You can take in a whole lot more than a play this season at Everyman Theatre, which seems to have developed quite an appetite for offering extras to its patrons.
The company introduced a dessert bar on opening night earlier this month. Now comes word of a party nights and new dinner-and-show package. And if the lineup of staged plays at Everyman leaves you hungry for even more, there's the return of last season's hit addition, the Salon Series Women's Voices — readings of plays by female playwrights.
As for the desserts, those are now available for purchase at each performance in the lobby's mezzanine at what is being billed as the LB Bakery Café at Everyman Theatre. It's the result of a partnership with the Lord Baltimore Hotel and its executive pastry chef, Mary Elizabeth Plovanich.
Having desserts available rounds out Everyman's existing efforts to give audience members their fill — sandwiches, pizzas and more can be ordered from nearby establishments for consumption in the lobby prior to curtain.
On the cocktail front, the company has also launched "Taste of Everyman," a preshow mix of libations and small bites (provided by The French Kitchen) for $60, including a ticket to that night's performance.
These events, which start at 6 p.m. in the lobby mezzanine, will feature drinks that have a connection of some kind to the play onstage. For this Thursday's performance of "Wait Until Dark," the thriller adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, choices include "Dark and Stormy" and, of course, pinot noir.
For Jen Silverman's "The Roommate" on Nov. 10, the liquid menu offers pear martinis, cucumber cosmo and more. On Dec. 15, paired with Colman Domingo's "Dot," holiday drinks are on tap, including spiked eggnog and cranberry ginger.
Other dates on the series: "Great Expectations" on Feb. 16 (scotch and Champagne); "Los Otros" on April 6 (California-pegged wines and cocktails); "Noises Off" on June 1 (concoctions to match the farcical nature of that comedy).
The company is making a bigger effort to combine food and drink with the new "ReWINEd" series. It consists of Sunday matinee performances followed by "a relaxed family-style pre-fixe meal prepared by a local chef and a glass of wine," as well as "play-based conversations," all at Dovecote Café. The meals will feature the Baltimore urban farm Strength to Love.
Three show-and-chow dates are scheduled:
- Oct. 2, after the 2 p.m. performance of "Wait Until Dark"; the chef for the meal is Amanda Mack
- Nov. 6, after the matinee of "The Roommate"; Janelle Coles will be the chef
- and Dec. 18, after "Dot"; the meal will be prepared by Catina Smith
Dinner time on each date is 6 p.m. A moderator will be on hand to lead a conversation with dinner guests about that afternoon's play. (Everyman Theatre's community engagement department clearly takes its mission to heart.)
Finally, the Salon Series of Women's Voices. It takes place Monday nights — six of them, up from four last season — in a rehearsal hall, which will be enhanced with a cocktail bar for the occasion (this company is serious about lubrication).
Professional actors will do the play readings, directed by women of Everyman's resident acting company. Audiences will get to mingle with the performers after the readings.
The lineup:
- "Our New Girl" by Nancy Harris, directed by Beth Hylton, Sept. 19
- "Top Girls" by Caryl Churchill (director TBA), Oct. 31
- "The Book of Grace" by Suzan Lori Parks, directed by Deborah Hazlett, Dec. 12
- "The Ruby Sunrise" by Rinne Groff, directed by Megan Anderson, Feb. 6
- "The Language Archive" by Julia Cho (director TBA), March 27
- "Trouble in Mind" by Alice Childress, directed by Dawn Ursula, June 5
Details on casting and more will be announced later.
For tickets or more information about all of these Everyman Theatre activities, call 410-752-2208, or go to everymantheatre.org.