Charm City Call Board: January 29 - February 4

Welcome to Charm City Call Board for the week of January 29 – February 4, keeping you up to date each week with all that is theater in Baltimore.      

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.   I hope you find this format even more user friendly! 

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

NEW THIS WEEK!:

• BEST BET ONSTAGE: Glory Days at Signature Theatre!
• BWW Night at Toby's II!
• More audition notices!
• February Calendar listings!

If you have some news or an event you'd like added, please contact me at jameshoward@broadwayworld.com. 

BROADWAYWORLD.BALTIMORE DISCOUNTS!

• La Cage aux Folles at Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore:  BWW Readers get 25% off all Thursday and Sunday Evening Performances of the award-winning musical!  Call 1-866-99TOBYS and mention this discount!  This offer good through February 24 only.
• The Mousetrap at Spotlighters: BroadwayWorld.com readers get $5.00 off per ticket for any performance of Agatha Christie's murderous thriller, The Mousetrap.  Order tickets online at www.spotlighters.org and use code BWW-MT or bring a copy of this article to the box office to receive discount!  See below for details about performances.
• Off the Map at Fells Point Corner Theatre: BroadwayWorld.com readers get $2.00 of per ticket for any performance of Off the Map. To receive discount, bring a copy of the article with you to the Box Office.  See below for details about performances.

 

CONTESTS!

Coming soon… your chance to win a family four pack of tickets to the opening of Disney's High School Musical!

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.  

 

IN PREVIEWS!

• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Drama): CENTERSTAGE.  2/1 – 3/9.  Review to be posted 2/7.  www.centerstage.org or 410-332-0033.

 

CURTAIN UP!  Shows opening this week.

There are no shows scheduled to open this week!

 

NOW PLAYING!  Shows currently open. 

Glory Days at Signature Theatre; The Turn of the Screw at Everyman Theatre

• ◊◊◊◊1/2 Light Up the Sky (Comedy): Vagabond Players.  Through 2/10.  1 hour, 50 minutes, plus two brief intermissions.  Mild adult language.  www.vagabondplayers.com or 410-563-9135.  Review posted 1/14.  BEST BET 1/15!
• ◊◊◊◊ Glory Days (World Premiere Musical): Signature Theatre in Virginia.  Through 2/17.  85 minutes, no intermission.  Adult language and themes.  www.signature-theatre.org.  Review posted 1/25.  BEST BET 1/29!
• ◊◊ 1/2 Off the Map (Drama): Fells Point Corner Theatre. Through 2/17. 1 hour, 50 minutes, including intermission.  Adult themes.  www.fpct.org or 410-276-7837.  Review posted 1/21.  See above for BWW discount!
• ◊◊◊◊◊ The Sound of Music (Musical – Dinner Theatre): Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia.  Through 2/15.  2 hours, 35minutes, including intermission.  Review posted 12/10.  www.tobysdinnertheatre.com or 1-866-99TOBYS. BEST BET 12/11!
• ◊◊◊◊◊ The Turn of the Screw (Mystery-Thriller): Everyman Theatre. Through 2/24.  1 hour, 25 minutes, no intermission.  www.everymantheatre.org or 410-752-2208.  Review posted 1/19.   BEST BET 1/22!
• ◊◊◊ Mrs. Warren's Profession (Drama): Rep Stage.  Through 2/24.  2 hours, 30 minutes, including intermission.  Adult themes.  www.repstage.org or 410-772-4900.
• ◊◊◊◊◊ La Cage aux Folles (Musical – Dinner Theatre): Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore. Through 3/9.  2 hours, 35 minutes, including intermission.  Adult themes, situations.  www.tobysdinnertheatre.com or 410-649-1660 or 1-866-99TOBYS.  Review posted 1/21.  Look for information about BroadwayWorld Night at Toby's II, click above!   See above for BWW discount!  BEST BET 1/22!

 

La Cage aux Folles at Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore; Mrs. Warren's Profession at Rep Stage.

CLOSING THIS WEEK! Your last chance…

• ◊ 1/2 Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy (Performance Piece): Hippodrome Theatre.  Through 2/3.  1 hour, 50 minutes, including intermission.  www.broadwayacrossamerica.com or 410-547-SEAT.
• ◊◊ Twelve Angry Jurors (Drama): Laurel Mill Playhouse. Through 2/3.  1 hour, 20 minutes, no intermission.  Adult language and situations.  www.laurelmillplayhouse.org or 301-617-9906.  Review posted 1/12.
• ◊◊◊ 1/2 The Mousetrap (Mystery-Thriller): Spotlighters.  Through 2/3.   2 hours, 15 minutes, plus intermission.  Adult situations.  www.spotlighters.org or 410-752-1225. Review posted 1/13.   See above for BWW discount!

 

Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy at the Hippodrome (Photo by Carol Rosegg); The Mousetrap at Spotlighters

SPECIAL THEATRE EVENTS!

• Spunk (Play): The Kuumba Collective at The Theatre Project.  2/8 and 2/9 at 8PM.  Call 443-802-1725 for more information.
• Carmen Jones (Concert Version) (Staged Concert): 2/15 at 8PM.  www.winterslaneproductions.org or 410-780-6369.

OPENING SOON!  Shows opening in February.

• The Human Experience: The Works of August Wilson (Theatrical Presentation): Winters Lane Productions. 2/8 – 2/10.  www.winterslaneproductions.org or 410-780-6369. 
• A Doll's House (Drama): Chesapeake Shakespeare Company.  2/8 – 3/2.  Review to be posted 2/9.  www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com or 866-811-4111.
• The Comedy of Errors (Shakespearean Comedy): Baltimore Shakespeare Festival.  2/15 – 2/24.  Review to be posted 2/17.  www.baltimoreshakespeare.org or 410-366-8596.
• The Philadelphia Story (Comedy): Laurel Mill Playhouse.  2/15 – 3/9.  www.laurelmillplayhouse.org or 301-857-2448.
• Pageant (Musical): Spotlighters Theatre.  2/15 – 3/9.  Review to be posted 2/24.  www.spotlighters.org or 410-752-1225.
• Three Irish Plays (Drama): Performance Workshop Theatre. 2/15 – 3/16.  Review to be posted 2/18.  www.performanceworkshoptheatre.org or 410-659-7830.
• Disney's High School Musical (Musical): Hippodrome Theatre.  2/19 – 3/2.  Review to be posted 2/20.  www.broadwayacrossamerica.com or 410-547-SEAT.
• Other People's Money (Drama): Dundalk Community Theatre.  2/22 – 3/2.  Review to be posted 2/25.  www.ccbcmd.edu or 410-780-6369.
• Spinning Into Butter (Drama): Theatre Morgan.  2/22 – 3/2.  www.morgan.edu.
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Musical – Dinner Theatre): Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia.  2/21 - 6/5.  Review to be posted TBA.  www.tobysdinnertheatre.com or 1-800-88TOBYS.
• The Little Foxes (Drama): McDaniel College. 2/28 – 3/3.  Review to be posted 2/29.  www.mcdaniel.edu or 410-857-2248.

HELP WANTED:

REP STAGE NEEDS USHERS!

Rep Stage is still in need of ushers for its production of Mrs. Warren's Professionby George Bernard Shaw, which is running now through February 24!  Here's your chance to see this great classic play for free!

Here are the dates and times that ushers are still needed: 

Fri, Feb 1 (8:00); Sat, Feb 2 (2:30 and 8:00); Sat Feb 9 (2:30 and 8:00); Sun, Feb 10 (2:30); Wed Feb 13 (7:30); Thurs Feb 14 (7:30); Sat, Feb 16 (2:30); Sun, Feb 17 (2:30); Fri, Feb 22 (8:00); Sat, Feb 23 (2:30 and 8:00); Sun, Feb 24 (2:30). 

Please email boxoffice@howardcc.edu to sign up, or call (410) 772-4900 during Box Office hours (Tues – Fri 12-5pm).

 

AUDITION NOTICES:

Heaven Can Wait

• WHO: OnStage
• WHAT: Heaven Can Wait, a play by Harry Segall.  Heaven Can Wait follows the afterlife of Joe Pendleton, an up-and-coming boxer, accidentally taken before his time.  Through a series of fantastic and farcical circumstances, Joe's quest to regain a suitable body inadvertently sets right a number of other people's "wrongs," and leads him to meet the love of his life.  Heaven Can Wait is appropriate for theatre-lovers of all ages.
• WHAT TO PREPARE: Sides will be available at the auditions
• WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR: 12 men & 6 women ages 25 to 60
• WHEN TO AUDITION: Saturday, February 2 - 2-4pm & Sunday, February 3 - 2-4pm
• WHERE: Bloomsbury Community Center, 106 Bloomsbury Avenue, Room 218, Catonsville, MD 21228
• SHOW DATES: April 4 - 20 Fridays and Saturday at 8pm Sundays at 2pm
•  INFORMATION: Contact Marie Sproul, Artistic Director of OnStage at 410-598-0572

Jesus Christ Superstar

• WHO: Emmanuel United Methodist Church
• WHAT: Jesus Christ Superstar
• WHAT TO PREPARE/BRING: 12-16 bars of a song that showcases your abilities in the style of musical theatre. If auditioning for a lead role, prepare an additional piece from the show. 
• Please bring headshots/resumes (we will also take photos at the auditions), sheet music (no tapes or CDs—an accompanist will be provided), and be prepared to move for dance auditions.
• WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR: Males and females, ages 14 - 70. Lead roles for 1 female and 7-10 males, plus a cast and chorus of 16-24 (lots of singing).
• WHEN TO AUDITION:  Sat. Feb. 9th from 1:00 – 3:00pm and Sun. Feb. 10th from 1:00 – 3:00pm
• WHERE: Emmanuel UMC, 10755 Scaggsville Road, Laurel, MD  20723-1223.  Auditions will take place in the Sanctuary and in Fellowship Hall. Directions can be found at: www.eumclaurel.org/directions/   
• PERFORMANCE INFORMATION: Jesus Christ Superstar, directed by Ken Krintz with music direction by Mariano Vales, will run Thursday through Saturday evenings, May 15 – May 17, 2007 (with an additional pay-what-you-can preview performance on Wednesday, May 14). Rehearsals will begin the week of March 2, 2007.
• INFORMATION:  please email the director at kenkrintz@hotmail.com or the music director at mariano_vales@yahoo.com or contact Maureen Rogers at 301-452-2557.

Steel Magnolias

• WHO: Laurel Mill Playhouse
• WHAT: Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling
• WHEN:  February 10th and 12^th at 7PM
• WHERE:  Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main St., Laurel, MD.
• WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR: 6 female roles. 
• WHAT TO PREPARE: Director, Tricia Schwaab will have sides available for cold reading from the script.
• PRODUCTION DATES: April 11th - May 11th on Friday and Saturday nights with two selected Sunday matinees and one selected Thursday evening performance.
• INFORMATION: Contact Tricia Schaab at Taschwaab@aol.com or 301-221-3390 or Maureen Rogers at 301-452-2557. For further information email lmp@laurelmillplayhouse.org, call LMP at 301-617-9906, or visit www.laurelmillplayhouse.org

The Who's Tommy

• WHO: Winters Lane Productions
• WHAT: The Who's Tommy
• WHEN:  Monday, February 18, 2008 and Tuesday, February 19, 2008 from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.  POSSIBLE CALLBACKS: Wednesday, February 20, 2007 @ 7:00 p.m. (if necessary)
• WHERE:  CCBC Catonsville --- 800 South Rolling Road, Q Building, Catonsville, MD 21228
• WHAT TO PREPARE: 32 bars of a pop, rock, or musical theatre selection. Be ready to dance.
• WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR:
• Tommy, a young genius who becomes a rock star—strong rock tenor age 17-24 with appealing stage presence and that indefinable "it" factor 
• Captain Walker, Tommy's handsome father—strong tenor who ages from early 20's to early 40's during the play, must be physically able to pass on both ages.  Strong, commanding presence.
• Mrs. Walker, Tommy's mother—strong belt alto who ages from 20-40 during the play, must be physically able to pass on both ages.
• Uncle Ernie, Captain Walker's alcoholic older brother—character baritone who ages from 30-50 during the play.  He's the stereotypically creepy uncle everyone denies having. 
• Cousin Kevin, Tommy's cruel and abusive babysitter—strong pop tenor age 17-24 with bad boy looks and attitude 
• Sally Simpson, Tommy's biggest fan—pop soprano age 15-23, the typical teenage girl next door.
• The Gypsy, (a/k/a the Acid Queen), a heroine addict and prostitute—typically African-American R&B/rock alto age 21-35, hardened, street-looking, and very sexually charged.  Usually associated with a Tina Turner vocal style and presence, but other character types will be entertained
• Tommy (age 4 & age 10), both parts boy sopranos who look the appropriate age, bear a passable physical resemblance to adult Tommy, and must be willing to change hair color to match him if needed.
• Adult Ensemble—various adults of all ages and types who portray cameo characters such as Kevin's and Sally's parents, specialist doctors who treat Tommy's catatonic condition, soldiers, security guards, and London folk
• Youth Ensemble—various teens of all physical types age 14-25 who play Kevin's thug comrades, rock fans, and  the lads and lasses of London
• SHOW DATES: July 17 – August 3, 2008
• MORE INFORMATION:  For more information contact Troy Hopper at (877) 718-7977 x703 or troy@winterslaneproductions.org       

 

BACKSTAGE BABBLE!  News, Best Bets, etc.

BEST BET: GLORY DAYS AT SIGNATURE THEATRE IN VIRGINIA

Yes, it is a pretty fair hike from Baltimore to the DC suburbs, but the trip is worth it to see both the glorious new space that is Signature Theatre's, AND to see the fantastic World Premiere musical Glory Days, written by two local young talents, James Gardiner and Nick Blaemire.  This is a sharp, witty, and heartbreakingly honest story of four high school misfits and best friends who share a reunion that will change their lives forever.  That Gardiner and Blaemire began writing this at age 19 and are now only 23, makes the achievement of this first work tat much more remarkable.  Seeing this puts you at the beginning of a promising career and the future of the musical.  See above for show details!

TOBY'S  BALTIMORE AND BROADWAYWORLD ANNOUNCE NIGHT AT THE THEATRE II: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES!

Following the success of last fall's first BWW/Toby's Night at the Theatre (Titanic: The Musical), we have teamed up again to offer you the chance to see their newest blockbuster, La Cage aux Folles, at their newest venue, Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore!  The date is Saturday evening, February 9th.  The cost, including all you can eat buffet and salad bar, and the show is just $25.75 per person!  See the article posted yesterday for details.  (Click on the link above!)

I look forward to meeting even more of you!

SCHARF'S PLAY ADVANCES IN PLAY COMPETITION!

Congratulations to playwright Mark Scharf!  The Rockville Little Theatre's production of Get Stuffed was awarded Outstanding Production 1st Runner Up at the Maryland State Theatre Festival and will advance to the 2008 Eastern States Theatre Association Festival.  

In addition, Kryss Lacovaro, who played "Furball" in Get Stuffed was awarded one of the four Outstanding Performances Awards. 

ESTAFest will be held May 16th through May 18th, 2008 at the Chapel Street Players in Newark, Delaware. Go to their website for more details: http://www.estafest.org/

 

THEATRE EVENTS (New items in RED.)

February 8 – March 8: MET to Present Killer Laughs with Letts' Killer Joe

"A normal person is just someone you don't know real well."

So says Tracy Letts, playwright and author of Maryland Ensemble's latest mainstage production, Killer Joe.  This dark comedy delves into the idea that under the surface of every seemingly 'normal' person, family or relationship, there lurks the possibility of madness, absurdity and evil. 

Killer Joe is a brutally funny and disturbing play, a black comedy of deplorable manners.  Chris needs money, a lot of money. With his father Ansel and stepmother Sharla, Chris hires Killer Joe Cooper to assassinate his mother.  But when Mom's insurance payout doesn't go as planned, Joe demands a different form of currency, leading to a climax that is both bloody and surprisingly redemptive.  The final blackout comes on an unexpected fresh start - for some of the characters.

"Letts is a very exciting playwright in our country today," says MET Producing Artistic Director Tad Janes. "After reading his play, our company was enthralled at the possibility of doing it. It's funny, it's intense and it has a lot of attributes our company likes in a play."

Featuring the talents of MET Ensemble Members Matt Baughman, Amy Easton, Julie Herber, Tad Janes, Gené Fouché (Director) and MET regular Denny Grizzle, Killer Joe is not for everyone.  Its poetic qualities notwithstanding, it is dark, obscene and violent.  Due to language, violence, drug use and nudity, Killer Joe is recommended for mature audiences only.

"This is a difficult play in terms of content, that's for sure," says director Gené Fouché.  "But despite that, it's an exciting and thought-provoking piece of theatre which is why it was chosen for our season.  The fact that it's live makes it so controversial.  On film, this same story wouldn't raise an eyebrow.  Killer Joe is fast, funny, dangerous and tragic – it has all the ingredients for great theatre."

This "Shepard-esque" thriller won awards and rave reviews in London and off-Broadway. Alternating between humor and menace, Killer Joe is at once clever, suspenseful, subtle, complex, deeply funny and riveting.

Tracy Letts was born and raised in Oklahoma. His first play, Killer Joe premiered in Chicago in1993, and has since been performed in ten countries in over a dozen languages. His second play, Bug premiered in London in 1996 and was made into a film, starring Ashley Judd, this past year.  His play August: Osage County, currently running on Broadway, looks like the play to beat for the Tony Award this year.

Killer Joe opens February 8^th and runs through March 8^th.  Tickets are $22 for adults and $19 for students and seniors.  For tickets or more information call 301-694-4744 or visit www.marylandensemble.org

Photo by Misti Morningside, courtesy of MET.

 

February 8 – March 2: Chesapeake Shakespeare Company to Present Ibsen's Classic A Doll's House

The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will produce the immortal "door slam heard around the world" with its Classics-in-the-Box production of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, February 8-March 2, 2008 at the Howard County Center for the Arts in Ellicott City, Maryland.

A Doll's House, a searing drama that unintentionally helped fuel the women's movement of the late 19th century, follows Nora, the perfect wife and mother, who always has time for her children while satisfying her husband's every whim.  To her husband, she is a little doll.  A riveting chain of events leads to Nora's realization that she controls her own future.  "The door slam heard around the world" is the critics' characterization of Nora's final action, and the start of Nora's new future.

The play was shocking in its time because Nora's empowerment and the decision she makes in its wake was the most profoundly feminist statement yet seen on European stages.   A Doll's House was also particularly unique in its time for focusing on a female protagonist.

Directing A Doll's House is company member and Education Director Kevin Costa.  Dr. Costa brings a wealth of professional directing and acting experience from theaters across the country. Past credits with CSC include: Mr. Purgon in The Imaginary Invalid, Grumio in Taming of the Shrew, several roles in King Lear, Touchstone in As You Like It and several roles in Henry V.   Dr. Costa is also the Drama Department Chair at the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland.

 "Our hope is to re-examine, collaboratively, the fundamental predicaments at the heart of this play. Why is Nora's plight still compelling 127 years after the play's first appearance? Why do we remain drawn to her situation?  Moreover, what does Ibsen explore about the human situation through each person in this timely drama?  Like Nora at the end of the play, we can't – and perhaps shouldn't – have a definitive answer.  This production, rather, will provide the opportunity for the cast to attempt answers with the full knowledge that we may only find more questions," explains Costa.

The cast is headlined by CSC Company Members Patrick Kilpatrick, Christina Schlegel, Scott Alan Small and Charlie Mitchell.

On Saturday, February 9, CSC will host its 2nd CSC: The Extended Version.  The evening will begin at 6:30pm with the artist's commentary; a reading and discussion of CSC company member, Frank Moorman's paper discussing translations.  This will be followed by the 8pm performance of A Doll's House.  CSC: The Extended Version will conclude with the extras; a Q&A with the actors of A Doll's House.

Tickets for A Doll's House can be purchased online at www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com, by calling 866.811.4111 or prior to the performance at the box office.  Groups of 10 or more, please call 410.313.8874 for group rates.  For general information, call the CSC offices at 410.313.8874.

 

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