BroadwayWorld.com Baltimore Stories

Photos: CRUEL INTENTIONS: THE '90S MUSICAL At Milburn Stone Theatre

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:37:43 PST

The Milburn Stone Theatre at Cecil College closes its 2025–2026 season with Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical, the hit stage adaptation of the cult-classic film packed with iconic songs from the decade that defined a generation. Check out photos from the show.

Directed by Andrew John Mitchell, this provocative jukebox musical opens June 12 and runs through June 21 on the Milburn Stone Theatre stage.

Set in the privileged world of Manhattan's elite, Cruel Intentions follows the manipulative and dangerously charming step-siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil as they wager, scheme, and seduce their way through a web of deception. But when real feelings begin to emerge, their carefully crafted games threaten to spiral out of control. Filled with scandal, romance, betrayal, and dark humor, the musical delivers a nostalgic blast of '90s hits while exploring the consequences of power, privilege, and desire.

Leading the cast are Cole Hanrahan as Sebastian Valmont and Marion Jackson as Kathryn Merteuil, the notorious duo whose twisted games drive the story's drama. Eliza Davulcu stars as the virtuous Annette Hargrove, while Karly Laskowski portrays the sheltered Cecile Caldwell, an innocent caught in Kathryn and Sebastian's manipulations.

Matt Lucatamo appears as Blaine Tuttle, Dalton Watts as Greg McConnell, and Dorian Bean as Ronald Clifford. Karen Decker takes on the dual roles of Dr. Greenbaum and Bunny Caldwell. Rounding out the company are ensemble members Sabrina Van Voorhis, Jacob Redden, Chase Dove, and Lindsay Hamilton, portraying the students and socialites of Manchester Prep.

Based on the 1999 film written and directed by Roger Kumble, Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical features a book by Roger Kumble, Lindsey Rosin, and Jordan Ross and is fueled by a soundtrack featuring some of the decade's biggest artists, including Britney Spears, R.E.M., The Verve, Christina Aguilera, NSYNC, Boyz II Men, and many more.

Director Andrew John Mitchell believes the show's enduring appeal comes from its unique combination of nostalgia and emotional honesty.

"At its heart, Cruel Intentions is about the masks people wear and the risks they take when they allow themselves to be vulnerable," says Mitchell. "The story may be wrapped in glamour, manipulation, and sharp wit, but underneath is a surprisingly human exploration of love, identity, and the consequences of our choices. Combined with these incredible '90s songs, it creates a theatrical experience that's both entertaining and unexpectedly moving."

The production's creative team includes Music Director Aurelien Eulert, Choreographer Caitlin Van Driessche, Intimacy Coordinator Lucy Vavala, Stage Manager Riley Calpin, Lighting Designer Matt Coyle, Audio Engineer Paul Surowiec, Costume Designer Maggie Dennis, and Properties Designer Brett Pearson.

Recommended for ages 16 and older due to mature themes and content, Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical offers audiences a thrilling night of music, romance, and deliciously wicked fun.

Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical opens Friday, June 12, with additional performances June 13, 14, 20, and 21. Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets and additional information are available through the Milburn Stone Theatre Box Office at (410) 287-1037 or online at milburnstone.com.

Photo Credit: Milburn Stone Theatre

The cast of Cruel Intentions

Karly Laskowski, and Marion Jackson

Eliza Davulcu, Sabrina Van Voorhis, and Lindsay Hamilton

Marion Jackson and the cast of Cruel Intentions

Marion Jackson, Cole Hanrahan, and Eliza Davulcu

Cole Hanrahan and Marion Jackson

The cast of Cruel Intentions

Karly Laskowski

The cast of Cruel Intentions

Marion Jackson

Karly Laskowski and the cast of Cruel Intentions

Marion Jackson

THE PANSY HOUR to Make Baltimore Debut With Immersive Queer History Experience This Fall

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 05:06:32 PST

In celebration of Pride Month, Submersive Productions has announced The Pansy Hour, a new immersive theatrical experience premiering in Baltimore this fall. Created by an all-queer Creative Team and brought to life by a predominantly queer cast, The Pansy Hour is a vibrant, magical journey into queer history—one that honors the past while imagining liberatory futures.

Set against the backdrop of the Pansy Craze of the late 1920s and early 1930s—a brief but dazzling era of queer visibility, nightlife, and artistic expression—The Pansy Hour invites audiences to step into a secret speakeasy where dreamers, artists, lovers, and outsiders gather to create a world of their own. Blending immersive performance, ritual, drag, music, and storytelling, the production asks: What if queer people, even in one of history's most oppressive eras, carved out a pocket of joy for themselves?

The Pansy Hour invites audiences to step inside that world. The performance becomes a shared space—one shaped as much by the audience as the artists themselves. It's not just a show—it's a living, breathing experience of history, community, and possibility.

At its heart, The Pansy Hour is not a historical reenactment, but an act of historical imagination—grounded in truth, shaped by a belief in a better future, and animated by the enduring spirit of queer resilience.

“This project has been percolating in my mind in some form for years,” said Josh Aterovis, Creative Team Lead for The Pansy Hour. “It's deeply personal—an opportunity to center queer identity, joy, longing, and community in a way I never have before in my creative work. At a time when queer people are once again being politicized, erased, and attacked, The Pansy Hour is both a love letter to our ancestors and a reminder that queer people have always found ways to gather, dream, and create beauty.”

The cast of over 20 local artists is currently in active devising and rehearsals, collaboratively building the world of the production through movement, ritual-making, character development, and deep dramaturgical exploration. The ensemble is drawing direct inspiration from Baltimore's own queer history and working closely with local queer historian Ben Egerman, creator of mdhistory.gay and The Little Gay History series at The Club Car, to root the production in authentic local stories and forgotten histories.

“One of Submersive's core values is creating ambitious, artist-driven work that invites audiences into transformative experiences,” said Glenn Ricci and Ursula Marcum, Co-Artistic Directors of Submersive Productions. “Projects like The Pansy Hour matter because they make space—for underrepresented voices, for untold stories, for joy, for grief, for imagination, and for community. Supporting queer artists in telling queer stories is not only culturally important—it's vital.”

While The Pansy Hour has already received generous grant support from The Morgan Fund and the Create Baltimore Fund, additional funding is needed to fully realize the production's immersive vision. To do justice to the queer ancestors whose stories inspired this work—and to create the expansive, transportive experience audiences deserve—the company is seeking to raise $20,000 more through a newly launched crowdfunding campaign.

THE PANSY HOUR to Make Baltimore Debut With Immersive Queer History Experience This Fall

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 05:06:32 PST

OREGON TRAIL LIVE! to Come to Baltimore's Highwire Center

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:42:52 PST

Highwire Improv and Ghost Modern will present three performances of Oregon Trail Live! at The Highwire Center in Highlandtown. Watch the iconic video game come to life as an interactive comedy show full of snake bites, river fording, buffalo hunting and, (of course) dysentery.

Shows are at 8 p.m. on June 12, 20 and 27 at 400 S. Conkling St. Tickets are $10 per show or $20 for a three-show pass.

Can you help the cast of intrepid improvisers crow the Oregon Trail? Come see settlers and the colorful characters they meet along the way. Your purchase at the General Store and suggestions for the Barkeep before the show will affect the fate of the cast.

AN EVENING WITH KEVIN MCDONALD: Kids in the Hall Founder to Perform One Night Only

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:02:08 PST

Highwire Improv and the Creative Alliance will present comedian, actor, writer and director Kevin McDonald from Kids in the Hall for a special one night performance on June 13. An Evening with Kevin McDonald takes place on at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are now on sale through Creative Alliance. Don't miss out on this special event!

An Evening with Kevin McDonald is a must-see show for fans of the Kids in the Hall! McDonald will tell behind-the-scenes stories from KITH in a raucous stand-up show. After the walk down memory lane, he will improvise with members of the Highwire community in a hilarious, never-before-seen improv set. The show has toured throughout North America to rave reviews. Get your tickets now!

McDonald is best known as a founding member of KITH, the legendary Canadian sketch comedy troupe. The show appeared on CBS, HBO, and Comedy Central from 1989-1995. A revival season aired on Amazon Prime Video in 2022. In addition to the KITH, Kevin's TV and film credits are numerous to include appearances on Seinfeld, That 70's Show, and as a voice actor in the Lilo & Stitch franchise.

Around The BroadwayWorld: Top News, Reviews, Interviews & More from May 2026

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:03:21 PST

Around the BroadwayWorld is our monthly snapshot of the biggest stories making waves across the global theatre community. In this May 2026 edition, we're bringing you a fresh batch of standout reviews from regional stages across the country - from Brigadoon at Pasadena Playhouse in Los Angeles to The Phantom of the Opera at Seattle's Paramount Theatre and Pippin at Signature Theatre in DC.

Diane Paulus directs an immersive, David Bowie-inspired Life on Mars at American Repertory Theater, the producers of Japan's Gypsy revival walk back a planned title change, and we go behind the scenes with interviews spanning Adam Fields of the Beetlejuice national tour, The Muny's casting director Michael Baxter, Richard Kind on finally taking on Edna in Hairspray, and BWW's Kid Reporters chatting with the touring Von Trapp kids of The Sound of Music. Plus, get a first look at exciting new productions through performance videos and photos, including Anastasia at La Mirada Theatre, Dear Evan Hansen at Arden Theatre, Pippin at Signature Theatre, and the Manila cast of Jesus Christ Superstar - and so much more from across the BroadwayWorld.

Diane Paulus Will Direct Immersive David Bowie Inspired LIFE ON MARS at American Repertory Theater

Joshua Wright | Boston

Diane Paulus will direct Life on Mars, an immersive theatrical production set to David Bowie's music, as the inaugural production at the Goel Center for Creativity & Performance in May.

GYPSY in Japan: Producers Walk Back Title Change Ahead of 2026 Revival

Joshua Wright | Japan

The Japanese revival of GYPSY will retain its original title when it returns to the stage in 2026, reversing an earlier decision to present the production under the name 'Rose.'

Interviews

Interview: Adam Fields of BEETLEJUICE National Tour

Brock Mills | Jacksonville

For Adam Fields, returning to Jacksonville with the national tour of Beetlejuice the Musical isn’t just another stop, it’s a full-circle moment. The production will play in Jacksonville from May 12–17 at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts.

Interview: BWW’s 'Kid Reporters' Chat With THE SOUND OF MUSIC’s Touring Von Trapp Kids

Melissa Heckscher | Los Angeles

BroadwayWorld Los Angeles' kid reporters talk with the young touring cast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC to find out what it's like to be part of one of Broadway’s most iconic shows and what actually happens behind the curtain.

Interview: Chatting with The Muny's Casting Director Michael Baxter

James Lindhorst | St. Louis

Michael Baxter’s work will shine on The Muny stage during all 50 performances this summer. He led the efforts and had a hand in hiring every one of the 194 actors who will fill the principal and ensemble roles.

Interview: Richard Kind Talks Finally Taking on Edna in The Muny's HAIRSPRAY

James Lindhorst | St. Louis

When The Muny opens their production of Hairspray on June 15, 2026, the legendary Richard Kind will don Edna Turnblad’s housecoat and step into her fuzzy house slippers. Kind, star of stage, screen and film, calls it bucket list moments to get to perform at The Muny and play Edna all at the same time.

Reviews

Review: BRIGADOON at Pasadena Playhouse

Andrew Child | Los Angeles

Brava to Alexandra Silber for capturing all the heart and humor of Lerner’s original book with her thoughtful new adaptation and brava to Katie Spelman for dreaming up a Brigadoon that is as ebullient and spirited as it is deeply human.

Review: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Paramount Theatre

Shelley Dean | Seattle

It’s almost unbelievable for me to admit that this was my first time seeing The Phantom of the Opera. Of course, I knew the iconic songs and had seen countless clips over the years, but experiencing the production live on stage for the first time was entirely different, haunting, and spine-chilling in the best way possible. From the chandelier drop to the monumental set pieces, the show truly lives up to its legendary reputation. The 2026 tour, directed by Harold Prince, serves as a revitalized version of the original production, featuring Maria Björnson’s iconic designs, musical staging, and choreography by Gillian Lynne. It is absolutely ravishing, and Seattle audiences are lining up hours early to witness the spectacle for themselves.

Review: PIPPIN at Signature Theatre

Aidan O'Connor | Washington, DC

Certain facets of the human condition are foundational to our very existence – change, connection, desire. One such particularly toxic universal truth is a constant need to be something more than we currently are. To search for happiness in external achievement rather than within ourselves, in our simple joys. Pippin at Signature Theatre breathes within that precise virulence, relatively orchestrated by a troupe of impeccably costumed and choreographed players. A feast for the eyes in all senses, Matthew Gardiner’s production surpasses even the highest of expectations.

Videos

Video: Watch La Mirada Theatre's ANASTASIA Star Lena Ceja Perform 'Journey to the Past'

Michael Major | Los Angeles

La Mirada Theatre has released new video footage of Lena Ceja rehearsing 'Journey to the Past' from their upcoming production of Anastasia. The production features Dillon Klena as Dmitry, a role first played on Broadway by his brother Derek Klena.

Photos/Video: DEAR EVAN HANSEN At Arden Theatre

A.A. Cristi | Philadelphia

Arden Theatre Company is now presenting DEAR EVAN HANSEN as the final production of its 2025/26 season, with performances continuing through July 5. New production photos and video have been released from the Philadelphia production, including footage of Evan A. Kaushesh performing “Waving Through a Window.”

Video: Watch 'Corner of the Sky' From Signature Theatre's PIPPIN

Michael Major | Washington, DC

Watch a video of Brayden Bambino performing 'Corner of the Sky' in Signature Theatre's production of Pippin. The in-the-round production is now running through July 26 with tickets available now.

Photos

Photos: Get a First Look at JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR in Manila

Oliver Oliveros | Philippines

The 2017 Olivier Award winner for Best Musical Revival, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' has officially opened at The Theatre at Solaire.

S T A R R Busby Performs 'For to Ease My Troubled Mind' from Baltimore Center Stage's (pray)

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 12:06:47 PST

Baltimore Center Stage has shared a performance clip of S T A R R Busby singing "For to Ease My Troubled Mind," a modern spiritual drawn from the company's upcoming production (pray). In the video, Busby delivers the number with pianist Scott Patterson accompanying, offering an early glimpse of the musical and emotional texture that defines the piece.

(pray) resists easy categorization — the production weaves together music, movement, poetry, and ritual to create what its creators describe as a theatrical event rather than a conventional play. At its center is a celebration of Black womanhood, faith, resilience, and community, with the work drawing on spiritual traditions to build something that functions as much as collective experience as dramatic narrative. The production has earned praise for being simultaneously transcendent and joyous, qualities that Busby's performance in the clip makes immediately legible.

Performances of (pray) run June 13 through July 5 at Baltimore Center Stage, the Maryland institution that has built a reputation for ambitious programming across genres and disciplines. The production joins a season that has already drawn significant attention for its range and ambition. The piece is written, choreographed, and directed by Obie winner nicHi douglas and the music is composed by S T A R R Busby.

Baltimore Center Stage has been active in developing new and adventurous work throughout its current season. The company recently presented first-look footage from HOLES, and has also announced the ballroom-inspired musical XTRAVAGANZA, set to arrive in 2027 with a book by R. Eric Thomas and music and lyrics by Khiyon Hursey.

Click Here to Play!

Tony Winner CJay Phillip Talks Movement, Faith & Community in PRAY at Baltimore Center Stage

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 12:06:47 PST

Baltimore Center Stage released a video spotlight featuring Tony Award winner CJay Phillip discussing her role in the world premiere production of PRAY, offering an intimate look at what draws her to the material and what she hopes audiences take away from the experience. Phillip speaks with evident conviction about the production's emotional and spiritual core, describing it as a work designed to resonate across backgrounds and belief systems — a space, in her words, where anyone could enter the room and feel a sense of longing and belonging regardless of their faith origins.

PRAY is a new work rooted in the intersection of movement, music, and communal ritual. Phillip, whose Tony win marked a milestone in a career built on physical storytelling and performance, brings that same embodied approach to this production, treating the stage as a site where choreography and spiritual expression become inseparable. The piece invites audiences into a shared experience that transcends denominational boundaries while remaining deeply personal.

The production runs June 13 through July 5 at Baltimore Center Stage, and Phillip makes clear that the city itself is woven into the fabric of the work. She described recognizing Baltimore's own community reflected back at her during the rehearsal process, noting that her sisters, her aunties, and younger women from the city were all present in the room — a detail that speaks to the production's investment in genuine local resonance rather than a generic touring sensibility.

For audiences drawn to performance that fuses spiritual inquiry with rigorous physical craft, PRAY represents one of the more distinctive regional premieres of the summer season on the East Coast.

Click Here to Play!

Review: BOUNCE at Strand Theater Company

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:22:13 PST

Heaven forbid a play illuminates dysfunctional religious life, revealing shadows of harm impacting “believers”. But that’s exactly what playwright Somnia Mari Feral does with BOUNCE!

BOUNCE is a must-see production for theatergoers unafraid of touch topics. Through it, Feral offers characters (and audiences) light in darkness, humor in sadness, and hope in adversity.

From the opening scene, it’s clear that BOUNCE is a grown folks’ production. Not simply because characters are forced into situations where they must emphatically declare, “I am grown” to be seen and heard. Rather, it centers the courage to love while addressing the trauma, people, and events that make pursing romantic love a life-long ordeal—rather than a life-long pursuit of happiness.

BOUNCE is a courageous tale with origins in Feral’s life experiences. Her truth telling is raw, authentic, and vulnerable. A key theme is suppressed sexual identity and its years-long effects.

The production comes with content warnings due to its inclusion of themes and topics that may be sensitive for some audiences. Those include discussions of domestic violence, abuse of power, religious trauma/church hurt, and infidelity/adultery. It also includes intense verbal arguments, profanity, and slurs.

It’s a poignant and sometimes humorous production of hope and love (including self-love). In it, Feral takes the romantic trope love—or lust—at first sight to a new level in BOUNCE by sparking it in the opening scene at. . . a funeral! Cue the music and drama, and outrage.

Directed by Alma Davenport, BOUNCE brings audiences into the life and trauma of attractive single mom Monica, played by Kayah Calhoun. Monica is on the hunt for stability. She’s also on the threshold of a major romantic breakthrough that just might provide it. Unfortunately, it comes at a time when she’s most vulnerable having recently been released from a medical facility due to a mental health crisis.

Monica has two baby daddies, and on her way to a third when she marries her former pastor, Apostle Gerald, taking on the coveted “First Lady” role of the church. In many respects, Monica is a victim of her own actions and those of others, but Feral has created a laudable character who rises above misfortune.

Calhoun’s task in taking on the role of Monica is especially difficult because of the many nuances related to her character’s life as a single mom in the church who is having a relationship with a church leader. Plus she has long suppressed her sexual identity to do what’s considered “godly” or “right”. Calhoun embraces the challenge, taking audiences on an emotional ride through Monica’s trauma, strengths, weaknesses, marriage, and grit.

Monica’s wish for stability coupled with her vulnerability opens the door for Apostle Gerald, played by Jose Ruffino, to sweep her off her feet. He trounces Monica’s trust on their honeymoon before dropping Monica into his dysfunctional life and household.

Audiences quickly discover their love story is not a match made in heaven. And that’s no surprise as Apostle Gerald initially hit on Monica at his wife’s funeral! He’s more slimy than pastoral, and Ruffino believably—and somewhat humorously—captures Apostle Gerald’s contradictory faith life after the couple’s re-introduction plunges them into a whirlwind romance that exposes corrupt character, secrets, and family drama.

What’s a fractured romance without a bestie who plays the voice of reason? That role falls to Yasmeen Mahdi who plays Rita.

Unlike Monica for most of the production, Rita is tough, confident, outspoken, and resilient. Rita has no regard for harmful church doctrine, or clergy who abuse their power. She helps Monica clearly identity and reject other characters’ manipulative tactics. They’re friends since way back and Rita is fiercely protective of Monica. Their relationship is key to BOUNCE’s plot, and audiences learn its depth over time. It’s s not without controversy or complication, but the women reconcile their differences by play’s end.

Each of the rest of the six-member cast assumes their roles credibly—and in the most maddening ways!

Brent Warren plays Apostle Gerald’s aggrieved son Donte—and does he ever make audiences intensely dislike Donte! Donte, who is grieving his mother and his father’s remarriage, is frustratingly the spoiled brat we wish would grow up. Yet Warren compels audiences to consider that, perhaps, his character is not as unreasonable as he initially seems. Perhaps Donte’s heart-felt plea for fatherly attention and a loving home that honors his deceased mother is not too much to ask for.

Bre Starr plays Monica’s overbearing mom Evelyn. She see-saws in her approval of Monica and Monica’s choices. Her redeeming quality? She loves Monica. But she clings to religious expectations that have impacted her daughter’s life since Monica was a teen. That fact makes it hard to cheer for her maternal instincts and actions.

Jessica Adcock plays Glen, the “faithful” church member who has her own secrets. She seems to be everywhere, all the time—and that’s not good news, as audiences discover.

BOUNCE sparks soul-searching for its characters—and audiences. It raises questions about grief, specifically when and how long should someone grieve before pursuing another love interest? Other questions: is it possible to authentically love someone while denying one’s sexual identity? Why is infidelity tolerated in some religious settings and should someone endure/ignore it out of religious obligation? And is it ever too late to “bounce”—leave—and reclaim one’s life? BOUNCE doesn’t provide religiously correct answers to any of those—thank God!

BOUNCE also is a wonderful example of art imitating life and how a playwright can use the stage to spark needed discussion and exploration of life’s toughest situations. Expect some stereotypical characters arcs and church situations, but those are skillfully employed by playwright Feral to expose the harm stemming from the themes she penned.

BOUNCE is the final production in the Strand Theater Company’s 18th season dubbed “In Her Entirety.” Again, because of its themes, BOUNCE does come with content warnings, available on the theater’s website.

BOUNCE runs through June 14th at Strand Theater Company, 5426 Harford Road. See it on Fridays or Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. Sunday’s matinee is at 2:00 p.m. General admission tickets are $22.00; senior and student tickets are $15.00 Purchase tickets at Strand-Theater.org or call the box office at (443) 874-4917.

CRUEL INTENTIONS: THE '90S MUSICAL to Open at Milburn Stone Theatre

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:34:28 PST

Milburn Stone Theatre at Cecil College will present Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical June 12–21.

Based on the cult-classic film, the musical features a book by Roger Kumble, Lindsey Rosin, and Jordan Ross. Set in Manhattan's elite social circles, the story follows step-siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil as their manipulative schemes begin to unravel when genuine emotions enter the picture. The production features a jukebox score of 1990s hits by artists including Britney Spears, R.E.M., and The Verve.

The cast includes Cole Hanrahan as Sebastian Valmont, Marion Jackson as Kathryn Merteuil, Eliza Davulcu as Annette Hargrove, Karly Laskowski as Cecile Caldwell, Matt Lucatamo as Blaine Tuttle, Dalton Watts as Greg McConnell, Dorian Bean as Ronald Clifford, and Karen Decker as Dr. Greenbaum and Bunny Caldwell. The ensemble includes Sabrina Van Voorhis, Jacob Redden, Chase Dove, and Lindsay Hamilton.

The creative team includes director Andrew John Mitchell, music director Aurelien Eulert, choreographer Caitlin Van Driessche, intimacy coordinator Lucy Vavala, stage manager Riley Calpin, lighting designer Matt Coyle, audio engineer Paul Surowiec, Costume Designer Maggie Dennis, and properties designer Daniel Combs.

Performances are scheduled for June 12, 13, 14, 20, and 21. Recommended for audiences ages 16 and older due to mature themes and content.

Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical is presented through special arrangement with Broadway Licensing Global.

Tickets to MAYBE HAPPY ENDING National Tour in Baltimore on Sale Now

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:56:29 PST

The Tony Award winning Best Musical, Maybe Happy Ending by Tony Award winners and Grammy Award nominees Will Aronson and Hue Park directed by Tony Award winner Michael Arden, is now on sale at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. Straight from Broadway, the new North American Tour of Maybe Happy Ending is launching from Baltimore's historic Hippodrome Theatre Sunday, September 13 through Saturday, September 19, 2026.

Maybe Happy Ending will star Original Broadway cast members Steven Huynh as Oliver and Claire Kwon as “Claire.” Additional casting to be announced.

Maybe Happy Ending by Tony Award winners and Grammy Award nominees Will Aronson and Hue Park (Il Tenore, Ghost Bakery) is directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Arden (The Lost Boys, Parade, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol) and features Set and additional Video Design by Tony Award-winner Dane Laffrey (The Lost Boys, A Christmas Carol, Once on This Island), Costume Design by Tony Award-winner Clint Ramos (KPOP, Eclipsed), Lighting Design by Tony Award-nominee Ben Stanton (A Christmas Carol, Fun Home), Sound Design by Tony Award-winner Peter Hylenski (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Beetlejuice), Video Design by Tony Award-winner George Reeve (Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends); Deborah Abramson (The Gardens of Anuncia) is the Music Supervisor and John Yun is the Music Director. Casting is by The Telsey Office, Craig Burns, CSA, the Production Stage Manager is Eric Sprosty and Foresight Theatrical is the General Manager.

Maybe Happy Ending was written in both Korean and English-language versions. The Korean-language version opened in December of 2016 at DaeMyung Culture Factory in Seoul and subsequently won six Korean Musical Awards including Best Musical. The English-language version was awarded the 2017 Richard Rodgers Production Award and had its U.S. premiere at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta in the 2019-2020 season under the direction of Michael Arden. 

Tickets to MAYBE HAPPY ENDING National Tour in Baltimore on Sale Now

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:56:29 PST

Maybe Happy Ending will star Original Broadway cast members Steven Huynh as Oliver and Claire Kwon as “Claire.” Additional casting to be announced.

BLOOD OF THE LAMB to Make Regional Premiere at Strand Theater in Baltimore

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:45:41 PST

Rapid Lemon Productions will close their 15th season with the regional premiere of Blood of the Lamb by Arlene Hutton. Jalice Ortiz-Corral directs a cast of Sharon Carter Brown and Rakell Foye.

Nessa is pregnant. She finds herself detained in a Texas airport with Val: a court-appointed attorney assigned to represent her fetus. With new laws in place Nessa will not be allowed to leave the state until she after she gives birth, even though both women know that the baby is deceased and Nessa's life is at risk. Can Val be persuaded to go against her convictions, risking her career to help Nessa escape?

Performances will be at Strand Theater, 5426 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214. Tickets are general admission, $25. A special discounted "Industry Night" performance is just $15, on Monday, August 31. Press night is August 28.

Established in 2012, Rapid Lemon Productions is a 501(c)3 nonprofit theater company whose mission is to develop and present new work that promotes representation of and participation by the community it serves. Curators of the Variations Project since 2015, the company has also presented world or regional premieres of full length plays by established playwrights including Suzan-Lori Parks, Chisa Hutchinson, D.W. Gregory, Audrey Cefaly, Hope Villanueva, and Erlina Ortiz.

Blood of the Lamb is presented through special arrangement with TRW Plays, 1180 Avenue of the Americas Suite 640, New York, NY 10036. www.theatricalright.com.

VARIATIONS ON SILENCE to Open at Strand Theater with 12 World Premiere Plays

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:19:50 PST

Rapid Lemon Productions will continue their 15th season in July with Variations on Silence, an evening of 12 world premiere short plays by local authors. Produced each year since 2005, The Variations Project is an annual highlight of the Baltimore theatrical calendar.

The theme "Silence" won the audience vote during last year's Variations on Night, and attendees of this production will vote to select the theme for the 2027 Variations Project.

Variations on Silence features plays by Deborah Carry-Amland, Allison Chen, Gabe Fremuth, Natasha Joyce & Martin Thompson, Taylor Leigh Lamb, Wendy Matt, Alfonso Morales-Escobar, Tia Nellie, Regan Marie Nelson, Mae Philippe-Auguste, Douglass E. Smith Jr., and Colin Tillery. Janis Hannon directs an ensemble cast of Alexys Adams, Cat Bustos, Jae Jones (Variations on Courage, 2024), Caleb Madison (From East, Like the Sun, 2026), Kobe Morrison, and ReginaGinaG (Variations on Night, 2025).

BroadwayWorld Launches Producer Fantasy Game

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:00:05 PST

Ever watched the weekly Broadway grosses roll in and thought you could pick the winners? Now you can put it to the test. BroadwayWorld has launched the Producer Fantasy Game, a free, season-long competition that lets theatre fans build a roster of Broadway shows and earn points based on how those productions actually perform at the box office. The draft window is open now.

How It Works

The setup is simple. During the draft window, you pick any six Broadway productions that opened this season. Drafting is non-exclusive, so there is no need to race a rival for a hot title. Any number of players can roster the same show.

From there, your shows go to work for you. Every week, each production on your roster earns fantasy points based on its reported box office grosses and capacity percentages. When Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle nominations and wins are announced, your shows bank bonus points on top of that. And each week you can answer our Fantasy Forecast prediction questions for up to five bonus points per correct call.

Weekly Scoring

Each week, a show earns one base point for every $50,000 it grosses, so a $1 million week is worth 20 base points. On top of that, shows can earn bonuses: up to five points for filling seats (based on how close to full capacity the house ran), six points for grossing $2 million or more (or three points for grossing between $1 million and $2 million), and eight points if its gross jumped at least 15 percent from the week before. A show loses four points if its gross dropped at least 15 percent. If a show goes dark and reports no gross for a week, it scores zero for that week with no penalty.

The Fantasy Forecast

The Producer Fantasy Game is really two games in one. The first is the box office game: drafting shows and earning points from their weekly grosses and awards. The second is the Fantasy Forecast, a weekly set of prediction questions about what's happening on Broadway, where each correct answer is worth up to five points. You can play one or both.

We track them separately so you can shine at either. Your Producer score covers the box office game, your Forecast score covers your prediction results, and your Combined score adds the two together for the overall championship ranking. The leaderboard lets you toggle between Overall, Producers, and Forecasters, so a sharp predictor can top the Forecasters board even during a rough season for their roster, and a roster powerhouse can lead the Producers board without answering a single question.

Managing Your Roster

Your lineup stays at six shows all season, and you have plenty of room to maneuver. You get one free drop every week, three additional season drops to use anytime before the trade deadline, and free replacements whenever a show on your roster closes. New productions open throughout the season and become available the moment they start reporting grosses, so it pays to keep a transaction in your pocket for that buzzy new opening.

Join the Game

The Producer Fantasy Game is free for all BroadwayWorld users, and you can join any time the draft window is open. Draft within the first two weeks of the season and your roster is scored from opening week, so the earlier you get in, the more weeks you bank. Build your roster, make your predictions, and start climbing the leaderboard today.

LOVE & TROUBLE to Open at Towson University's Summer at the Center Arts Festival

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:42:29 PST

Towson University's College of Fine Arts & Communication will present Love & Trouble, a powerful afternoon of contemporary dance featuring founder, dancer and choreographer Vincent E. Thomas and his acclaimed company VTDance, as part of the 2026 Summer at the Center Arts Festival. The performance will take place Sunday, June 14 at 1 p.m. in the Dance Studio Theatre at Towson University's Center for the Arts.

Love & Trouble explores human connection, resilience and identity through movement, offering audiences an intimate reflection on how people love, engage with one another, and contribute to building a more just society. Through emotionally resonant choreography and athletic contemporary dance performance, VTDance brings deeply human stories to the stage with urgency, compassion and artistry.

Founded by TU professor Vincent E. Thomas, VTDance is known for creating dance works that center social awareness, civic dialogue and community engagement. The company's work has been presented throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond, earning recognition for performances that merge artistic excellence with meaningful social inquiry.

This dance concert is presented during Pride as part of Summer at the Center's America 250: Voices of a Nation festival theme, freedom, equality, self-expression and the diverse voices that shape the American experience.

Tickets and additional festival information are available at Towson University Summer at the Center Arts Festival.

LAURA BENANTI: NOBODY CARES to Launch Tour This Summer

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:47:39 PST

Following a run Off-Broadway and a sold-out run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe last year, Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares is set to make its UK return this summer, followed by a multi-city US tour this fall.

Created by Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti, with original songs co-written by Todd Almond and directed by Annie Tippe, Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares is a one-woman comedy show that blends side-splitting storytelling with original songs. A New York Times Critics Pick, Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares is a hilarious, heartfelt, and sometimes brutally honest take on getting older, people-pleasing, motherhood, marriage(s), and the absurdity of it all.

The upcoming tour schedule is as follows, and tickets for all venues are on sale now. Additional dates and venues to be announced soon.

London, UK: Underbelly Soho

July 14 - July 26, 2026

Chicago, IL: Steppenwolf Theatre

August 6 - August 9, 2026

New Brunswick, NJ: George Street Playhouse

August 26 - August 30, 2026

Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Center Stage

September 17 - September 26, 2026

Los Angeles, CA: The Wallis

October 1 - October 4, 2026

Costa Mesa, CA: South Coast Repertory

October 8 - October 11, 2026

Boston, MA: The Huntington

October 22 - October 25, 2026

Arlington, VA: Signature Theatre

April 27 - May 2, 2027

Laura Benanti Sings ">

XANADU to Open at CCBC Essex with Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:20:58 PST

Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre, in residence at CCBC Essex, will perform Xanadu June 12 – 28, 2026 in the Robert and Eleanor Romadka College Center, F. Scott Black Theatre, CCBC Essex 7201 Rossville Blvd.

Xanadu is a high-energy, feel-good musical inspired by the cult-classic 1980s film blending pop hits from Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John with Greek mythology. The show follows a muse who descends from Mount Olympus to inspire an artist—and accidentally falls in love. Bursting with roller-skating fun, disco flair and tongue-in-cheek humor, Xanadu celebrates the power of creativity and the joy of following your dreams.

Performances will run June 12, 13, 26, 27 at 8 p.m.; and June 14, 28 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $22 adults, $20 seniors (age 60+), $14 child (12 and under), free for CCBC students with current ID and are available at the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-ARTS (2787) or online.

Directed and choreographed by Quae Simpson with Stacey Antoine as musical director. The stage managers are Victor Scigala and Breanna Wilson. Set design by Sammy Jungwirth, lighting designer is Thomas Gardner, sound design by Terry Edwards with Tammy Oppel as costumer.

Based on the Universal Pictures film, the screenplay is written by Richard Danus and Marc Rubel. It was originally produced on Broadway by Robert Ahrens, Dan Vickery, Tar Smith, B. Swibel, Sara Murchison, Dale Smith and Cari Smulyan. The book was written by Douglas Carter Beane with music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar.

XANADU to Open at CCBC Essex with Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:20:58 PST

Highwire Improv to Host Three-Day Comedy Weekend in Baltimore's Highlandtown

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:05:24 PST

Highwire Improv will present a three-day comedy lineup at The Highwire Center in Baltimore, featuring free and ticketed shows including the Highwire Repertory debut and more.

Tickets are just $10, but they have free shows on Friday and Sunday. First Friday starts with a FREE Baltimore Holy S#!t show before Malik and Rasheed take over the stage at 7 p.m. ImprovScape closes out the night with guest artist Perryn Morris.

On Saturday, their first Pride mashup team joins Pocket Mice at 6 p.m. before Big Worm and Scrapple reign chaos on The Highwire Center stage at 7 p.m. Get your D&D improv fix with Frederick's Oh Crit! at 8 p.m.

A two-pack of shows to end the weekend on Sunday. At 3 p.m., Extra Credit and musical mavens Check This Out hit the stag. Our Highwire repertory teams debut at 5:30 p.m. for a FREE/Pay What You Can show.

GOD OF CARNAGE to Open at Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre at CCBC Essex

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:07:16 PST

Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre, in residence at CCBC Essex, will perform God of Carnage, by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton, June 12 – 28, 2026. All performances will be held at the Robert and Eleanor Romadka College Center, Cabaret Theatre at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd.

God of Carnage is a razor-sharp comedy that begins with civility and unravels into chaos. When two sets of parents meet to discuss a playground altercation between their sons, polite conversation quickly gives way to raw emotion, biting wit, and explosive revelations. Hilarious and unsettling, the play exposes the fragile veneer of social manners and the primal instincts beneath. God of Carnage is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection.

Directed by Gabe Lewin with Alex Benzion as stage manager, Andy Pfluger as set designer with Aaron Adams as lighting designer. Lizzie Jaspan is the Costume Designer and Cathy Kratovil as properties manager. This captivating performance unfolds in the Cabaret Theatre—an intimate setting that pulls audiences directly into the escalating tension, razor-sharp dialogue and explosive clashes at the heart of the story.

God of Carnage performance schedule – two weekends only: June 12, 13, 26, 27 at 8 p.m.; and June 14, 28 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $18 Adults, $16 Seniors (60+), free for CCBC students with current ID and are available at the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-ARTS (2787) or online.

GOD OF CARNAGE to Open at Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre at CCBC Essex

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:07:16 PST

God of Carnage performance schedule – two weekends only: June 12, 13, 26, 27 at 8 p.m.; and June 14, 28 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $18 Adults, $16 Seniors (60+), free for CCBC students with current ID and are available at the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-ARTS (2787) or online.

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS to Return for 12th Year With 39-City National Tour

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:57:07 PST

“A Drag Queen Christmas” will return for its 12th year, launching a 39-city national tour this November - December. The 2026 edition is hosted by returning fan favorite and theatre star Nina West, and features an all-new merry lineup of drag superstars from the Emmy-winning RuPaul's Drag Race franchise.

Artist pre-sale begins Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m. (local time) with the code “TWELVE,” and general on sale begins Friday, June 5 at 10 a.m. (local time) at dragfans.com.

This year's cast includes:

Myki Meeks, Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Nini Coco, Runner-up, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Darlene Mitchell, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Juicy Love Dion, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Discord Addams, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Crystal Methyd, Drag Race All Stars Season 11 (2026) & Drag Race Season 12 (2020)
Silky Ganache, Drag Race All Stars Season 11 (2026), Drag Race All Stars Season 6 (2021), Drag Race Season 11 (2019)

“A Drag Queen Christmas” is the world's premiere holiday drag showcase and a sensational theatrical experience that delivers high camp, over-the-top lip-sync performances, side-splitting comedy, elaborate costumes, Broadway-style staging, and a whole lot of heart—something we all seek during the chaos of the holiday season. With plenty of spectacular surprises in store, the show offers audiences a chance to see drag queens at the top of their game perform showstopping numbers of epic holiday proportions on revered theater stages across America. Each year, “A Drag Queen Christmas” provides an annual tradition for folks from all walks of life to come together and connect, find community, and celebrate the season with joy and laughter.

This dazzling, 18+ holiday extravaganza runs two hours and offers fans the chance to add-on a VIP Meet & Greet Experience—including early access to the venue, photos with the queens on stage, autographs, and exclusive tour merchandise.

A Drag Queen Christmas 2026 Tour Dates:

November 11 - Detroit, MI (Fisher Theatre)

November 12 - Rochester, NY (Kodak Center)

November 13 - Rutland, VT (Paramount Theatre)

November 14 - Portland, ME (Merrill Auditorium)

November 15 - Boston, MA (Emerson Colonial Theatre)

November 17 - Red Bank, NJ (Count Basie Center for the Arts)

November 18 - Morristown, NJ (Mayo Performing Arts Center)

November 19 - Washington, DC (Warner Theatre)

November 20 - Durham, NC (Durham Performing Arts Center)

November 21 - Wilmington, NC (Wilson Center - Cape Fear Community College)

November 22 - Philadelphia, PA (Fillmore)

November 24 - Pittsburgh, PA (Byham Theater)

November 25 - Columbus, OH (Palace Theatre)

November 27 - Chicago, IL (Riviera Theatre)

November 28 - Appleton, WI (Fox Cities Performing Arts Center)

November 29 - Omaha, NE (Orpheum Theater)

November 30 - Oklahoma City, OK (The Criterion)

December 1 - Des Moines, IA (Hoyt Sherman Place)

December 2 - Kansas City, MO (Uptown Theater)

December 4 - Denver, CO (Paramount Theatre)

December 5 - Salt Lake City, UT (Kingsbury Hall)

December 7 - Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 9 - Sacramento, CA (Channel 24)

December 10 - San Francisco, CA (Golden Gate Theatre)

December 11 - Stockton, CA (Bob Hope Theatre)

December 12 - Los Angeles, CA (The Wiltern)

December 13 - Santa Rosa, CA (Luther Burbank Center)

December 15 - Mesa, AZ (Mesa Arts Center)

December 16 - Tucson, AZ (Fox Tucson Theatre)

December 17 - El Paso, TX (Plaza Theatre)

December 19 - Austin, TX (ACL Live at The Moody Theater)

December 20 - Dallas, TX (Winspear Opera House)

December 21 - Wichita, KS (Orpheum Theatre)

December 22 - St.Louis, MO (The Factory)

December 23 - Knoxville, TN (Tennessee Theatre)

December 26 - Tampa Bay, FL (Straz Center for the Performing Arts)

December 27 - Fort Myers, FL (Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall)

December 28 - West Palm Beach, FL (Kravis Center for the Performing Arts)

December 29 - Jacksonville, FL (Florida Theatre)

Cast Set for A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at Olney Theatre

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:55:54 PST

Olney Theatre Center’s production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder will run in the Roberts Mainstage July 2 - August 23, 2026, directed by Eleanor Holdridge, choreographed by Ashleigh King, and music directed by Christopher Youstra. The musical, with book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman, and music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak won four Tony Awards in its original Broadway run, including Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical. Recent Helen Hayes Award-recipient Tom Story (who last appeared at Olney in Matilda as Trunchbull) stars as all of the ill-fated D’Ysquith Family members being methodically knocked-off by Montague Navarro, portrayed by Jacob Tischler, who previously earned a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his turn as Cosmo in Singin’ In The Rain at Olney.

ABOUT THE SHOW

This Tony Award winner for Best Musical is a hilarious and lyrical satire of money, manners, morals, and, yes, murder. After his mother’s death, Monty Navarro is shocked and delighted to learn that she had a secret: she’s related to the absurdly wealthy and aristocratic D’Ysquith family. And if, at first, Monty hoped his new relations might provide a sorely needed cash infusion, as eighth in line to the title of Earl of Highhurst, there isn’t much hope for him inheriting the family treasure. When Monty’s reunion with one of his long-lost kinfolk suddenly results in him moving into seventh place, he wonders to himself, “Why stop there?” Thus begins one of the funniest and most outrageous murder sprees in musical theatre history.

Joining Story and Tischler in the cast are Sumié Yotsukura (Sibella), Sadie Koopman (Phoebe), Donna Migliaccio (Miss Shingle), Benjamin Lurye (Ensemble/US Montague), Anna Maria Ferrari (Ensemble/Dance Captain/US Sibella), Simone Ballinger-Brown (Ensemble/ US Phoebe), Canter Irene O’May (Ensemble/US The D’Ysquiths), Karen Vincent (Ensemble/US Miss Shingle), and DeCarlo J. Raspberry (Ensemble). Wynter Nicole Cook and Michael E. McGovern serve as swings for the production. Ben Walsh is the Production Stage Manager, along with Rebecca Talisman as Stage Manager, and Sara Gehl as Assistant Stage Manager.

Joining Holdridge, King, and Youstra on the creative team are John Coyne (Set Designer), Sarah Cubbage (Costume Designer), Minjoo Kim (Lighting Designer), Matthew Rowe (Sound Designer), Zavier Augustus Lee Taylor (Projections Designer), LaShawn Melton (Wig Designer), Bess Kaye (Fight and Intimacy Consultant), Melissa Flaim (Dialect Coach), Ryan Phillips (Magic Consultant), Katherine Riddle (Assistant Director), Walter "Bobby" McCoy (Assistant Music Director), Katie Brusseau (Assistant Lighting Designer), and Stephanie Parks (Assistant Costume Designer).

Talent Machine Company Names Kelly Balmaceda as First-Ever Executive Director

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:08:12 PST

The Talent Machine Company will welcome its new – and first ever – Executive Director, Kelly Balmaceda. A visionary arts leader, educator, producer, and performer, Balmaceda brings nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit arts management, music education and community engagement.

Her appointment marks an exciting new chapter for The Talent Machine, Central Maryland's premier children's theater company, as the organization continues to expand its impact on young performers and strengthen its long-term future.

Originally from Maryland, Balmaceda returns to the area after years of serving arts communities across the country as a military spouse. Throughout her career, she has founded and led arts organizations, developed youth-centered programming, produced professional performances, and built thriving educational and artistic communities.

Most recently, Balmaceda served as Director of Events and Programs for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), an international organization serving more than 7,000 members. Previously, she founded a nonprofit opera company, created a community performing arts center, launched youth choir and ensemble programs, and developed an early childhood arts curriculum that expanded into local schools and preschools.

“We are so excited to welcome Kelly to the Talent Machine family,” said Lea Capps, President and Artistic Director of The Talent Machine Company. “From our very first conversations, her energy, vision and passion aligned perfectly with the heart of our Company. Kelly brings a deep appreciation for the arts and for the transformative effects the arts can have on children, and we are looking forward to the future we will build together.”

Balmaceda said she is honored to join the organization at such an important moment in its history.

“I am passionate about creating spaces that inspire young artists to discover their own talents,” Balmaceda said. “The Talent Machine's commitment to youth, education and artistic excellence resonates deeply with me, professionally and personally. Returning home to Maryland and investing in the artistic lives of young people in this community is exciting – and an honor.”

Hiring an Executive Director is a strategic investment in what's next for The Talent Machine Company. While the organization has built a strong reputation for artistic excellence and youth development, the Executive Director will help the Company strengthen its infrastructure and build and enhance community partnerships in support of its long-term goals — including the dream of a permanent theater home.

PSYCHO BEACH PARTY to Open at Cumberland Theatre in 38th Season

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:46:07 PST

The Cumberland Theatre will continue their 38th season with the play Psycho Beach Party which will open Friday, June 5th and run for two weekends. A preview performance will be held on Thursday, June 4th at 8:00 pm. Following that Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances will begin at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. The show is being sponsored by Doug Schwab and Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab.

Written by Charles Busch, one of the leading figures of New York's downtown theater scene and a master of camp comedy, the play premiered in 1987 and quickly became one of Busch's most popular works.

Busch created the play as a loving parody of two seemingly unrelated genres: the carefree 1960s beach party films starring actors such as Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon, and the psychological horror films inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.

Set on the sun-drenched beaches of Malibu in the early 1960s, Psycho Beach Party is a fast-paced comedy that follows Chicklet Forrest, an awkward teenage girl who dreams of becoming one of the cool surfers hanging out on the beach. Beneath her innocent exterior, however, Chicklet struggles with a collection of wildly different personalities that emerge under stress. As she tries to fit in with the local surf crowd and catch the attention of the handsome surfer Kanaka, strange events begin to unfold. Rumors, secrets, and unexpected twists turn an ordinary summer beach party into a hilarious mystery filled with romance, mistaken identities, and outrageous revelations.

Blending camp humor, pop culture satire, and affectionate nods to 1960s cinema, Psycho Beach Party delivers a colorful mix of surfing, suspense, and comedy while celebrating the over-the-top spirit of classic B-movies.

Originally staged by Busch and his longtime collaborators in New York, the production became a cult favorite thanks to its rapid-fire humor, exaggerated characters, and affectionate send-up of mid-century pop culture. Like many of Busch's plays, it featured gender-bending casting and celebrated theatrical camp traditions.

In 2000, the play was adapted into the feature film Psycho Beach Party, directed by Robert Lee King. The movie starred Lauren Ambrose as Chicklet and introduced the story to a wider audience while preserving much of the play's campy spirit.

The Cumberland Theatre's production is being directed by artistic director Kimberli Rowley. The ensemble cast includes local actors Jace Courrier, Brian Records, Emily Snyder and Andrew Watkins as well as returning guest actors Kiersten Gasemy and Lisa Podulka. The show also marks the debut of visiting actors Jennifer Hope and James Camacho (both from New York City) and Colin Dech, of Dayton, Ohio, as Chicklet Forrest.

The design team includes Xander Mulder (lighting design), Marty Jellison (projection design), Kimberli Rowley (scenic and sound design), Steven Zalatoris (scenic carpenter) and Jennifer Clark (costume design). Marcus Hardinger serves as the stage manager with assistance from Rowan Dickson.

Tickets are available on cumberlandtheatre.com or by calling the box office at 301.759.4990. The show contains strong language and sexual situations. Parental discretion is advised.

1776 and More Set for Towson University's Summer At The Center 2026

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:17:45 PST

Towson University's College of Fine Arts & Communication will present the 2026 Summer at the Center Arts Festival, "America 250: Voices of a Nation," from June 11 through July 11, 2026, at the University's Center for the Arts.

Created in honor of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the monthlong multidisciplinary festival explores the evolving American story through theater, dance, music, visual art, film and community engagement, reflecting the many voices and experiences that define America's cultural landscape. Many events are free and open to the public.

Now in its third year, Summer at the Center 2026 will feature performances and exhibitions by Towson University faculty, alumni, students and professional artists from across Maryland and beyond. It celebrates the power of the arts to bring people together, spark dialogue, and deepen community connection.

The festival coincides with both Juneteenth and Pride Month, highlighting themes of freedom, identity, resilience, and artistic expression. Through diverse voices and perspectives, "America 250" invites audiences to reflect on the stories, histories and communities that continue to shape the nation.

Festival highlights include:

1776: The Musical featuring a multiracial ensemble of woman-presenting actors

Love & Trouble dance concert by Vincent E. Thomas and VTDance

Give My Regards to Broadway - A Tribute to the Great American Musical featuring Carolyn Black-Sotir and American Music Theater Artists

A free panel conversation exploring the Baltimore August Wilson Celebration and honoring the legendary playwright's enduring legacy

"People Get Ready: A Century of Posters," an exhibition exploring the visual history of Black American music and civil rights

Free community workshops, gallery exhibitions and family-friendly dance programming

Events will take place throughout the Center for the Arts, including the Mainstage Theatre, Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall, Center for the Arts Gallery and Asian Arts Gallery. Support for the Festival comes from the Baltimore Community Foundation, Baltimore Commission on Arts and Sciences, the Maryland State Arts Council, the Towson University Office of Inclusion and Intuitional Equity, WBFF Fox 45, State Employee Credit Union (SECU), Weis Markets, Coca-Cola, Tall Wiedefeld Society, Towson University Alumni Association, Your Home with Megan & Wendy, as well as many individual donors.

Review: THE DIVINE SISTER at Vagabond Players Ignites Heavenly Delight!

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:31:45 PST

In a world of change and confusion, some essential truths will always remain. Chief among these truths is this: Campy, irreverent, John Waters-style comedy will always have a home in Baltimore. Its current place of residence: Vagabond Players’ 110th season closer, The Divine Sister.

The play centers its story around the eclectic sisters of St. Veronica’s - a convent and school in 1960’s Pittsburgh, PA - and the visitors who found their own “pockets full of miracles” there. The Divine Sister pays reverence to the infamous Hollywood films involving nuns that came before it, including Doubt and The Sound of Music. With a hilarious and fast-paced script by Charles Busch (writer of such celebrated plays as Red Scare on Sunset and The Vampire Lesbians of Sodom), The Divine Sister leaves its audiences with side stitches and dry throats from non-stop laughter. Though the play’s book is hilarious in its own right, Vagabond Players is blessed by “urine-stained underwear visions” to have an entire production team who have honed their comedic craft.

Each member of this six-person ensemble cast (playing nine different characters) fits perfectly into their roles, and compliments their fellow actors in a way that can be described as nothing short of a commodious miracle. As postulant Agnes, Morgan Wenerick plays the world’s most kind-hearted nitwit with nothing but incredible comedic timing behind her eyes when she’s onstage. Sister Acacius, played by the indomitable comedic force Holly Pasciullo, takes the mat as wrestling coach and voice of san(ct)ity. Her wunderbar foil and the penultimate domino to fall in this line of sisters, Maeve Koch serves Frau Blücher-esque excellence as German nun, Sister Walburga. All heads are bowed to Mother Superior, a high-heeled bicycling ex-journalist, who is portrayed with equal parts beauty and hilarity by J Purnell Hargrove.

All religion is a mania, and the maniacs of St. Veronica’s need counterweights to balance them out: Mark Kozlowski dons both hooded robe as Brother Venerius and 1940’s noir fedora as Jeremy. Melissa Banister exhibits incredible range with her performances as both Mrs. Levinson, confirmed atheist matriarchal capitalist, and Timothy, a baseball aspirant and St. Veronica’s pupil. Kozlowski, Banister, and Koch all showcase brilliance in each of their multiple roles, some of which appear in the same scene back-to-back! There is clearly no talent shortage in Baltimore, as each of the six featured actors is a star in their own right. Their onstage chemistry is palpable, challenging audience members to choose who will be the subject of their gaze in any given moment.

Off-stage, the production team of The Divine Sister serve as essential pieces to the play’s puzzle. Direction by Steve Goldklang allows the actors to shine and explore their “sense(s) of play” to the highest capacity possible, with lighting (by Brad J Ranno) and costume design (by April Forrer) perfectly capturing each beautiful sentiment and joke told. Each scene, song, monologue, and element of the show is staged and performed impeccably. As Mother Superior states in the show, “It’s important to believe in miracles, even if you have to create them yourself.” This cast and crew have truly created their own miracle at Vagabond Players, and audience members will walk out of The Divine Sister grateful to take that miracle with them.

Catch The Divine Sister at Vagabond Players in Fells Point, Baltimore, through June 21st. For tickets and more information, visit https://vagabondplayers.org/show/157/the-divine-sister

Photo credit - Shealyn Jae Photography

Highwire Improv to Host Weekend of Live Comedy With Performers From Across the Region

Fri, 29 May 2026 05:01:31 PST

Highwire Improv is packed this weekend with a lineup of live comedy and tickets are just $10. No script required, just your laughs! Performers arefrom Baltimore, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Delaware and Washington, D.C.

FRIDAY, MAY 29 | Shows at 7, 8 & 9 PM

Kick things off at 7 p.m. with the anything-goes energy of Important Screws and the philosophy-meets-floor-crawling duo Mohan and Millie. At 8 p.m., Three Is A Crowd mines the crowd for juicy stories to fuel their comedy, followed by Chronic Pain turning life's everyday aches into laughs. Cap the night at 9 p.m. with Circle Back's sharp, high-energy take on capitalism and corporate culture. Whether it's a date night or a night out with friends, Friday at Highwire is the move.

SATURDAY, MAY 30 | Shows at 2, 6, 7 & 8 PM

Saturday is a full day of comedy. Start with a FREE 2 p.m. matinee featuring five teams, including Pennsylvania's character duo Hippie & Frenchie, the unexpected comedy of Plot Twist, the musical storytelling of FACT, the true-life chaos of Forgetful Squirrels, and the D.C.-based time-bending Heist Heist Baby. The evening heats up at 6 p.m. with the lovably silly Twig! and the irrepressible Feral Bachelor Party. The 7 and 8 p.m. hours belong to Harrisburg's funniest people as we cement our I-83 connection. At 7 p.m., we have Lil Stinkers and the perfectly-paired Four of Hearts before we close out the night at 8 p.m. with Girl's Trip and the fierce, funny Unshushed Sisters.

SUNDAY, MAY 31 | Show at 3 PM

Wrap up your weekend the right way. Short Ribs bring fan-favorite improv games to the stage, and the duo Marshmallow and Sour serves up a summer-memory-fueled comedy set that's equal parts sweet and sharp. It's the perfect Sunday afternoon reset.

Highwire Improv to Host Weekend of Live Comedy With Performers From Across the Region

Fri, 29 May 2026 05:01:31 PST

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LOVE & TROUBLE to Open at Towson University's Summer at the Center Arts Festival

LAURA BENANTI: NOBODY CARES to Launch Tour This Summer

London, UK: Underbelly Soho

Chicago, IL: Steppenwolf Theatre

New Brunswick, NJ: George Street Playhouse

Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Center Stage

Costa Mesa, CA: South Coast Repertory

Boston, MA: The Huntington

Arlington, VA: Signature Theatre

XANADU to Open at CCBC Essex with Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre

XANADU to Open at CCBC Essex with Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre

Highwire Improv to Host Three-Day Comedy Weekend in Baltimore's Highlandtown

GOD OF CARNAGE to Open at Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre at CCBC Essex

GOD OF CARNAGE to Open at Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre at CCBC Essex

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS to Return for 12th Year With 39-City National Tour

This year's cast includes:

A Drag Queen Christmas 2026 Tour Dates:

Cast Set for A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at Olney Theatre

ABOUT THE SHOW

Talent Machine Company Names Kelly Balmaceda as First-Ever Executive Director

PSYCHO BEACH PARTY to Open at Cumberland Theatre in 38th Season

1776 and More Set for Towson University's Summer At The Center 2026

Festival highlights include:

Review: THE DIVINE SISTER at Vagabond Players Ignites Heavenly Delight!

Highwire Improv to Host Weekend of Live Comedy With Performers From Across the Region

Highwire Improv to Host Weekend of Live Comedy With Performers From Across the Region