God Bless Us Every One The holiday season is already upon us, so if you’re in the mood for more than pre-Black Friday shopping, you can start it off with the “faith-based musical” presented by Cornerstone Productions. It features Tiny Tim, now all grown up and known as Dr. Timothy Cratchit. Preparing to move to Boston and start a new life, he first has to take care of a run-down clinic he’s inherited from old Mr. Scrooge. Before he can sail off to America, he has to fill in as the doctor while searching for a replacement. The nurse in charge and charming orphans might make him reconsider his future, though.
Written by Robert Sterling and directed by Sharon Carter, it’s a Broadway-style musical that includes both new songs and old familiar Christmas carols. The performance will be held at the Oconee County Civic Center Thursday, Nov. 19–Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 21–Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, and group tickets are available at $10. Call 706-705-2599 or visit cornerstoneathens.com.
The Rocky Horror Show Fans of The Rocky Horror Picture Show—and uninitiated Rocky Horror “virgins”—have the chance to see the stage musical in all its twisted glory. The UGA student musical theater troupe Next Act brings all the characters to life: the young, clean-cut couple, Brad and Janet (Gemille Walker and Maggie Colvin), who are only seeking help after their car breaks down; the mysterious handyman and maid, Riff Raff and Magenta (Drew Manning and Sarah Stratton); sexy mad scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter (Jake Berne) and his creation, Rocky Horror (Shaun MacLean).
The film version inspired intense fandom and generations of cosplay, so expect to see some audience members wearing their own costumes, but Next Act asks them to leave the usual props at home, since this one’s in the sort of theater where food isn’t allowed and popcorn doesn’t get thrown around. They’re a group of students with a passion for musical theater but a small budget; there won’t be elaborate sets or costumes, so the raw, youthful energy and high-power vocals will be front and center on Tuesday, Nov. 17 and Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cellar Theatre of the Fine Arts Building at UGA. Tickets are $8 at the door. Visit facebook.com/UGANextAct.
Savage Conversations It’s a staged reading of a world-premiere play by award-winning author, poet and playwright LeAnne Howe, who is also a noteworthy professor in UGA’s English department. The play has two characters: former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln (Marla Carlson), who claimed during her time in an insane asylum that she had nightly visits from a vengeful “savage Indian” (Billy Flood). Directed by Geoffrey Douglas, the reading is free and one-night-only at Hendershot’s Coffee Bar on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.
I Know I’m Not Broken Written by UGA student Senna Hubbs, this staged reading directed by Christopher Carpenter is a full-length play about the variety of struggles people face regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation or race. It features a cast of characters who are working through their different issues, from “the pain of living with an alcoholic mother” to the “fear of living with OCD.” Sponsored by the Thalian Blackfriars, the free reading is on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Miller Learning Center at UGA in room 250. Visit ugathalian.wix.com/blackfriars for details.
Attic Monster UGA’s Graduate Acting Ensemble presents a short play written by UGA professor and playwright John Patrick Bray and directed by Daniel Stock. Two brothers (Marlon Burnley and Mark McManus) are going through their recently deceased mother’s attic, boxing things up and hashing out years’ worth of disagreements and anger. It’s just over 30 minutes long, so they’re performing it twice in one night on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the Cellar Theatre of the Fine Arts Building at UGA. Tickets are “pay what you can” at the door. See drama.uga.edu.
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