Pickle My Monkey at the MET

Pickle My Monkey is a new play created by The Maryland Ensemble Theatre in Frederick, Maryland. The original comedy is enjoying it's world premiere outing. It has sex, drugs and rock and roll! If that isn't enough I will throw in a talking pickled monkey and lizard man. The show got a bit wacky but it also brought a lot of laughs. You can read my review here.

You really have to give the theatre kudos for being a theatre where members can experiment and create new plays. They also produce some other daring works, some classics and have a wonderful assortment of theatre. This play really highlights the theatre's creativity and willingness to be daring!

The blog has been slow this week, since my household has been dealing with all kinds of itches...(mosquitoes, spiders, and poison ivy oh, my)

Since this post is kind of short here is a video of Kix performing "The Itch" (Kix, by the way is from this area so it kind of fits)

A to Z: Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland is a strange story and it is a bit strange that every time I have seen it the show has been different. Every movie version I have seen it different. Every theatrical performance has been different too!

In November of 2011 I reviewed The Greenbelt Arts Center's production of Alice in Wonderland. In 2012 they brought that show to the Capital Fringe Festival. You can read my review here. Lauren Katz reviewed the Fringe version here. The show was an avent-garde version of the book.

Friday night I reviewed Other Voices production of The New Adventures of Alice in Wonderland. My five year old daughter loved both performances by the way. This production was much bigger, with a bigger cast, including lots of dancers, teenagers, kids, and experienced actors. The show was longer too. You can read my review here. The theatre was different as well which you would expect between Greenbelt and Frederick. The Greenbelt show was in a smaller studio theatre while the Frederick show was in the larger, historic Weinberg Center for the Arts.

Like I said the movie versions have been different too. Here is the trailor for the orginal 1951 movie...

Here is the Trailor for Tim Burton's version..

Well it is April and once again I am participationg in the A to Z: Blog Challenge. I was going to do this post yesterday but I wasn't home enough to do it. Well thanks for stopping bye. This moonth should be a wild ride as we mix of the content a bit more for the challenge.

Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson

I'm going to be writing a lot this week. Most of it is sports related. Since, I have already blogged about football and baseball this week I thought I would break it up a bit and write about a musical I reviewed. I found out the lead role lost his voice and the show didn't have an understudy. So, I was expecting the worst but I was pleasantly surprised and treated to a stellar performance of Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre in Frederick, Maryland. You can read my full review here.

Here is a bit of the opening number as done on the Broadway Production...

It poortrays Andrew Jackson in a EMO rock star style. It is not politically correct, sometimes offensive, but interesting, entertaining, thought provoking fun time!

I'll be back soon with another post about something different.what? I am not sure yet.

39 Steps at the MET

Saturday I had the chance to go see the Maryland Ensemble Theatre's production of 39 Steps in Frederick. It was nice to see a show and not have to write a review about it. Don't get me wrong I like writing reviews but it is still nice not too.

Anyway it was a great show. Here is Amanda Gunther's review of the show. As I play it forward a bit and spotlight another writers review. Here is a teaser for the show from YouTube...

Well I have a busy weekend ahead writing about comedy, a play, and football so stayed tuned more blog posts will be coming soon!

Robin Hood with a Twist

Add a rock band and a few songs to Robin Hood. Update it to represent the Occupy Movement and the 99%. Take some daring chances and you have lively, current theater with a classic twist. That is exactly what the MET did with their production and you can read my review here.

Here is the promo for the show:

Here is a bit of a teaser:

A local World Premiere from a local theatre company working with Frederick Community College and Hood College. I suppose this is what community theatre is all about.

California Guitar Trio

It is no secret I like watching the California Guitar Trio. I have seen them three times now. Each time they were playing a concert where the proceeds went to Advocates for Homeless Families in the area. I love the fact they take time to play a gig for a worthwhile charity.

I love their version of this tune even though they scratched it from the playlist:

Well the third time was a charm because I finally wrote a review of one of their shows. You can read my review here. Here is a picture from the show my editor didn't use but I will share it.

Here the trio performs something a bit more classical...

Well it has been a long day, but I will be back with another blog soon,,,

Musicians Who Care

I know of two benefit concerts going on today. I am going to one that is a half hour away from me instead of the one that is 5-6 hours away. However, I will blog about both of them today.

Tonight at All Saints Episcopal; Church in downtown Frederick, the California Guitar Trio are performing. Doors open at 7:30 concert starts at 8. Tickets are $20 and can be ordered here. The best part, all proceeds go to benefit Advocates for Homeless Families. I have done a lot of volunteering for various shelters and helping the homeless is a cause dear to my heart. I also love great guitar playing. So this is a must see show for me.

Here they are with a special guest:

Okay when you think of big time Country Concerts or big concerts of any kind Bluefield, West Virginia does not come to mind. However, maybe it should. The Second Chance Rocks The Two Virginias is putting on another epic show.

Folk Soul Revival is the lucky special guest:

Then it is Lee Brice:

Jake Owen:

and Eric Church:

For tickets and moire information on this wonderful cause check out the website here. But hurry gates open at 4PM tonight!

Yoni Gras

Last week was a good week for me, live music three nights can't be bad. One was the Martina McBride show. The other was Yoni Gras 2012. It was a neat concept. I live a local theatre, the Maryland Ensemble Theatre in Frederick, Maryland hosting two nights of live music to promote local, independent bands. I think it is a win, win. The bands get exposure, the MET has something going on for two nights during their off season.

It did turn me on to a couple of local bands that I want to see again. Some were not exactly my cup of tea. However, I like the idea of a place bands can show off their creativity. You can read my review here. If you were there please feel free to leave your opinion on the show. I must admit the show did make me feel kind of old. I think I was the oldest one there except for some of the band members parents.

Here are some samples of some of the music...

Here is Holy MTN a synth driven band, that had a 80's retro sound...

More from the show Silent Old Mountain...

More here is Old Indian..I really liked them, blues driven hard rock, and very loud!

The second night was quite different with Honeyhound, Violet Overnight and Adrienne and the Merrylanders.

Just trying to share some more, I couldn't find any clips of night two. However, the first night is well represented on youtube. I'll be back soon with another post..

American Buffalo

In late October I reviewed "American Buffalo" at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre. I picked the right night to review it, since we evacuated are home due to the freak snow storm to stay at a Frederick Hotel. It was not so much the snow but the lack of power and wanting to keep the family warm that created the hotel stay.

Any way "American Buffalo" is playing through November 20th. You can read my review here which also has ticket information. If you go beware it is Mamet so there will be some colorful language featuring quite a few f-bombs and s-bombs to name a few.

It might be community theatre but the MET always has great acting. This production features a guest in Jeff Keilholtz as Teach. I probably didn't mention enough about him in my review. Jeff is based out of New York and has appeared in off-Broadway productions, films, and one of my favorite television shows "The Sopranos." He played the role of the Party Doctor in two episodes back in 2006.

Tad Janes the theatre's artistic director performs as the shopkeeper Donny and Bobby was played by Clayton Myers making the cast of three really incredible. Check it out if the language does not offend.

The Vendyrs

I haven't plugged one of my articles in a while. However, I wrote a review of The Vendyrs debut concert. It was for a charity event I was at. The band is a band of college age kids, who have a pretty tight musical feel to them. They have a 90s grunge feel to them. However, there music really does rock. I like what I heard from them you can read my review here.

They were great, playing for a great cause and were really nice guys. So, if your looking for a band in the Washington, DC area, Frederick, Maryland area The Vendyrs are worth a listen.