16
Aug

Jukebox Giants and Motown More

JUKEBOX GIANTS, and MOTOWN MORE
STRAND THEATRE
through August 27, 2023

They’re Back for a third inning at The Strand! And loaded with energy like the old days, when the Jukebox was belting out all themm good Oldies. Direted by Shane DeLancey and choreoggraphed by Zac Phelps, a cast of 13 singers and dancers bring so many goodies to the audience. Backed up by a live on-stage band of 10 players, and with so many glamorous old costumes, they bring down the house,

Avanni Cherie, Joi Henry, Kristen Kenebrew, Ruth Mehari and Taylor Pasqualetti-Campbell provide an undeniable supply of eye candy for the audience; while Carle Atwater, Rayvon Love, Maurice Clermont, Parick Hamilton, Jr, James Patrick, Charles Pruitt, Jordan Rivers and Deshawn Willliams are a group of classy gentlemen who also like to enjoy an evening of song and dance.

This is certainly one that senior citizens relate to, sing along with, clap in time, and thoroughly enjoy. But, if you sleep you lose, so reserve your seat now online or by phone. East to get to, plenty of local parking, all seats with good view and more info and tickets at EarlSmithStrand.org

10
Aug

Red, White and Tuna

Red, White and Tuna
Onstage Atlanta
through August 27, 2023

Them guys fromTuna, Texas is back agin, and I gotta tell y’all that you sure gonna have one helluva good time if you get yourself over to Onstage Atlanta for this here one.

Brandon Mitchell and DeWayne Morgan hit the stage doin’ an unbelievable number of roles, and you gonna split your sides laughin’ at this one. It’s time to elect a Prom Queen and natcherly Vera thinks it should be her. But, things in Tuna don’t always work out so good.

Leslie Kimball directed this here show. If you seen any of them other Tuna shows you may recall most of the characters like the goofy pet shelter guy, Petey, and that gal, Didi who owns the gun shop. Of course the show starts off at local radio station RUOK with them two locals doin’ their thing on the air for the whole town to hear.

I could go on fer quite a while, but figgered it might be better to just tell you what this here snobby friend of mine done wrote me. He said “The production was well staged and one in the audience watching the show would marvel at the incredible speed with which these two veteran performers changed roles as well as costumes. They must have had the help of some real good dressers. The timing was spot-on and the show was a pure delight.”

In plain language I can tell y’all that Tuna got some quirky and but good folks living there, but like all town, big and little, there is always some problems and their’s is right funny, through every minute of the play. I guarantee you that you will enjoy each and every minute of this here one, so just go to their website, OnstageAtlanta.com, and you can get more info and tickets. They do the show Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon. Enjoy!

21
Jul

Hedwig and the Angry Itch

Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Actors Express
through August 19, 2023
Move over Rocky Horror Show, Hedwig is back at Actor’s Express again and still rocks the house which is transformed into a real life cabaret bar-stage..   This one is not your grandma’s play.  It’s more like a voyage into a strange new and very loud world.
The show revolves around the life story of Hedwig a trans-sexual entertainer from East Berlin and his/her journey of exploration and self discovery.   Niko Carleo or Christina Leidel take the stage as Hedwig, depending on the date of performance.  Hedwig is on stage throughout the show and with the exception of a few squeals and yells from other cast members this is a musical monologue set to hard rock music.
At first I wasn’t certain if the audience was singing along, or if the music were just bouncing off the hard walls of the theater.    I think it more likely the latter.    This is an uniquely staged performance wherein the theater space is transformed as said, and if you ever made it to some of those places in Berlin you know how they work.   The performers work the audience so well and you can actually have drinks from the bar in the setting.
Hedwig isn’t quite the glam queen you may be used to seeing in drag shows in that nobody is going to drool over this one.   But, if you can suspend your sense of reason for a bit and watch and listen to her story it starts to weave together.
The show is an outgrowth of a club act which started  years ago in New York, and since then has become a full blown production and a film version was released.   The work has played in many cities in America and around the world to extraordinarily enthusiastic audiences.  Directed by Quinn Xavier Hernandez with Clara Pysczynski as Hedwig’s BFF, Yitzhak and a four piece band on stage, they work through 11 numbers in a little more than an hour and a half as the tale unfolds.
No it ain’t for kiddies, either.  But, if this is your bill of fare, and  head off to Actors Express while you still have time to experience something different.  It not quite the same as when they brought the show to town 20 years ago; but the story is the same.  More info and tickets at Actors-Express.com
17
Jul

The House that Will Not Stand

The House that Will Not Stand
Horizon Theatre
through August 6, 2023

This is one very deep story brought to stage by Marcus Gardley, who also has done the new script for the musical film, The Color Purple. This one did win an OBIE in 2019. Gardley’s opus, directed by Thomas W. Jones, II is set in NOLA back in 1813, a decade after it became part of the USA.

If you have read of some of the tales from Louisiana, then you may recall that prior to the war between the states, and the 14th Amendment, the territory had black people who were slaves and also those who had become free men and women. While interracial marriage was prohibited by law, there were often situations in which a well-off white man might take in a black woman, referred to as a placée. It was not deemed a marriage but the man usually provided a house for the woman, and most likely life estate.

The men would go after the women at some old time disco balls called quadroons, and it was the women who dressed to the nines and coyly attracted their attention. This play runs about 2.5 hours with one intermission. It is not one the kiddies would figure out. The cast consists of six live players and one dead prop dummy. Beatrice (Donna Briscoe) is a grieving widow who has three daughters, and insists on running their lives. Her just dead husband’s placée wants to have her life back. She’s played by Alia Shakira.

Nothing goes easy. Is he really dead, or speaking out from beyond? Can the daughters really attract the right guy, when they are supposed to be in 6 months of mourning? The cast and crew will pull you through a lot of angst and dread; but then it may just be a chapter of true life. After all, New Orleans has always had an unique environment, population and life style.

This show runs Wednesday to Saturday 1t 8pm, with sold out matinees on Saturday at 3pm and Sunday at 5pm. For tickets just go to HorizonTheatre.com, and then head down to Little Five Points.

20
Jun

The Golden Gals Live

The Golden Gals Live
Out Front Theatre
through June 25, 2023

If you are over a certain age you will fondly remember more than 150 episodes of The Golden Girls. It was those four old broads living together in Miami. Blanche was the slut, Rose was the dumb-nut, Dorothy was divorced from the jerk, Stan; and Sophia was Dorothy’s mother.

This production is a touring company which thankfully has come to our town, although they are getting back on the road after this weekend. You have four drag queens on stage and a couple of supporting cast members. Ginger Minj may be the director, but he/she is also Blanche Devereaux; the one every sailor and bar hopper knows.

It remiinded me of when I was in St. Olaf and they had a touring company. The only problem was they didn’t bring any seats with them. But, fear not. Out Front has easy parkiing, good views from every seat and goodies at the bar. This show, in particular is a real non-stop laugh-fest. You know the characters, and they are all on stage for you to enjoy a couple of hours.

More info and tickets at OutFrontTheatre.com

19
Jun

Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood

Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood
Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse
through July 2, 2023

While you may have thought that the Bard of Avon only wrote hard drama, then you will love Ken Ludwig’s camped up version of that young guy with a great aim in the Sherwood Forest. For this is not the usual Robin Hood.

As you enjoy your gastronomic choices at the Tavern, you will be delighted by the pre-show choral group, then be off to dealing with the problems of those olden days. Robin Hood (Kevin Roost) has a thing for Maid Marian (Amanda Lindsey McDonald) and Friar Tuck  (Chris Schultz) has to help move the tale along.

Directed by Andrew Houchins, the cast of 10 players does a superb job. The cast moves through a lot of song and dance numbers, and you will be awe struck by the sword play that was designed by Jake Guinn. I can assure you that nobody on stage nor in the audience will actually fall from a lunge nor an arrow.

The Tavern is like your Local Pub, and the food and grub are good, the seating is easy and has good views and nobody leaves feeling that Classic Comics might be a better way to learn. Their website is at ShakespearTavern.com

19
Jun

Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants
Alliance Theatre
through July 9, 2023

Let’s jump to the bottom line. This is the MOST exciting production you have seen in years, and the most energetic ever staged by the Alliance. Go online or the phone and get your seats as it should sell out every day.

Jessica Stone directs a cast of dozens of players who are just bringing down the house with their singing, dancing, puppetry and acrobatics of pure Big Top excellence. This is a huge production with more than 60 people working together to bring the very best to you. You will be drawn into the life of Jacob (Ryan Vasquez) who hops on the circus train to leave his home town. He joins the Benzini Brothers Circus and gets into training the newly acquired elephant with Marlena (Isabelle McCalla) and that has some problems you will watch them work through.

A full orchestra under the baton of Matt Hinkley keeps the story moving, while some incredible sets will surprise you quite often. The show is more than just Broadway quality. It is world class, and here in Atlanta. So hit the keys and visit AllianceTheatre.org and do it NOW!

15
Jun

The Legend of Finn McCool

The Legend of Finn McCool
Aris Theatre
through June 25, 2023

This production of the new telling of the old legend by Rob Shaw-Smith, is a hoot. It is playing at the Academy Theatre just south of the airport in Hapeville. It takes us back to the olden days when the Irish and the Scots were generally not fans of each other.

Finn McCool wants to get it on with that giant from Scotland, Benandonner but he has some problems, mainly the Irish Sea running between the two area. You have to watch the show to see how Finn figures to reach the Scottish Giant, and what distrust and dislike brings about in the areas of romance, and gastronomy.

With the live band on stage, the players work the house as if you were your Local having another pint. So know you can bring beverages and snacks with you, sit back and laugh and clap your way through a couple of hours. Get info and tickets at ArisTheatre.org

14
Jun

The Wiz

The Wiz
True Colors Theatre
through July 2, 2023

When L. Frank Baum penned his famous children’s book in 1900, it is hard to imagine that he could have foreseen it’s trip to Broadway, the 7 Tony awards, nor the more modern adaptation now played just as The Wiz. This one is a real eye opener and crowd pleaser.

The Wiz with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls brings into the ‘hood of a cast of 15 players, each of whom is African-American, and the set and technical aspects are certainly Broadway quality; while the players run through their trip to Oz, that looks more like Atlanta. Backed up by live singers and musicians, they belt out many a tune as a Tin Man seeks a heart, the Straw Man looks for a brain and that cowardly Lion wants to get pumped up. Dorothy, on the other hand just wants to get back to Kansas. Did she always love tornados?

You will be blown away by the costumes, rapid changes, and the choreography designed by the play’s director, Brian Jordan, Jr. The packed house is just blown away by the first-class production. So, for an wonderful few hours, plan your trip to the Southwest Arts Center and enjoy. Full info and tickets at TrueColorsTheatre.org

14
Jun

Jesus Hopped the “A” Train

Jesus Hopped the “A” Train
Actor’s Express
through July 2, 2023

This is a production of a play which delves deeply into religious beliefs and non-beliefs. Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis, the play is set in the Rikers Island jail, there are two prisoners played by Sekou Laidlow and Cristian Gonzalez who are being held on murder charges.

One of them may be relying on his faith in the almighty to save him from further pain and angst, while the con across the hall is a non-believer who relies more on the possibility of a good lawyer saving his toosh. Directed by Eric J. Little, the cast also includes Jacob York, Cara Mantella, Luis Hernandez and Andrew Randolph.

This is a very sensual dive into the nature of these two, one of whom has more to atone for than the other as he has commtted a multitude of felonies. It is a difficult story with loads of yelling out and the use of the “F word” as the universal modifier. Ergo, it isn’t for Ms. Prim nor the kiddies; while it surely resonates with so many of us understand that the work dysfunctional is predicated upon families.

A harrowing script, masterfully done. More info and tickets at Actors-Express,com