Christmas Canteen

Aurora Theatre

through December 20, 2015

For the twentieth year the Aurora brings back to stage their Christmas Canteen, directed by Anthony P. Rodriguez with a cast of nine players with great talents.

Jen Macqueen, Lyndsay Ricketson and Diany Rodriguez are the female principal players alongside Travis Smith, Brandon O’Dell and Brian Walker. Each of the six sing, dance, and even play one or more instruments in some numbers. Not that there isn’t a 5-man live band onstage with Ann-Carol Pence directing and at the keyboard.

T’Arica Crawford, Benjamin Sims, and Laura Spears are apprentice company members who also work into some of the numbers, as the show moves along with 40 numbers being done. It isn’t like Scrooge & Marley or the Andrews Sisters. It is purely a cabaret sort of show, the type you might love to find on some cruise ship this time of year.

The show may be in it’s 20th production, but it is always changed a little bit, here and there. Their dance numbers, choreographed by Jen Macqueen are just superb, and the humor in some of the songs such as Hobo Christmas Train and GI Jive are fun.

Considering that we just celebrated Veterans Day, and so many of our men and women can’t be with their families on the holidays; it is so appropriate that they always do the Armed Forces Medley and salute those who have served and are in the audience.

Bottom line is that it is just a feel-good evening. A special treat is that there is a collection of beautifully decorated Christmas trees in the lobby and you are invited to bring food donations which may be left at any of them. After all, ‘tis the season to be jolly.

For times and tickets visit them at AuroraTheatre.com

ThanksKilling, the Musical

Dad’s Garage

through November 28, 2015

Once an indie film then a play is being stage by Dad’s Garage at 7 Stages in Little 5 Points. And it is a hoot. You may want to gobble this one up. Dan Triandiflou has brought together a hard working cast of 7 players doing more than 15 roles.

Basically it is a weird story of some college kids who hit the road at Turkey Time, and run into an evil Turkey who has come back from the dead to seek revenge. And all hell breaks loose. Let me warn you that this is NOT for the youngsters nor Ms. Prim. There are plenty of expletives as well as sexual single entendres. The five who hit the road are the virgin Kristen (Alexandra Flicken), the slut Ali (Erin Burnett), the jock Johnny (Ben Davis), the hick good-ole-boy Billy (George Faughnan) and a nerd named Darren (René Dellefont).

Taylor Roy plays a whole gang of characters as well as acting as a game show host for the audience during the show. The killer turkey is Clint Sowell who really should get stuffed and baked, but he’s hard to finish off.

It’s a weird kind of production, but one that is filled with plenty of laughs. Let’s face it; there is just so much standard holiday cheer that we need. The audience is drawn into the game in this one, and you can tell that the performers are having as much fun as we are. You are at liberty to imbibe during the show, and actually encouraged to do so.

They play Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm. And the easiest place to order tickets is at DadsGarage.com. If you get there in time, there is usually some free parking right across the street where you’ll see their sign at the driveway. Keep in mind that if you are coming down from the burbs, that traffic these days is insane. So allow and extra half-hour and you’ll be happier and more at ease when you get there.

Soldier Songs

Atlanta Opera

through November 15, 2015

The Atlanta Opera Discoveries Series opened a production of David T. Little’s Soldier Songs at The Rialto theatre downtown. This tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces was premiered on Veterans’ Day and will close on Sunday matinee.

To get the situation straight, this is not your grandmother’s idea of opera. There is a score with no memorable melodies, one lead singer, a libretto which is quite strange; and certainly more stress than even in a Wagnerian opus.

Matthew Worth is a vet who doesn’t often speak of what he went through and witnessed in warfare and after. Yet, he does so for an hour, as we hear him repeat his feelings and memories in this bit of Sturm und Drang sung in English with supertitles. The orchestra in under the baton of Christopher Rountree.

The work is one which would not be very entertaining for those who have lived with PTSD themselves or in their families. Let’s just say that it is certainly not for the kiddies, and maybe not for some of us who have lived through WWII, Korea and Nam; and understand that the inhumanity of man is not about to vanish from this sphere. For as George Santayana opined in 1896, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

This production moves along with a static set which is brought to life by a very complicated and effective series of projected images. Were it not for the lighting and projection, it would be as engaging as a solo cantorial recital. One can appreciate that it is a paean to our men and women who have served, whether they sought to do so or not. It may not have legs as they say in show biz, and is not an audience builder like Boheme or Carmen. But you may wish to see it and applaud our Opera company for producing it in honor of our vets.

More info and tickets at AtlantaOpera.org

Joe Gransden Jazz Band

Georgia Ensemble Theatre

Joe Gransden returned to Georgia Ensemble last night and delighted a sold-out house with an evening of salute to Frank Sinatra who’s 100th birthday would be December 12th.

With his 16 piece band they ran through many of Frankie’s numbers, although there was no way they could dig too deeply into the more than 900 which he had recorded in his career.

If you love the big band sounds of the days of the 50’s and that era, then you will love his performances. Gransden and his band will return to Georgia Ensemble on December 14th with their Christmas show which should be a blast.

You can also enjoy their music at Café 290 in Sandy Springs on the first and third Mondays of each month. For more info about the Christmas show, visit GET.org and for directions and info about the gigs at Café 290, visit Cafe290Atlanta.com

Company

Out of Box Theatre

through November 22, 2015

Sondheim’s Company is being staged at Out of Box, directed by Carolyn Choe. She has brought together a very entertaining cast of 14 players which is quite a feat for a small stage facility. If you have seen the show before you know the story is lame, and it is all about the music and the choreography. It resounds as ag typical Sondheim score.

Zip Rampy is Bobby, a 35 year old single loser who has no real attachments in his life, although he does spend time with friends who are all married or serious couples. Paul and Amy are to be married, but Amy has second thoughts, then third thoughts about her wedding. Dylan Parker Singletary plays Paul and Amy is Lauren Rosenzweig. Bobby even thinks that maybe he could score with Amy, but that doesn’t go anywhere.

Bobby also goes for a flight attendant played by Suzanne Zoller. He woos her, but it winds up as a one-night stand before she takes off for Barcelona. Each of the five couples in the show have a different input. One has an alcohol problem. And each of the five guys seem to be jealous of the “freedom” that Bobby supposedly enjoys. The underlaying theme being that his kind of freedom could be depressing boredom.

The score was recorded by Annie Cook on the keyboard, and works very well for the cast, who pull off the chorus numbers with great aplomb. The company doing Company plays Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 and Sundays at 3. For more info and tickets just visit them at OutOfBoxTheatre.com

How to Succeed in Business, Without Really Trying

Lionheart Theatre

through November 22, 2015

When Abe Burrows and Frank Loesser put this show together more than 50 years ago, it was a very successful musical based on a satire about how a young wanna-be could worm his way into a large company and work his way up to the top level. It was somewhat derived from a book penned by Shepherd Mead, a chap who had entered the advertising agency business and started off in the mail room of an agency in NYC. Ergo, that’s where his lead character, J. Pierrepont Finch starts, taking his directives from a manual on how to succeed. This predates the Idiots’ Guides and the “How To” series for Dummies. His former associates were probably miffed when he had an ad agency in the show named as BBD&O, which is how the world-wide Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn Agency is usually known. The show ran originally in NYC for 4 years and won dozens of awards.

While the musical numbers are not all quite as memorable as some others by Loesser, you will recall The Brotherhood of Man and Company Way. Director Myrna Feldman has brought a large cast of players to the stage. Billy Valentine on the keyboard provides the live music for the show. Loren Collins comes on as Finch; and having been a nerd on stage before, he knew just how to be Finch and handle the corporate self-interests which abounded him.

Bud Frump (Justtyn Hutcheson) is the nephew of egotistic uncle J.B. (Jerry Knoff), who is the CEO of the World Wide Wicket Company. Bud is always using family connections to advance and protect his career; while J.B. may have some other interests; such as various secretarial women. He is drawn to Hedy (Ariel Kristen Kasten) who he has brought on board although he has plans to have her elsewhere from time to time. Everybody with a suit and a tie has his own agendum, and not unlike politicians, one can not rely on every word which comes from them.

This local theatre is located just off of Norcross Square at 10 College Street. They play Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and have a 2pm matinee on Sundays. Easy to get to, free parking, and can you believe they want to provide you with delicious home-made desserts at intermission? And the tickets prices are a bargain. Check them out online at LionheartTheatre.org

Guys & Dolls

Act3

through November 21, 2015

Unless you have been comatose for many years, you have seen these guys who get involved with some dolls before. And you can probably hum along or sing many of Frank Loesser’s great numbers.

This little theatre in Sandy Springs has brought together a cast of more than 20 players with a live band and they pull it off splendidly. Johnna B. Mitchell directed the show, and Jody Woodruff choreographed the dance numbers.

Nathan Detroit (Daniel Pino) has got to get a location for a crap game, but there’s no way he can use the Biltmore garage. So what’s a guy to do? He figures he can grab a few bucks by making a sucker bet with a dude named Sky Masterson (Bill Humble). Does it work? Is Sky that dumb? After the first-round flop, he figures to try to hook Sky up with a Bible thumping doll named Sarah (Mala Bhattacharya), and the story takes off.

Another problem is this tough guy from Chicago named Big Jule. Jule (Jack Allison) don’t like losing, and he is kind of stuck in his ways. You don’t want to mess with Big Jule. Nicely-Nicely Johnson is Nathan’s gofer, and Tyree Jones does a good job, especially when he attends the meeting at the Mission. But, all eyes and ears are riveted on Miss Adelaide when she’s working at The Hot Box or pouring forth her laments.

What is so wonderful about this classic production is that it matters not how many times you’ve seen the play or the film, or heard the music. It never fails to entertain. And, when you find a small local house that has the cajones to stage a show of this magnitude; you have to appreciate it even more. More I cannot wish you than to enjoy an evening with easy access, free parking, plenty of nearby beaneries, and have special time.

For more info and tickets visit them at Act3Productions.org

Romeo and Juliet

Georgia Ensemble Theatre

through November 22, 2015

Shakespeare’s tale of love gone bad has long been the symbol of dramatic love. You pretty much know the story and the outcome before you go to see it. For back in Verona in the bad olde days, the Capulets and the Montagues were the original version of the Hatfields and the McCoys. They were a constant threat to one another as well as to all of the townsfolk when they would duke it out on the streets thereof.

Jennifer Alice Acker and Jonathan Horne play the star crossed lovers. After Romeo kills Tybalt he is banished from town and seeks advice and help from Friar Laurence (Steve Hudson). It is the Friar who makes a plan to help the lovers reunite. He whips up a potion that Juliet can use to fake her death, and he plans to let Romeo know by messenger when the act is done. And, of course, anything that can go wrong does; so the message never gets to Romeo, but he does hear of the alleged death and gets frantic. He finds her lying there, and hoping they may share eternity as one, he slurps up a potion that he got from an apothecary. Naturally, as he dies, Juliet recovers from her comatose state, finds him gone; and takes the sword to herself. And there ends the tragedy of these two youngsters; the only good arising from it being the shared grief of the two feuding families who pledge to bury the hatchet (not in each other) and to get on with life.

David Crowe directs this fine cast with some new-day projections and fine fight scenes. It may be old stuff, but still entertains. I just felt sorry for the peasants back in the days of the Bard, when they had to stand in place for more than 2 hours, and all the women were guys in drag.

For performance times, and more info visit them at GET.org

Cinderella

Fox Theatre

through November 8, 2015

Rogers & Hammerstein’s musical version of Cinderella has been brought back with some updates and changes to the book by Douglas Carter Beane, and some additional R&H numbers which weren’t in the original 1957 production. The story line remains the same, about the poor girl with the nasty step-mom who is helped along by a fairy godmother and winds up wed to a prince charming.

This is a national touring company with Broadway style sets, props and costumes. Cinderella, a/k/a Ella is played by Kaitlyn Davidson, and the Prince Topher is Andy Huntington Jones. Interesting in that this prince in real life did find his love onstage in a production they both appeared in. The good fairy, Marie, is Liz McCartney and she really belts out her numbers as she flies.

This production finds the Lord Chancellor Sebastian (Blake Hammond) manipulating the prince along with is side-kick Lord Pinkleton (Chauncey Packer). They are promoting the prince to sign off on edicts which will further invade the lifestyles of the poorer folks in his domain. There is a new guy named Jean-Michel (David Andino) who is a Rosa Parks kind of spirit. He wants to stand up for what is right and have the people be fairly treated. And, so we have the good vs. evil on a royal scale as well as in the little cottage.

Inasmuch as this is one to be enjoyed by the youngsters as well as those of us who are alleged to be adult, they have scheduled a 2pm matinee on Saturday and a 1pm on Sunday, which will also have a final performance that day at 6:30. So for further info and tickets just visit them at FoxTheatre.org