Season-2011-2012

The Phantom Tollbooth

a musical by Arnold Black & Sheldon Harnick

book by Norton Juster

directed by Devynn Thomas

Norton Juster’s beloved children’s book is given the full musical treatment in this stage version of the modern tale of a boy (Milo) who must save the princesses Rhyme and Reason and reunite the brother Kings who rule over the cities of Dictionopolis and Digitopolis. Aided by a trusty timekeeping dog, Tock, Milo successfully brings harmony to the Land of Wisdom and learns many things about words and numbers along his journey. Perhaps the most important lesson he takes with him, however, is that everything we learn has a purpose and whatever we do affects everything and everyone. When he returns home, he realizes there is never a reason to be bored in a world full of so many things to discover.

September 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 at 7:30 pm

September 4, 11, 18 at 2:00 pm

SPECIAL LUNCH PERFORMANCE - SAT., SEPT 10 AT 11:00 AM

MEET THE CAST - FREE PHOTOS - PRIZE DRAWING

Tickets: Evenings $19 (Seniors/Students $17)

Matinees $17 (Seniors/Students $15)

Children 12 & under $5 at all performances (except Lunch show)

Deathtrap

a thriller by Ira Levin

directed by Alex Citron

Broadway's longest-running thriller has been called, "a plot so evil that it infects all who touch it. The thing has a life of its own. In Deathtrap, Levin has taken the basic components of thrillers and horror stories; murder, deceit, innocent dialogue with hidden sinister meanings, plot reversals, unexpected turns of events, etc., and twisted and rearranged the pieces again and again.” Thirty years after its release, it is still baffling, surprising and thrilling audiences worldwide.

December 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 at 8:00 pm

December 4, 11, 18 at 2:00 pm

Tickets: Evenings $17 (Seniors/Students $15)

Matinees $15 (Seniors/Students $13)

Children 12 & under $5 at all performances

Evil Dead: The Musical

a musical by George Reinblatt, Frank Cipolla,

Melissa Morris and Christopher Bond

directed by John Johnson

Based on the cult film series. Five college students go to an abandoned cabin in the woods, and accidentally unleash an evil force that turns them all into demons. It's all up to Ash (a housewares employee turned demon-killing hero), and his trusty chainsaw to save the day. Blood flies. Limbs are dismembered. Demons are telling bad jokes... and all to music.

You don't need to be a fan of Evil Dead to love this show. You don't need to be a fan of horror to love this show. You don't even need to be a fan of musicals to love this show. As long as you like having fun... this show is for you.

October 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28; November 3, 4 at 8:00 pm

October 15, 22, 29; November 5 at 9:00 pm

(Saturday shows are a double feature with Bent Theatre Improv)

Special Halloween Show: Monday, October 31 at 8:00 pm

Tickets: Fridays & Halloween $19 (Seniors/Students $17)

Saturdays: $24 (Seniors/Students $22)

STRONGLY SUGGESTED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY

I Ought To Be In Pictures

a comedy by Neil Simon

directed by Clinton Johnston

This three-character comedy-drama focuses on Herb Tucker, a struggling screenwriter who abandoned his New York family 16 years earlier. Now daughter Libby has arrived on the West Hollywood doorstep of the father she barely remembers, convinced he can jump-start the Hollywood acting career she desires. Dispensing guilt and demanding love, Libby not only forces Herb to deal with the responsibilities of parenthood, but to come to terms with his on-again/off-again relationship with adoring girlfriend Steffy as well. Neil Simon at the top of his game.

January 26, 27, 28; February 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 at 8:00 pm

January 29; February 12 at 2:00 pm

No performance on Sunday, Feb. 5

Tickets: Evenings $17 (Seniors/Students $15)

Matinees $15 (Seniors/Students $13)

Children 12 & under $5 at all performances

The Wizard of Oz

a musical by Harold Arlen & E.Y. Harburg

directed by Shelley Cole

Little Dorothy Gale of Kansas, like so many girls her age, dreams of what lies over the rainbow. One day a twister hits her farm and carries her away over the rainbow to another world. Come join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and Toto as they travel the universe of Dorothy's imagination. Based on the beloved film, and featuring all the songs we've grown to love.

March 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 at 7:30 pm

March 11, 18, 25 at 2:00 pm

SPECIAL LUNCH PERFORMANCE - SAT., MARCH 17 AT 11:00 AM

MEET THE CAST - FREE PHOTOS - PRIZE DRAWING

Tickets: Evenings $19 (Seniors/Students $17)

Matinees $17 (Seniors/Students $15)

Children 12 & under $5 at all performances (except Lunch show)

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf

a choreopoem by Ntozake Shange

directed by Leslie Baskfield

An intense, moving and inspiring series of 20 poems are brought to life on stage by a cast of seven women of color. Shange's poetry expresses the many struggles and obstacles that African-American women face throughout their lives. Each character is known only by a color: "Lady in Yellow," "Lady in Purple," etc. The poems deal with love, faith, abandonment, rape, and abortion; embodied by each woman's story, including Lady in Blue's visceral account of a woman who chooses to have an abortion, and Lady in Red's tale of domestic violence. The end of the play brings together all of the women for "a laying on of hands," in which Shange evokes the power of womanhood as the Lady in Red begins the mantra "I found God in myself/and I loved her/I loved her fiercely."

April 19, 20, 21, 26. 27, 28; May 3, 4, 5 at 8:00 pm

April 22, 29; May 6 at 2:00 pm

Tickets: Evenings $17 (Seniors/Students $15)

Matinees $15 (Seniors/Students $13)

Children 12 & under $5 at all performances

ADVISORY: CONTAINS ADULT THEMES AND LANGUAGE

Special Event: Phantom of the Follies

The music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim

starring Shelley Lee Cole & Ken Ellis

May 18, 19, 25, 26 at 8:00 pm

May 20, 27 at 2:00 pm

Tickets: All Seats at all performances $15

The Real Thing

a comedy by Tom Stoppard

directed by "Derby" Thomas

Another witty and remarkable comedy from the pen of Tom Stoppard, first performed in 1982. It examines the nature of honesty, and its use of a play within a play is one of many levels on which the author teases the audience with the difference between semblance and reality. The play focuses on the relationship between Henry and Annie, an actress who is part of a committee to free Brodie, a Scottish soldier imprisoned for burning a memorial wreath during a protest. As the story dances back and forth between what is real and what is made up, the audience is taken on a thrilling comic journey, with just a touch of mayhem, and a startling number of intriguing revelations.

June 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29,30 at 8:00 pm

June 17, 24; July 1 at 2:00 pm

Tickets: Evenings $17 (Seniors/Students $15)

Matinees $15 (Seniors/Students $13)

Children 12 & under $5 at all performances