Want to enjoy an evening of professional theatre? Bet you didn't know that you don't have to…read moretravel to DC, deal with the parking or metro mess or drop $50 plus to get it. Look no further than Venus Theatre - located in Laurel MD off of Main Street. At Venus, Deb Randall, the artistic director, produces quality cutting-edge shows with professional actors and actresses. Deb is crazy creative and intelligent; you might like the "out of the box" way that she directs the plays. I saw Homokay's Medea here and she had the maid and the gardener from the show giving cookies and punch to the audience; it was a fun show. The seats up front and on the sides are more comfy than the taller seats in the middle, but it is a small theatre, so first come first served. Be sure to get there early! There is a nice concessions table with snacks and drinks just in case you didn't get a chance to eat before the show. I should mention that the restrooms are backstage, so they can't be accessed during the show depending on the stage set-up, so be prepared! Oh, did I mention that the tickets are $20? You can't get into see live theatre, barely a couple of movie tickets for that price around here. Check the website for pay-what-you-can preview days to get a first look at the play in progress. This is a very fun and casual theatre; one you likely didn't know was right around the corner from you. If you live in the area, especially, you should go and check it out: www.venustheatre.org

My husband & I went to Venus' yesterday for their final performance of Grieve for Genevieve and had…read morea great time. There are only 24 seats so you get a great view. The actors were really good and believable. I almost cried a few times and the women behind me were commenting like it was real. A great experience!

The production of 'Our Town' is wonderful - what a great cast! It is very moving and so well doneread more

My aunt invited my sister and me to see "Dracula .... a Comedy of Terrors" & OMG, I am so glad I…read morewent because it was hilarious & a bloody good show. The cast was amazing & kept everyone laughing. I have been to Colonial Players several times & it has not disappointed. it's a small cozy welcoming theatre of local enthusiasts who love the theatre & they do such a fabulous job every time. Ticket prices are very reasonable & some discounts are offered such as senior & military. Also, Colonial Players now offers Seat FlexTickets for Adults for $22.00 per seat ($110.00 total) and for Seniors, Students, and Active Military for $18.00 per seat ($90.00) total. They are transferable .... How cool is that? Parking can be a challenge so be sure to arrive with plenty of time before the start of the plays to allow time to get your ticket and get comfortable. I highly recommend you check it out & let's continue to support the creative minds of our locals who come together to showcase their talent and devotion to the arts and our community. And a quote from the Dracula program... "and remember: laughter is the best defense against the dark"

We have been attending Monsters Dance Conventions for years, and though the training has been…read moredecent, a pattern has been consistent-- the seeming favoritism for awards and making Cast/Kids Cast, toward kids that dance super aggressively, jerky, and overly animated; even when they have zero musicality or natural talent. Anyone can learn choreography and dance "big", but not every child has the natural gift of musicality and creative dance ability. Just because someone is dancing HARD, doesn't mean they're dancing WELL. This important differentiation is often disregarded by Monsters staff/choreographers, and the kid who has aggressively bogarted their way to the front row, is moving very jerkily, and throwing hair around to compensate for their lack of musicality, is often the one praised and recognized for top honors. Unfortunately, this has in some cases, created a group of arrogant dancers whom have been pumped up and groomed to believe that they are more talented than they actually are, while some phenomenally talented kids with the TRUE gift of dance, are left doubting themselves, season after season. I have also noticed, especially in the Junior and Intermediate rooms, a leaning toward choosing White/Hispanic/Asian children for the highest awards; though they were clearly not the best in the room, nor had the best character-- while the little black girl/boy in the corner, that is able to dance circles around them, is left without even an acknowledgment. Though black kids are certainly nominated for Kids Cast, there appears to be a different bar for what is worthy of being recognized for top awards--and again, for some kids, a hard jerk, hair toss, and unnatural animation of facial expressions, is often all that is required to receive scholarships and Kids Cast nominations; while others with undeniable talent, that give 1000%, receive nothing. This has been consistent in the 8 years that we have been attending. And though they would likely deny such, there is strong evidence of politics going on... when you consistently see kids from certain studios, or whose parents have strategically created relationships with upper staff by being door monitor for classes, etc., win top awards, though again, they were inarguably, not the strongest dancer in the room, nor had the best character, it becomes pretty apparent what is occurring. Because of these things, we will no longer support Monsters Dance, nor line the pockets of staff who sell expensive dreams to kids, season after season, whom they know they will never acknowledge, nor give equal consideration to; while providing recognition and a career path, to some whom haven't earned it, nor were the most deserving.

My daughter had a GREAT time at Monsters of Hip Hop Dance Convention in Chicago. Very energetic…read moreatmosphere and awesome instructors! Thanks for bringing Hip Hop and dance opportunities to us in the Midwest. She is really hoping to be able to use her scholarship for unlimited classes at Millenium in LA sometime before Oct.

I rented space at dance expression for a dance practice with my sisters in preparation for my…read moredaughters sweet 16 birthday dance. We had never used a dance studio before and were not able to find a space after two other studios cancelled on us. Dance expressions opened their doors to us - twice - before my daughter's birthday and I'm eternally grateful. The staff was on time, welcoming and pleasant and was always there to answer questions when we needed them. Highly recommend!

I love the patience and professionalism of this studio. My daughter actually chose this place for…read moreherself and said she felt she could learn a lot since the teachers don't talk to her loudly or yell. The children should have a choice too you know. I also find them to have the perfect amount of patience and understanding to deal with my chaotic life as a single mom.

We saw Guys and Dolls two nights ago, and it was fabulous. I have been to shows in New York on…read moreBroadway fairly frequently. This show beat those performances ... hands down. This is a must see. We are so lucky to have this theatre in Annapolis!!!!

I saw a Christmas Carol this weekend, and it was amazing. It's not a high budget, gigantic cast…read moreproduction, but it more than made up with sterling performances. I LOVED the fact this performance held true to the narration in the book. I've never seen a production that really held true to how Dickens presented the story and characters. It was FANTASTIC. Go see this!!!

My daughter was a student here from 2015 until we moved out of state in 2021. Leaving this studio…read morewas one of the hardest things about leaving Maryland. My daughter created lifelong friendships, and had leaders that cared about her as a person and not just a dancer. This studio will always hold a special place in our hearts, and I credit AnM for my daughter's love of dance, and confidence as a dancer.

This was a definite "meh" for us. Chickadee enrolled in the 9-month program (one ballet/tap combo…read moreclass per week and a recital in June) last year. The studio was located just off of the traffic circle in O-town a couple of years ago, but we didn't try it until it moved to the new location on 170. The building is nice enough. There are 4 or 5 studio rooms each with a glass door or glass panels so that you can watch your aspiring Pavolva or Astaire at work. There are a benches in the lobby area, but most 'rents just hang out in front of their children's studio. One guy even brought his camping chair--nice! On the plus side, there are oodles of class offerings here--hip hop, ballet, tap, jazz, music, art, and musical theater. If you have an older child, s/he may get more out if it than Chickadee did. Her teacher didn't seem enthusiastic at all and didn't do much individualized instruction despite the small class size. Tuition was $55/month, I think. This was not pro-rated for December (when classes were cancelled for winter break) or for the blizzards. The recital costume (admittedly cute) was $110. The recital was well-produced but TOO LONG for the little ones.

My daughter has danced competitively at C&C Dance Co. for three going on four seasons and this is…read morenot only a fantastic dance studio but place you'd want an adolescent to grow. Coming from another local studio, I can attest that some only value winning and not pouring into your child in the process. C&C teachers not only teach your children and create fantastic routines but they pour into them ultimately boosting their confidence and aiding into shaping them into kind, caring, and supportive young adults. My daughter has a community of people (friends, teachers, and parents) that want what's best for her and that is priceless. On top of all of that, I've seen my daughter grow tremendously as a dancer! She started off only really doing jazz and hip hop and here at C&C she was exposed to so much more! She's grown in all genres (especially contemporary, tap, acro, and lyrical) but she also just got en pointe! Thanks so much for all that you all do for our dancers and I can't wait to see even more growth in future seasons!

Great dance company! I love this place and I know my daughter loves it as well! The instructors…read moreare amazing and everyone is very friendly there! It feels a lot like family! And my daughter is learning a lot even though she's still a awkward preschooler! Miss Mandy is great the the little girls absolutely adore her!

I hired Dave to perform for a joint birthday party and the kids ranged from 4-9 years old. The show…read morewas excellent! He chose age-appropriate tricks that entertained the entire group. Even the parents were engaged. It was a great 40-minute indoor activity for a rainy birthday.

Recently took my son to a friend's birthday and D (Mr. Dave Thomen) was the hired magician…read more I did not pay for his services, so can't speak on price. However, I think I had even more fun than my child. As a lover of slapstick comedy and cheesy jokes, my heart was full. I laughed so hard, I almost cried at one point. His tricks were perfectly appropriate for the young 3, 4 & 5 year olds, as well as adults. Everyone was impressed and amazed. I felt like I was living my best life as a guest at this birthday party, and have peaked on the birthday party circuit. I can't imagine that any other kids birthday party will even come close to our experience and the fun we had. He included a variety of acts, and made sure the birthday girl felt special- involving her in quite a few acts. He also is a balloon artist and made sure to make animals for all of the guests at the end. The kids really loved everything and he held the attention of the entire room, for the entire show. He was very patient and kind if/when any children needed redirecting during the show. He is truly an expert in his field and craft. You can tell he loves kids and loves his job.