47 talented young performers take the stage in Annie Kids and The Sound of Music: Youth Edition, July 24–27 at Church Hill Theatre!

Church Hill Theatre will come alive with music, laughter, and youthful energy as the Green Room Gang presents its annual summer productions from July 24 through July 27. This year’s lineup includes two beloved musicals: Annie Kids and The Sound of Music: Youth Edition, showcasing the talents of 47 local young performers.

For over twenty-five years, the Green Room Gang (GRG) has provided theatre education to young artists, developing their skills in acting, singing, dancing, and stagecraft. Each summer, these efforts culminate in fully staged performances enjoyed by the entire community.

Annie Kids is a heartwarming and abridged version of the classic Broadway musical, featuring the optimistic redhead and her journey from orphanage to family. The Sound of Music: Youth Edition brings to the stage the inspiring story of Maria and the von Trapp family, featuring timeless songs like “Do-Re-Mi” and “My Favorite Things” in a shortened format perfect for young audiences.

Directed by Grace Sutherland, Annie Kids features elementary-aged students, while The Sound of Music: Youth Edition, directed by Courtney Adams and Maya McGrory features middle and high school performers. Assistant directors Sam Holdgreve, Eri Lackey, Lucy Pearce, and Riley Sutherland support rehearsals and technical aspects of the production, contributing significantly to instruction, rehearsal and tech.

The production team includes Carmen Grasso, Tom Rhodes, Jim Johnson, Jason Jarvi, and Romin Bowers for set construction, Tina Johnson for costumes, and Kat Melton for lighting. Krista Roark serves as a consultant choreographer with volunteers Emme Dumont, Jackson Lenzi, Kenny Luthardt, Natalie Stinchcomb, and Anne Marie Thomas assisting with tech. Steve Atkinson captures the moments as the photographer, while Becca Van Aken and Ginger Ellis act as producers and mentors. Sylvia Maloney chairs the CHT Education Committee, which oversees the program.

This beloved community tradition thrives thanks to the invaluable contributions of parents and volunteers. They help design costumes, build sets, and create props, embodying the collaborative spirit that defines the Green Room Gang.

Performance Schedule:

• Thursday, July 24 at 7:00 PM
• Friday, July 25 at 7:00 PM
• Saturday, July 26 at 2:00 PM
• Sunday, July 27 at 2:00 PM

Ticket Information:

Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for students. Early reservations are highly recommended due to the popularity of this event. To reserve, call the CHT box office at (410) 556-6003 or email [email protected]

Join us at Church Hill Theatre for a joyful, family-friendly celebration of youth theatre!

Church Hill Theatre invites Delmarva audiences to its production of the outstanding musical version of the beloved The Bridges of Madison County.  First, the 1992 novel by Robert James Waller sat atop the New York Times best-seller list for three years.  Then the hit film, starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, was nominated for multiple awards and grossed almost $200 Million in worldwide sales. Two decades later, the musical version of The Bridges of Madison County moved to Broadway, with a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, who won Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Orchestration.

CHT’s production, directed by JW Ruth, will appeal to both long-time “Bridges” fans and new audiences with its glorious music, talented cast, and timeless story of love, sacrifice and life-altering choices. The show opens on Friday, June 6 and runs three weekends, closing on Sunday, June 22.

The musical begins in 1965, when Francesca Johnson, an Italian war-bride and now for almost twenty years an Iowa farm wife, anticipates a few days of solitude while her husband and children participate in a national 4-H show. By chance, she meets and helps a National Geographic photographer, Robert Kincaid, who is on assignment to take pictures of Iowa’s famous covered bridges. Their relationship grows and deepens as they discover shared interests, culminating in a passionate affair.

Torn between her love for Robert and love and responsibility for her family, Francesca faces an impossible choice. Cherishing their brief time together, both accept the reality of their situations. Years pass and Francesca enjoys life with her family and friends, watching her children become successful adults.  Robert, too, has moved on with his own career. Both ponder what might have been. Neither has any regret for the love they shared.

The star-crossed lovers Francesca and Robert are played by Erin Bradley and Matt Rein.  Max Haagen is Francesca’s husband, Bud Johnson. Everett Brownley and Riley Rosati portray the young Johnson children; Ian Stotts and Kathleen Cummings reprise them as adults.

Heather Joyce Byers, Herb Ziegler and Shannon Carter take on important supporting roles as the Johnsons’ friends and neighbors.

There is no traditional chorus in this musical, but ensemble players add to the story and enrich the musicality. Luisa Forger, Natalie Hagan, and Maya McGrory portray radio and state fair singers. Tiffany Ayres, Trevor Ayres, Carly Mourlas, Jordan Leoncini and Ava Khamvongsa are friends, neighbors, and witnesses to the power of love.

As in all Church Hill Theatre shows, a strong production team started work before rehearsals began. The sets, light design, and live orchestra—augmenting a truly talented cast—make this a memorable addition to the theatre’s tradition of exemplary summer musicals.

The Bridges of Madison County will run weekends from June 6-22, with performances at 7:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 pm on Sundays. Tickets are available on the CHT website: churchhilltheatre.org or by calling the CHT office at 410-556-6003 Monday through Friday.

Earl Lewin’s A Brief History of Man will have its world premiere from February 6-9 at Church Hill Theatre. Lewin asks “what if humans are just one step in a long chain of intelligent life forms?  After all, people aren’t very durable, and we have many design faults.” His answers are truly funny—but with thought provoking implications. This play, workshopped last year at the Chester River Yacht and Country Club, has been tweaked and tightened to make the comedy even sharper.

Earl Lewin

Four actors take on multiple roles but, as befits a deity, God is played by only one, Will Robinson. The other characters’ names may (or may not) give you an idea of where the plot might lead. Peggy Chiras portrays both the Archangel Michael and a waiter. Steve Hazzard appears as Mephistopheles and Mod 1.  Blaise Dickinson, making his CHT debut, has fun with Adam, Man—and Fido. And Izzie Squire Southworth takes on Eve, Female God, and Latest.  All the action happens in the beginning, the present and the future.

Lewin’s long and illustrious theatre biography started with a BA in Theatre from Temple University, detoured to a career in the film/video business, and returned to live theater when he retired to Chestertown. Since then, Earl has directed or acted in dozens of shows and written numerous straight plays and musicals, including two that played Off-Off Broadway. A Brief History of Man is his 9th play in as many years!

What we see on stage is supported by a talented back-stage team. Bonnie Hill, a veteran CHT director, is the Producer. Experienced Stage Manager Steve Atkinson makes sure everything runs smoothly. Clark Lewin and Kevin Chiras handled the set construction and Blake Lewin was responsible for projection design. Tina Johnson provided costumes, and Doug Kaufmann did the light design. Kat Melton will run the projection system and Tom Blackiston will operate the sound system. Amy Moredock and Sarah Wright arranged the publicity.

A Brief History of Man will run from February 6-9, with performances at 7:30 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 pm on Sunday. Tickets are available online at churchhilltheatre.org or by calling the box office at (410) 556-6003.

To celebrate 2025 Black History Month, recognition of African Americans and Labor, the Church Hill Theater has scheduled an original, one-hour, free event for the whole community. Join us for inspiring music and memorable words on Saturday, February 1, with performances at 3 pm and 5 pm. This is not a ticketed event, but reservations are strongly suggested to guarantee seats.

The original March on Washington, on August 28, 1963, was organized to build an alliance of civil rights, labor and religious organizations under the banner of “jobs and freedom.” It was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in U.S. history, with close to 300,000 (mostly Black) people participating. The last speaker, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech. The march was a key element in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

This dramatic performance was envisioned and compiled by Herbert Ziegler, who uses the music of the day and the words of Dr. King and other civil rights leaders to chart the progress of the dream. While some objectives have been realized, other goals have not.

Kathy Jones, the show’s music director, along with Diane Shelton and Jahdaya Martin, will cover songs from the March by Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. (If you know the words, join in.) Local actors will give voice to the historic words. Ian Stotts, Noah Thompson, Christopher Wallace, and Michael Whitehill are eager to participate. Others may join the cast before February 1.

This is a wonderful family event, especially for students who know only the brief version in their history books. Church Hill Theatre is located at 103 Walnut Street in Church Hill, Maryland. Reservations can be made online at churchhilltheatre.org or by calling the box office at (410) 556-6003.