14
Oct

Clue, the Musical

Clue, the Musical
Center Stage North
through October 15, 2022

You recall the game from younger days, and maybe have seen the play; but this one is of a different genre, in that it is a musical. Cathe Hall Payne directs the cast of 8 players. Mr.Boddy is played by Griffin Hutchins. Is he the victim and where and how? They’ll give you a card on which you can mark off your thoughts of the murder to come; but you’re probably wrong.

For the cast plays the show somewhat differently on a daily basis as some audience members pick the cards to identify who, what and where. You’ll enjoy meeting Mrs. Peacock (Julie Robyn Constantine), Professor Plum (Michael Rostek), Miss Scarlet (Emma Green), Colonel Mustard (Jerry Jobe), Mrs. White (JR McCall), Mr. Green (Luke Skinner) and that determined detective played by Christine LeBlanc.

Annie Cook is pounding away on the keyboard as the cast runs through all the songs and dance steps. Yes, it is silly. But yes, it is an enjoyable evening with no commercials nor politicians. Center Stage North is easy to get to in Marietta, plenty of parking and easy seating. More info at CenterStageNorth.net

11
Oct

Designing Women

Designing Women
2020 The Big Split
Horizon Theatre

This riotous romp by Linda Bloodworth Thomason is enjoying an open run, that could go for quite a few more weeks. You may remember the Sugarbakers from the TV series. They’re back, but things are different as the 2020 election is underway and the world is going crazy; albeit not quite as crazy as it may seem today.

Heidi McKerley directs this opus which brings together Katherine LaNasa as Julia Sugarbaker and Beth Beyer as Suzanne Sugarbaker. Of course, like our own families, being related doesn’t always mean being in agreement. Joanna Daniels plays Mary Jo, Lane Carlock is Charlene, Tiffany Porter is Cleo, and Eve Krueger is Haley. In addition to the six women, you also find Luis Hernandez and Robin Bloodworth as the two guys with their own agendas.

The show runs in two acts each of which is about one hour. And guess what becomes the big issue. It is an election which may not satisfy all voters when the votes start to be counted, and there is one egocentric character running who could piss off a saint.

Lisa Adler brought this one to the stage on a really cool set designed by Isabel and Moriah Curley-Clay. If you think that you just can’t stand listening to the politicians any more; then this is a bit of grand comic relief, even if you might have gone red.

A very active and well done production and you can get more info and tickets at HorizonTheatre.com

10
Oct

Kurios

KURIOS
Cirque du Soleil
through December 24, 2022

They’re Back! And what a delight. This huge group is just one part of Cirque which has grown from a couple of dozen Montreal street performers more than 30 years ago to the worlds #1 touring circus with thousands of performers and staff. For instance, this show has more than 100 performers many of whom are from other nations including Asia and eastern Europe.

Kurios played here a few years ago before te epidemic took a hit at the entertainment industry. Albeit, this seems to be a revised edition of the former show; regardless of that it is still a show that draws you in from the first note of the live band. The props are totally different from any you may have seen before, while the costumes are totally unique and every person in the house, be they age 8 or 88, just loves every minute of their show.

So much of the aerobics are done seemingly without grand sized safety nets. Once again they have brought their huge facility to Atlanta Station area in downtown Atlanta. Easy to reach from anywhere with plenty of parking, and a surplus of entertainment and goodies from the first step in the gate.

This is as good as anything you will see in Vegas or NYC, and there’s plenty of info and tickets at CirqueDuSoleil.com

3
Oct

Ordinary Days

Ordinary Days
Stage Door Theatre
through October 16, 2022

If you ever went to a bistro where the food was many times better that you could have hoped for it to be; then go see this show at Stage Door Theatre and you will be over the moon. Adam Gwon did both the music and the lyrics and he is an acclaimed composer whose works have been staged on every continent and in many languages.

This one is about some young folks who left their home town to move to New York. And if you know NYC then you’ll know that the people they run into are examples of the local folks. You know when you ask that New Yorker what time it is, he usually asks why you need to know.,

Keena Reddiing directs the four leads who are Anna Holland, Suzanne Stroup, Jared Brodie and Shane Murphy. And it is amazing how Gamble, the music director, can be at the keyboard for the full 90+ minutes, as they work through more than 20 numbers.

For this show is basically an Opera Comique in one act that draws you in from the first number. It is a real treat when you visit a local theatre company only to find that the quality of the show is so wonderful. You’ll feel like you are down in The Village.

More info and tickets at StageDoorTheatre.org

1
Oct

Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson

Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson
Synchronicity Theatre
through October 23, 2022

Everybody grew up knowing about Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. Watson. And that miserable character, Moriarity. BUT, . . . how about recasting the story with some women? Suehyla E. Young directs a spoof that really is a hoot.

You first meet the gent who works the audience so that you know what you are about to witness may not probably be real. He’s O’Niel Delapenha, who also comes back in several other personae.

A young woman named Sherlock is trying to solve mysteries. She and her friends, Joan Watson decide to rent a flat at 221 Baker Street #2B. Joan is NOT a doctor of any sort and has to press that point, and Sherlock’s surname happens to be Holmes. Karen Cassady play Watson and Tara Ochs plays Holmes.

The case at hand involves some slutty female “companion” played by Vallea E. Woodbury. She is the type who may have done favors for some politicians and others who gladly pay for favors performed in private.

While Arthur Conan Doyle may take exception to the show, were he around to see it; and it certainly wouldn’t play at Savoy in London; it is an evening of real entertainment. More info and tickets at SynchroTheatre.com

1
Oct

Sunset Baby

Sunset Baby
Actor’s Express
through October 16, 2022

Another play by award winning playwright, Dominique Morisseau, has hit the stage full steam at Actor’s Express. The Director, Amanda Washington, has stated that the story of the show is to show how three family people are “doing the best they can with what they’ve got” and going through the stress of asking themselves “are you just able to exist and do what you want to do?”

Hard to deal with and most of us in the audience can relate to what they see being played out by Brittany Deneen as Nina, Eddie Bradley, Jr. as Kenyatta and Sariel Toribio as Damon.

This is one with an abundant supply of stress and family erosion and runs in one act about 100 minutes. Well done, and staged on a very clever set. More info and tickets at Actors-Express.com