Annapolis Theatre Project PAC

12/06/2022

Super HUGE Shout Out to our very own Lisa Hulse for her submission into the Orlando Fringe Festival!!!!

Stay tuned for more announcements including fundraising and auditions and other fun ways to follow our story as it unfolds.

05/20/2022

May 20 1984 Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine spend Sunday in the Park with George as their new musical opens on Broadway at the Booth Theatre. The show, which brings the famous Georges Seurat painting to life, stars Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters. It runs 604 performances, and wins the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

05/18/2022

May 18th 2003 the famous Les Misérables played its 6,680th and final performance on Broadway. It ended a 16 year long run, and for a time was the second longest running show in Broadway history.
The 2012 feature film made the already well known work a household name, even more than it had been before.
Do you have a favorite song, or character? Let us know!

05/13/2022

May 13 1954 The Pajama Game opens at the St. James Theatre. The score includes "Hey There," "Hernando's Hideaway," and "Steam Heat." George Abbott and Jerome Robbins direct, and Bob Fosse choreographs. It runs 1,063 performances, and wins five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

True love becoming complicated over a 7 1/2 cent pay raise at a pajama plant, resulting in a labor furor

05/11/2022

Today in 1959, Once Upon a Mattress opened off Broadway and then moved to Broadway shortly after. This hilarious fairy tale adaptation was based on Hans Christian Andersen’s Princess and the Pea. The original cast includes Carol Burnet, an obvious choice for a humorous musical like this. It still remains a popular choice for community theaters and high school drama departments.
Sound off if you’ve seen it!

05/10/2022

Today in theater history, a legend was born in 1899. Even if you’re not familiar with old movies, Broadway, or even dancing, you likely still know Fred Astaire. He entered show business at age 5, dancing alongside his sister. When she retired, he moved on to Hollywood, starring in movies and was active in recording and radio. He opened Fred Astaire Dance Studios in the mid 1940’s. Starring in musicals through the late 1950’s, he also added dramatic acting roles to his credit. Truly a talented man. Even passing at the age of 88 in 1987, it seems we lost him too soon.
What’s your favorite Fred Astaire role?

04/21/2022

1977 Tomorrow is today, as Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin's musical Annie opens on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre. Andrea McArdle stars as the young orphan whose "hard-knock life" turns from rags to riches when she meets tycoon Oliver Warbucks, played by Reid Shelton. The production garners Tony Awards for Best Musical as well as Best Actress for Dorothy Loudon who plays the warden-like Miss Hannigan.
Who else gets “Tomorrow” stuck in their head all day after hearing it just once?

04/20/2022

American Idiot debuted on Broadway in 2010. This musical based off of Green Day’s chart-topping album by the same name. The best kept secret of this musical is that it won two Tony Awards, not for acting and the performance, but for the technical designs. Scenic Design of Christine Jones and Lighting Design of Kevin Adams were the most talked about part of this musical. What is your favorite technical element from a show that you have seen? Tell us the best set, lights, sound, or projections you have seen in a stage production.

04/19/2022

In 1945, Rodgers and Hammerstein opened Carousel on Broadway. Widely revered for its amazing score and music, this show has not aged well in the twentieth century. Language, violence, and abuse factor heavily in the plot of the show which has precluded it from most community theatre and high school stages. If you get the chance, you should still listen to the beautifully written score and music. Perhaps a concert version of the show could be in our future.

04/18/2022

In 1994, the Walt Disney Company, under the leadership of Michael Eisner, ventured into avenues that it had never ventured before, Broadway. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York. Broadway and Disney were both in a slump and had waning views in their box offices and this partnership of Disney spectacle and magic mixed with the thrill and excitement of live performance was just the kick start that both needed to revitalize their industries. Have you been able to see one of these magical Disney shows on Broadway? Which is your favorite?

04/16/2022

On this day, Jesus Christ Superstar hit the Great White Way in 2000 with a revival. Historically Andrew Lloyd Weber hated the original Broadway production and the movie because it was not true to his vision as the playwright. His favorite revival was the arena tour in 2012 starring Tim Minchin in the role of Judas and Melanie C from Spice Girls fame in the role of Mary Magdalane. Our favorite Judas however is still Tony Vincent from the 2000 revival. He was nominated for an Outer Critics award for this role.

04/15/2022

Occasionally productions that begin Off-Broadway are so successful that they move to a full production house on Broadway. Such is the case with the musical Next to Normal that made the move to Broadway on this day back in 2009. This musical is unique for telling the story of a mother who is battling her worsening bipolar disorder and the effects this illness has on her family. Taking place in a “normal” suburban household, Next to Normal does not shy away from dealing with heavy subject matter such as su***de, drug abuse, depression, ethics in modern psychiatry, and grief. Ahead of winning three Tony awards, Next to Normal also won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2010, which made it the eighth musical to ever be honored this distinction.

04/14/2022

Today in 1960, Bye Bye Birdie premiers on Broadway. Many influences helped the playwright to write the book to this classic musical. Set in 1958, Bye Bye Birdie draws inspiration from Rock ‘n’ Roll legend Elvis Presley’s conscription into the Army in 1957. Many people don’t realize it, but one of Elvis’ Rock ‘n’ Roll rivals was Conway Twitty, most well known as a country music singer. The Rock star role in this musical was named “Conrad Birdie” as a play on words to Conway Twitty. Who knew?

04/13/2022

On this day in 1966, Barbra Streisand would reprise her role of F***y Brice in Funny Girl, on London’s West End. Streisand starred in the show until her own pregnancy forced her to drop out of the production allowing her understudy, Lisa Shane, to continue in the role until the show closed. In 1968, Streisand would once again reprise this role in the film adaptation opposite Omar Sharif. The film won Streisand an Academy Award for Best Actress and is still a beloved classic musical today.

04/12/2022

The Broadway revival of Bells are Ringing premiered on this day in 2001. Not all Broadway runs are glorious and wonderful, and this production is proof of that. This revival was fraught with mediocre reviews and ongoing hostility between producers and the cast and crew. Closing after just 68 performances, the 2001 revival was a shadow of its original splendor which ran for a total of 924 performances. It’s a good thing we have the 1960 film version to look back on which featured the original Tony Winning Judy Holliday reprising her role from the stage along side Dean Martin.
Have you ever seen a flop? Tell us the name of the show and why it flopped, but please no naming the theatre or specific creative team.

04/11/2022

This very special day in 1932, actor Joel Grey was born. The immensely talented Joel Grey almost held the coveted title of EGOT winner but was only nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and did not win. His Broadway career began in 1951 when he was a performer in Borscht Capades. At 89 years old Joel Grey doesn’t seem to be stepping away into retirement yet. His latest Broadway work saw him as Director of the entirely Yiddish production of Fiddler on the Roof in 2018. Help us celebrate this amazing actor, singer, comedian and director by sharing with us your favorite role he played!

04/10/2022

Friends and family, share our story and our page! Without you, we don’t have a chance.

Our fundraising is live and we still have a long way to go to get our doors open. If you know of anyone looking to invest in a brand new concept community theatre please share this page with them!

04/09/2022

In 1972 at the Majestic Theatre (current home of Phantom of the Opera) the musical Sugar opened on Broadway. This musical was based on the 1959 movie Some Like It Hot. Two musicians in Chicago, Jerry and Joe, witness the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre and are on the run from gangsters. What better place to hide except as women in an all-female band about to leave town for a Miami Beach engagement. Joe, known as Josephine, falls in love with the lead singer Ms. Sugar Kane who has her own sordid history when choosing romantic partners. Zany and outrageously funny, this musical is not as well known, but still a part of Broadway history!

04/07/2022

On this day in 1949, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific originally opened on Broadway. We featured the revival just a few days ago, but for those that missed our comment we would like to point out the song “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught.” Producers and investors urged Rodgers and Hammerstein to remove this song from the show saying it was too progressive for a New York audience. Hammerstein especially objected and threatened to leave the production if the song weren’t included. This gamble paid off and now we are blessed to have a musical that appeared in 1949 during the height of the Cold War teach audiences that racism is not ok, and indeed we all must “Be Carefully Taught!”

04/06/2022

On this day in 1990, Once On This Island premeried Off-Broadway. This enchanting tale of love and loss is a modern retelling of several fables. The uniqueness of this story is that it takes place on a Caribbean island. In the revival of this musical, Alex Newell played Asaka, the Goddess of Earth. Extremely talented, they perfectly embodied the gender neutral spirit of Earth, and received the praise of many critics. Once on This Island has a distinctive Caribbean beat and features a large POC ensemble. Look for this show to be one of our featured shows in an upcoming season!

04/05/2022

Amazing legend of both Broadway and the Silver Screen, actress Bette Davis was born on this day in 1908. Although she played many memorable and amazing roles, arguably the most infamous fact about this star was the feud between her and Joan Crawford. Both on stage and off, these two leading ladies would always try to compete in a Hollywood that loved to pit its female stars against one another for the tabloids.
What is your most memorable Bette Davis role?

04/04/2022

Two of the late, great Stephen Sondheim’s productions opened on Broadway on this day in 1971 and 2004. Follies tells the story of two unhappy couples reuniting in a crumbling Broadway theatre where they once starred in a past performance. Follies was nominated for 11 Tony Awards in 2007 and would go on to win 7. Assassins tells the story of several villains who all had one thing in common; they tried to murder a President. Originally opening Off-Broadway, the 2007 production is considered the revival and would go on to win 5 Tony Awards that year including Best Revival of a Musical!

04/03/2022

Today in 2008 the first revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific took to the stage of the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in New York City. Starring Kellie O’Hara and Paulo Szot, this revival also featured the debut of Hawaiian actress Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary. The Production ran for almost 1,000 performances and was recorded for PBS as part of the Live from Lincoln Center series.
I hope we got “Wash That Man” stuck in your head, because it has been running around ours all day!

04/02/2022

On this day in 1987 the revival of the Mikado opened at the Virginia Theatre in NYC. The Mikado features a story of the Emperor’s son, disguising himself as a simple minstrel to woo the beautiful Yum-Yum, but she is already betrothed to the High Executioner.

Have you ever dressed incognito as someone else? Share with us your photos of your favorite costumes!

04/01/2022

Today in 1943 Shubert's Zigfield Follies opened on Broadway. This fun and upbeat original musical ran for 553 performances on the Great White Way before closing on July 22 of the following year.

Original concepts have always been a hit on Broadway, and we here at HeART Productions encourage new and upcoming artists in all their endeavors. If you have a play, choreographed dance, or artistic piece please let us know! We would love to feature you as one of our "Artists to Watch!"

03/27/2022

https://www.world-theatre-day.org/worldtheatreday.html

World Theatre Day was initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute ITI. It is celebrated annually on the 27th March by ITI Centres and the international theatre community. Various national and international theatre events are organized to mark this occasion. One of the most important of....

03/12/2022

I’m writing this letter from the battlefield. It’s Wednesday—well, early Thursday now—of Tech week and the show I’m working on opens Friday. I’ve slept 8 hours in the past 3 days. The paint in my hair is at least a couple of days old and I haven’t changed my clothes in a week. I can’...

02/23/2022

It's Official!!!! Our Fundraising is LIVE!!!!
We are so excited to announce that we are at 85% of our goal to start the build out of our new facility. This is where we need you!!! Have you ever wanted to be part of the magic of theatre, have you ever wanted to leave a legacy for generations to come or just want to see your name in lights? Join our Founding Donors and Legacy Board. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.

02/23/2022

02/08/2022