2011 Season

ASGT is pleased to announce its 2011 season.

Chicago: The Musical

Thursdays through Sundays, May 26 through June 19, 2011

ASGT's 2011 season will open with "Chicago: The Musical." Last produced at ASGT in 1992, "Chicago" is a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz. Set in Prohibition-era Chicago, the story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice, and the concept of the "celebrity criminal." It features one show-stopping song after another and has been honored with 6 Tony Awards®, 2 Olivier Awards®, a Grammy® and thousands of standing ovations.

Whether you're looking for your first musical theatre experience, whether you've seen the Academy Award®-winning film and want to experience the show live on stage, or whether you've seen it before and want to recapture the magic, "Chicago" always delivers.

Music by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse.

The Marvelous Wonderettes

Thursdays through Sundays, June 30 through July 24, 2011

ASGT's 2011 season will continue with "The Marvelous Wonderettes" — a non-stop pop musical blast from the past.

Featuring your favorite songs from the '50s and '60s, "The Marvelous Wonderettes" takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom where we meet the Wonderettes — Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts and voices to match!

As we learn about their lives and loves, we are treated to the girls performing such classic 50’s and 60’s songs as "Lollipop,” "Dream Lover," "Stupid Cupid," "Lipstick on Your Collar," "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me," "It’s My Party," "It’s In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song)" and many more.

Hairspray

Thursdays through Sundays, August 4 through September 4, 2011

ASGT's 2011 season will close with the Baltimore-based musical "Hairspray."
It's 1962, and pleasantly plump Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire — to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show. When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star, but she must use her newly-found power to vanquish the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a TV network — all without denting her 'do!

Don't miss "Hairspray," Broadway’s musical-comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture and won eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. As The New York Times says, "If life were everything it should be, it would be more like HAIRSPRAY. It’s irresistible!"

Music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Based on the 1988 John Waters film "Hairspray."

2010 Season

Buddy The Buddy Holly Story

Thursdays through Sundays, August 5 through September 5

He changed the face of popular music. He launched dozens of super hits. He paved the way for Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and the “Stones,” all of whom pledge allegiance to him.

And, tragically, he inspired the magnificent anthem, "The Day the Music Died".

In a performance that will not allow you to sit still, Buddy portrays the incredible three year music career of one of rock ‘n roll’s most important pioneers – Buddy Holly. Killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959 at age 22 -- along with Ritchie Valens and “Big Bopper” J.P. Richardson -- Buddy Holly was just beginning the second “post-Crickets” phase of his incredible career.

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story begins in Lubbock, Texas, where Charles Hardin Holley developed his musical expertise and style, then hooked up with two schoolmates, Joe Mauldin and Jerry Allison, to form the Crickets and rocket to fame with the likes of Oh Boy, Not Fade Away, That’ll Be The Day and Peggy Sue. And it ends at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, where Buddy gave his last performance – while Robert Zimmerman sat in the front row.

More than 20 million people worldwide have experienced Buddy Holly's brief life is immortalized in this dynamically heart-pounding show.

Two talented people, both ASGT veterans, talked to us about bringing Buddy’s story to our stage. Melissa Huston was chosen to direct. Melissa showed us her talents last year as Production/Stage Manager of Smokey Joe’s Café and Stage Manager for Copacabana. A graduate of U-Md, she directed/stage managed several university productions. Bob Rude will serve as Consulting Director. Bob’s resume includes many regional acting and directing roles; he has a long history with ASGT and has regularly served as Prop Master over and over again.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Thursdays through Sundays, June 24 through July 25
(No performance July 4)
Please note: this performance is rated PG-13 as it contains adult themes and language.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee chronicles the experience of six adolescents – all played by adults -- vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime in a fictional event in Putnam County, New York.

And to make it more fun, not only do they compete against each other but against members of the audience as well!

“Spelling Bee” is an eccentric and unpredictable show about a charming group of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time. Where else would you find William Barfee’s “magic foot” spelling technique, Leaf Coneybear and his beautiful sister, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre with two overbearing dads, and Marcy Park, poster child for the Over-Achieving Asian – all in the same competition with two other equally dedicated contestants!

Three adults mange the proceedings: Moderator Rona Lisa Peretti, realtor and former Putnam County Spelling Bee champ; Judge Douglas Panch, high school vice principal with a quirky past; and "Comfort Counselor" Mitch Mahoney, an ex-con who is working the bee as part of his community service sentence.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is based upon C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, an original play by The Farm, a New York based improvisational comedy troupe. It was the recipient of 6 Tony nominations and winner of 2 Tony awards. Music and lyrics by William Finn, Book by Rachel Sheinkin, Conceived by Rebecca Feldman.

A proven director who is new to our theatre, Darnell Morris comes well recommended – and well experienced – to bring you our presentation of “Spelling Bee.” Darnell, from Kensington, MD, won a Ruby Griffith award for Kensington Arts with his direction of Pippin.

Frankie, Smudge, Sparky and Jinx are back!

SPECIAL LIMITED TIME ENGAGEMENT:
Thursdays through Sundays, May 27 through June 13

The lovable Plaids have been reincarnated once again. When they visited us in 2008, unforeseen circumstances forced their performance schedule to be shortened, much to the dismay of those who couldn’t get tickets and those who wanted to see it again. This hysterical story of four best buddies who were on the brink of fame when their lives were ironically cut short -- then got to come back for one last performance -- will have you not only laughing at their antics but singing pre-rock-‘n-roll standard after pop standard.

And here’s the best part: all four ASGT veteran stars will be reprising their roles: Nathan Bowen as Smudge, Peter Crews as Frankie, Trent Goldsmith as Sparky and Kyle Van Zandt as Jinx!

Jerry Vess is back to again direct the sensational hit from our 2008 season. Jerry is a long-timer with ASGT, both acting and being in full charge. In addition to “Plaid,” his most recent directorial successes in the Summer Garden have been Copacabana in 2009 and Cabaret in 2006. And that’s just the short list.

Past Memories

Re-live the memories of Smokey Joe's Cafe, Quilters: The Musical, and Copacabana in pictures!

Auditions

Are you the next break out star? For complete audition information, please visit our auditions page.

Performance Schedule

Curtain time for all performances is 8:30pm.
Each show has performances Thursday through Sunday.
If you have any questions, call the box office at 410-268-9212