On Stage in August

There was a time, a few years back, when August was the quiet month in local theatre, with no shows taking the stage.

Those days are over, and there are several excellent shows coming up. Here's the list:

- Crimes of the Heart - ARTS presents the award-winning drama. It's set in Hazelhurst, Mississippi, where the three Magrath sisters have gathered to await news of their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in the hospital. This is the story of how people escape the past to seize the future. The play will be presented at the Renaissance Theatre Aug. 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 19 and 26 at 2 p.m.

- Avenue Q - Curtains Up Players proudly presents the Tony Award-winning Best Musical at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center (1030 4th Avenue - Huntington). Shows will be presented Aug. 24, 25, 30, 31 and Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 at 2:30 p.m.

- Legally Blonde: the Musical - Charleston Light Opera Guild presents the musical comedy about the beautiful Elle Woods who follows her heart to Harvard Law School! It'll be presented at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater Aug. 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 5 at 3 p.m.

- Here Lies Alan Chase... - The original drama written by Ashland native Jason McAllister centers around a small town newspaper and the people, events and secrets surrounding the sudden death of a well-noted reporter. Layer after layer, the lies are stripped away, but... we all have to decide how much truth we can live with. The play will be presented in Ashland at the Hillside Community Church on Aug. 2, 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. Admission is $5.

- Disney's Camp Rock - The Paramount Players present the energy-packed rock musical based on Disney's movies, Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. Shows will be presented Thursday, Aug. 2, Friday, Aug. 3 and Saturday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m., and a matinee will be presented Saturday, Aug. 4 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $14 for adults and $10 for children.

- Dorothy Meets Alice - Ohio River Theatre Company presents this new play of the delightful meeting of two of literature's most famous young ladies. The story unfolds when a young man puts off a book report till the last minute, then suddenly finds himself in a strange place somewhere between Oz and Wonderland. It then becomes his responsiblility to unscramble the stories and steer the familiar characters - the Cowardly Lion, the Mad Hatter, the Scarecrow and the White Rabbit, among others - to their ultimate destinations while avoiding the Wicked Witch and the Red Queen. This hilarious, adventuresome romp is filled with laughter and surprises at every turn. The show will be presented at Ironton High School Aug. 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 12 at 2:30 p.m. All seats are $10.

So get out there and support your community theatre!