Heavy, hilarious, joyful and weird MET previews its upcoming season

Attending a theater company’s live season preview is better than simply reading the online summaries of upcoming shows — for several reasons.

For one thing, it’s often wildly entertaining. The Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s recent preview of its 2023-2024 season at Steinhardt Brewing opened with a hilarious call to attention for the 200 guests, who looked up from their pints to witness MET actors Lauren Johnson and Sean Byrne engaged in an original musical number called “The Piggie Song.”

It was an immediate signal that the evening wasn’t to be taken too seriously, despite upcoming previews of some heavy material. This was going to be a fun time for fans to mingle with the MET’s longtime cast members while enjoying local craft brews.

But the more compelling reason for theater buffs to see live previews is the potential to get a completely different impression of some shows than the written summaries provide.

For example, the MET’s website description of “The Squirrels,” by Robert Askins, set to run March 29 to April 28, reads like a classic anthropomorphic animal story with a straightforward plot about squirrel families fighting over a nut stash. If not for the words “fiercely funny,” one might think the two-sentence summary is describing something like “Watership Down” with squirrels subbed in for rabbits.

The preview for this show at Steinhardt was something else completely. Rather than furclad actors scurrying onstage to deliver chittering rodent dialogue, we got Matt Harris in a white lab coat giving a posterboard presentation about scientific squirrel facts.

In addition to teaching us everything we never wanted to know about squirrel intelligence, he heaped presumptuous praise on the audience for our interest in the subject. It’s easy, he said, to watch a “thinky play about thinky things all the way from New York,” but to watch a play about squirrels shows true dedication to theater.

And weirdly, all of that worked for me.

Not having seen the play or read the script, I probably would have passed on the squirrel version of Hatfields and McCoys, but Harris’ presentation made me wonder what in the world this show actually is. Are we going to get actors dressed as squirrels? If not, how can this plot play out? Is there going to be some meta frame story involving a mad scientist zapping squirrel brains? I think I need to find out and report back.

The other standout preview was for the musical “Head Over Heels,” set to songs by The Go-Gos. It will run from May 31 through June 23. Tori Weaver belted out a high-energy number from this show with an emotion I can only describe as joy, with Jeremy Myers and Taylor Reiland as great backup singers. The plot, which features a young princess who goes on a quest to save her kingdom, is taken from Sir Philip Sidney’s 16th-century pastoral romance “Arcadia.” That’s a fitting story for Frederick County, which hosts a historic mansion of the same name.

The other previews were quite good but in line with expectations. After putting off Part One of “Angels in America” by Tony Kushner for three years due to the pandemic, this season will finally see the arrival of “Angels in American Part 2: Perestroika,” which will run from Sept. 29 through Oct. 29. Myers and Ray Hatch previewed a short scene that opened with some funny banter but quickly got into the show’s major themes about the meaning of life and death, a continuation of Part One’s exploration of the 1980s AIDS epidemic.

“Intimate Apparel,” by Lynn Nottage, will run from Feb. 9 through March 10. Set in the early 1900s Manhattan, the protagonist is an African-American seamstress who makes undergarments for Fifth Av- enue boudoirs and upscale bordellos alike. Rachel Manu and Rona Mensah previewed a scene in which two Black women have a contentious but frank conversation about relationship possibilities for women in their circumstances.

Though we were in a brewery, the company elected not to drink enough to give an inebriated preview of the MET’s original production “Inebriated Holiday,” set to run Dec. 1 to 23. After several years of offering their popular “Inebriated History,” which features videos of drunken local celebrities telling their favorite his- tory tales as live actors pantomime their narration, the MET decided to use the same approach on beloved holiday stories. The show’s director, Laura Stark, said they are tackling the classics, including Santa Claus, Charles Dickens, Krampus and Rudolph. Though the subjects are family-friendly, she warned the approach is not, and dropped a few F-bombs to head off any thought of bringing kids to the show.

Erik Anderson’s MA in medieval literature only qualifies him to write about Chaucer, but he’s going to tell you about local theater anyway.

Art Review, Reflect and Revise Group (ARRRG) Exhibit — July 6 to 9. Evolve, 106 W. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. Featuring artists Doug Kinnett, Kirsten Lee, Susan Loonsk and Annette Verna. Reception 5 to 7 p.m. July 7. Hours are 5-7 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. avpots62@yahoo.com.

DISTRICT Arts celebrates the High Wheel Bicycle Race — July 7 to 23. Frederick hosts the annual National Clustered Spires High Wheel Race on July 15. Artist April Rimpo will be in the DISTRICT Arts gallery on July 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. painting a scene based on photographs from last year’s race. In addition, Rimpo’s previously completed High Wheel paintings will be on view in the gallery. DISTRICT Arts, 15 N. Market St., Frederick. 301-695-4050, districtarts.com/special-exhibitions.

”Contrast & Contours” — July 15 to 28, Just Lookin’ Gallery, 40 Summit Ave., Hagerstown. Known for his masterful pencil work, Michale Gibson’s drawings reflect on universal humanity. Hampton Olfus’ adroitness with ink takes us on a journey, both inward and outward. Gibson is visiting from Canada and D.C. native Olfus resides in southern Maryland. Meet both artists July 15 and July 16 from 1 to 7 p.m. There will be an artist talk at 3 p.m. both days. 301-714-2278 or justlookin. com.

”Over 70 Show” — July 15 through Aug. 27, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Works in a variety of media. A signature of the Delaplaine’s Creative Aging Month, this annual exhibition celebrates local artists over age 70 and showcases a wide range of styles, techniques, and interests. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

National Juried Exhibition — through July 9, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Features works in a variety of media by artists from around the region and the nation. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

Harmonious Art Group’s Annual Exhibit — through July 9, Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg. In celebration of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Works by 36 artists. 301-258-6394 or gaithersburgmd.gov.

“Nature and Structure” — through July 12. Oil and acrylic paintings by Russ Marion, part of the “Wine and

Art” series. Paintings focus on the interplay between built structures and the natural environment. The lines and angles of roads, bridges and buildings use a different visual language than the curves, waves and fractals found in nature. Mardon lives and works in Falls Church, Virginia. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each weekend. Links Bridge Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. 301-602-5733, linksbridgevineyards@gmail.com, linksbridgevineyards.com.

Paintings by Galina Kolosovskaya

— through July 23. Silver Spring artist Galina Kolosovskaya is best known for her paintings of flowers and birds. After graduating in fine arts, she was an active member of the remarkable arts community in Khabarovsk in the Russian Far East. She served as artistic director for the Wildlife Foundation, premier environmental organization working for the survival of the Siberian tiger and conservation of Russian flora and fauna. Part of the “Wine and Art” series. Links Bridge Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. 301-602-5733, linksbridgevineyards@ gmail.com, linksbridgevineyards.com.

”Spectrum: Realism to Abstraction”

— through July 29, Gallery 50, 50 W. Main St., Waynesboro, Pa. 12 featured artists. Gallery hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and by appointment. artsalliancegw.org or contact@artsalliancegw.org.

”Frederick In Spires” — through July 30, Gallery 322, 322 N. Market St., Frederick. Gallery 322 celebrates the 275th anniversary of Frederick County. This group show features artists Michael Douglas Jones, Jan Kaufman, Linda Kirvan, Ann Schaefer, Anne Gibson Snyder, Russell Schofield, Tom Ritchie, and Homer Yost, along with associate artists Roberta Staat, Leo Ramos, Lissa Abrams, Paul Wilson and Karen Winston-Levin. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 240815-7777 or gallery322.com.

”Infinite Surface” — through July 30, NOMA Gallery, 437 N. Market St., Frederick. Mixed media exhibit by JG Orudjev and Todd Frankenheimer. Artists talk 7 p.m. July 20. Gallery hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 240-3679770 or nomagalleryfrederick.com.

“The Herbalist: Cyanotypes from Fox Haven Farm” — through July 30, with a reception and artist talk from 5 to 8 p.m. July 22. Jillian Abir MacMaster recently spent a week living at Fox Haven Farm in Jefferson, created cyanotype prints about and using the farm’s herb garden, and led three workshops with demonstrations there. This exhibition will showcase the work created during the artist residency. This exhibition is part of the Black Cat Studios artist collective and was funded by the Frederick Arts Council. 4 W. Fifth St., Frederick. jillian.macmaster@ gmail.com.

“Contrast & Contours” features the work of Michael Gibson and Hampton Olfus. Known for his masterful pencil work, Gibson’s drawings reflect on universal humanity. Olfus’ adroitness with ink takes us on a journey, both inward and outward. Gibson is visiting from Canada, and D.C. native Olfus resides in Southern Maryland. Meet both artists July 15 and July 16 from 1 to 7 p.m. at Just Lookin’ Gallery, 40 Summit Ave., Hagerstown. The show runs through July 28. An artist talk will be held both days at 3 p.m. See justlookin.com for more info. Shown here, “Black Queen I,” by Michael Gibson.

“All Fired Up” — through July 30, Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Steven Gibson (fused glass artist) and Stephen Dill (blacksmith) exhibit their individual art, as well as collaborative pieces that combine glass and steel. View the work from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through July. eastsidearts313@gmail. com, eastsideartistsgallery.com. Frederick County 275th Anniversary Exhibition — through July 30, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Works in a variety of media created by local and regional artists and inspired by storied from the county’s past. Presented in partnership with the Frederick County Historic Sites Consortium. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”10x10” — through Aug. 12. Each piece is 10 inches square and for sale. Gallery hours are 4 to 6 p.m. Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays or by appointment. 443-536-9198.

”HUE: An Ode to Color” — through Aug. 25, Gallery 44, 44 S. Bentz St., Frederick. Multimedia art exhibit that explores color in art in a myriad of ways by seven DMV area artists. Open by appointment only. gallery44south@ gmail.com or gallery-44.com..

”Heavy Metal” — through Aug. 27, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Oil paintings by Raymond Burns. Easily mistaken as merely utilitarian and unattractive, Burns hopes to elevate the character and the beauty that exists in the form, color and texture of railroad equipment, engines, cabooses, boxcars, and railroad structures in various states of use and decay. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”On Beauty and Revolution” — through Aug. 27, Blanche Ames Gallery, 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick. Featuring the work of Sasa Aakil. For gallery hours, call 301-473-7680.

“The Hot Button” — through August, Hot Button Gallery, 129 E. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. Carol Williams exhibits textiles and poster art that reflect her passion for social responsibility through artistic communication. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. The artist will be available for conversation at these times. anothercarolwilliams.com.

Crestwood Gallery Spring Exhibit — through Sept. 8, Crestwood Center, 7211 Bank Court, Frederick. Original artwork including photography, watercolors, oil, acrylic, mixed media and wood carvings by Frederick artists. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. 240-215-1460, frederickhealth.org/crestwoodart.

”Landscapes & Legends of Norway: William Singer & His Contemporaries” — through Sept. 17, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. This exhibition uses Singer’s work and that of his contemporaries in the museum collection to look at the impact of Norway on the imaginations of various artists. A series of watercolors depicting Norse legends (yes, Loki and Thor) by American artist Frank Morse Rummel are also a highlight of the exhibition. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-739-5727 or wcmfa.org.