Charm City Call Board – January 8 - 14

Welcome to Charm City Call Board for the week of January 8 - 14, keeping you up to date each week with all that is theater in Baltimore.     

Format Change:  With this edition, "Backstage Babble" will focus solely on news, best bets, and your letters.  "Theatre Events," arranged by date, will appear below all of the show listings.  Newly added events will be titled in red. 

As of this week, 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 "Theatre Events,"  and "Backstage Babble" - news bites, your letters and book/CD recommendations 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!:

• Audition Opportunities at Laurel Mill Playhouse, Catonsville Theatre Company and The Sky is the Limit
• BEST BET: Book and DVD
• Mark Scharf wins play writing award
• Run of the Mill announces Variations party
• New Discount at Spotlighters 

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

BROADWAYWORLD.BALTIMORE DISCOUNTS!

• 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.

CONTESTS!

Look for a BRAND NEW contest next week! 

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 very good production.  Try to get to this one!
â—Šâ—Š - This is a fair production.
â—Š - Save your money.

Be sure to contact the theatre directly for show times, dates and prices.  All shows subject to change.  

 

CURTAIN UP!  Shows opening this week.

The Mousetrap at Spotlighters

• â—Šâ—ŠTwelve 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.
• â—Šâ—Šâ—Š 1/2The 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.
• â—Šâ—Šâ—Šâ—Š 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.

 

NOW IN PREVIEWS!

• La Cage aux Folles (Musical – Dinner Theatre): Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore. 1/13 – 3/9.  www.tobysdinnertheatre.com or 410-649-1660 or 1-866-99TOBYS.  Look for information about BroadwayWorld Night at Toby's II, coming soon!

 

NOW PLAYING!  Shows currently open. 

Now What? at CENTERSTAGE

• â—Šâ—Šâ—Šâ—ŠNow What? (One Man Show – Comedy): CENTERSTAGE.  Through 1/20.  1 hour, 40 minutes.  Adult language and themes.  Review posted 1/4.  www.centerstage.org or 410-332-0033.  Look for interview with Josh Lefkowitz posted on 1/5!
• â—Šâ—Šâ—Šâ—Šâ—Š 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!

CLOSING THIS WEEK! Your last chance…

Joe Turner's Come and Gone at CENTERSTAGE

• â—Šâ—Šâ—Š Joe Turner's Come and Gone (Drama): CENTERSTAGE.  Through 1/13.  2 hours, 25 minutes, including intermission.  Review posted 12/13.  www.centerstage.org 410-332-0033. 

SPECIAL THEATRE EVENTS!

Murder Ink Single Carrot Theatre at the Theatre Project

• Murder Ink (Staged Reading): Single Carrot Theatre at Theatre Project.  1/9 at 7PM.  Adult content, not recommended for children.  See article below for details.
• Breathe (Staged Reading): CENTERSTAGE. 1/14 7:30PM.  www.firstlook.centerstage.org or 410-332-0033

 

OPENING SOON!  Shows opening in January.

• The Turn of the Screw (Mystery-Thriller): Everyman Theatre. 1/16 – 2/24.  www.everymantheatre.org or 410-752-2208.
• Off the Map (Drama): Fells Point Corner Theatre. 1/18 – 2/17.  www.fpct.org or 410-276-7837.
• Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy (Performance Piece): Hippodrome Theatre.  1/22 – 2/3.  www.broadwayacrossamerica.com or 410-547-SEAT.
• Mrs. Warren's Profession (Drama): Rep Stage.  1/23 – 2/24.  www.repstage.org or 410-772-4900.

 

AUDITION NOTICES:

The Pirates of Penzance

• WHO: Laurel Mill Playhouse
• SHOW: Pirates of Penzance.  Director - Kendra Simmons-Maurer; Musical Director - Joe Biddle
• PERFORMANCE DATES: May 23 to June 15 with selected Sunday matinees and one Thursday evening performance.
  WHEN: Sunday, January 13th  at 7:00pm and Monday, January 14th at 7:00pm
  WHERE: Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main Street, Laurel, Maryland 20707
  WHAT TO PREPARE: Auditioners are asked to prepare a song that clearly demonstrates their ability to handle music form a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta and will demonstrate range. Some roles will require the need to talk and sing very fast.
• WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR:
• Frederic: Young, manly, genuine and an innocent. 18-30. Need to play 21. Tenor.
• The Pirate King:  He wants to be a Pirate just to have his shirt open and the wind in his hair and to stand around like Errol Flynn, to swashbuckle. He would never really hurt anybody. 20-55. Baritone.
• Mabel: Very much of a young woman of the 19th century. An out-front, uncovered, natural, expressive person. 16-30. Need to play 17-20. Soprano.
• Major General: it is vital that he be vivid with the kind of warmth and good-humor of Santa Claus, that he be quirky, but believable. 40-65. Need to play about 50s. Baritone.
• Ruth: Is a proper English nanny. 35-55. Need to play around 47. Mezzo-soprano.
• Samuel: Pirate King's right-hand man, not awfully bright. 20-55. Tenor or Baritone.
• Police Sergeant: Gangly police captain, stiff yet agile. Must be able to move very, very, very well.  25-55. 
• Daughters: Major General's daughters in addition to Mabel. Chorus parts mostly with two or three solos by Kate, Edith and Isabel. Need to play between 18-late 20s. Various voice ranges. Although chorus parts, the daughters are a huge part of the show.
• Pirates and Police: Can be men but can also be women who are dressed up like men. Will use all as pirates in the first act but will split up for the second act. All vocal ranges. Any age. Again, a big part of the show.  
• INFORMATION: For more information, please email lmp@laurelmillplayhouse.org or call Maureen Rogers at 301-452-2557. if you have questions about the auditions please email the Director at  playphenom@gmail.com.

 

A Year with Frog and Toad 

• WHO:  Catonsville Theatre Company
• WHAT: A Year with Frog and Toad: The Musical.  Director: Lauren Spencer-Harris, Musical Director: Aaron Broderick.  She will ask you to read from the script.
• WHAT TO WEAR AND PREPARE: Please wear clothes for movement.  You will be asked to read from the script and sing 16 bars of a song of your choice, with piano accompaniment. No CD's or a capella.
• WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR:
• Frog – Baritone
• Toad – Baritone
• 2 women – Mezzo/Alto
• 1 man – Tenor – up to a High A
• All ages and ethnicities are encouraged to audition. Non-traditional casting, all roles are open. 
• WHEN TO AUDITION:
• Sunday, January 20, 2008     3-5 PM
• Monday, January 21, 2008    7:30 – 9:30 PM
• Call Backs Tuesday January 22, 2008   7:30 – 9:30 PM
• WHERE: Barn Theatre on the CCBC-Catonsville campus, 800 S. Rolling RD 21228.
• SHOW DATES: May 2 – 17^th 2008
• INFORMATION:  410/455-4400 or email catheatrecompany@aol.com   

 

Brigadoon

• WHO: The Sky is the Limit Theatre Company
• WHAT: Brigadoon
• PREPARE: Interested performers should be ready to sing and/or dance and bring a picture.  The Sky is the Limit provides opportunities for people with and without disabilities to perform together in a barrier free environment. 
• WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR: All roles are open.
• WHEN TO AUDITION: January 26: 12 – 3PM and January 28: 6:30PM – 8:30PM
• WHERE: 7701 Wise Avenue, Dundalk
• SHOW DATES: May 1 - 4
• INFORMATION: Cathy Steffen at 410-282-0939 or email her at clsact92149@aol.com.

 

THEATRE POSITIONS OPEN

Run of the Mill Seeks Several People for Variations Project

This is a project where both award-winning and new Baltimore-area playwrights, actors and directors create new, diverse theatrical experiences around one theme. The theme for this year, Power, was selected through an open voting process involving all audience members of last season's production, Variations on Justice. Local artists of varying experience and backgrounds will comprised the authors, production team and cast. In this way the project is unique to Maryland, in that the writers creating the new plays, the artists involved in the production and even the open public has a collaborative involvement in the project, making it an event for and about the Baltimore area. The project also fosters a communication between Maryland artists, bringing together people of all ages, from all ethnic and economic backgrounds, with all levels of experience in the theater to work together toward a common goal. The technical sophistication and professional standards with which the project is executed also provide a learning atmosphere for those involved in the projects who are less experienced with working in professional non-profit theater.

CREW:

RUN OF THE MILL THEATER (it's anything but!) is looking for two bright, committed, energetic folks for crew positions on its next production, VARIATIONS ON JUSTICE, appearing during May at Theatre Project in Baltimore.  These are volunteer positions and experience is NOT required.  What a great way to break in with Baltimore's most exciting independent theater company!

 VARIATIONS ON POWER is the fourth in an annual series of newly commissioned local short play anthologies by Run of the Mill. 

 Performances will be Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm; and Sundays at 3pm, from May 1th through May 18h.  Crew will also be needed for Tech rehearsals (April 28^th -May 1st)

All that's required is reliable transportation and a desire to work with a great local theater company.  Interested?  Email: runofthemilltheatre@gmail.com,  with "Tech Crew" in the subject line.  For more information about RotM and the Variations Project, see our website at www.runofthemilltheater.com . 

DIRECTING INTERNSHIPS: 

Run of the Mill Theater is looking for two Directing Interns for its annual Variations Project. 

 
Work with 5 of Baltimore's best Directors!

•  
  As a directing fellow you'll be required to:
• Attend the Variations Party (JANUARY 12^th)
• Take part in the script analysis/ development workshop
• Be present for formal feedback discussions with the directors and playwrights
• Attend Auditions  (March 1^st and 2^nd )
• Attend the rehearsals of all 5 directors. 

After two weeks of observing the style and technique of each director you'll have an evaluation/ feedback session with the Artistic Director.  You will then be paired with just one director until tech week.

MANAGEMENT, DESIGN: 

Run of the Mill Theater is looking for the following personnel for its annual Variations Project:

• 2 Stage Managers
• 1 Lighting Designer
• 1 Set Designer

If interested please email: runofthemilltheater@gmail.com

THEATRE EVENTS (New items in RED.)

January 9: Single Carrot Theatre Presents Murder Ink; Proceeds to Charity  

Single Carrot Theatre announces a staged reading of Murder Ink by Anna Ditkoff, taken from the City Paper column of the same name, at Theatre Project on Jan. 9^th at 7:00 pm. 

Ditkoff's weekly column, "Murder Ink", documents all murders in Baltimore City. She factually accounts murders committed, as made public by the Baltimore Police, and provides legal updates of previous murders as the information becomes available.  

Single Carrot is compiling a year's worth of Ditkoff's column in order to give a comprehensive view of Baltimore's annual murder rate. The reading will not dramatize the murders, but rather the text will be objectively spoken by actors. Single Carrot brings this compilation of non-fiction to the stage to explore the stories without bias. 

"Like all stories worth telling, Murder Ink is messy, heartbreaking, and provides no simple solutions," said J. Buck Jabaily, artistic director of Single Carrot and director of Murder Ink. "As seven twenty-somethings from Colorado who now call Baltimore their home, we at Single Carrot felt compelled to present the story, but don't have any answers to give." 

 A talkback will follow the performance in order to give the audience an opportunity to discuss the issues raised by the performance. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Violence Prevention Program at Maryland Shock Trauma.  

Content in Murder Ink may not be suitable for children 12 and under. Parental discretion is advised. 

Show information:

Murder Ink by Anna Ditkoff, from the City Paper column, directed by J. Buck Jabaily.  Jan. 9, 2008 at 7:00 pm at The Theatre Project, 45 W. Preston St, Baltimore, MD 21201.  www.theatreproject.org, 410-539-3091.  All tickets $5.   Box Office: 443-844-9253 or www.singlecarrot.com.

 

January 12: THE VARIATIONS PROJECT 2008: VARIATIONS ON POWER

The Variations Project features ten one-act plays written by local playwrights in response to the audience-selected theme of justice. Variations on Power marks the fourth annual Variations Project, conceived by Run of the Mill company members as a forum for collaboration in which Baltimore audiences provide source material for local playwrights to generate new work. The source material for Variations on Power will be gathered through interviews, surveys, writings, and recordings during the source party on Saturday, January 12 at 8PM at the Theatre Project. Previous Run of the Mill productions, created in a culturally diverse and collaborative environment, have won local acclaim. In 2006, Variations on Fear, was named Best Production of 2006 by City Paper and received a Greater Baltimore Theater Award for Outstanding Experimental Production. In 2005, Variations on Desire won the Greater Baltimore Theater Award for Outstanding Experimental Production.

 

January 14 – 27: QuestFest Returns to Baltimore/Washington Venues

Life changing…a whole new way of looking at theater: That is how participants describe their experiences at QuestFest, an international visual theater festival produced by Quest, in partnership with Towson University, Baltimore Theatre Project, Creative Alliance, Round House Theatre, Center Stage, and Gallaudet University. QuestFest will return to the Baltimore Washington area festival January 14–27, 2008, with performances and residences in venues and schools throughout the Baltimore Washington area. 

The festival will feature an international roster of deaf and hearing artists in an array of family-friendly, cutting-edge work that welcomes all people.

This year marks the third QuestFest.  This year's festival will feature performances such as Mistero Buffo, directed and performed by Ramesh Meyyappan from Singapore. Meyyappan wowed audiences at QuestFest 2006 and the QuestFest partners knew they had to invite this brilliant and innovative artist from Singapore to return; I Carried the Flag directed by Tim McCarty; Mosaic, conceived and directed by Miriam Ganz; The Snow Queen, directed by Mara Neimanis; and the Hong Kong Theatre of Silence.

Performance venues will include the Baltimore Theatre Project, the Creative Alliance in Baltimore, Round House Theatre in Silver Spring, and the Studio Theatre, the New Studio Theatre and the Dance Studio, all at Towson University.

In addition to performances, QuestFest will also offer master classes, panel discussions, residencies, workshops and post-show discussions.

QuestFest is produced by Quest, a Lanham, Md. – based organization that is internationally recognized for its innovative work in visual theater and its leadership in welcoming peopled from diverse backgrounds. QuestFest is completely accessible to deaf and hard of hearing audiences, and no sign language interpreters are required for any of the shows.

To reserve tickets or for more information about QuestFest go the Web site at www.questfest.org or call the Towson University Box Office at 410-704-ARTS (2787).

 

January 18 – 27: QuestFest at Theatre Project  

From Jan. 18-27, medieval morality tales will leapfrog into the 21^st century when Theatre Project presents Ramesh Meyyappan's visual adaptation of Dario Fo's Mistero Buffo. Hailed as "beautiful and sensitive" by the UK's Sunday Times, Mistero Buffo is a series of humorous vignettes that poke equal fun at government, religion, the rich and the poor.  

The theatre of Dario Fo animates the physical body of the actor and this provides the perfect opportunity for Ramesh Meyyappan, a deaf performer, who manages to skewer society without saying a word. 

Meyyappan portrays multiple characters in this one-man-show. The drunkard seen throughout this adaptation is the common man who is judged by a self-righteous angel for purely wanting to enjoy life. The drunk himself believes that if man was put on earth by a higher power, then the higher power wants man to enjoy life. The drunk sees gluttony and greed in the upper classes, is exploited by his own boss, and tortured by a power- crazy pope. As in Fo's play, Christ appears in this adaptation -- not as a God-like Symbol -- but a positive life-affirming symbol who cares for and assists the drunk in his times of need. 

As a curtain raiser before each show, Tim Chamberlain and Iosif Schneiderman will perform Swept Away. Featuring bits of mime and clowning, this short production details what happens to an immigrant artist who is separated from his family, country, language and art.  

Both shows are presented at Theatre Project as a part of QuestFest, a two-week festival celebrating visual theatre. Mistero Buffo plays run at Theatre Project Jan. 18-27.  Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 seniors and artists and $10 students. Tickets can be purchased at www.missiontix.com or by calling 410-752-8558.

 

January 18:  Fells Point Corner Theatre Starts 2008 with Off the Map Opening

The first production of 2008 at Fells Point Corner Theatre will be Joan Ackerman's Off the Map, opening January 18, and running Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, and Sundays at 2PM through February 17.  Tickets are $17.00 General, $15.00 Students and Seniors.  Tickets and Information at www.fpct.org or 410-276-7837.

Bo Groden looks back on the summer when she was eleven years old and everything changed.  She sifts through the memories of an unusual childhood, spent in the wilds of northern New Mexico, where her enterprising parents forged a rich life off the land and the local dump. This offbeat, evocative comedy has a compelling and lyrical quality.  Through love and compassion, the characters stumble into glimpses of self-discovery and unexpected moments of grace.

Off The Map is directed by Barry Feinstein, who has been directing plays for Fell's Point Corner Theatre since its beginning in 1987 with Fool For Love.  He has also directed True West, Liaisons Dangereuse, Dancing at Lughnasa, Heaven, Three Sisters, Recent Tragic Events, Henry IV, Ella's Song, Air Ice and Forty Million Dollars, If You Want It, at Fell's Point Corner Theatre, where he also teaches acting workshops and works with FPCT's Challenged Ensemble. 

Appearing in Off The Map is a cast of local veteran actors that include Alex Hewett, Rachel Condliffe, Mike O'Connell, Richard Cutting, Laura Gifford and Michael Zemarel.

 

January 19 & 20 and continuing: UPDATED: WORKSHOPS AT SPOTLIGHTERS

This information is more up to date than previous articles on Charm City Call Board.

The Actors' Guide to Reading Music
Saturday at 10:30am - 12:30pm
Beginning - January 19th - 10:30am

Taught by Michael Tan - local musical director and vocal coach.
This is a three week workshop designed to assist the singing actor in understanding and reading a musical score.
The actor will 
 - understand standard key and time signatures;
 - understand general dynamic notation;
 - understand notes, chords and intervals.
Cost of the workshop - $65.00 for the three weeks.
BTA members:  $57
Held at SPOTLIGHTERS Theatre
Registration Forms available online at www.spotlighters.org.

The Actors' Intensive

Sunday at 6pm - 9pm
Beginning - January 20th - 6pm

Taught by Alex Carney - local director and acting coach.
This is an initial six week workshop, with the option of continuing as the actor chooses.
This workshop will assist the actor in taking their performance skills to the next level.
The actor will
 - develop their skills for character development;
 - develop their own personal method for acting;
 - workshop a single or multiple characters with input from instructor;
 - workshop specific areas that the individual actors selects.
Cost of workshop - $250 for the initial six workshops, additional workshops are $45 each or the actor may select an additional 6 week session.  BTA members:  $225 for the initial 6-week workshop, and $41 for additional workshops.
Held at SPOTLIGHTERS Theatre
Registration Forms available online at www.spotlighters.org

 

BACKSTAGE BABBLE!  News, Best Bets, etc.

BEST BET: BOOK

Broadway Nights: A Romp of Life, Love and Musical Theatre by Seth Rudetsky

This is a novel for theatre lovers!  It is so current, he references The Little Mermaid and Young Frankenstein.  The story is that of Stephen Sheerin, a substitute conductor and musician on Broadway, who longs to have his own show to work on. Dreams come true when he is asked to be musical director for Flowerchild a 60's jukebox musical.  But he must balance this new job with time in the pits of Phantom, Little Mermaid and a "show that uses synthesizers and pre-recorded vocals."  Then of course, there is his boyfriend, a dancer in Phantom, and his constant need for approval and distance and validation – he's a mess.  This novel will have you laughing and guessing, as Rudetsky intertwines actual Broadway gossip with fiction, and drops names like Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Betty Buckley, and shares his not so secret love of Annie and Andrea McArdle!  Note:  This book is aimed at adults.  There is some language, sexuality and adult situations. 

 

BEST BET DVD: Show Business – The Road to Broadway

A must have DVD for theatre lovers interested in the how a show gets to the Great White Way, this documentary features exclusive footage of four musicals making their way to Broadway in 2004.  Narrated by Alan Cumming, Avenue Q, Caroline, or Change, Taboo and Wicked are featured.  Interviewees include Boy George, Rosie O'Donnell, Raul Esparza, Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Stephen Schwartz, John Tartaglia, and Tony Kushner.

 

 

 

NEWS: PLAYWRIGHT WINS WRITING AWARD; PLAY TO BE READ LOCALLY

Mark Scharf's new play, Keeping Faith has won the Robert J. Pickering Award for Playwriting Excellence from the Coldwater Theatre in Coldwater, Michigan! 

That play will have a reading at FPCT on January 19th at 1 pm.  Directed by John Sadwosky, and featuring: Frank Moorman, Marianne Angelella, Janine Harouni, and Brian Douglas.

 

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