Marshall to present children’s opera ‘Little Red Riding Hood’

   Marshall University’s opera program, Opera at Marshall, will present the children’s opera Little Red Riding Hood at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at Smith Recital Hall.

   Free and open to the public, the opera is appropriate for children ages 4 and older and lasts about 45 minutes.

   “This Children’s Opera not only has classical artistic elements but also fun and tuneful melodies and texts for the audience of all ages,” said Dr. Alexander Lee, assistant professor of voice at Marshall and director of the opera. “Little Red Riding Hood will make you and your children appreciate and love this synthesis of music, stage and drama.”

   The event is sponsored by the Marshall University School of Music in the College of Arts and Media.

An Honor for the Paramount Players

  
   Congratulations to the Paramount Players! That Ashland-based theatre group has been selected to represent the United States in the long-running community theater festival in Korenov, Czech Republic in August 2019!

   Melanie Regina Cornelison-Jannotta, Josh Jannotta, Rick Payne, Thaddeus Stambaugh, Matt Hammond, Morgan Stevens, Allison Danyelle Hammond and Mark Smith will be making the trip.

    The group will be representing community theater companies across the United States - quite an honor!

On Stage This Week - "Crimes of the Heart"

    My pal Dave Lavender crafted a great story in the Herald-Dispatch about Marshall University's latest production, the drama Crimes of the Heart, which is playing this weekend only. (The photo above is by Ryan Fischer.)

   You can read the story at this link - here's an excerpt:

---------------------

This week, putting the fun into dysfunctional family is the one and only Mississippi-mud-slinging, crazy in love, Magrath sisters: Meg, Babe and Lenny all back living, crying, laughing and fighting together to survive in their childhood home after Babe shot her abusive husband.

Taking place in a realistic 1970s-house set, and starring a shining set of senior actresses is the Marshall University Theater's production of Beth Henley's "Crimes of the Heart," which won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play.

Marshall's production is one week-only at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 15 - 17 at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center Playhouse.

Admission is $20 at the door, $15 MU faculty and seniors. Free for MU students with a valid ID.

Director Jack Cirillo, who directed the play back in 1999, his second year at Marshall, said there's a lot of good reasons to dive back into Henley's 1979-written work that actually premiered regionally at the prestigious Actors Theatre in Louisville before debuting on Broadway on Nov. 4, 1981.

"Crimes of the Heart" was also a successful 1986 film that starred Jessica Lange, Diane Keaton and Sissy Spacek as the three sisters. Spacek won the Golden Globe Award for best actress for her portrayal of Babe.

"There are so many decisions that go into choosing a season and picking shows and some of that is your clientele and student body, and what is a good piece for them," Cirillo said. "This is a play that has some terrific roles for women and I think that it has some compelling things to say about the dynamics of a family and I am always interested in that."

On Stage This Week (and Coming Attractions)

Here’s the show lineup for the week, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Upcoming shows are also listed. If I've missed anything, please let me know. 

__________________________

ONSTAGE THIS WEEK:

- “Crimes of the Heart” - Marshall University Theatre presents the play by Beth Henley. It will be presented Nov. 14, 15, 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Playhouse of the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center. The scene is Hazlehurst, Mississippi, where the three Magrath sisters have gathered to await news of the family patriarch, their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in the local hospital. Lenny, the oldest sister, is unmarried at thirty and facing diminishing marital prospects; Meg, the middle sister, who quickly outgrew Hazlehurst, is back after a failed singing career on the West Coast; while Babe, the youngest, is out on bail after having shot her husband in the stomach. Their troubles, grave and yet, somehow, hilarious, are highlighted by their priggish cousin, Chick, and by the awkward young lawyer who tries to keep Babe out of jail while helpless not to fall in love with her. Tickets are $20 at the door, $15 for Seniors & Faculty, $7 for children under 12, ,and Marshall University students admitted FREE with a valid ID.

- “Annie” - Grace Christian School will present the classic musical on Friday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium at Huntington City Hall. Tickets are $8 for kids and $10 for adults and may be purchased at the door.

- Murder and Merriment (Interactive Murder Dinner Parties)

For a complete list of upcoming murder parties, visit www.murderandmerriment.com.

_____________________________

UPCOMING LIVE THEATRE

- “MARY” - Contemporary Youth Arts Company presents the 22nd annual performance of Scarpelli and Kehde’s seasonal rock opera follows the life of the mother of Jesus during the nine months prior to birth. The show will be presented at 7 p.m. on Nov. 23 and 24, at 2 p.m. on  Nov. 24 and 25, at 7 p.m. on Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1, and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 1 and 2.  All performance are in the Contemporary Youth Arts Company Theater, 2nd level, Charleston Town Center. Tickets are $8 for Students and $15 for Adults. Tickets are available at the door the night of the performance or online at cyacwv.showclix.com. There will also be a performance at Rock Branch Church in Nitro on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.

- “A Christmas Story the Musical” - First Stage Theatre Company present the musical based of the story by Jean Shepherd about Ralphie, the boy who dreams of getting a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas, but everyone tells him, “You’ll shoot your eye out.” The show will be presented Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1 and 2 at Huntington High School’s auditorium.

- “A Christmas Carol” - Contemporary Youth Arts Company presents local playwright Dan Kehde performing in a one-man presentation of the Charles Dickens holiday classic. The show will be presented at 7 p.m. on Dec. 6, 7 and 8, at 2 p.m. on Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13, 14 and 15, and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 16. All performance are in the Contemporary Youth Arts Company Theater, 2nd level, Charleston Town Center. Tickets are $8 for Students and $15 for Adults. Tickets are available at the door the night of the performance or online at cyacwv.showclix.com.

- “Elf the Musical, Jr.” - The Children's Theatre of Charleston presents the musicls comedy on Dec. 6, 7, 8 and 9 at the Civic Center Little Theater. The musical tells the story of Buddy, a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

——————————-

Farewell to Stan Lee

  It's heartbreaking to note the passing today of Stan Lee, 95, one of the most important figures in the history of comic books.

   He started in the business when he was a teenager, working as a gopher for his uncle, publisher Martin Goodman, at Timely Comics.

   Through the years his career survived the near destruction of the comics industry and by the late 1950s he was the editor and main writer for the company then known as Atlas Comics.

   He wasn't very proud of his work, as evidenced by his use of a pen name instead of his real name, Stanley Leiber. But with a new, creative approach to comics, he was about the rejuvenate the industry.

   Teaming up with legendary artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, they created dynamic new heroes for the company that changed its name again, as it became Marvel Comics. Heroes such as the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, Dr. Strange, the X-Men were brought to life, and by combining action, humor and soap opera elements, they brought new energy and new interest to the comics industry.

   Stan gets a lot of praise for his work as a writer and scripter, but he doesn't alway get enough credit for his work as an editor - he was able to urge the best work of their careers from everyone in the Bullpen, including Kirby, Ditko, John Buscema, Don Heck, George Tuska, Gene Colan, John Romita, Jim Steranko and Gil Kane (and many others) - and hired terrific writers to add to the mythos, including Roy Thomas. 

   But his most important work was as a promoter for comics. He created the attitude at Marvel that we were all part of the club. Stan was the funny, lovable leader of the gang, and we were all welcome. He became the face of the industry, and without his tireless promotion, pushing that product, I suspect comic books might long ago have gone the way of radio dramas.

   It occurs to me that he's probably the only comic book creator that almost anyone on the street could name. 

   At his advanced age and (apparently) failing health, his passing is probably a blessing - but it's a tough loss to bear. Stan was a true inspiration. For me, there are few writers who had as much influence or whose work affected me more. He crafted mythologies and stories that still resonate, and told stories I can almost repeat word-for-word. 

   He was a titan of entertainment, with characters and stories continuing long after he last provided their dialogue. It seems a fitting memorial that he leaves behind a billion dollar industry that produces several movies every year (in addition to TV shows, video games, books and, yes, comic books) based on characters that sprang from his work with talented artists over 50 years ago.

   I was lucky enough to meet him for an interview in the late '80s and he was exactly what you'd expect: funny, quick, lovable, kind and brimming with energy. That's the Stan I'll remember and cherish. 

   At the end of the interview, I asked the usual question: "Is there anything you'd like to add?" He paused for a moment, leaned forward, smiled, and said, "Excelsior!"

Shows in November and Upcoming Auditions

Here’s the show lineup for the week, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. Upcoming shows and auditions are also listed. If I've missed anything, please let me know. 

__________________________

ONSTAGE THIS WEEK:

- “Ragtime the Musical” - presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild and the Clay Center. The musical will be presented in the Maier Performance Hall at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences on Nov. 9, 10 and 11.

- Murder and Merriment (Interactive Murder Dinner Parties)

For a complete list of upcoming murder parties, visit www.murderandmerriment.com.

_____________________________

UPCOMING LIVE THEATRE

- “Crimes of the Heart” - Marshall University Theatre presents the play by Beth Henley. It will be presented Nov. 14, 15, 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Playhouse of the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center. The scene is Hazlehurst, Mississippi, where the three Magrath sisters have gathered to await news of the family patriarch, their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in the local hospital. Lenny, the oldest sister, is unmarried at thirty and facing diminishing marital prospects; Meg, the middle sister, who quickly outgrew Hazlehurst, is back after a failed singing career on the West Coast; while Babe, the youngest, is out on bail after having shot her husband in the stomach. Their troubles, grave and yet, somehow, hilarious, are highlighted by their priggish cousin, Chick, and by the awkward young lawyer who tries to keep Babe out of jail while helpless not to fall in love with her. Tickets are $20 at the door, $15 for Seniors & Faculty, $7 for children under 12, ,and Marshall University students admitted FREE with a valid ID.

- “MARY” - Contemporary Youth Arts Company presents the 22nd annual performance of Scarpelli and Kehde’s seasonal rock opera follows the life of the mother of Jesus during the nine months prior to birth. The show will be presented at 7 p.m. on Nov. 23 and 24, at 2 p.m. on  Nov. 24 and 25, at 7 p.m. on Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1, and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 1 and 2.  All performance are in the Contemporary Youth Arts Company Theater, 2nd level, Charleston Town Center. Tickets are $8 for Students and $15 for Adults. Tickets are available at the door the night of the performance or online at cyacwv.showclix.com. There will also be a performance at Rock Branch Church in Nitro on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.

- “A Christmas Story the Musical” - First Stage Theatre Company present the musical based of the story by Jean Shepherd about Ralphie, the boy who dreams of getting a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas, but everyone tells him, “You’ll shoot your eye out.” The show will be presented Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1 and 2 at Huntington High School’s auditorium.

———————————-

UPCOMING AUDITIONS:

AUDITIONS FOR: “Mamma Mia” - Presented by Charleston Light Opera Guild. and the Clay Center. Auditions will be held at the Guild Theatre. Reading auditions will be Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m. - scripts provided for lead, supporting and featured character readings. Dancing auditions will be Monday, Nov. 12 at 7:00 p.m. - dress to dance, musical theater combinations will be taught. Be prompt! The musical will be presented in the Maier Performance Hall at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences on Jan. 18, 19, 25, and 26, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on Jan. 20 and 27, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. This musical staging is based on the book by Catherine Johnson and music and lyrics by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. This is the first time the musical will be produced by a community theatre company in the region. ABBA's hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman's search for her birth father.  This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise.  On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show.  A large cast, non-stop laughs and explosive dance numbers combine to make Mamma Mia! enjoyable for any audience. 

AUDITIONS FOR: “Anne of Green Gables” -

written and directed by Lawrence Burgess. 

Auditions will take place at South Charleston City Hall at 401 D Street in South Charleston on 

Saturday, Nov. 10 and Sunday, Nov. 11 at 3 p.m.

The play will be performed at The Capitol Theater of Resurrection Church at 123 Summers Street in Charleston on Feb. 15, 16, 22 and 23 at 8 p.m., Feb. 17 and 24 at 3 p.m., and Feb. 16 and 23 at 2 p.m.

——————————-

On Stage This Week (plus Coming Attractions and Auditions)

Here’s the show lineup for the week, beginning Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (Happy Halloween!) Upcoming shows and auditions are also listed. 

__________________________

ONSTAGE THIS WEEK:

- “Of Devils and Men” is a live stage play written and directed by Lawrence Burgess. The death penalty has just been passed into law. Twelve jurors, one is the devil. The end has come. Performances will be at the Capitol Theatre in Charleston on Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 general admission, and $10 on Sunday performances.

- “Good Night, Grovers Corners” - Contemporary Youth Arts Company presents Dan Kehde’s radical anti-war play, which was written two years after 9/11. The basis of an independent film of the same name, this hard hitting satirical drama remains relevant to the continuing Iraqi and Afghan conflicts of today. Adult humor and situations make it more appropriate for audiences aged 13 and older. Shows will be presented at 7 p.m. on Nov. 1, 2 and 3. All performance are in the Contemporary Youth Arts Company Theater, 2nd level, Charleston Town Center. Tickets are $8 for Students and $15 for Adults. Tickets are available at the door the night of the performance or online at cyacwv.showclix.com. 

- “Perfect Wedding” - the Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) presents one of Samuel French’s most produced plays, which deals with a wedding day gone horribly and hilariously, wrong. It will be presented at the JB Sowards Theatre on Nov. 2 and 3.

- “Ragtime the Musical” - presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild and the Clay Center. The musical will be presented in the Maier Performance Hall at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences on November 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11, 2018.

- “Forever Plaid” - Paramount Players present a dinner theater with musical numbers from the ’40s and ’50s, including "Chain Gang,” "Heart & Soul,” "Moments To Remember" and more! It stars Rick Payne, Josh Jannotta, Thaddeus Stambaugh and Matt Hammond at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.

- Murder and Merriment (Interactive Murder Dinner Parties)

For a complete list of upcoming murder parties, visit www.murderandmerriment.com.

_____________________________

UPCOMING LIVE THEATRE

- “Crimes of the Heart” - Marshall University Theatre presents the play by Beth Henley. It will be presented Nov. 14, 15, 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Playhouse of the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center. The scene is Hazlehurst, Mississippi, where the three Magrath sisters have gathered to await news of the family patriarch, their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in the local hospital. Lenny, the oldest sister, is unmarried at thirty and facing diminishing marital prospects; Meg, the middle sister, who quickly outgrew Hazlehurst, is back after a failed singing career on the West Coast; while Babe, the youngest, is out on bail after having shot her husband in the stomach. Their troubles, grave and yet, somehow, hilarious, are highlighted by their priggish cousin, Chick, and by the awkward young lawyer who tries to keep Babe out of jail while helpless not to fall in love with her. Tickets are $20 at the door, $15 for Seniors & Faculty, $7 for children under 12, ,and Marshall University students admitted FREE with a valid ID.

- “MARY” - Contemporary Youth Arts Company presents the 22nd annual performance of Scarpelli and Kehde’s seasonal rock opera follows the life of the mother of Jesus during the nine months prior to birth. The show will be presented at 7 p.m. on Nov. 23 and 24, at 2 p.m. on  Nov. 24 and 25, at 7 p.m. on Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1, and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 1 and 2.  All performance are in the Contemporary Youth Arts Company Theater, 2nd level, Charleston Town Center. Tickets are $8 for Students and $15 for Adults. Tickets are available at the door the night of the performance or online at cyacwv.showclix.com.

- “A Christmas Story the Musical” - First Stage Theatre Company present the musical based of the story by Jean Shepherd about Ralphie, the boy who dreams of getting a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas, but everyone tells him, “You’ll shoot your eye out.” The show will be presented Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1 and 2 at Huntington High School’s auditorium.

———————————-

UPCOMING AUDITIONS:

AUDITIONS FOR: “Mamma Mia” - Presented by Charleston Light Opera Guild. and the Clay Center. Auditions will be held at the Guild Theatre. Singing auditions will be Monday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. - prepare vocal selection and bring sheet music for Guild accompanist. Reading auditions will be Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m. - scripts provided for lead, supporting and featured character readings. Dancing auditions will be Monday, Nov. 12 at 7:00 p.m. - dress to dance, musical theater combinations will be taught. Be prompt! The musical will be presented in the Maier Performance Hall at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences on Jan. 18, 19, 25, and 26, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on Jan. 20 and 27, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. This musical staging is based on the book by Catherine Johnson and music and lyrics by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. This is the first time the musical will be produced by a community theatre company in the region. ABBA's hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman's search for her birth father.  This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise.  On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show.  A large cast, non-stop laughs and explosive dance numbers combine to make Mamma Mia! enjoyable for any audience. 

——————————-

Tri-State Youth Orchestra Fall Concert on Nov. 6

   The Tri-State Youth Orchestra string section will be presenting their 21st annual fall concert on Nov 6, 2018, at 7 p.m. at the New Baptist Church at 610 28th Street in Huntington.  

   The orchestra's members are from Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.  Admission is $5, children under 12 free.  Doors open at 6:30 p.m.  

   For more information contact Ron Caviani at tsyo@aol.com or 304-743-7425.

Coming Up from the Paramount Players

   The Herald-Dispatch ran this story earlier in the week previewing some upcoming events from the Paramount Players in Ashland. You can read it at this link - here are the highlights:

'Dracula'

The Paramount Players will present, "Dracula" based on the novel by Bram Stoker and adapted for the stage by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston.

The story of Dracula follows Lucy Seward, (whose father is the doctor in charge of an English sanitarium) has been attacked by some mysterious illness. Dr. Van Helsing, a specialist, believes the girl is the victim of a vampire. And so the search to find the elusive Count Dracula begins. Dracula is Rated PG-13 for violence and mild language.

Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27 and there will be a special midnight performance on Friday, Oct. 26. Tickets are $25 (price goes up $2 day of show) online at www.paramountartscenter.com, at the box office, 1300 Winchester Ave., Ashland, or by calling 606-324-0007.

Auditions for "Honk, Jr."

The Paramount Players resident theatre company of the Paramount Arts Center will hold auditions for the next show in their Paramount Kids Series "Honk, Jr.," at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, for ages 8-18.

The play tells the story of Ugly, who looks quite a bit different from his darling duckling brothers and sisters. The other animals on the farm are quick to notice and point this out, despite his mother's protective flapping. Feeling rather foul about himself, the little fowl finds himself on an adventure of self-discovery, all the while unknowingly outwitting a very hungry Cat. Along the way, Ugly meets a whole flock of unique characters and finds out being different is not a bad thing to be. There are many parts available for a large cast. There is a $75 fee if cast in the show to cover script and T-shirt and some of the costs of the show. Scholarships are available for anyone who needs one.

The production will be directed by Matt Hammond with choreographer Sarena Johnson. The production date is Jan. 15 and will include two day time shows for area schools and an evening performance for family and friends at 6:30 p.m. Music cuts are available in the box office for those who wish to learn music prior to the audition, but it is not required.

Dinner theater fundraiser

The Paramount Players will present the musical revue, "Forever Plaid," on Friday, Nov. 2, as a dinner theatre production. This production is a fundraiser hosted by the Paramount Players Boosters. Money raised will help finance the Paramount Players as they attend the Kentucky Theatre Association community theatre festival.

This fun revue is chock-full of classic barbershop quartet harmonies and pitch-perfect melodies. Once upon a time, there were four guys (Sparky, Smudge, Jinx and Frankie) who discovered that they shared a love for music and then got together to become their idols - The Four Freshman, The Hi-Lo's and The Crew Cuts. Rehearsing in the basement of Smudge's family's plumbing supply company, they became "Forever Plaid". On the way to their first big gig, the "Plaids" are broadsided by a school bus and killed instantly. It is at the moment when their careers and lives end that the story of Forever Plaid begins.

The cast is Joshua Jannotta as Frankie, Thaddeus Stambaugh as Sparky, Rick Payne as Smudge and Matt Hammond as Jinx. Accompanist is Mark Smith. Songs include: "Three Coins in the Fountain," "Moments to Remember," "Sixteen Tons," "Workin' on the Chain Gang" and many more.

Dinner will be catered by Cab's Catering and includes salad, pasta alfredo, grilled chicken, roasted red potatoes, broccoli casserole, desserts, rolls and lemonade or tea.

Tickets are $35 and include dinner and the show. Tickets must be purchased by October 30. Visit www.paramountartscenter.com, the box office at 1300 Winchester Ave. or call 606-324-0007.

On Stage This Weekend: "Freaky Friday"

    The Herald-Dispatch ran a great story this week about the musical Freaky Friday, being presented this weekend (including Thursday, but not on Friday, oddly enough) by Huntington High School's Theatre Department.

    You can read the story by my pal Dave Lavender at this link (the photo of the lovely Olivia Fosson is by Larry Butcher) - and here's an excerpt below:
   
------------------

When is a "Freaky Friday" on a Thursday, a Saturday and a Sunday? When the Huntington High School Theatre Department says it is!

Right in time for Halloween, the HHS Theatre Department is presenting a production of the fun, body-swapping, "Freaky Friday: The Musical," which will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Huntington High School Auditorium.

There will also be matinee shows at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, and Sunday, Oct. 28. Admission is $10 or $5 for students and seniors.

Based on the 1972 book of the same name, the musical is an adaptation of the 1976 and 2003 films, "Freaky Friday: The Musical," which has music and lyrics by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, and a book by Bridget Carpenter, was just released for productions in August.

The musical follows the same story line as the films: "When an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again before mom's big wedding."

   

On Stage This Weekend and Coming Attractions

Here’s the show lineup for the week, beginning Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. Upcoming shows and auditions are also listed. If I've missed anything, please let me know. Break legs, everyone! *Please share this on your own timeline to reach a wider audience for local theatre.*

__________________________

ONSTAGE THIS WEEK:

- “Freaky Friday” - Huntington High School Theatre presents the play based on the classic Disney movie about a mother and daughter who switch minds. It will be presented at the Huntington High auditorium on Oct. 25 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 27 and 28 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. 

- “Dracula” - presented by The Aracoma Story. It’s based on the novel by Bram Stoker about the classic legend of the Transylvanian vampire. The show will be presented at the Liz Spurlock Amphitheater at Chief Logan State Park on October 25, 26 and 27.

- “Of Devils and Men” is a live stage play written and directed by Lawrence Burgess. The death penalty has just been passed into law. Twelve jurors, one is the devil. The end has come. Performances will be at the Capitol Theatre in Charleston on Oct. 26 and 27 at 8 p.m., Oct. 27 at 2 p.m., Oct. 28 at 3 p.m., and Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 general admission, and $10 on Sunday performances.

- “Good Night, Grovers Corners” - Contemporary Youth Arts Company presents Dan Kehde’s radical anti-war play, which was written two years after 9/11. The basis of an independent film of the same name, this hard hitting satirical drama remains relevant to the continuing Iraqi and Afghan conflicts of today. Adult humor and situations make it more appropriate for audiences aged 13 and older. Shows will be presented at 7 p.m. on Oct. 25, 26 and 27, and at 7 p.m. on  Nov. 1, 2 and 3. All performance are in the Contemporary Youth Arts Company Theater, 2nd level, Charleston Town Center. Tickets are $8 for Students and $15 for Adults. Tickets are available at the door the night of the performance or online at cyacwv.showclix.com. 

- “Dracula” - The Paramount Players present the play based on the novel by Bram Stoker about the classic legend of the Transylvanian vampire. The show will be presented Oct. 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 27 at midnight at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Ky.

- “Arsenic & Old Lace” - Portsmouth Little Theatre. The play will be presented on Oct. 26 and 27 at 1117 Lawson Street in Portsmouth, Ohio. Mortimer Brewster has just become engaged, and he visits his sweet spinster aunts to announce the engagement. His world is turned upside down when he realizes that his dear aunts have been poisoning lonely old men for years! Mortimer must rally to help his aunts and protect his fiancé -- all while trying to keep his own sanity, as well. An uproarious farce on plays involving murder, this show has become a favorite.

- Murder and Merriment (Interactive Murder Dinner Parties)

For a complete list of upcoming murder parties, visit www.murderandmerriment.com.

_____________________________

UPCOMING LIVE THEATRE

- “Perfect Wedding” - the Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) presents one of Samuel French’s most produced plays, which deals with a wedding day gone horribly and hilariously, wrong. It will be presented at the JB Sowards Theatre on Nov. 2 and 3.

- “Ragtime the Musical” - presented by the Charleston Light Opera Guild and the Clay Center. The musical will be presented in the Maier Performance Hall at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences on November 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11, 2018.

- “Forever Plaid” - Paramount Players present a dinner theater with musical numbers from the ’40s and ’50s, including "Chain Gang,” "Heart & Soul,” "Moments To Remember" and more! It stars Rick Payne, Josh Jannotta, Thaddeus Stambaugh and Matt Hammond at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.

- “Crimes of the Heart” - Marshall University Theatre presents the play by Beth Henley. It will be presented Nov. 14, 15, 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Playhouse of the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center. The scene is Hazlehurst, Mississippi, where the three Magrath sisters have gathered to await news of the family patriarch, their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in the local hospital. Lenny, the oldest sister, is unmarried at thirty and facing diminishing marital prospects; Meg, the middle sister, who quickly outgrew Hazlehurst, is back after a failed singing career on the West Coast; while Babe, the youngest, is out on bail after having shot her husband in the stomach. Their troubles, grave and yet, somehow, hilarious, are highlighted by their priggish cousin, Chick, and by the awkward young lawyer who tries to keep Babe out of jail while helpless not to fall in love with her. Tickets are $20 at the door, $15 for Seniors & Faculty, $7 for children under 12, ,and Marshall University students admitted FREE with a valid ID.

- “MARY” - Contemporary Youth Arts Company presents the 22nd annual performance of Scarpelli and Kehde’s seasonal rock opera follows the life of the mother of Jesus during the nine months prior to birth. The show will be presented at 7 p.m. on Nov. 23 and 24, at 2 p.m. on  Nov. 24 and 25, at 7 p.m. on Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1, and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 1 and 2.  All performance are in the Contemporary Youth Arts Company Theater, 2nd level, Charleston Town Center. Tickets are $8 for Students and $15 for Adults. Tickets are available at the door the night of the performance or online at cyacwv.showclix.com.

- “A Christmas Story the Musical” - First Stage Theatre Company present the musical based of the story by Jean Shepherd about Ralphie, the boy who dreams of getting a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas, but everyone tells him, “You’ll shoot your eye out.” The show will be presented Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1 and 2 at Huntington High School’s auditorium.

- “A Christmas Carol” - Contemporary Youth Arts Company presents local playwright Dan Kehde performing in a one-man presentation of the Charles Dickens holiday classic. The show will be presented at 7 p.m. on Dec. 6, 7 and 8, at 2 p.m. on Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13, 14 and 15, and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 16. All performance are in the Contemporary Youth Arts Company Theater, 2nd level, Charleston Town Center. Tickets are $8 for Students and $15 for Adults. Tickets are available at the door the night of the performance or online at cyacwv.showclix.com.

- “Elf the Musical, Jr.” - The Children's Theatre of Charleston presents the musicls comedy on Dec. 6, 7, 8 and 9 at the Civic Center Little Theater. The musical tells the story of Buddy, a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

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UPCOMING AUDITIONS:

AUDITIONS FOR: “Mamma Mia” - Presented by Charleston Light Opera Guild. and the Clay Center. Auditions will be held at the Guild Theatre. Singing auditions will be Monday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. - prepare vocal selection and bring sheet music for Guild accompanist. Reading auditions will be Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m. - scripts provided for lead, supporting and featured character readings. Dancing auditions will be Monday, Nov. 12 at 7:00 p.m. - dress to dance, musical theater combinations will be taught. Be prompt! The musical will be presented in the Maier Performance Hall at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences on Jan. 18, 19, 25, and 26, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on Jan. 20 and 27, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. This musical staging is based on the book by Catherine Johnson and music and lyrics by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. This is the first time the musical will be produced by a community theatre company in the region. ABBA's hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman's search for her birth father.  This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise.  On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show.  A large cast, non-stop laughs and explosive dance numbers combine to make Mamma Mia! enjoyable for any audience. 

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