How do you turn a 130-word book into a 60 minute theatrical production? Well, the folks at Adventure Theatre Musical Theater Center (ATMTC) have skillfully pulled this off in their current production of Goodnight Moon. The play is sprinkled with singing and dancing and the choreography by Michael Bobbitt is very imaginative. The creative cast of five (be aware the cast has two different casts in rotation), most of whom perform dual roles, have turned an age-old children’s classic into a stage production that is both suitable for all, and from the audiences’ warm response, was loved by all.

The set, designed by Deborah Wheatley, was visually rewarding and reminiscent of the book. The great green room was filled with its time-worn contents. There were some noteworthy additions namely a raincoat, rain boots, a headboard with a moon and stars, and to make the set feel more homey, the underside of the bunny’s bed was teeming with stuffed animals.

The main cast includes: the delightful bunny (Colin Cech and Jake Foster), the old lady who says hush (Anissa Hartline), and the mouse (Maya Brettel). Before the play started my eight-year-old wondered aloud “are they going to have cats in the play?” Her question was answered early on. The role of the kittens’ were played by the old lady’s inanimate cat slippers. Rounding out the cast are Dorena Schmidt as the cat who plays a mean fiddle, and Samuel Edgerly as a colorful, creative, tooth fairy, who recycles teeth.

The story takes place from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. and the audience is welcomed inside the great green room for a fun-filled zany hour. The audience is given cues as to the passage of time throughout the hour. The story opens as the old lady who says hush puts the bunny and the mouse to bed. They sing a lively goodnight song. The old lady states the familiar adage “sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite,” as she tucks in the bunny and the mouse. The audience squealed with apparent disgust. The bunny, not yet ready to go to bed, asks for a glass of water, and then feigns death as a result of thirst. It is apparent by the peals of laughter that rippled through the audience, that they found the bunny’s antics amusing, if not familiar.

The frolicking begins when the old lady leaves the room, presumably to get the bunny a glass of water. The bunny begins to play with his toys when the two pictures in the room come to life. The first picture is of a cow jumping over the moon, and the second is of the Three Little Bears.

The cow, named Clarabelle, begins to moo, and a rag-tag group of characters from the “Hey Diddle Diddle” nursery rhyme enter the room. There’s a cat with a fiddle, a little dog, and a girl with a spoon. The group breaks out into song and dance. They begin to encourage a reticent Clarabelle to jump over the moon.

The Three Little Bears leave their picture frame and rush to the stage. These aren’t your average bears. They are musical bears that sing, tap dance and play musical chairs in a most entertaining way. The bears also assist the bunny in some tooth pulling that ushers in the entrance of Lawrence (“you can call me Larry”) the tooth fairy. Larry has a unique use for the teeth he retrieves from underneath pillows. You will have to see the play to find out what it is.

In the end, the old lady returns, the foolery ends, and the bunny bids a good night to all- – including the moon.

ATMTC’s production of Goodnight Moon is a high energy, action-packed 60-minute musical that will delight all ages. It plays through October 27th.

Photo Gallery

Dorea Schmidt, Sam Edgerly, Anissa Hartline, and Colin Cech	Dorea Schmidt as the Star Princess
Anissa Hartline, Colin Cech, Dorea Schmidt, Sam Edgerly, and Maya Brettell	Anissa Hartline, Colin Cech, and Maya Brettell (2)
Dorea Schmidt, Anissa Hartline, Colin Cech, Sam Edgerly, and Maya Brettell	Dorea Schmit, Maya Brettell, Sam Edgerly, and Colin Cech
Sam Edgerly as the Tooth Fairy	Maya Brettell, Dorea Schmit, Sam Edgerly, and Colin Cech

Photos by Bruce Douglas

Cast (in Alphabetical Order)

• Bunny – Red Cast: Colin Cech
• Bunny – Green Cast: Jake Foster
• Mouse/Bear/Dish: Maya Brettell
• Old Lady Whispering Hush/Cow: Anissa Hartline
• Cat/Bear/Star Princess/Puppeteer: Dorea Schmidt
• Dog/Tooth Fairy/Bear/Puppeteer: Samuel Edgerly
• U/S – Old Lady/Cow/Cat/Bear/Star Princess/Puppeteer: Mary Beth Luckenbaugh
• U/S – Dog/Tooth Fairy/Bear/Puppeteer: Chris Rudy
• U/S – Mouse/Bear/Dish: Caroline Coleman

Production Crew

• Director: Roberta Gasbarre
• Director: Tyler Herman: Asst
• Music Director: William Yanesh
• Choreographer: Michael J: Bobbitt
• Set Designer: Deborah Wheatley
• Costume Designer: Frank Labovitz
• Props Designer: Andrea “Dre” Moore
• Puppet Designer: Matt Reckeweg
• Lighting Designer: Jedidiah Roe
• Sound Designer: Neil McFadden
• Stage Manager: Will Richardson
• Stage Manager: Ashley Chen: Asst
• Scenic Charge: Pallas Bane
• Master Electrician: John Rose-Caron

Disclaimer: Adventure Theatre MTC provided three complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat tells the misadventures involving a cat, a rainy day, two bored children, and a mother at work. Oh, and a talking fish. Sounds like a recipe for mayhem to me!

Sally (Jessica Shearer) and her brother (Tyler Herman) are on most occasions well-mannered and upstanding citizens. They seem to play together and interact as two children should. However on this day they are bored. Enter the Cat played by Rick Hammerly. The Cat makes a comically grand appearance, much to the delight of the young audience. With no thoughts toward malice, the crafty kitty stirs things up to the delight of the children. Well, at first anyway. The reality checker of the group is the Fish, played wonderfully by Alex Vernon. You quickly forget about the man behind the fishbowl and soon are locked into the fish’s antics as the Cat sends him on a scary journey around the house. The acrobatics were great as Thing 1 and Thing 2 (Lulu Knowles and Leah A Snow respectively) appeared on the stage. They really got things rolling (literally!). The gymnastics were thrilling. At times though it was almost too busy as they whirled and twirled around the room, knocking over things (and sometimes Things as well) and causing all kinds of mischief. Sally and her brother were desperately trying to keep their house together and the “Things” under control.

Once again it was Alex Vernon who brings everything into perspective when he announces that Mother is on her way home! Panic ensues as the children try to corral Thing 1 and Thing 2 and get the house in some sort of order, get rid of the Cat, calm the fish, and sit down to once again look bored. Quite a day it was!

Set Designer Luciana Stecconi created a believable stage that was bright and cheery, yet functional as well. The cats, as well as the “Things” were able to climb safely onto the bookshelves and other objects on the set. The colors were bright and the pictures were happy despite the dreary day. The final scene showed a mysterious grinning figure in the background who had you smiling.

The Cat in the Hat was a fun-filled afternoon that took your mind away from the cares of life for a bit.

Photo Gallery

Rick Hammerly as The Cat, Tyler Herman as the Boy, Jessica Shearer as Sally	Alex Vernon as The Fish, Rick Hammerly as The Cat
Julia (Lulu) Knowles as Thing 1 and Leah Show as Thing 2, Rick Hammerly as The Cat, Tyler Herman as the Boy, Alex Vernon as The Fish	Julia (Lulu) Knowles as Thing 1 and Leah Show as Thing 2, Tyler Herman as The Boy, Jessica Shearer as Sally
Rick Hammerly as The Cat, Julia (Lulu) Knowles as Thing 1 and Leah Show as Thing 2, Tyler Herman as The Boy and Jessica Shearer as Sally	Alex Vernon as The Fish
Rick Hammerly as The Cat, Alex Vernon as The Fish

Photos by Bruce Douglas

Cast

• Cat: Rick Hammerly
• Sally: Jessica Shearer
• Boy: Tyler Herman
• Fish: Alex Vernon
• Thing 1/Cat 1-Red Cast: Julia (Lulu) Knowles
• Thing 2/ Cat 2-Red Cast: Leah A Show
• Thing 1/Cat 1-Blue Cast: Alison Cenname
• Thing 2/ Cat 2-Blue Cast: Cassie Cope
• Thing 1/Cast 1-U/S: Cassie Cope
• Thing 2/Cat 2/U/S: Madison Reefe
• U/S Cat: Danny Pushkin
• U/S Sally: Karen O’Connell
• U/S Boy/ Fish: Philip da Costa

Production Team

• Director: Karin Abromatis
• Assistant Director: Adi Stein
• Composer: William Yanesh
• Set Designer: Luciana Stecconi
• Costume Designer: Kendra Rai
• Properties Designer: Andrea Dre Moore
• Puppet Designer: Eric Brooks
• Lighting Designer: Jason Aufdem-Brinke
• Sound Designer: Neil McFadden
• Stage Manager: Madeline Evans
• Scenic Charge: Pallas Bane
• Master Electrician: Sarah Mackowski
• Asst. Stage Manager/Production Associate: Julie Roederscheimer
• Asst. Stage Manager/SM Intern: Jen Grunfeld

Disclaimer: Adventure Theatre MTC provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

Big Nate is the world premier musical with book and lyrics by Jason Leowith, based on the comic strip “Big Nate,” by Lincoln Peirce, is the story of the many adventures of sixth grader Nate Wright and his friends Francis and Teddy and their rocking garage band Enslave the Mollusks. PS 38 is putting on a Battle of the Bands and Nate and his friends are sure to win. Except that Nate seems to struggle with CDS: Chronic Detention Syndrome. He can’t make it through a day without getting into trouble and the rules of the band contest say 25 detentions and the band will be disqualified. It’s a real nail-biter as Nate attempts to stay out of detention (no small feat) AND show his love Jenny how much she means to him.

The Wednesday afternoon group of school kids took their time warming up to the music and dancing going on on the stage, having been told probably that “theatre etiquette” requires no talking and sitting still in your seats. Everyone came to life when audience participation was required to pick the battle of the bands winner.

Nate Wright (Sam Ludwig) was full of energy and charisma, and was pretty close to what I had pictured in my mind Nate should be like. His big expressions and high energy kept the performance moving right along. Nate’s two friends and fellow Mollusks Francis (Joshua Dicks) and Teddy (David Little) stuck true to their friend and their band. The three made a strong team and seemed to get along well and were certainly comfortable around each other.

The Protagonist of the afternoon was Nate’s arch enemy Gina played by Angela Miller. Loud, bossy, when she entered a room you knew it. She and Nate squared their shoulders and the line was drawn in the sand from then on. The two went at it with much gnashing of teeth and fists raised. They probably would have made a cute couple if they could stand being in the same room for more than thirty seconds. The entire cast really meshed together well and were quite engaging. The choreography by Kate Arnold Wernick was upbeat and performed with much enthusiasm by the cast. The cast actually played multiple characters and Costume Designer Chelsey Schuller made colorful use of patterns and bright colors to make the costumes bright and upbeat. The set itself was very eye-catching with lots of bright spots, and clever projections enhanced the production.

A well-cast, well-executed, up-beat, high energy performance to be enjoyed by both the sixth-grader as well as the sixth-grader at heart.

Cast

• Jenny/Coach John/Galvinator#2: Shayna Blass
• Francis/Mrs. Hickson: Joshua Dick
• Ellen Wright/Mrs. Godfrey/Galvinator#3/Pickles: Ayanna Hardy
• Teddy/Ortiz/Mr. Galvin: David Little
• Nate Wright: Sam Ludwig
• Gina Hemphill — Toms/Mrs. Czerwicki/Galvinator#1: Angela Miller
• Artur Pashkov/Marty Wright/Mr. Staples/Spitsy/Calvin: Tim Rogan
• U/S Artur: Alex Alferov
• U/S Jenny/Ellen: Angeleaza Anderson
• U/S Gina: Erica Clare
• U/S Nate/Teddy: Philip Da Costa
• U/S Francis: Jay Garrick

Production Team

• Director: Michael Baron
• Book/Lyrics: Jason Loewith
• Lyrics/Orchestrations/Music Director/Composer: Christopher Youstra
• Choreographer: Kate Arnold Wernick
• Set Designer: Misha Kachman
• Assistant Set Designer: Sean Urbantke
• Costume Designer: Chelsey Schuller
• properties Designer: Andrea “Dre” Moore
• Lighting Designer: Jason Arnold
• Projections Designer: JJ Kaczynski
• Stage Manager: Tre Wheeler
• Sound Board Operator: Andrew Zimmer
• Scenic Artist: Steven Royal
• Master Electrician: Sarah Mackowski
• Asst. Stage Manager/Stage Management Intern: Madeleine Evans

Disclaimer: Adventure Theatre MTC provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

A Little House Christmas is based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. A look back at a simpler time with Ma, Pa, Mary and Laura one Christmas in Walnut Grove, MN. The family makes the best of a rising creek and the possibility that Santa Claus won’t make it to the Ingalls’ home in time for Christmas. So the determined youngsters decide to help out Santa with gifts of their own for Ma and Pa.

This was a delightful, heart-warming, well-performed production. Even though Adventure Theatre MTC’s shows are aimed at children, I could see it again, something I rarely say!

Robbie Gay as Pa Ingalls gave a stellar performance. He was engaging and focused on attempting to provide for his family despite the pitfalls nature sometimes brings. His scene of “falling in the creek” was made to look quite realistic as he returned to the stage fairly wet. Hyla Matthews as Ma played her part with strength and humor as she provided for the family with lots of good food and a firm hand when it came to trying to corral an energetic little girl named Laura (Katie Littleton). Along with older sister Mary (Maya Brettell) the two seemed comfortable on stage together and had an easy rapport that helped them overcome the possible lack of a Christmas. That and having to deal with Nellie Oleson (Caroline Coleman). Nellie was stuck up and enjoyed flaunting her money at “the Country Girls” as she calls them. Mary and Laura, though not rich by material standards, had more riches than Nellie and Mrs. Oleson (Stephanie Svec) when it came to heart and compassion.

Mr. Edwards (Danny Pushkin) was a likable fellow and risked his life and dry clothes to make sure that “Half Pint” and the rest of the Ingalls family had a merry Christmas. Even quiet Uncle George (Jonathan Feuer) could not help but come out of his shell after spending Christmas Eve dinner with the Ingalls family. His quiet unassuming ways were in stark contrast to Laura’s outgoing spirit. Put these characters together and you’ve got a wonderful story, free of sensationalism and materialism, a very different story from what you may be expecting.

Scenic Designer Jake K. Ewonus created a simple, gorgeous log cabin. It was rustic, yet comfortable with enough room to eat, sleep, and dance. What else was needed? One very cool effect was the rainstorm, visible through the cabin’s windows. The backdrop was wonderful, a nicely lit prairie. Kelsey Hunt’s costumes were perfect, showing the difference between the Olesons and the Ingalls; plus helped place the show in the 1870s.

Adventure Theatre MTC’s A Little House Christmas was a delightful story looking at a simpler, more challenging, and still happier time. Treat yourself and your children to this show this Christmas season.

Cast

• Pa Ingalls: Robbie Gay
• Ma Ingalls: Hyla Matthews
• Mrs. Olesen: Stephanie Svec
• Mr. Edwards: Danny Pushkin
• Uncle George: Jonathan Feuer
• Laura Ingalls: Katie Littleton
• Mary Ingalls: Maya Brettell
• Nelli Oleson: Caroline Coleman
• Male u/s: Michael Litchfield
• Youth u/s:Emma Sophie Moore
• Female u/s: Shea-Mikal Green

Production Crew

• Director/Choreographer: Serge Seiden
• Assistant Director: Jacob Janssen
• Scenic Designer: Jake K. Ewonus
• Costume Designer: Kelsey Hunt
• Lighting Designer: Sarah Tundermann
• Sound Designer: Kenny Neal
• Properties Designer: Andrea “Dre” Moore
• Stage Manager: Donna R. Stout
• Asst. Stage Manager/Production Associate: Julie Roedersheimer
• Scenic Artist: Sasha Goldstein
• Master Electrician: Sarah MacKowski
• Young Company Coordinator/Stage Management Intern: Madeline Evans
• Violin Performance: Jamie Sandel

Disclaimer: Adventure Theatre MTC provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

During this 6-week intensive, Broadway Dancer & Choreographer Parker Esse will gift aspiring musical theater dance students with specialized skills in creating artistry and character in dance, teach proper technique and execution through his famous choreography and provide invaluable audition and business advice stemming from his experience both from behind the table and as a professional Broadway performer and dancer. This is an intensive dance experience that is not to be missed! Limited enrollment. For Grades 6 – 12.Beginner Class: 5 – 6:45pm; Intermediate/Advanced Class: 7 – 8:45pm

More information can be found on the Musical Theater Master Classes website.

• Big, The Musical, September – October 2012 Schedule
• A Little House Christmas, November – December 2012 Schedule
• Winnie The Pooh, January – February 2013 Schedule
• Three Little Birds, March – April 2013 Schedule
• Big Nate, May – June 2013 Schedule
• Cat in the Hat, June – September 2013 Schedule

Schedule is subject to change due to performance rights conflicts or other issues.

Have you ever been to any sort of modern art exhibition where someone always comments loudly at a piece, “I can do that.” Or “My kid does that everyday.” The collected works of Laura Joffe Numeroff are like that, only she writes children’s stories. Numeroff internalized Dr. Suess’s The Cat in the Hat books and created her own series of chain of events books in the If you a ….a…. genre.

In the hands of director Jeremy Skidmore, Adventure Theatre’s If You Give a Moose a Muffin is a charming mashup of Dr. Suess and the original Blue’s Clues.

Young Donald (Parker Drown) is killing time in the living room watching cartoons and playing on his laptop while his mother is busy upstairs yelling instructions about chores downstairs to him and generally being an annoying parental voice. A news interruption announces that moose have migrated from the frozen north to Houston, Texas. Viewers should be on the lookout for moose. No sooner has Donald, the most annoying boy in school, commented that moose don’t live in Houston when the doorbell rings. How come in children’s books the children are never taught to not answer the door when one is alone?

In walks Mr. Moose (Michael Russotto), nattily dressed for business, with a petition for people to be nice to mooses….until Donald corrects his grammar and subjects the lot of us to a lengthy lesson on the proper terms for animal groups. I told you he was the most annoying boy in school. Moose makes himself comfortable and proceeds to foment household chaos around Donald who cannot resist Moose’s entreaties for muffins, toys and anything that strikes his fancy. Meanwhile Donald frets and imagines the troubles he’ll face if mother comes downstairs and sees the unholy mess in her living room. Mother starts coming and a rushed cleanup occurs and the door slams behind Mr. Moose as mother’s shadow appears. Show over.

Drown and Russotto, both accomplished actors, take these roles very seriously and acquit themselves well. The show is very charming for both adults and children. The set was imaginative and clever with enough color and whimsy to please a child and good design to impress an adult and no production values were downgraded or compromised because of the audience.

We are lucky to have such venues as Adventure Theatre as an alternative to electronic games and the Cartoon Network. The children all seemed to have loved this little show and the adults were not complaining either. What a fun idea…go to see the show and then take a whirl on the Carousel and get an Italian ice.

Photo Gallery

Photos provided by Adventure Theatre MTC

Cast

• Moose: Michael Russotto
• Donald: Parker Drown

Production Staff

• Director: Jeremy skidmore
• Scenic Designer: Luciana Stecconi
• Costume Designer: Erin Nugent
• Lighting Designer: Dan Covey
• Sound Designer and Composer: Elisheba Ittoop
• Properties Designer: Dee Moore
• Stage Manager: Bekah Wachenfeld
• Scenic Artist: Sasha Goldstein

Disclaimer: Adventure Theatre MTC provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

The combined entity, called Adventure Theatre MTC, unites award-winning theater productions with high-quality musical theater training and serves more of the D.C. Region and its young people.

“The combination would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication and support of the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, DLA Piper, Sam Sweet Consulting, Ellinport Consulting, LimeLeap Solutions, the Meltzer Group, Fixation Marketing, Brooks, the Harrison Company, PR Consultant Martin O’Donnell, both our boards of directors, and countless others,” said Adventure Theatre MTC Producing Artistic Director Michael J. Bobbitt. “It is the right step in the exciting evolution of these two entities.”

Adventure Theatre MTC continues all currently scheduled programs and performances from Adventure Theatre and Musical Theater Center through August 31, 2012 from their respective locations at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, Md. and Wintergreen Plaza, Rockville, Md. as it considers how best to invest in its future.

“The belief that our community and its young citizens deserve to experience excellent theater, whether they are seated in the audience or actively training to become professional musical theatre performers, is what the combined entity was formed on and it is what it will remain devoted,” said Bobbitt.

“We are committed to that belief,” said Musical Theater Center co-founder and Adventure Theatre MTC Artistic Associate Diane Hamilton. “That’s why the merger is such a natural fit.”

Adventure Theatre MTC projects it will entertain 75,000 patrons, educate 3,000 students, and provide outreach to over 20,000 community members annually.

The combined entity delayed announcement of its combination, which officially began on March 12, 2012, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of Adventure Theatre MTC today.

Adventure Theatre MTC’s next production will be Five Little Monkeys, opening on April 27th and closing on June 3rd.