Talent Machine

Hello, Dolly! was a big hit on Broadway in the 1960s, shedding its light on the Great White Way alongside the likes of Mame, Funny Girl and Fiddler on the Roof. But while the latter three get trotted out regularly by theater companies, Dolly's appearances are less frequent. Jerry Herman's musical score, after all, is more modest than the others, and the show's dramatics less riveting. But the story of Dolly Levi, the irrepressible matchmaker who overcomes loneliness and loss to take New York by storm, is a charmer.

Expect a "42nd Street" paved with talent when the young cast of Talent Machine Company dances in July 29 for a three-weekend run at St. John's College. Talent Machine is known for imaginative choreography and high-voltage energy -- exactly what this show needs.This musical began life as a 1933 Busby Berkeley movie. Berkeley was known for his imaginative filming of elaborate Hollywood production numbers. Twenty-seven years later, another legendary dance man -- Gower Champion, a choreographer, director and dancer -- revived it on Broadway.

School is out, and the Talent Machine Company, with its 60-member cast of youngsters ages 4 to 18, will inaugurate vacation time for everyone with a show to delight audiences young in age and/or spirit: "The Wiz," upbeat and energetic, opens tomorrow.The company's second summer show -- "42nd Street" -- will open July 23, with actors ages 12 to 20.The Talent Machine Company is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to developing children's performance skills and self-esteem.Formed 11 years ago by professionally trained dancer, choreographer and master teacher Bobbi Smith, TMC has produced a string of hits including "Singin' in the Rain," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "The Wizard of Oz," and last season's "Peter Pan" and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."

It was 1898.That year, photographs using artificial light sources were taken for the first time, the United States fought Spain over Cuba in the Spanish-American War, and Sadie Howard was born Aug. 1 in Washington, D.C.That child -- now Sadie Lipscomb and a resident of Edgewater -- turned 100 several days ago.A widow who has outlived three of her five children, she has lived in Anne Arundel County for about one-fourth of her long life.She has 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The opening celebration of the Chesapeake Center for the Creative Arts on Saturday turned into north county's version of "Field of Dreams." "If you build it they will come," said the voice in the movie. And come they did.More than 1,000 people packed the old Brooklyn Park High School auditorium on Hammonds Lane for a lengthy -- the first half lasted two hours -- program of speeches, singing and dancing organized by Wayne Shipley.Democratic Del. Joan Cadden, whose district includes the high school, was joined by Republican County Executive John G. Gary, State Sen. Philip C. Jimeno, a Brooklyn Park Democrat; Del. Michael W. Burns, a Glen Burnie Republican, and Democratic state Comptroller Louis L. Goldstein.

No one in these parts gets kids to sing and hoof like director-choreographer Bobbi Smith, so when her Talent Machine Company announces its summer season at Key Auditorium on the campus of St. John's College, theater cognoscenti take notice.Her youngest stars, 14 and younger, begin the Talent Machine season June 18 through 21 with "Newstarz Express," an original musical revue of hits from Broadway, Disney films and the pop charts. Tickets for this high-stepping, energized show are $8.From June 26 through July 12, Talent Machine will present the magical musical "Peter Pan," which has enchanted theatergoers since Mary Martin opened it on Broadway more than four decades ago.Anyone who remembers the torrential aquatic effects of Bobbi Smith's "Singin' in the Rain" put on a few years back knows that large-scale effects are a Talent Machine specialty.

The Chesapeake Center for the Performing Arts has scheduled its opening performance at 7 p.m. Saturday in its new home at the former Brooklyn Park High School, 200 Hammonds Lane. The event, "Celebration," will feature visual and performing arts.Jay Kishor will perform on the sitar, while local high school students will present a one-act play, "This is a Test." Also performing will be the Ballet Theatre of Annapolis, Sons of the Severn, The Royal Knights Jazz Band, the Gospel Praise Dance Group and Talent Machine.

It's only July, and already this has been an uncommonly good summer for theater in Annapolis.We've had a colorful "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and an impressive "Midsummer Night's Dream" from the Summer Garden Theatre. A deft version of "Little Shop of Horrors" still runs at the Chesapeake Music Hall.In the provinces, the Pasadena Theatre Company's "Steel Magnolias" at Anne Arundel Community College tugs nicely at the heartstrings, despite some uneven characterization. And let's not forget Second Star's "Carousel," which had me blubbering in Bowie back in June.

On a recent Saturday morning at Buddy's Late Night in Parole, five little elves went through their paces, singing and dancing for an audience of families stuffing themselves on scrambled eggs, french toast fingers, sausage, juice, cereal, fruit and pastries.When the music stopped and the adults carried away their offspring to the mall for Christmas shopping, the elves -- as well as the reindeer, the mouse, the bear, Raggedy Ann and Frosty the Snowman -- turned into the cleanup crew.They bused tables, stacked chairs and gathered colored streamers from the stage floor.

As I watched Talent Machine's "Santa's Frosty Follies" on Saturday night at St. John's College, I was overwhelmed by the numbers.Forty-five young people ages 3 to 19. Two full acts bulging at the seams with 27 production numbers, many of them sporting multiple songs, each requiring its own choreography and staging.Costume changes? Don't ask. I lost count about a third of the way through Act I."Follies," suffice to say, is a Christmas vaudeville show mounted on the largest possible scale.It's bright, pizzazzy, high-kicking stuff.

The Talent Machine Company didn't look far for the backbone of its new show, Camp Hawyah - The Musical: The entire artistic team consists of company veterans. Director Steve Love adapted it from a show he co-wrote with Jake Thornhill that debuted in summer 2003. Love started at age 8 with the Talent Machine, was a regular in productions through his teen years, then went on to a professional stage career in such venues as Toby's Dinner Theatre. He took on this writing and directing assignment out of devotion to the young performers who wanted to revive the Camp show.

Yes, I know that Barnum, the Cy Coleman musical about to enter its second and final weekend of production by the Talent Machine Company at St. John's College in Annapolis, was a Tony winner that ran for 854 performances on Broadway in the early 1980s. I also know that it can be a colorful show, chock-full of tumblers, clowns, trapeze artists and the like; and that characters such as Tom Thumb, soprano Jenny Lind and the Barnums themselves lend the proceedings a bit of a historical kick.

Hello, Dolly! was a big hit on Broadway in the 1960s, shedding its light on the Great White Way alongside the likes of Mame, Funny Girl and Fiddler on the Roof. But while the latter three get trotted out regularly by theater companies, Dolly's appearances are less frequent. Jerry Herman's musical score, after all, is more modest than the others, and the show's dramatics less riveting. But the story of Dolly Levi, the irrepressible matchmaker who overcomes loneliness and loss to take New York by storm, is a charmer.

Youth theater -- The Talent Machine Company will present "Hello Dolly!" at 7:30 p.m. today, tomorrow and July 19, 20, and 21; at 2 p.m. Sunday and July 22; and 6:30 p.m. Sunday at St. John's College, 60 College Ave., Annapolis. This musical will feature children ages 5 to 14. Reservations are suggested. Admission is $10. 410-956-0512 or www.talentmachine.com.

A sure sign that summer has arrived is the Talent Machine Co. rehearsing for two shows - one for ages 5 to 14 and another for ages 14 and older. Bobbi Smith started the tradition of showcasing talented youngsters in 1987 and expanded her vision until her death in 2001. The legendary choreographer presented three shows a year - two in the summer and one for the Christmas holiday season. Known for their high energy, Talent Machine shows set a benchmark for youth productions. Bobbi's sister, choreographer Vicki Smith, and daughter Lea Capps, TM's executive director, continue to keep her dream alive.

With a cast of teenagers who actually look like they could have attended Rydell High, the Talent Machine opens its production of the musical Grease tonight at St. John's College Key Auditorium in Annapolis. A frequent complaint heard at many performances of the musical standby is that 20- and 30-something actors don't seem believable as 1950s high school students. That won't be the case with the Talent Machine, formed about 20 years ago by Bobbi Smith to help young people develop their dancing and singing talents and to give them a performance vehicle.

The Talent Machine is purring along 42nd Street this weekend. The company's younger cast, ranging in age from 4-year-old Emme Sayers (who studies ballet, tap and jazz) to 14-year-old veterans, opened its super-charged show last weekend with performances continuing tonight, tomorrow and Sunday at St. John's College Key Auditorium. Next month will feature older children in Grease, opening Aug. 4 and running through Aug. 13. The Talent Machine was formed about 20 years ago by dynamic director-choreographer and teacher Bobbi Smith to develop young peoples' dancing and singing talents and provide a performance vehicle for them - something she did for hundreds during her lifetime.

For the last 18 years, the Talent Machine has rolled into Annapolis every July to brighten the summer entertainment scene. The Talent Machine - the show that gave birth to the company of the same name to provide a performance vehicle for young people - is now being fine-tuned to roll down 42nd Street for a two-weekend run July 14 to 16 and July 20 to 23 in Key Auditorium at St. John's College in Annapolis. The late Bobbi Smith, who spun magic for hundreds of children by teaching them to reach beyond their limits and dance like pros, created the show and Talent Machine Company in 1987.

Talent Machine show The Talent Machine Company will present two summer shows. The Talent Machine, an original musical story of children on a journey of self-discovery, runs weekends through July 24. Children of Eden is a musical about conflict between parents and children. Performed by teens, Children of Eden will be presented Aug. 5 to 7 and Aug. 12 to 14, with an additional show Aug. 11. General admission tickets are $12; $10 for children 7 and younger. All shows are at St. John's College Key Auditorium.

Merely Players' production of the 1970s stage and screen mega-hit Grease features a teenage cast - an asset most professional shows lack. Again this weekend, Chesapeake Arts Center's Main Theater stage will be filled with lively high school students. Veteran director Kevin Wheatley has assembled an excellent cast headed by teens with wide performing experience gained at such local training grounds as the Children's Theatre of Annapolis and Talent Machine. Written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease re-creates the 1950s at Rydell High School where Danny Zuko returns from a summer romance with Sandy Dumbrowski to find her now enrolled at his school.