The Outsiders Opens this Weekend!

Our 33rd Season Continues with a Literary and Cinema Classic

The Cumberland Theatre continues its 33rd Season this weekend with The Outsiders, a play based on the book and film of the same name. Written by S.E. Hinton, when she was just sixteen years old, the story has become a staple in high school reading programs and remains one of the most popular contemporary classics of the 20th century. In 1983, it was made into a feature film directed by Francis Ford Coppola with an all-star cast that included Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe and Ralph Macchio.

Set in 1965, the story focuses on fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, the youngest of three orphaned brothers who live on the "wrong side" of the tracks. He knows that he can count on his brothers, Darry and Sodapop. And he knows that he can count on his friends—true friends who would do anything for him. But not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a gang of rich kids whose idea of a good time is beating up on “greasers” like Ponyboy. An incident occurs one night when someone takes things too far causing lives being threatened and forever changed. The Greasers and the Socs agree to a rumble to settle things once and for all. The show’s themes include loyalty, enduring friendship, bullying, and overcoming stereotypes.

From the top: Jace Courrier, Reed Lancaster, Sky Nelson, Dante Santos, Donny Ness, Hayden Shoemaker-Davis, Jacob Hale

Appearing in the role of Ponyboy will be local actor Jace Courrier who was last seen on the CT stage as the Mayor of the Munchkin City in the 2016 production of The Wizard of Oz. He is a tenth grader at Keyser High School. Starring as the other two Curtis brothers and making their first appearances at CT will be Reed Lancaster as Darry and Sky Nelson as Sodapop. Lancaster is a graduate of Northwestern University and currently resides in New York City. Recent credits include the Raven Theatre’s Chicago premiere of Yen (Hench) and The Tank Theatre’s production of The Prisoners of Qua Dong (Cowley). Nelson also resides in New York and is a graduate of the University of Portland. He has been seen most recently in November Theatre's North American premier of Pancake Day (Matty), in Charlie Manoukian's award-winning short comedy Walk (Skid), and in Peter Chapman's film A Kept Boy (Jason).

Dante Santos will be portray Dallas Winston. Santos is a native of Las Vegas where he attended the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts. Other members of the Greasers will be acted by Donny Ness (Johnny), Hayden Shoemaker-Davis (Steve) and Jacob Hale (Two-Bit). Ness is a local actor who has been seen in community theatre productions The Addams Family, Willy Wonka and Oliver! in which he played the titular role. Shoemaker-Davis is currently a theatre student at Frostburg State University and has appeared recently at the Indie on Main and Embassy Theatre. Hale has recently appeared at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre and, recently, at Toby’s Dinner Theatre as Flounder in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

Featured in supporting roles are local actors Emily Snyder as Cherry Valance, Bredon Eric McCabe as Randy, Connor McCabe as Bob Sheldon, Ava Breighner as Marcia, and Madilyn McManaway as Sandy. Snyder, McCabe and McCabe were last seen in CT Stars of Tomorrow Youth Productions. Snyder as Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and the McCabes as Toad and Frog in A Year with Frog and Toad. Breighner last appeared as Karen in Night of the Living Dead and McManaway is making her CT debut.

The cast also includes Tim Bambara, Emily Haworth, Ebony Gennes, Brian Records, John McConnell, Brett Reel, Sawyer Jenkins, Justice Courrier, and Trevor McCabe.

The Outsiders is being directed by Seth Thompson with set, light and sound design by Rhett Wolford, fight direction by Darrell Rushton and costume design by Jennifer Clark. Kimberli Rowley is serving as the stage manager with assistance from Ebony Gennes.

The show is being sponsored in part by Chessie Federal Credit Union and performed, in cooperation with Dramatic Publishing, September 2nd – 12th with Thursday – Saturday performances at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Group rates are available by emailing kim@cumberlandtheatre.com. The show runs approximately two hours and includes mild language and violence. Parental discretion is encouraged.

Masks will be required for all audience members during the show and while moving throughout the building. Tickets are available by call the theatre at 301.759.4990 or online at www.cumberlandtheatre.com. The VIP Star Box, which includes balcony seating, food and beverages for eight people is also available to book online.

Moonlight and Magnolias up next at CT

The Cumberland Theatre continues its 33rd Season of live entertainment this weekend with the comedy Moonlight and Magnolias. The play is based on the Hollywood legend of the making of the classic film Gone With the Wind, in which the producer, David O. Selznick, quarantines the screenwriter, Ben Hecht, and director, Victor Fleming, in his office to write the entire screen play in only five days on a diet of bananas and peanuts.

Set in 1939, the script includes many pop culture references of the time including Judy Garland’s infamous slap in The Wizard of Oz, Vivian Leigh’s relationship with Lawrence Olivier and Clark Gable’s extracurricular activities off-set. The show runs under two hours and includes a 15 minute intermission.

The show is being directed by CT Co-Artistic Director, Kimberli Rowley and features the acting talents of Sam Little (David O. Selznick), Bill Dennison (Ben Hecht), and Seth Thompson (Victor Fleming). Rowley also makes a cameo appearance as Selznick’s frazzled secretary, Miss Poppengahl.

Sam Little last appeared with the Cumberland Theatre as Oberon/Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, for which he also served as director. He also directed the 2019 CT production of Dracula. He spent most of his performance career in Orlando, Fl. where he was seen regularly at venues such as Universal Studios, Pirates Dinner Adventure, the Orlando Repertory Theatre and the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre. Currently, he resides in Hagerstown where he serves as the Artistic Director of Maryland Entertainment Group.

Bill Dennison was last seen on the CT stage in 2016 in Every Christmas Story Ever Told and has also appeared in Little Shop of Horrors, The 39 Steps and and Beau Jest. A Cumberland native, Dennison currently resides in Baltimore where he has taught Acting, Shakespeare, Physical Comedy, and Stage Combat to schools in Baltimore and Annapolis. He is a former company member of The Annapolis Shakespeare Company, and is a current member of The Theatrical Response Team and D.C. Actors' Workshop.

Seth Thompson is returning for his third CT production having appeared in American Son, The House of Yes and A Midsummer Night’s Dream this past year. He began his acting career in Hagerstown, MD with Authentic Community Theatre. Since then, he has worked at the Washington County Playhouse and The Totem Pole Playhouse. He also served as Production Manager for Maryland Entertainment Group where he worked in various capacities for 4 years.

The creative staff for Moonlight and Magnolias also includes CT Co-Artistic Director, Rhett Wolford (set and sound design), Jennifer Clark (costume design), Matthew Georgeson (lighting design), Little (fight director), Bekah Brown (stage manager) and Hayden Kline (assistant stage manager).

The show runs August 5th – 15th with performances Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available at www.cumberlandtheatre.com or by calling 301.759.4990. Group rates are available for parties of 20 or more.

Johnny Cash’s Songbook Comes to the CT Stage!

The Cumberland Theatre continues its 33rd season this weekend with the opening of the juke box musical Ring of Fire. A biographical musical revue, the show tells the story of Johnny Cash through award-winning music. More than two dozen classic hits —including “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and the title song — performed by a multi-talented cast, paint a musical portrait of The Man in Black that is appropriate for all ages.

The cast features a blend of local stage veterans, returning guest performers and actors making their CT debut performances. Returning to the stage following their recent performances in Shakespeare in the Park: A Midsummer Night’s Dream are Adam Marino and Alexandra Shephard. Marino is a native of Rochester, NY and has performed in various regional productions, theme parks, cruises and concerts. He also serves as a tenor for the 1950's doo wop rock group The Diamonds. Shephard is originally from Williamsburg, VA and has appeared in theatres and theme park shows throughout the east coast. She currently resides in New York City.

Also returning to the Cumberland Theatre is Kai B. White who now resides in Virginia Beach, VA. She was last seen on the CT stage as Dionne in Hair. Since then, she has worked as lounge singer/performer at The Greenbrier Resort, a mainstage singer with Disney Cruise Lines, and several theatres throughout the region.

Local performers Hayden Kline and Mikayla Dodge are making their return to the local stage. Kline was last seen in the April production of The Great Gatsby and has also speared as Tommy Ross in Carrie the Musical and Wolfe in Hair. Dodge has graced the CT stage in Little Shop of Horrors, Young Frankenstein and, most recently, as Abigail Adams in 1776.

Frostburg native Matthew Clark joins the cast after last year’s Assassins the Musical in which he played John Hinkley. He has also recently worked with West Virginia Public Theatre, Great Plains Theatre and the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.

Making their Cumberland Theatre debuts are Allie Tamburello, Thomas-Matthew Elijah Shands, Shane Lynn and Lillia Rose. Tamburello is a singer-songwriter and musician who was born and raised in New York. She holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre from Cortland State University and is a proud alum of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting’s professional conservatory program. Shands is originally from The Poconos of Pennsylvania and now calls East Orange, NJ home. He has recently appeared in shows with the Shoestring Theatre Company and Cocoa Village Playhouse. Lynn was born in North Carolina and raised in Michigan, where he performed in several regional theatres. He now resides in Bedford, PA. Rose is from Oakland, MD where she dances with Brenda’s Body Shop.

The show being directed and choreographed by Danny Durr with musical direction by Chris E. McCabe, who also the leader of the five-piece band that is featured in the show. The design team includes Rhett Wolford (set/lighting design) and Jennifer Clark (costume design). Bekah Brown is serving as the production stage manager.

Performances are July 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, and 17th at 8:00 pm and July 10th, 11th, and 18th at 2:00 pm. The show is approximately two hours with an intermission and is appropriate for all ages. Tickets are available online at www.cumberlandtheatre.com.