On Stage This Weekend: Lots of Shows!

   The floodgates open this weekend (and into next week) as six shows take the stages! 

   Here's the list:

- A Bitsy and Boots Murder Mystery - First United Methodist Church presents the seventh comedy in the “Bitsy and Boots” series by our resident playwright, Jonathan Joy. Shows will be presented at the First United Methodist Church, 1124 5^th Ave., Huntington, on Thursday, Feb. 16; Friday, Feb. 17; and Saturday, Feb. 18. Dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Show at 8 p.m. Dinner plus Show: Adult - $25, Child under 12 - $8. Show only (as space permits) - $5. Babysitting available on request for all shows (advance notice required). Reservations are required for all dinners. Call 304-522-0357 or  740-867-8576 or e-mail  firstchurchdinnertheater@gmail.com. All profits benefit the Missions of First United Methodist Church.

- Circle Mirror Transformation - Marshall University’s Department of Theatre presents the play on Feb. 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Francis-Booth Experimental Theatre at The JCE Performing Arts Center. The play focuses on four lost New Englanders who enroll in a six-week-long community-center drama class begin to experiment with harmless games. Hearts are quietly torn apart and tiny wars of epic proportions are waged and won. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for faculty and senior citizens, $7 for children ages 5 to 12, and free to full-time Marshall students with valid ID.

- 42nd Street - Marshall Artists Series presents the quintessential backstage musical comedy classic which includes some of the greatest songs ever written, such as “We’re In The Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off To Buffalo,” “Dames,” “I Only Have Eyes For You,” and of course “42nd Street.” It will be presented Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Keith Albee Performing Arts Center. Tickets range from $80 to $54. 

- The Importance of Being Earnest - The Alban Arts and Conference Center present the play by Oscar Wilde, whose famous 19th century comedy of manners gets a unique treatment as men and women switch roles in this new production. The cast includes Rachel Sanford as Algernon, Eric Rogers as Gwendolyn, Clayton Strohmenger as Cecily, Tim Alderman as Lady Bracknell, Nina Surbaugh as Rev. Chasuble, Jim-Bob Williams as Miss Prism, and Bethany Reed as Lane/Merriman. It will be presented Feb. 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. at the Alban Arts and Conference Center at 65 Olde Main Street in Saint Albans. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens.

- The Social Action Plays - CYAC presents a unique production that includes nine plays, and 18 performances over 12 Days, running from Feb. 16 to 25 at the  WVSU Captiol Center Theatre at 123 Summers Street in Charleston. The director explains: “Every few years we pull enough kids together to put on all the social action pieces in a single week. This year we'll do it during February. Back in the old days we used to take these into the schools, bring along an educator and try to show the victims in our audiences that they weren't alone and that we could give them someone to talk to, if they wanted. Now it seems that the subjects of date rape, dating violence, HIV/AIDS, grief, and teen predation are too controversial to talk about on the sites where most teenagers are exposed to them in the first place. So we'll be performing them on stage for anyone to come see. And that's fine. At least we're still trying, and the actors, the actors walk away knowing more about these problems and more about their solutions than any of their peers. For more info about dates and times, visit: http://cyaccharleston.com/Social-Action-Plays-2017.html

- A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Jenny Wiley Theatre presents the Shakespeare comedy of love and magic on Feb. 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jenny Wiley Mainstage in Pikeville. Tickets are $14 for adults and $9 for children.

   So get out and see the show!