On Stage in March

   March is the month when community theatre stages really get crowded - and that's certainly the case this weekend, as at least dozen great shows vie for your attention! 

   Including:

- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Curtains Up Players presents the musical based on the classic fairy tale at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center at 1030 4th Avenue in Huntington. It will be presented March 1, 2, 7 and 8 at 8 p.m. and March 3 and 10 at 2:30 p.m.

- Doubt - Marshall Theatre Alliance presents the drama set in a Bronx Catholic school in 1964. It examines the intersections of doubt, truth and faith. Sister Aloysius is certain that young Father Flynn has “made advances” toward the school’s first and only African-American student and sets out in search of the truth. The show will be presented at the Francis-Booth Experimental Theatre March 1 and 2 at 8 p.m.

- Hair - the Marshall Artists Series presents the touring version of the Broadway musical on March 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Keith Albee Theatre.  

- The Secret Garden - 5th Avenue Theatre presents the musical based of the classic novel. It follows a young English girl who is sent to Yorkshire to live with relatives she's never met. Her life blossoms when she discovers a secret garden. Shows will be presented at the City Hall Auditorium March 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. and March 10 and 17 at 2:30 p.m. 

- Julius Caesar - Beware the Ides of March! William Shakespeare's classic play is brought to life by ARTS at the Renaissance Theatre at 900 8th Street in Huntington on March 15, 16, 22 and 23 at 8 p.m.

- Richard III - Alban Alban Arts Center presents the most performed of Shakespeare’s history plays. “Now is the winter of our discontent…”At the end of the English civil war known as the War of the Roses, the people look forward to a period of peace under King Edward IV. But Edward's younger brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, has other ideas. The play will be staged at the Alban Arts Center at 65 Olde Main Street in St. Albans. The show will be presented March 1, 2 at 8 p.m., and March 3 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students/seniors. Call 304-721-8896 for reservations and visit www.albanartscenter.com for more information. 

- The Secret Garden - Portsmouth Little Theatre presents the musical based of the classic novel. It follows a young English girl who is sent to Yorkshire to live with relatives she's never met. Her life blossoms when she discovers a secret garden. Shows will be presented March 1, 2, 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. and March 3 and 10 at 2 p.m. at 1117 Lawson Street in Portsmouth, Ohio.

- The Taming of the Shrew - Jenny Wiley Theatre presents the story of the courtship of Petruchio and Katherina.  Petruchio has accepted a challenge to tame the headstrong and stubborn "shrew" Katherina. Through the mischief of reverse psychology, Petruchio does his best to domesticate Katherina, which leads to one comedic pratfall after another. The show will be presented March 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jenny Wiley Theatre at 218 Second St in Pikeville, Ky.

- The Laramie Project - The show is a compilation of interviews of residents of Laramie, Wyoming during the time of the murder of Mathew Shepard, a young man who was beaten to death because he was gay. The play will be presented at Morehead State University on March 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. and March 3 at 2 p.m.

- The Vagina Monologues - Proceeds from this play about domestic violence will benefit the Starlena Pratt Foundation / Kanawha County Victims Services Center - allowing victims of domestic violence access to multiple types of assistance in one place. It will be presented March 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. at the Kanawha Players, 309 Beauregard Street, Charleston.

- The Hobbit - The Children's Theatre of Charleston presents a musical based on the classic book by J.R.R. Tolkien. Follow Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the wizard and 13 dwarves as they journey on a quest that includes a confrontation with a dragon. The show will be presented at the Charleston Little Theatre March 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. and March 9 and 10 at 2 p.m.

- The Wizard of Oz - Paramount Arts Center presents the classic musical about Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion as they search for the Wizard. The musical will be presented March 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and March 16 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

- Legally Blonde: the Musical - Portsmouth Area Arts Council & Children's Theatre presents the hit Broadway show about a young woman's quest to overcome all odds and win her man - even if it means going into Harvard's law school! Shows will be presented at the Verne Riffe Center for the Arts March 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. and March 17 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 - for more information call 740-351-3600.

   Whew! So there you go, lots to see! Get out there and support your community theatre!