Theatre in Huntington for 2017

   So, what's going on with community theatre in Huntington?

   Well... right now it's all about rehearsals. It generally takes six to 12 weeks to prepare a show (depending on whether it's a big ol' musical or a small non-musical), and in Huntington, the only two groups active right now are just getting started on their next shows.

   So our friends at ARTS are working on their last show of the season, Neil Simon's comedy, The Odd Couple. (Their season, I should note, follows the calendar year, so this will be the last of five shows they've presented this year).

   The show is directed by Gene Anthony and features a talented cast - and it's a very funny show, perhaps Simon's best, so you'll want to watch for that one.

   The other group active right now is First Stage Theatre Company (Huntington's children's theatre), and their season follows the school year so they're just getting started with rehearsals for the first of two shows taking the stage before the year is over.

   First up is Poe's Midnight Dreary, a Halloween offering that focuses on the life and work of author Edgar Allan Poe, and it promises to be a spooky delight. The play is directed by Brynne Kyle and features a terrific cast!

   The other show in the works is Elf, Jr., a Christmas musical based on the beloved film starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf. It'll be staged after Thanksgiving at the new Huntington High School. It's directed by Amy Browning and is loaded with amazing talent!

   So what are the other theatre groups in town doing? I haven't heard any news from either 5th Avenue Theatre (based out of City Hall) or Curtain Up Players (CUP), so they're probably making plans for their next production - or else they're just being shy.

   HART in the Park has wrapped its summer of shows, and we should hear about their plans for next year sometime around the end of the year or the beginning of 2018.

   They're not really a community theatre group, but Marshall University's School of Theatre is hard at work on their new season, which kicks off with The Miracle Worker in October, and then A Christmas Carol for the holidays.

    Oh, and the Marshall Artists Series is bringing in some great shows, including the funny musical Kinky Boots!

   So that's the good news: we have lots of great shows to look forward to in the months ahead!