More Theatre...

Last weekend I watched two plays as I tried to balance my folks being in town and my wife's mom being in town. Yes it was a crazy weekend.

The first play I saw was The Greenbelt Arts Center production of "Alice and Wonderland." It was a solid production but it put art ahead of the story which was daring and creative. You can read my full review here. I really enjoyed Liz Cassedy as Alice, Ronda Anstead as the Cheshire Cat and others, and of course the Mad Hatter Ryan Willis.

Then on Saturday I watched the Olney Theatre's production of "The Sound of Music." I thought after watching this production it could hang with any Broadway version or National Touring production. They really do incredible work there. You can read my review here. It was neat to see Maggie Donovan shine playing a teenage child in the production. I raved about her performance in a completely different role. She was wonderful in "The Last Five Years." You can read that review here. It is neat to run into these talented actors and actresses in different productions.

I had nothing scheduled at the beginning of November and ended up covering three plays and I have one more to go on Sunday to bring up the total to four. So stay tuned there will be more...

The Last Five Years

If you are anywhere near the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. and you like great musicals you should check out The Last Five Years playing at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg. It is being produced by the Kensington Arts Theatre. I was expecting less and I was pleasantly surprised.

Two lead characters and a piano player produce a great musical. You can read my review here. Ryan Burke was as advertised, he can sing and he can work a lead role. Maggie Donovan can sing too, and she was wonderful.

Here is one of the original cast members performing a song with the play-write and composer Jason Robert Brown to give you a taste of the musical.