posted 01/03/2007)
• An interview with Matthew Schleigh of It’s a Wonderful Life at Toby’s! (To be posted 01/05/2007)
• And the best of theatre for 2006 lists! Professional />/>Tours : 01/02/2007; Regional/Equity : 01/03/2007; College : 01/04/2007; and Community : 01/05/2007.
• The local theatre calendar for January (To be posted 01/04/2007)

Thank you for reading!  James