Congrats to our new Scene Stealer/Showstoppers honorees.

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Sandy Bainum, as Mame, Singing “If He Walked Into My Life’ in Mame at Riverside Center Dinner Theater

“The cast here is stellar, with Sandy Bainum giving a strong vocal and comedic performance in the title role. Her heartbreaking rendition of “If He Walked Into My Life” was a tour de force.”-Julia L. Exline

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Joanne Bauer, as Miss Geneva Musgrave, Delivers Her Opening Monologue in Christmas Belles at Bowie Community Theatre

“Joanne Bauer is marvelous as Miss Geneva, the disgruntled ousted director. Her opening monologue sums up the situation in a very funny nutshell and sets the show in motion. She’s hilarious and indignant and introduces us to the craziness of  Fayro, Texas. Refusing to accept her dismissal, she shows up at the tabernacle and constantly bursts onto the scene with obvious relish to announce the latest disaster. I might never again be able to hear the words “Okay people, listen up!” without flinching a little.”-Carole Long

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Ashley Brown, as Mother Abbes, Singing “Climb Every Mountain’ in The Sound of Music at Hippodrome Theatre

“The biggest and surest voice in the touring cast belongs to Ashley Brown as the Mother Abbess. Her chills-producing rendition of “Climb Every Mountain” at the end of Act One guaranteed that every seat would be filled again after intermission.”-John Harding.

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Allie Lytle, as Mayzie LaBird, Singing “Amazing Mayzie,” in Seussical The Musical at NextStop Theatre Company

“Horton and his friends find themselves tangled in a whole heap of adventures, including an irresponsible bird named Mayzie (a great performance by Allie Lytle, who won the crowd over with her upbeat song, “Amazing Mayzie”), a band of hunters, and a trio of mischievous monkey brothers (Jack Dalrymple, Jalen Robinson, and Jon Scanlan). Allie Lytle’s rendition was truly amazing!”-Julie Exline.

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Katie McManus, as Sour Kangaroo, Singing “Biggest Blame Fool” in Seussical The Musical at NextStop Theatre Company

“Scene Stealer Katie McManus shows strong vocals as the Sour Kangaroo, leading the song “Biggest Blame Fool,” where they make it clear that Horton must choose between his world, or the tiny world of the Whos. As usual, McManus has incredible stage presence and pipes that would make Ethel Merman jealous.”-Julia Exline

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Sally Struthers, as Agnes Gooch, Singing “Gooch’s Song” in Mame at Riverside Center Dinner Theater

“Of course, the audience fell in love with the incomparable Sally Struthers, who takes the role of Patrick’s nanny Agnes and gets a lot of laughs with her well-known physical comedy. Leaving no opportunity unturned, Struthers manages to turn the task of pulling off her shoes into a laughable moment. One of the most applauded numbers of the show was Struthers’ showstopper “Gooch’s Song.” She nailed it!”-Julia L. Exline

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Maggie Wilder Attempting to Sing “Summertime” in Bad Jews at The Studio Theatre

“The fourth cast member, Maggie Wilder (née Erwin), returns as Melody, Liam’s good-hearted shiksa sweetheart and opera singer manqué. Wilder’s memorable, comically off-key “Summertime” vocal once more brought the house down to smithereens.”-John Stoltenberg

“I can’t imagine any other actress doing this role. When Maggie starts singing “Summertime” you can’t believe what’s coming out of her mouth, but all you have to do is watch her face and you see the confident Melody, so proud of her ‘talent’ as an opera singer. It’s a tour de force with an extra ‘Oy Vey!’ And I kept hearing a linein my head I told an  insufferable trumpet player who ruined so many community theatre productions I attended with my social group The Ushers: “Have you ever considered taking up the clarinet?”-Joel Markowitz

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LINK:
Read our other Scene Stealers of 2015 HERE.