Russell Sunday News

Grab your sexy heels and see KINKY BOOTS: Outstanding newcomers and perennial favorites get their kicks on at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Maryland. Mark Minnick directs an unconventionally heartwarming story exploring relationships not often spotlighted in theatric productions. DeCarlo Raspberry dazzles as Lola, and Matt Hirsch masters Charlie Price in Toby's intimate dinner theater setting, creating an evening jam-packed with sparkle, surprise and songs by Cyndi Lauper.

There's much to like about this production of THE BODYGUARD, story aside. It's predictable, superficial and just barely passes the Bechdel-Wallace test. The script is measurably better than the story and the performance is even better than the script. Ross Scott Rawlings' accompanying mini-orchestra is flat-out terrific, and there are some extremely interesting tech things happening. Overall, a strong thumbs-up.

Victor Hugo's 1833 love letter to an old cathedral is set in 1482, and it's curious to note that in the nearly six hundred intervening years, there is much that is unchanged regarding social injustice, racial persecution and sexual abuse by religious leaders. Production values are high, while fancy choreography steps aside in service to imaginative vertical and distance movement sequences. The whole production relies on human-centric theatrical artifices THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME plays at Toby's through May 19th, 2019

Olivier Award winner & Tony Award nominee Jenna Russell (Sunday In The Park With George, Merrily We Roll Along and Fun Home at the Young Vic) and four-time Tony nominee Judy Kuhn (star of Trevor Nunn's new Fiddler On The Roof at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Broadway's Fun Home, Chess and Les Miserables) will join Seth Rudetsky as music director/host for two intimate concerts on Sunday, February 3 as part of the long-running Broadway @ Leicester Square Theatre series.

Many of my readers know my connection with MAMMA MIA! on Broadway (see my bio below). When I saw many months ago that Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia would be presenting it (the professional regional premiere) I knew it would be a money maker and knew, after seeing many Toby productions, it would be done well. Well, not only have they done well, this edition of MAMMA MIA! is just plain superb.

Musical theatre is about happy endings: if you like them, see MAMMA MIA!, at Toby's through September 9th. Heather Marie Beck and Maggie Dransfield as mother and daughter Donna and Sophie Sheridan are delightful and heartwarming. Disco, universally accepted as delicious, is the keystone of this show, whether or not you love or have heard of ABBA. In today's tumult, an escape to a tropical paradise where conflict stems from wedding angst and family drama seems a wonderful notion.

Once again Toby's Dinner Theatre presents top flight entertainment for the entire family.

Have a hankering for history, classic "fuggeddaboudid"  New York-ish accents, a charming child actor, romance, bylines and plenty of song and dance? Hoof it on over to Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia and see Disney's NEWSIES, now through June 10th.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce that the play Are You Now or Have You Ever Been , a play written and conceived by Carlyle Brown and directed by MetroStage Artistic Associate Thomas W. Jones II with original music by William Knowles, will be in performance Oct. 5-Nov. 5 at MetroStage.

If you love Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, there's not a single reason you wouldn't like the show at Toby's Dinner Theatre. It's a fun production. There's a lot to love about it. Dinner is tasty. Everyone at Toby's is unfailingly polite, cheerful, helpful and speedy, including each member of the actor/wait staff. The productions are done with attention to detail and the actors are well cast. That combination of elements is rare in ANY public forum these days, so all credit to the management for creating this wonderful environment. If you enjoy dinner theatre, you will be pleased.

Signature Theatre presents Titanic, directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet), now playing thru January 29.

TITANIC should not be missed but must close January 29, 2017.

Signature Theatre presents Titanic, directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet), now playing thru January 29. The show features a cast, crew and orchestra of more than 50 artists and an inventive new 360-degree staging in Signature Theatre's intimate 330 seat MAX Theatre. 

Signature Theatre presents Titanic, directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet), now playing thru January 29. The show features a cast, crew and orchestra of more than 50 artists and an inventive new 360-degree staging in Signature Theatre's intimate 330 seat MAX Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the stunning production below!

???????Signature Theatre presents Titanic, directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet), now playing thru January 29.

Signature Theatre presents Titanic, directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet), tonight, December 13, through January 29, 2017, featuring a cast, crew and orchestra of more than 50 artists and an inventive new 360-degree staging in Signature Theatre's intimate 330 seat MAX Theatre.

Signature Theatre is proud to announce the full cast and creative team for Titanic, directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Signature Theatre reaffirms its mission to stage inventive new productions of classic musicals by tackling Maury Yeston's (Nine) and Peter Stone's (1776) Tony Award®-winning musical about the heart-stopping and riveting ride through the final moments of Titanic's fateful journey. Titanic will run from December 13 - January 29, 2017, featuring a cast, crew and orchestra of more than 50 artists and an inventive new 360 degree staging in Signature Theatre's intimate 330 seat MAX Theatre.

Signature Theatre's Titanic, directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet), will run from December 13 - January 29, 2017, featuring a cast, crew and orchestra of more than 50 artists and an inventive new 360-degree staging in Signature Theatre's intimate 330 seat MAX Theatre. Get ready for the show's big send-off with the company's rendition of 'Godspeed Titanic' below!

Signature Theatre has announced the full cast and creative team for Titanic, directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Gigi, Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Signature Theatre reaffirms its mission to stage inventive new productions of classic musicals by tackling Maury Yeston's (Nine) and Peter Stone's (1776) Tony Award-winning musical about the heart-stopping and riveting ride through the final moments of Titanic's fateful journey.