Media Info and Downloads
Contacts
Frank Slade, info@youhavenoidea.org
Dan Rodricks, rodricksplay@gmail.com
Story Ledes
Media
When Dan Rodricks writes and acts in plays based on stories from his newspaper column, a loyal audience of readers comes out to watch
Through 45 years as Baltimore Sun columnist, Dan Rodricks has done radio, television, books and a podcast—his latest act is writing plays
By repurposing content from his newspaper columns into plays for the stage, Dan Rodricks brings stories to life as full theatrical productions
Theatre
While theatre attendance drops, newspaper columnist Dan Rodricks draws audiences back with stories that leap from page to stage
Dan Rodricks shuns the traditional theatre model by producing his own plays while the audience directly pays him (and his actors)
Dan Rodricks performs his one-man play… with a cast of 16, original music, projected images and multimedia backdrops
Legal
Newspaper columnist Dan Rodricks covers the courthouse with a theatre audience looking over his shoulder
Lawyers, guns and funny: From Baltimore’s criminal justice system, Dan Rodricks tells stories ranging from tragic and touching to inspiring and comic
After all the trial procedures and tactics are done, Dan Rodricks brings real stories from the courtroom to life on stage
Image Downloads
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dates set for “Baltimore Docket,” a new play by columnist Dan Rodricks.
Stories from the pages of the Baltimore Sun come to life on stage.
February 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17 for six performances at the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Meyerhoff Auditorium. Tickets are $27 and available at YouHaveNoIdea.org
Contact:
Dan Rodricks, rodricksplay@gmail.com
Frank Slade, info@youhavenoidea.org
For photos, graphics and more, please visit YouHaveNoIdea.org/Media
From Page to Stage
As a columnist with the Baltimore Sun for 45 consecutive years, Dan Rodricks has plenty of stories to tell about his adopted hometown. But what do you do with over 6,500 newspaper columns covering everything from politicians and pastors to developers and defendants?
For Rodricks, he brings them to life on the stage.
“Baltimore Docket”
“Baltimore Docket” is Rodricks’ second play and currently in rehearsals. With its theatrical premiere this February, the show is a multimedia stage production featuring supporting players, original music and projected images and video.
The play spotlights seven stories from Baltimore courtrooms that appeared in Rodricks’ Sun column. On the stage, Rodricks plays himself and interacts with a cast of 16 local paid actors portraying the real-life people in his stories.
“While many people know Baltimore’s criminal justice system all too well, there’s another side that not everyone sees. I’ve watched a lot of courthouse scenes where the people and circumstances unfolded into compelling, unusual or just plain funny stories,” says Rodricks.
“Baltimore Docket” premieres on stage this February 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17 for six performances at the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Meyerhoff Auditorium. Tickets are $27 and available at YouHaveNoIdea.org
“Baltimore, You Have No Idea”
Rodricks’ first play, “Baltimore, You Have No Idea” was enthusiastically received and sold out every performance in December 2022 and again in December 2023.
“Baltimore, You Have No Idea” features Rodricks’ one-of-a-kind Baltimore stories, such as his first column about the ex-wife of a local burglary fence, his award-winning “Dear Drug Dealers” columns as a desperate gambit to reduce crime violence, and his many funny and touching interactions with the everyday people of Baltimore. The multimedia play featured an original song about Baltimore and a cast of seven actors.
Praise for “Baltimore, You Have No Idea”
“Dan’s play was one of the best 90 minutes of live theater I’ve experienced in recent years.”
Len Lazarick, founding editor and publisher of Maryland Reporter
“The show is a gift.”
Don Mohler, former Baltimore County Executive
“Just bought two tickets for ‘Baltimore Docket’! Can’t wait. We loved ‘Baltimore, You Have No Idea!’”
Nancy Forster, for Maryland Public Defender
“Vintage Dan Rodricks — funny, poignant, important.”
Mike Ricigliano, Ricig the cartoonist
“Wow, a real treat of theatre… great stuff!”
Matthew-Daniel Stremba
About Dan Rodricks
Dan Rodricks has been a columnist with the Baltimore Sun for 45 consecutive years, one of the longest-running newspaper columns in the U.S. At the same time, he worked additional local stints as a broadcast radio host, public radio interviewer, morning television personality, podcaster and author of three books. Most recently, Rodricks has written, produced and performed in two original plays. Based on stories from his newspaper column, “Baltimore, You Have No Idea” and “Baltimore Docket” document a city seemingly in perpetual recovery.