24
Jul

The Incredible Book Eating Boy

The Incredible Book Eating Boy
Alliance Theatre
through August 14, 2022

It’s always a treat when we can take some of the youngsters to a theatrical production, knowing beforehand that they will certainly grasp the story line and dive into the scenes and action. Oliver Jeffers wrote the book about a youngster who enjoyed eating books; as his way of capturing all the content of the printed pages. Christian Magby and Christian Albright adapted the idea and composed the music and lyrics for this one.

Jamil Jude, who we know as artistic director for Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre, has directed the cast of five players doing about 18 roles as this 45 minute, on act, show wens its way trough the experiences of the young Henry, played to the hilt by Alexander Chen.

You may recall the days of your youth when you were supposed to reading some classic from cover to cover. Were you one of this kids who always tried to find the Classic Comics version? Unless the author was Dr. Seuss, there could be a lot more words than necessary.

But get your tickets and take the little ones to this show. I can promise you that you will be awe struck, not just by the story but the incredible costumes when the books seek their revenge, and the dog named Rover.

The show is presented on the Hertz Stage at times that will work easily for the kiddies, and those olde folks. More info and tickets at AllianceTheatre.org

21
Jul

Always a Bridesmaid

Always a Bridesmaid
Onstage Atlanta
through July 24, 2022

Three playwrights, Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten came together to craft a load of comedies and they have done so under the pseudonym of Jones Hope Wooten. Always a Bridesmaid is typical of their slapstick rubbing against real life possibilities.

In Always A Bridesmaid, we meet four older ladies who have stuck together as BFFs since their school days, and through more marriages and separations then one may recall. This one is a chick show with a cast of six hard working ladies; Kate Guyton, Leslie Kimbell, Carrie Moll, Lateefah Mosley, Kathleen Seconder an Barbara Wshington. The scene is set at a function venue called Laurelton Oaks, where these four gals have all attended each other’s vows as bridesmaids.

They have to put up with each others’ peculiarities and viewpoints on wedded bliss. The time line runs about 30 years from school days to today; and starts with a practice speech by the bride of the day, whose ceremony may not be taking off quite as planned. And Sedalia comes and goes as the function manager trying to make sense out of a totally insane situation.

The show really takes off in Act II, and the audience goes wild when they show up for the function, and maybe they are a little dysfunctional. But they do put the FUN back into those words.

This one is a non-stop laugh-fest. Free parking, good seating, and bring your mask. More info and tickets at OnstageAtlanta.com

13
Jul

LIZZIE

LIZZIE
Actor’s Express
through July 24, 2022

Long before O.J.Simpson, there were some other real and/or mythical murder cases that spawned a lot of media attention. If you grew up in New England, part of elementary school probably included hearing of Lizzie Borden who had been tried for the alleged murder of her step-mother and father. And certainly part of local history had to include learning of the Salem Witch Trials and Aaron Burr’s duel with Hamilton.

What is not generally well known is that Lizzie Borden was for real. She grew up in a wealthy family in Fall River, Massachusetts, where the family home from the 1800s is now a historical museum. Lizzie was tried in New Bedford, MA and acquitted. While she was deemed innocent by the jury, the non-judicial jury of community folks always thought otherwise, and she was ostracized for years until she passed at age 66.

This intensive show by Steven Cheslik-Demeyer, Alan Stevens Hewitt and Tim Maner is being staged at the Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe University. It is brought forth as a rock opera directed by Jennifer Alice Acker, with a live band under the direction of Ashley Prince, and choreography by Bubba Carr.

The players include Jasmine Renee Ellis (Lizzie), Jessica DeMaria (Emma Borden), Megan Zhang (Alice Russell) and Christina Leidel as Bridget Sullivan. Along with four more cast members they energetically sing and dance their way through 17 original numbers. Caveat: this one isn’t for the kiddies who might get freaked out, nor for the Ms. Prim who would have a problem with one number in which the usual “F word” is the universal modifier. But other than that, you will fid it a very energizing performance. More info and tickets at Actors-Express.com

12
Jul

West Side Story

West Side Story
City Springs Theatre
through July 24, 2022

City Springs delights in bringing Broadway standards to town and with real NYC kind of companies. For instance, this production which features a cast of more than 30 players is brought to the stage with a production company of about 50 hard working professionals, all under the direction of Daniel Kutner.

With a live orchestra of 16 players under the baton of Miles Plant the cast runs through all 17 numbers; many of which you will recall. You know the story is about the Jets vs. the Sharks. Originally planned to be more like a Harlem blacks vs. whites it was changed to Spanish Harlem so it is Latinos vs. gringos. Each gang has claims to it’s own turf, and there are times when they get into a rumble, which can wind up with pretty bad outcomes.

You get deep into the likeness of the plot to that of Romeo and Juliet when Tony (Ben Jacoby) and Maria (Emma Heistand) hit it off and are seen as a bit loony by their colleagues. And Officer Krupke (Bart Hansard) is still trying to keep the peace with those kids who have a social disease.

So hit the road and grab onto an evening of pure entertainment at the Byers Theatre. More info and tickets at CitySpringsTheatre.com