Coming Up in 2009

It's good to see that 2009 will offer a lot of different shows for theatre fans to enjoy!

Lots of theatre groups haven't decided on their summer or fall shows yet - for example, I haven't heard yet what shows 5th Avenue Theatre Company, ARTS, Huntington Outdoor Theatre or ACTC's Theatre are planning to tackle this year.

Here are the ones I've been able to track down so far. As always, let me know about any I've missed and I'll add them to the list - just send in a comment to the link below or email it to me at TheMinskers@aol.com.

Now, on to the shows of 2009:

Only one show is taking the stage in January, but it's a good one - Gilbert & Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore will be staged Jan. 23-25 and 30-31 by The Charleston Light Opera Guild. It's their diamond anniversary performance of this comedic opera - it's the first production the guild ever did!

On February 2 the Clay Center will present the touring show of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It's a terrific show!

The Marshall Artist's Series has a great lineup this spring, including Sweeney Todd on Feb. 5, Golda's Balcony on March 7, Blues Journey on March 9, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on April 28.

First Church Dinner Theatre will present the comedy Bitsy, Boots...and Ida at the First United Methodist Church in Huntington on February 13 and 14.

Marshall University's Department of Theatre will present the madcap comedy Charley's Aunt February 25-28.

Also in February, the Charleston Stage Company will present Doubt, which is John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play, which is now also a film starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep.

The Kanawha Players will present Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage February 6-7 and 13-14 at the Kanawha Players Theater.

The Children's Theatre of Charleston will present The Secret Garden on March 5-7.

The First Stage Theatre Company will present two shows in March: the non-musical Charlotte’s Web, based on the classic book by E.B. White, will be presented the first two weekends in March; and the musical comedy Alexander, Who’s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move, which is based on books by Judith Viorst, will be presented the last two weekends in March.

Mark Twain's classic tale, Tom Sawyer, comes to exuberant musical life in an adaptation of America's favorite book. It will be presented by the Kanawha Players April 3-4 and 11-12.

In April Marshall's Dept. of Theatre will present Epic Proportions, the story of two brothers who go to the Arizona desert to be extras in the huge Biblical epic - but get much more than they bargained for.

The classic musical South Pacific will be presented in May at the Civic Center Little Theater by the Charleston Light Opera Guild.

The Jenny Wiley Theatre has a full schedule this summer. including the Elvis-centric All Shook Up in July, the popular Smoke on the Mountain from June to August, The Legend of Jenny Wiley in August, and Broadway Kids through July and August.

As for the fall, the only show being planned that I've heard about is First Stage Theatre Company's production of Into the Woods.

And that's all I have for now - but isn't it great to have so many outstanding shows in our future?

EDIT: Here's one I missed somehow: CYAC will present Scarpelli and Kehde's Lincoln in February, just in time for the birthday of one of our greatest presidents!

EDIT #2: My pal Stephen Vance tells me that I missed another one - Huntington High is doing Li'l Abner the first week in February!