Strange magic: Xanadu at Toby’s Theatre
At first glance, the idea of basing a Broadway musical on a film that inspired the creation of the Razzies — the anti-Oscars given each year to the year’s worst movies — might not seem too bright.Xanadu, Olivia Newton-John’s follow-up to her star turn in Grease, was vilified by the critics, and if you’ve ever seen it, you likely understand why. A Greek goddess... READ MORE
Betty White writes about life, love, career
A few Betty White turn-ons:She likes a cocktail before dinner and a weekly poker night. She has a taste for french fries and hot-dogs, and a jones for crossword puzzles. And, in service to her passion as a writer, reams of lined notebook paper really get her going.Indeed, White has written a new book, If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t). It’s a chipper, hop-scotching... READ MORE
Oz witches weave a wickedly good spell
Still afraid of the flying monkeys? Does the memory of Margaret Hamilton’s cackle as the Wicked Witch of the West still give you the creeps?Here’s the chance to undo those horrors, to see the magical land of Oz in an entirely new (though still green-tinged) light. The Kennedy Center has brought back to the Opera House the Grammy and Tony Award-winning musical Wicked, “the... READ MORE
Helping others brings recognition from Oprah
When Joanie Reisfeld was pregnant more than 20 years ago, she had to endure complete bed rest for two and a half months until her son Zach was born at 30 weeks, weighing just 2 lb., 10 oz. It was a period of tremendous emotional and physical stress.So in 1993, the veteran teacher of blind children and part–time realtor founded Better BedRest, Inc., an advocacy, public awareness... READ MORE
Get your fill of live theatre this summer
While many area theaters are dark for the summer, there are still opportunities for you to get your fill of comedy, drama and musicals over the next several months.Here are a few local and regional offerings that are worth considering.In our own backyardBaltimore’s Run of the Mill Theater will present BMORE 1-ACTS, a collection of four one-act plays by local authors.Henry’s... READ MORE
Sondheim’s Follies needs a patient audience
First the good news about Follies, the potentially Broadway-bound Kennedy Center revival of Stephen Sondheim’s 1971 musical: the music sounds magnificent. A 28-piece orchestra, almost unheard-of these days, robustly plays Jonathan Tunick’s original orchestrations of Sondheim’s charming score.That music, by the way, won Sondheim the Tony Award for Best Original Score,... READ MORE
Contemporary black women artists showcased
Reflections of family traditions and African heritage are explored in the works of eight black women artists being showcased in the special exhibition, “Material Girls: Contemporary Black Women Artists,” on view at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum through Oct. 16.Thirty-eight three-dimensional works of art celebrate the traditions of skill, innovation and creativity practiced by... READ MORE
This summer’s top 10 Charm City events
Once you get past the heat and humidity, there’s lots to like about summertime in Baltimore. Here are some of our favorites:1. The Preakness. This year’s 136th running of the Preakness — the second jewel in horse racing’s Triple Crown — will be held Saturday, May 21, at Pimlico Race Course.For a behind-the-scenes look during the days before the race, experience ... READ MORE
A comic send-up of mysteries and critics
With The Real Inspector Hound, celebrated playwright Tom Stoppard has either crafted an incisive deconstruction of society’s sense of order and individual identity or, perhaps, just whipped together a sometimes funny lampoon of hidebound murder mysteries. You can judge for yourself, as performances of the 1968 work continue through most of May at Alexandria’s MetroStage. Oh, by... READ MORE
Kathleen Turner’s recent roles are divine
Kathleen Turner is as confused as anyone about the heavenly detour her roles have taken lately.She’s making her first appearance as a Roman Catholic nun in the play High, which opened last month on Broadway. And, in a divine bit of coincidence, the actress best known for Body Heat and Romancing the Stone also stars as a suburban mom striving to be named Catholic Woman of the Year in a ... READ MORE
