Tired of fighting the crowds on Friday and Saturday nights at the movie theater? This May and June, why not try something new?
For around the same price as a trip to the movies, you can enjoy some live-action drama and laughs by attending one of the many theatrical events going on in and around the Kanawha Valley. Whether you fancy a magic show or a musical comedy, the theater groups in our area have something to offer for everyone, and can reasonably factor into anyone’s budget.
Charleston’s own Kanawha Players, one of the oldest amateur theater companies in the country, will perform Jeremy Eisler’s Courting Disaster on May 27, 28, and 29 at 8 P.M., and May 30 at 2 P.M. at the Kanawha Players Theater.
This musical comedy, directed by Kelly Strom, pokes fun at the judges, layers, and litigators of the law system. Tickets for adults are $16, while tickets for children ages 17 and under are $10.
The Players will also be perform The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Jess Borgeson, Adam Long, and Daniel Singeron from June 4-6 and June 11-12 at 8 P.M. This parody of Shakespeare’s plays is widely popular among college campuses and has achieved worldwide success in a variety of languages.
For anyone who’s ever trudged through Hamlet or Macbeth wearing a grimace, this play is sure to make you smile. Tickets prices are also $16 for adults and $10 for children 17 and under.
The Charleston Light Opera Guild, known for its excellence in producing musicals for the Kanawha Valley, also has a couple of shows this summer. The ever-popular Gypsy will be performed on May 7-9, 14-15, and 21-22 at 7:30 P.M. at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater.
Gypsy, referred to as “the greatest American musical” by critics and writers alike, is based on the 1957 memoirs of the famous striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. The show features popular musical numbers such as “Let Me Entertain You” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”.
The original Broadway production starred Ethel Merman as Rose, the overbearing stage mother who pushes her daughter, Louise (based on Gypsy Rose Lee) to success. Other Broadway revivals starred Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, and Bernadette Peters. Tickets are available at the Civic Center Box Office.
The Guild will also be performing Barnum as a featured FestivALL event this June. The show follows the career of the famous showman from the year 1835 to when he joined James A. Bailey to form the "Greatest Show on Earth".
Cy Coleman wrote the music for the original Broadway production, and Nina Pasinetti is directing for the Light Opera Guild. Performances will be at the Civic Center Little Theater on June 19, 25, and 26 at 8 P.M., as well as June 20 and 27 at 3:00 P.M. And be sure to look for the Guild’s productions of the love-rock musical Hair this summer, as well as Dreamgirls scheduled for this fall.
The Clay Center’s "Broadway in Charleston" series also has a few shows to offer in the coming months. It will cost a little more money, but the entertainment will be well worth it.
David Copperfield will be in town performing David Copperfield: An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion on Sunday, May 16 at 5:30 and 8 P.M. Prepare to be amazed, as this event will take the audience on a journey of wishes and dreams through the power of illusion.
Later in the month, on Sunday, May 23 at 2 P.M., the Clay Center will be presenting the musical Beauty and the Beast, based on the Academy-Award winning animated Disney film. Don’t miss this classic story, filled with enchantment and spectacle, and featuring beloved songs such as “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
Finally, if you don’t mind traveling a bit, The Jackson County Players will be performing Jan de Hartog’s The Fourposter on June 4-6 at the Alpine Theater in Ripley. This small heartfelt play focuses on a married couple’s milestones through 35 years of marriage, including the consummation of their marriage, the birth of their first child, their daughter’s wedding, moving out of their home and passing it on to another newlywed couple.
This Tony-award winning comedy first opened in 1951 starring Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, and was adapted in 1966 by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt for their musical I Do! I Do!
For tickets, or more information on any of these events, please visit these websites:
The Kanawha Players: http://www.kanawhaplayers.org/
The Charleston Light Opera Guild: http://www.charlestonlightoperaguild.org/
The Clay Center: http://www.theclaycenter.org/
The Jackson County Players: http://jacksoncountyplayers.com/
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