Author Archives: pgtheater

Auditions for Shrek the Musical by 2nd Star Productions, Feb 3 & 5

Auditions for Shrek the Musical by 2nd Star Productions, Feb 3 & 5

2nd Star Productions at the Bowie Playhouse announces auditions for:
Shrek the Musical
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire
Based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig
Directed by Sami Peterson-Ferrell
Produced by Ashley Killam & Lauren Riley Sayles
Choreographed by Rosslyn Burrs
Music Directed by Willie Hadnot, Jr.

Audition dates: February 3 & 5, 2026

Performances: May 29 – June 27, 2026

Location: Laurel Mill Playhouse

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure, featuring all new songs from Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie; Caroline, or Change) and a sidesplitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire. Shrek brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there’s more to the story than meets the ears.

“Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek….” And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand… and his name is Shrek.

For more information, click here.

The Color Purple: A Fundraising Experience, at the Bowie CPA, Feb 1

The Color Purple: A Fundraising Experience, at the Bowie CPA, Feb 1

CenterStage Arts Alliance presents:
“The Color Purple” A Fundraising Experience
Director: Sherion Cosby
Choreographer: Shawn Cosby
Music Director: Juliet Lowery

Sunday, February 1, 2026, 3:00pm

Location: Bowie Center for the Performing Arts.

ONE NIGHT ONLY – Experience The Color Purple with BCPA and CSAA! A powerful fundraising event supporting community, arts, and impact. Help Us Reach Our $25,000 Goal and Transform Lives Through the Power of the Arts

Come join us for a mesmerizing performance of THE COLOR PURPLE at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts! Get ready to be swept away by the powerful story, incredible music, and talented cast. This in-person event promises to be a night to remember. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience!

An inspiring story of hope and resilience, The Color Purple follows Celie, a young woman in the American South, as she overcomes hardship, finds her voice, and discovers the power of love and sisterhood. With a soul-stirring score of gospel, blues, and jazz, this Tony Award-winning musical is a celebration of triumph over adversity and the beauty of the human spirit.

Tickets: $45. Click here.

Experimental Performance Series at the Clarice, Jan 31

Experimental Performance Series at the Clarice, Jan 31

UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies presents:
Experimental Performance Series

#3:
Sat, Jan. 31, 2026 | 2:00 pm
Sat, Jan. 31, 2026 | 7:30 pm

Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

The Experimental Performance Series is a collection of self-produced works from undergraduate and graduate students in theatre and dance, ranging from established works to brand new plays and choreography.

This performance will feature two original works:

Muse In Motion, choreographed by Shayla Johnson, begins with a message that sets the tone. The message focuses on the questions often placed on woman—questions that may not always be direct, but are layered and imposed in subtle ways. When listening to the message, it feels like a story of love lost. The choreographer chose to keep the message as it is, but reinterpret its meaning. She now sees it as a long-lost love being narrated—something remembered and spoken about, rather than something actively lived through.

Magdalene, choreographed by Tori Uleck and dancers, is a dance and sound piece exploring the idea of where we find comfort as we grow. It exists in the conversation of holding on to external anchors versus feeling grounded in oneself.

Free, no tickets required. Click here.

Tags: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park Maryland, Experimental Performance Series, Shayla Johnson, Tori Uleck

Romeo and Juliet a comedy at the Greenbelt Arts Center, Jan 30-Feb 7

Romeo and Juliet a comedy at the Greenbelt Arts Center, Jan 30-Feb 7

The Rude Mechanicals in residence at Greenbelt Arts Center presents:
Romeo and Juliet, a comedy
by Lope de Vega
directed by Liana Olear

January 30 – February 7, 2026
Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM
Sunday, February 1st at 2PM – mask required*
Wednesday, February 4th at 8PM is Pay What You Will

Location: Greenbelt Arts Center

Contemporary with Shakespeare’s famous work and based on the same older story, Lope de Vega’s hilarious twist on the star-crossed lovers offers plenty of laughs to anyone who might have ever wished Romeo and Juliet a happier ending.

Tickets: $24 General Admission, $22 Seniors/Military, $12 Student/Youth. Buy tickets here.

The Boy Who Grew Too Fast at the Clarice, Jan 30

The Boy Who Grew Too Fast at the Clarice, Jan 30

Operaterps presents:
Gian-Carlo Menotti’s “The Boy Who Grew Too Fast”

Fri, Jan. 30, 2026 | 7:00 PM

Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. and Online livestream.

Audience Advisory: The Boy Who Grew Too Fast deals with themes of gun violence.

The UMD School of Music’s student-led opera company, OperaTerps, presents Gian-Carlo Menotti’s The Boy Who Grew Too Fast. A tale of highlighting the value of originality and being unafraid to be one’s true self, this single-act opera tells the story of an immensely tall nine-year-old and his desires to fit in. This event includes a post-performance discussion in partnership with PROGRESS, a campus organization focused on preventing gun violence, to both contextualize the work and offer a contemporary perspective on the story and its cartoonish representation of a prominent lived reality.

Tickets: Free, no tickets required. Also livestreamed. Click here.