Maryland Ensemble Theatre

‘House’ of Shards – great article in The Gazette about “The House of Yes!”

Local Frederick band Trout Zilla will be playing this Friday, February 5th at MET, following the performance of “The House of Yes!”

Erin (bass), Janelle (vocals), and Kevin (guitar) have been playing together for 2 years. They met Chris (drums) in the fall of 2008 and recently added Adam (trumpet) and Jamie (flute) to the mix. The 6 piece has settled on the name TROUTZILLA. Rumors of a bizarre noodle fishing accident, tales of mythical trout, and good old fashioned innuendo are some of the meanings behind the name. Indie Funk-ish-ness straight to the gullet!!!!!

Trout Zilla will start playing around 9:30 on February 5th and your ticket stub for “The House of Yes” gets you in.  February 5th also happens to be $5 First Friday, so you can see two fab shows for just 5 bucks!  Our bar will be open, so you can enjoy $3 Flying Dog beer all night!

Learn more about Trout Zilla and listen to their music here. Purchase tickets here.

Shannon is returning for another semester as our Musical Theatre instructor!

Education: Shannon graduated from Gov. Thomas Johnson High School in 1994 and received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal and Flute Performance from the University of Tampa  in 1999. She is currently earning a teaching certification and Masters degree in Secondary Music Education from McDaniel College.

Teaching Experience: Shannon has worked at many studios in the area, costuming shows and teaching musical theatre.  She has taught private piano, voice and flute lessons for the last 10 years and started teaching at MET about 2 years ago.

Performance Credits: Shannon has performed with the Tampa Bay Chorus, the Tampa Bay Opera Company and played saxophone in a band called Sugardaddy, opening for They Might Be Giants, De La Sol, and P-Funk.  She has been a member of the Washington Chorus and joined Doc Scantlin and His Imperial Palms Orchestra as a chorus girl and lead soloist.  Shannon has been with Doc for 10 years.

Classes begin  February 8th.

The Amazing Interactive Adventureopens next Saturday, February 13th!  Creators Allison Lepelletier and Jon Paul Duval have been hard a work with a great cast putting together a show where the audience helps decide the outcome!

Rehearsal photos:

A treasure map points the way to Black Beard’s gold!

Will the giant sea monster make off with the underwater scientist played by Vanessa Strickland?

Karli Cole as Alex, the girl that gets whisked away to far-off lands, rehearsing with Michelle Simms, playing a fire-breathing Dragon (one of her many characters)

Stuck aboard a pirate ship, Alex is caught in the middle of the action with Matt Baughman as Pirate “You’ll-have-to-come-to-the-show-to-see-what-his-name-is”!

Bette is a new Ensemble School faculty member this semster!  She is teaching our first ever stage combat class: Jedi Knights, Pirates and Princesses (ages 7-12).

EDUCATION: Bette began her stage combat training at age 13 at a workshop at Round House Theatre. For several years, she studied under Brad Waller at The Shakespeare Theatre. Since then, she has trained with many teachers and fight masters from all over the world, including legend Paddy Crean (Errol Flynn’s stunt double and fight choreographer). Bette is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE: While still a teenager, Bette served as a teaching assistant to Brad Waller at several places including New York University, The Kennedy Center, George Mason University, and The Virginia Tea Party stage combat workshop. Going solo, Bette has taught all over the Washington DC area including The Shakespeare Theatre, Catholic University of America, and Adventure Theatre as well as having served as a guest artist at many venues.

PERFORMANCE CREDITS: Bette has served as fight director for dozens of shows. She has performed fights all over the area including: The Kennedy Center, The Shakespeare Theatre, The Folger Shakespeare Library, and The Women in the Arts Museum. She has done stunts for America’s Most Wantedand two feature films. She has fought with lightsabers at The Kennedy Center, The Folger Shakespeare Library, and to advertise the Hasbro Force FX Lightsabers and the Saber Practice Bokkenfor ThinkGeek.com.

As an actor, Bette has performed on stage, television, film, and is currently in her third season of the webseries Reservation. She has appeared with the MET in The Cripple of Inishmaan, Incorruptible,  and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (as well as choreographed the fights in all three). Most recently, Bette has gotten to combine acting with fighting on stage in The Prisoner of Zenda with 1st Stage (Princess Flavia got to wield a sword and cloak) and in The Three Musketeersas D’Artagnan.

Next, Bette will be appearing in What Ho, Jeeves! at Round House Silver Spring with Lumina Studio Theatre January 29 – 31,  and the US Premiere of The Red Balloonat Adventure Theatre April 30 – June 13.  

Classes begin  February 8th.

Ensemble School classes begins next week!  Here on the MET Blog, we continue to profile our fabulous teachers:

Teaching Acting Out! (ages 10-12) and Performance Workshop (ages 13-17) we have Julie Herber!

Julie is an Associate Artistic Director at MET and she’s also the Artistic Director of the Fun Company.

Education: BA in Theatre Arts from Towson University.

Teaching Experience: Julie began working in children’s theatre with the Pennybridge Players in Brooklyn.  When the opportunity arose to start her own company, Julie moved back to the Frederick area and co-founded Theatricks, a family theatre company with a circus arts influence.  She was on the roster for Young Audiences of Maryland for 10 years, performing and presenting workshops around the state.  Julie has taught at Frederick Community College and McDaniel College and has been part of  The Ensemble School faculty for many years.  She also is the director of MET summer theatre experience for kids – Fun Camp. 

Performance Credits: Julie has performed, directed and choreographed for countless educational institutions, dinner theatre, regional and summer stock company throughout the region. Most recently on the MET stage you will have seen her in “And the World Goes ‘Round”, “Almost, Maine”, “A Doll’s House,” “Incorruptible” and “Dusty and the Big Bad World.”  She also directed last year’s production of “Exuviae” and this summer’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Classes begin  February 8th.

The parade of Ensemble School teachers marches on! Next we have: Gené Fouché!  Gené will be teaching one of our Performance Skills (ages 10-12) classes.

Gené is one of MET’s Associate Artistic Directors and the Director of The Ensemble School, as well as a founding member of the MET!

Education:BA in Theatre from West Virginia University, MFA in Theatre from Towson University

Teaching Experience:As a founding member of the MET, Gené has been teaching at The Ensemble School since the very first class – in 1994.  Gené has taught at Frederick Community College, Mount Saint Mary’s University and McDaniel College.

Performance Credits: Gené has been performing around the region  for the last 15 years. Recent MET credits include: “Exuviae,” “A Christmas Carol” and ”A Doll’s House.” She is currently directing MET’s next mainstage show “The House of Yes.”

Classes begin  February 8th.