Theater

Photo by Carol Rosegg

Cirque contest fulfilling fantasy
Your drawing could come to life on stage at the Hippodrome this month during “Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy,” a national touring production set in an enchanted forest.

The show is filled with international Olympians, aerialists, spine-bending contortionists, vine-swinging characters, dancers, musicians and more.

Artistic Director Neil Goldberg is calling on people of all ages to submit sketches by sending an e-mail to costumes@cirqueproductions.com or mailing it

Photo courtesy Toby’s - Columbia

By Celeste Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com

There’s still time to enjoy that long-time audience favorite, “The Sound of Music,” which plays at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia through Feb. 17.

In Toby’s version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit musical, Jessica Ball delights as Maria, the winsome “flibbetyjibbet” postulant sent from the Abbey to serve as governess to the seven von Trapp children whose mother has died. David Bosley-Reynolds is

by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com

Lerner & Loewe’s beloved award-winning musical My Fair Lady charmed the opening night audience at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre.

As part of a national tour direct from its 2001 West End run and U.K. national tour that began in fall 2005, the show will play here through Nov. 18.

Respected English stage and screen actor Christopher Cazenove is in top form as the overbearing Professor. Americans might remember him as

by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com

On a mostly unadorned but very utile set at Centerstage through Dec. 2, Hearts hearkens back to the World War II era. Through the medium of weekly card games of Hearts, Willy Holtzman’s play opens a window – if only a tiny crack – into the long-hidden tormented memories of his father’s experiences as a Jewish-American soldier fighting Hitler’s nightmare.

Portraying the playwright’s father figure Donald Waldman, Jordan Charney

by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com
When B. Thomas Rinaldi as Prologus advises the audience of a “Comedy Tonight” in A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, he isn’t kidding. The contemporary Vaudeville set in 200 B.C. Rome brings almost non-stop laughter to Dundalk Community Theatre, at CCBC-Dundalk campus, 7200 Sollers Point Rd., through Nov. 4.
Rinaldi is an absolute hoot as he portrays Pseudolus, the Roman slave attempting to

by Celeste H. Breitenbach

It’s 1962 and Tracy Turnblad wakes up singing “Good Morning Baltimore.” Already she’s got the local Hairspray audience in the palm of her hand. It only gets better as the musical comedy based on the film written and directed by our town’s own John Waters mentions familiar streets, schools and other landmarks. With a set featuring formstone and rowhouses, Hairspray plays at the Hippodrome Theatre through Oct. 21.

Brooklynn Pulver shines as tubby Tracy Turnblad, the

Titanic at Toby’s – Columbia

by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com

Everything about the production of Titanic – The Musical is first class at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia. As with all her shows, Toby Orenstein sees to every tiny detail. This time, she has outdone herself.

Even many of the delicious buffet offerings are directly off a menu served on that ill-fated maiden voyage of the “largest moving object in the world.”

Hamilton

What happens when a wedding singer is jilted at the altar by his own intended bride?

The Wedding Singer, onstage at the Hippodrome Theatre through Sept. 23, plays out just that plight.Instead of performing the usual upbeat romantic love songs at subsequent weddings, Robbie Hart lets his own emotions wreak ruin.

But, The Wedding Singer is no downer. It’s a musical comedy that provides an evening of light-hearted fun as Robbie, who lives

by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com
Note: Have a comment on this article? Post it at www.timesheraldnews.com.

As they reach various stages of their lives, Baby Boomers change all the rules, so it comes as no surprise that a once only whispered about subject – “The Change” – is now Menopause the Musical.

Girlfriends, mothers and daughters, Red Hat Ladies – all women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived “The Change” –

‘Foreigner’ funny regardless
by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com

The Foreigner takes the stage at Lorenzo’s Timonium Dinner Theatre, 9603 Deereco Rd., through Aug. 15.

Larry Shue’s witty, funny play offers the premise of ultra shy Englishman Charlie Baker staying at Betty Meeks’ Fishing Lodge in the deep woods of Georgia. Because he has trouble talking to strangers, his friend tells Betty that he is a foreigner and doesn’t speak the language.

Poor Charlie! Well played by Pat

by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com

Attention parents and grandparents – The Royal Court Jesters, Cockpit in Court’s resident children’s theater, is presenting a live family-friendly performance that concludes this weekend (July 13-15).

BUGSY MALONE JR. is acted by kids for kids and is a great introduction to live theatre. The price is right, too. All seats are only $7.

Within minutes of the show’s opening, much to the delight of the

by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com

“Grease” rocks its way into Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore through August 19 and the production directed and choreographed by five-time Helen Hayes nominee Mark Minnick is hot, hot, hot!

Starting with the first day back to school at Rydell High in 1958, the ensemble recalls his and her versions of “Summer Nights.” While the girls later are in low gear with “Freddy, My Love” at a

by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com
Note: Have a comment on this article? Post it at www.timesheraldnews.com.

With music and lyrics by Cole Porter, HIGH SOCIETY kicked off the Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre 35th Anniversary Season at CCBC-Essex last weekend and will run through July 1.
Elisa Dugan stars as Tracy Lord who is planning her June 1938 wedding to George Kittredge (portrayed by Russell Gartner of Parkville). In the midst of the preparations at the bride’s

by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com
With a cast of thousands - well, really eight energetic, enterprising actors - The Vagabond Players stage EPIC PROPORTIONS at their 806 S. Broadway playhouse weekends through July 8.
The hilarious spoof of Hollywood mega-Biblical productions takes place in the Arizona dessert in the 1930s on an impressive ancient Egypt set designed and constructed by Tony Colavito and Jay Demarco.
The storyline revolves around aspiring actor Benny Bennet and his brother

by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com

If ever you wondered what it was like at the very start of the existence of the universe, a visit to Sight & Sound Theatres epic production, IN THE BEGINNING, will provide as good a glimpse of creation as you’ll ever see in this life.

As the great voice of God thunders, “It is good!” various aspects of creation come into being.

With newly formed planets and angels floating overhead and a magnificent Garden

by Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com

A longtime favorite board game springs to life as Allenberry Playhouse presents “CLUE the Musical” through June 17 at the Allenberry Resort on the Yellow Breeches in Boiling Springs, Pa.

All the familiar suspects – Mrs. Peacock, Prof. Plum, Miss Scarlet, Col. Mustard, Mrs. White and Mr. Green – are there before and after Mr. Boddy’s body is discovered.

Was Mr. Boddy (suavely portrayed by Matt Beyer) done in

‘Patent Leather’ tickles at Timonium
By Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com

Based on a warning Catholic School girls of my day were given by the nuns, the musical comedy DO BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOES REALLY REFLECT UP? brings back almost forgotten memories of a more innocent time as it plays through June 17 at Lorenzo’s Timonium Dinner Theatre, 9603 Deereco Rd.

At a playwright, cast and critic party following the first time I saw this show some years ago,

By Celeste H. Breitenbach
news@timesheraldnews.com

Playwright John Patrick Shanley hones in with thought-provoking timely drama on what in another day would have been an unthinkable, unspeakable topic in his critically acclaimed DOUBT which plays through May 13 at The Hippodrome Theatre.

By Celeste H. Breitenbach
In its 91st season, The Vagabond Players, America’s oldest continuous Little Theatre company, stages TARTUFFE through May 20 at its 806 S. Broadway playhouse in Fells Point.

Written by Moliere in the mid-1660s, TARTUFFE was condemned as blasphemy by a group of religious moralists with great influence at court, causing King Louis XIV to stop its performance.

In Tartuffe, Moliere embodies a perfect example of what Christ called a “whitened sepulchre.” Imbued with just about

By Celeste H. Breitenbach

From the minute the townspeople appear onstage in the opening moments of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF with their dynamic rendition of “Tradition,” the audience is transported from Toby’s Dinner Theatre of
Baltimore to the small Russian village of Anatevka.

As Tevye bemoaning “If I Were A Rich Man,” David Bosley-Reynolds immediately gains sympathy for his plight as the local dairyman with five daughters and no money for dowries. This man was born to play Tevye.