Charm City Call Board - July 2007

Welcome to Charm City Call Board for July 2007!  Below are pertinent articles from the month past.  For current listings, contests and discounts, please see the August Edition.  Thanks!

BACKSTAGE BABBLE!  News, Book & CD Reviews and More!

READERS WRITE!

Michael from Baltimore writes:  Dear James, Why don't you include the whole plot in your reviews?

Well, Michael, it is a fine line to walk as far as giving a synopsis of a play when reviewing it.  But in general, I try not to tell the whole story because I don't like to spoil the surprises of the play for perspective audiences.  (Think about how Harry Potter fans felt when plot spoilers were all over the place about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows!)  On the other hand, if the work is not well known, I have to give some plot details away in order for the review to make sense.  You'll notice with a very well-known play, take Macbeth, for instance, I don't really even mention plot.  That is because readers already know that stuff, so why waste the space!?  I think, that aside from evaluating a production, a review should also entice readers to go (or in some cases, avoid) to a show, and giving away the entire plot would spoil it.  Thanks for writing!

Please send your questions to me at: jameshoward@broadwayworld.com.

BEST BET CD: LEGALLY BLONDE!

With Ghostlight Records' release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Legally Blonde: The Musical today, we have proof positive that not only were the Tony nominations for Laura Bell Bundy and Orfeh legitimate and well-deserved, but so, too, are the Tony nods for composers and lyricists Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book writer Heather Hach.  There is plenty of dialogue included to help us know where we are in the story, the lyrics are sharp and snappy and the tunes are fun – both modern and old-fashioned Broadway!  Bundy and Orfeh practically burst off the CD and every performance on the CD is at least as good at what is onstage at the Palace Theatre.  Standout numbers include "Ireland" (which has more spunk and Irish flavor than the entire show The Pirate Queen), "Bend and Snap" (an improvement on an already hilarious scene in the film), "There! Right There! (proving you can musicalize a court room scene), both versions of the title tune, and naturally, the terrific opening number, "Omigod You Guys" (I dare you to mot be humming it for days!)  The booklet includes a great synopsis, color production photos and full lyrics.  If you haven't seen the show yet, and you MUST, this should hold you over!  If you can wait to have it mailed to you, Sh-K Boom's website has the CD for $14.99, and shipping and handling are FREE!

BEST BET: THEATRE BOOK: THE GREAT AMERICAN MOUSICAL

The Great American Mousical has a great pedigree; it is written by musical theatre icon Julie Andrews Edwards and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, and the illustrations are by Ms. Andrews' ex-husband, Tony-winning designer Tony Walton.  The book, which tells of theatre mice putting on a benefit – "Broadway Airs" – and all the trouble that ensues when the wrecking ball is brought to the "human" theatre a few floors above.  The book, marked for ages 5 – 9 would be the perfect story book to read to your kids, giving you a chance to use some fun voices AND introduce them to the world of theatre and New York City.  The tale takes our leading lady, Adelaide, out into the city during a New Year's Eve snowstorm.  She ends up in Brooklyn, Chinatown, Little Italy, and of course, Times Square.  Meanwhile, the show must go on, so the producers, directors, designers and actors (mice, all) work theatre magic as they rehearse and prepare for the opening night curtain.  Ms. Andrews shows a wicked sense of humor, and her use of accurate detail makes the book a must read for young theatre enthusiasts.  There is even an extensive glossary of theatre terms in the back!  But, best of all, and another reason to put this on your adult reading list, is the fun use of names (Don Q., Sancho, Adelaide and Sky are but a few) and references to the great American musical (Hello, Dolly, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls, and, naturally, My Fair Lady, plus MANY others).  These hidden treasures will have you giggling for sure.  Plus, there is a funny reference to Disney on Broadway, which Julie manages to be both positive and negative about it – not bad, Mary Poppins!

The book is available at www.broadwaycares.org for $16.00 (charitable!!!) or at Amazon.com for $10.95.  Let me know what you think! 

BENEFIT FOR CHILDREN'S PLAYHOUSE OF MARYLAND

"A Night of a Thousand Stars", a benefit performance for The Children's Playhouse of Maryland (in residence at CCBC Essex Campus) will be held on Saturday, September 15 at CCBC Essex.  Tickets are just $20.00.  The program includes a silent auction from 7-7:45 PM, and the performance at 8PM.  It will feature several local actors, as well as Marguerite (Shannon) Willbanks was a well known actress in the Baltimore area before moving to NY. She has appeared on Broadway in Beauty and the Beast.  She will be backed by some of Baltimore's finest talent (Edward J. Peters, Rob McQueen, Jeff Burch, Liz Boyer Hunnicutt, and Eileen Aubele). It is truly an event not to be missed! Tickets are on sale now and are going quickly.

Children's Playhouse of Maryland, Inc. is a nonprofit community theatre organization dedicated to youth performers ages 18 and under.  We provide training for children in the areas of acting and theatre production.  We believe that working with children through theatre enables them to gain confidence, a sense of responsibility, and an appreciation for the arts.  At the same time we are offering a live theatre experience to young audience members in the greater Baltimore community.  Children's Playhouse of Maryland, Inc. is a community resource for activities, education, and training of young people.

Children's Playhouse of Maryland, Inc. (CPM) evolved from The Young People's Players (founded in 1986 by Diane Smith and other owners) and set up residence in The Towson Dinner Theatre in Towson, Maryland.  The young people's theatre was self-supporting and when the main theatre was closed in 2001, The Young People's Players changed names, (Children's Playhouse of MD) filed and received nonprofit status and moved to 6501 North Charles Street, on the grounds of Sheppard Pratt Health Systems in Towson, Maryland.  CPM rented office and auditorium space at this location. In November of 2004 CPM was offered and accepted a residency on the campus of CCBC Essex where they moved into a newly renovated performance space with new lighting and sound systems.  This is where CPM resides and performs today.

CPM also offers every six months, ten-week sessions in Theatre Acting Classes.  These classes are for children ages 4 to 15 years old. These classes are specifically designed for the age of the students and promote self-confidence, self- esteem, discipline, and cultivate skills.

CPM also holds a three-week, all day Performance Summer Camp where participants attend theatrical workshops in the morning and rehearse for a Broadway play in the afternoon.  The play is then presented at two public performances.

LOCAL PLAYWRIGHT TO BE PUBLISHED AND PRESENTED

Local playwright and actor Mark Scharf recently got word that his one-act plays MEMORY GARDEN (BPF 2006) and LIZARD BRAINS (BPF 1995) are being published in the People's Republic of China (in both Chinese and English) by the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press in Beijing – and will be performed by University students. They have a website: http://www.fltrp.com/en/important.htm

And, as if that weren't exciting enough, he learned that a monologue from his play THE MEAN REDS (BPF 1998) is being published in One on One: The Best Men's Monologues for the Twenty-First Century by Applause Books!

THIS JUST IN: Mark wrote to let me know his play THE WHISPERS OF SAINTS is a semi-finalist in this year's Eileen Heckart competition.  That competition honors playwrights and their plays that include significant roles for senior citizens.

Mark's latest play, LAST NIGHT AT THE OWL BAR will have its premiere as part of the Baltimore Playwrights Festival later this summer.

EVERYMAN WELCOMES THREE NEW COMPANY MEMBERS

From the beginning, Everyman Theatre's Resident Company of professional actors, directors, and designers have brought an extra dimension to the stage which is not found in theatres where actors work together for the first and often only time.  Everyman company members share a special intensity born of working together season after season. They know each other so well; they speak the same language (often shorthand) both in the rehearsal hall and on stage.  They know each other's strengths and weaknesses and can almost read each other's minds.  This intimate knowledge translates into layers of complexity and depth in performance.  Everyman Theatre company members often work regionally, sometimes nationally, yet live locally and are committed to supporting the theatre's artistic growth.   "Recent additions to our resident acting company continue to strengthen the quality of acting on our stage in many ways," remarks Artistic Director and Founder Vincent M. Lancisi.  "They continue to diversify the company with age, experience, and backgrounds."

Wil Love was seen last season as Sir Oliver Surface in The School for Scandal and during the 2005-06 season as Johnnypateenmike in The Cripple of Inishmaan. "Wil Love adds a lifetime of experience at theatres across the country to the acting company", says Mr. Lancisi.   "His great comic acumen and skill at finding the truth in comedy is extraordinary.  He is also a fine dramatic actor digging deep into roles that demand layers of text and subtext". He is the Associate Artistic Director of Pennsylvania's Totem Pole Playhouse where he has acted and directed in over 175 productions since 1971. Baltimore audiences may recognize him from over 30 productions at Center Stage spanning three decades. Other regional theatre credits include numerous productions with Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre, Actors' Theatre of Louisville, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Detroit's Meadow Brook Theatre, Buffalo's Studio Arena Theatre, Syracuse Stage, and the Seattle Repertory Theatre.  He has toured nationally twice with Jean Stapleton in George Kelly's  Daisy Mayme and The Show-Off.  Wil received his graduate degree in theatre from Wayne State University in Detroit while a member for four seasons with the Hilberry Classic Repertory.

"Carl Schurr brings to Everyman Theatre 40 years of experience at major regional theatres across the country.  "His great facility for language and style along with his dedication to searching for the truth on stage will bring a dynamic force to Everyman", says Lancisi. Carl Schurr was featured as Robert in the acclaimed 2004 production of Proof and last season as Sir Peter Teazle in The School for Scandal.  He is the Producing Artistic Director of Totem Pole Playhouse, Pennsylvania's prestigious summer theatre just west of Gettysburg, where he has directed and acted in over 100 productions since 1975.  Favorite roles embrace Chekhov in The Good Doctor (directed by Vincent Lancisi) to the infamous Prince of Darkness in Count Dracula.  Regional theatre has taken him to Detroit's Meadow Brook Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Syracuse Stage, Buffalo Studio Arena, St Louis and Kansas City Repertory Theatres and Long Wharf Theatre where roles varied from Garry in Present Laughter to Princess Grace in The Hostage.  Area premieres include Art at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre and Absent Friends in Los Angeles.  A graduate of the University of Michigan, Mr. Schurr has been a proud member of Actor's Equity Association since 1971.

Dawn Ursula appeared at Everyman as Alma in Yellowman and Nan Lowell in Light up the Sky. Of Ms. Ursula, Mr. Lancisi remarks, "Dawn shines like a bright beacon on the stage.  She has an innate ability to reach out to audiences and grab their hearts.  Other area credits include Margaret Little in The Velvet Sky and Rosetta in Starving, both at Woolly Mammoth.  She's also appeared in The African Continuum's Joe Turner's Come and Gone, True Colors Theatre Company's Flyin' West, Rep Stage's Anna Lucasta, Imagination Stage's Charlotte's Web and The Kennedy Center's Shear Madness. She will receive her MFA this summer from The Shakespeare Theatre's Academy For Classical Acting at the George Washington University, where she will be performing in Much Ado About Nothing as Margaret and 'Tis Pity She's a Whore as Hippolita.  Dawn appeared in HBO's The Wire as Mrs. "Bunny" Colvin and will appear in Woolly Mammoth's The Unmentionables this fall and the upcoming PBS Documentary Prince Among Slaves as Prince's wife Isabella.

Current resident acting company members include Megan Anderson, Deborah Hazlett (recently on stage at Everyman in Pinter's Betrayal), Rosemary Knower, Bruce R. Nelson, Vivienne Shub, and Stan Weiman.  Designers and Directors include Set Designer Daniel Ettinger, Sound Designer Chas Marsh, Lighting Designer Jay Herzog, Stage Manager Amanda Hall, and Artistic Director and Founder Vincent M. Lancisi.