Theater

By Celeste H. Breitenbach

Enjoying a successful revival, SWEET CHARITY brings its national touring company to Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center through April 22.

Film and TV star Molly Ringwald stars in the title role created by the late Gwen Verdon when the show opened on Broadway in January 1966.

Traces of the late great Bob Fosse can be found in this version’s choreography by Wayne Cilento. Fosse conceived the

By Celeste H. Breitenbach

Rather than being a well-plotted piece, “AH, WILDERNESS!” is a slice-of-life look into the Connecticut upper middle class Miller family over two days in July 1906. Eugene O’Neill’s peek at a gentler time plays in the Pearlstone Theater of CENTERSTAGE through April 15.

Lawrence J. Cione sets the scene playing George M. Cohan patriotic tunes and other appropriate interludes on a lace scarf-draped upright piano such as might be found

By Celeste H. Breitenbach
Just as George M. Cohan was “the man who owned Broadway” in the early 1900s, so Jeffrey Shankle steps into his shoes and “owns” Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia where GEORGE M! runs through June 10.
Shankle dominates every scene with a spunky, exuberant, larger-than-life talent in re-creating the singer, dancer, composer, lyricist, theatre director and producer who dazzled the world of entertainment.
With a

Submitted photo

By Celeste H. Breitenbach
If it’s laughter you’re after, drive down to Dundalk Community Theatre, on the CCBC-Dundalk campus at 7201 Sollers Point Rd., where
BEAU JEST concludes its run this weekend, March 2 - 4.
There’s almost a laugh a minute as the expert cast, under the skillful direction of Rod Clark, goes through its paces.
The story centers around the Jewish Goldman family

By Celeste H. Breitenbach
Lorenzo’s Timonium Dinner Theatre, at 9603 Deereco Rd., opens its current offering with the Director presenting a brief background of Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP.
It seems that in honor of Queen Mary’s birthday in the late 1940s, British radio was doing special broadcasts all day and asked if there was anything special she wanted to hear. Her only request was something by her favorite author Agatha Christie.
The famed mystery writer penned THE

By Celeste H. Breitenbach
Risque, raunchy, raucous THE FULL MONTY rolls into Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore for a rollicking romp through March 25.
After seeing how their wives and local gals enjoy watching male strippers during a Girls Night Out, six long-time unemployed Buffalo steelworkers devise a way to make some quick cash. But, given their lack of well-toned bods, these hapless hustlers decide they’ll have to go a step farther.

By Celeste H. Breitenbach

The set is sparse - a few chairs and ladders with the orchestra as a backdrop - and so are the costumes which for the most part are barely more than black undies. But CHICAGO is “Razzle Dazzle” with “All That Jazz”. It plays a limited one-week engagement through January 7 at The Hippodrome.
A dancers’ show, CHICAGO revives the distinctive choreography of the late, great Bob Fosse who directed

By Celeste H. Breitenbach

Loosely lifted from Shakespeare’s COMEDY OF ERRORS, Rodgers and Hart’s musical farce, THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, plays in The Pearlstone Theater of CENTERSTAGE through Jan. 14.
With a book by legendary showman George Abbott, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote the music and lyrics of the show which debuted in 1938 with such classic hits as “Falling in Love with Love” and “This Can’t be Love”.
Baltimore native David Schweizer returns from directing assignment

By Celeste H. Breitenbach
Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia opens its holiday show with a mini-Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade complete with clowns and floats and the real, live, honest-to-goodness Santa Claus — at least that’s what he claims.
HERE’S LOVE - The “Miracle on 34th Street” Musical spreads the true meaning of the season throughout New York City by having Macy’s Santa direct harried shoppers to rival Gimbel’s for hard-to-find items. The result is overflowing good will, and

By Celeste H. Breitenbach

Through this weekend, Dundalk Community Theatre at CCBC-Dundalk, 7201 Sollers Point Rd., presents JANE EYRE - The Musical.
The Musical? Why not? Charlotte Bronte’s novel, on which the show is based, lends itself perfectly to a musical interpretation. Like an opera, it’s plot includes a heroine with inner conflicts between what is expected of her and what she really wants, a mysterious man, a beautiful rival, love, intrigue and a secret within the walls of

By Celeste H. Breitenbach

Looking for something to do close to home? Watching your budget?
The Theatre and Music programs at CCBC-Essex present a variety of easy-on-the-pocketbook entertainment with evening and matinee performances. (*Senior citizens and Red Hat planning ladies take note!) There also are productions specifically geared to children.
Currently on stage in the college’s B Building Theatre at 7201 Rossville Blvd. is LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, the award-winning off-Broadway musical that launched the careers of composer/lyricist

by Celeste H. Breitenbach

Offstage, the judge gives instructions to the jury. Because this is a First Degree murder case, a guilty verdict brings a mandatory death sentence.
One by one, the 12 men file into the jury room. It is late summer 1954 in New York City.    With no air conditioning and one non(c)functioning wall(c)mounted fan, the room is oppressively hot.
No matter. After the three-day trial, the jurors will