Ross Scott Rawlings News

Are you looking for a rollicking good cabaret show and a hearty meal? Are you in the mood for a musical history lesson? How about both? Toby's in Columbia presents AIN'T MISBEHAVIN,' The Fats Waller Musical Show through November 4th, and you should sit right down and buy yourself a ticket.

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.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUSICAL is packed with horrifying puns, die-laughing comedy, frightfully fabulous wigs, knock-em-dead singing and every iconic line you loved from the movie- Get tickets now to see it through Marc 11 at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia and avoid horrified screams of disappointment.

The nominees for the 2018 Helen Hayes Awards were announced on February 5, 2018. One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. The National Theatre's Helen Hayes Gallery set the scene for the announcement of nominees in 47 categories for artistic excellence, and the theatre companies eligible for the 2017 John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company. The recipient of the 2018 Helen Hayes Tribute will be announced shortly.

In celebration of Columbia's 50th year, Toby Orenstein, Artistic Director of Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia, rotates one powerhouse leading lady per decade into the well-written Narrator role of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. Toby Orenstein and co-director Mark Minnick put together a fun, energetic production. Add new arrangements and musical direction by Ross Scott Rawlings, and the resulting show is engaging, sassy, funny, family-friendly and stuffed with talking points for the car ride home.

Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia, in celebration of Columbia's 50th anniversary and its own 45th presents JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, gathering a beautiful assemblage of multi-cultural, multi-talented performers who shine in this unserious collage of an Andrew Lloyd Webber/ Tim Rice Old Testament crazy-quilt favorite.

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.

On Saturday, March 25, nearly 475 business and arts leaders were on hand for the Howard County Arts Council's 20th Annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County.

The Howard County Arts Council has announced the guest performers for the 20th annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County gala.

Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia, MD presents SHOW BOAT, an old-fashioned treasure of musical theatre history, complete with troubling ethical issues, a cast packed with talent, vintage choreography, a fashion parade of costuming and vocals that will alternately haunt you and have you humming. Including a tasty buffet meal pre-show, comfortable venue and impeccably congenial staff, an outing to Toby's is the complete package for a date or family fun day.

You loved her as Felicia in Toby's production of Memphis and now she is back, rockin' the rafters from now through November 13th in Sister Act! Ashley Johnson returns to the Toby's stage as Deloris in the feel-good musical comedy smash based on the hit 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg that has audiences jumping to their feet! Scroll down for a first look at Johnson and company in action below!

You loved her as Felicia in Toby's production of Memphis and now she is back, rockin' the rafters from September 8th thru November 13th in Sister Act! Ashley Johnson returns to the Toby's stage as Deloris in the feel-good musical comedy smash based on the hit 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg that has audiences jumping to their feet!

The Howard County Arts Council, celebrating 35 years of fostering the arts, is pleased to announce the guest performers for the 19th annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County gala. Featured this year are: Full Circle Dance Company and accompanist Ross Scott Rawlings. You can catch them, along with the ten finalists in the Arts Council's Rising Star Competition, at the Celebration gala on March 19, 2016 at 8 p.m. Emcee for the event is Richard W. Story, Senior Vice President, Community Relations and Government Affairs, and Business Development Liaison for Howard Bank.

Superb cast at Toby's is not to be missed.

Tonight before a crowd of 1,200 theatre-makers and theatre-lovers at the historic Lincoln Theatre, theatreWashington celebrated excellence on Washington stages at the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards. The awards celebration was a night of excitement and surprise as 57 Washington theatre artists, theatres, and ensembles received honors in 47 categories for their outstanding accomplishments during the 2014 theatre season. Scroll down for the full list of winners!

One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. theatreWashington will host The 2015 Helen Hayes Awards ceremony tonight, April 6, 2015 at the historic Lincoln Theatre.

Tonight before a crowd of 150 theatre makers and theatre lovers, theatreWashington announced the nominees for the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards. One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. Watch the full announcement below, and scroll down for the list of nominees!