Punxsutawney Phil made his official appearance and declared six more weeks of winter last week, but, thankfully, our local theater stages stay warm either way with productions from near and far. The spring calendar is beginning to fill up with classic musicals and compelling plays. There’s a sprinkle of magic for the family, profound social commentary to share with friends, and a lot of laughs for everyone. Here are a few highlights to keep on your radar.
Who Is She?: Town & Gown Players presents Leading Ladies for seven performances full of laughs and assumed identities. In this comedy, two down-and-out English Shakespearean actors hear about a dying old lady leaving her fortune to her two long-lost English nephews. Setting out to pretend they are the nephews and grab the cash, the actors soon discover that the real-life relatives are actually nieces. Romantic entanglements and other hijinks ensue as the strangers attempt to pass themselves off as “Maxine and Stephanie.” Performances run Feb. 11–12 and 17–19 at 8 p.m., then Feb. 13 and Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. Proof of vaccination will be required for entry. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for members, seniors and students, available for purchase at townandgownplayers.org.
Talking To Yourself: On Stage, Monroe’s community theater, presents the musical parody The Drowsy Chaperone. In this production, a theater fan plays a fictional cast album that comes to life on stage around them. Directed by Athens resident Rebekah Wesley, the events of the show provide commentary on the music, play and actors of 1920s-era musical comedy. Performances run Feb. 18–19, 25–26 and Mar. 1, 4–5 at 8 p.m., then Feb. 27 and Mar. 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20, available for purchase at onstagewalton.org.
A Day At The Office: Capturing cutthroat office politics in a smart satire, Eat the Runt will be presented by the UGA Theatre later this month. Follow a young job applicant as they compete for an art museum position that includes a gauntlet of eccentric, potential coworkers along the way. Each actor knows every role—the audience will cast the production every night, guaranteeing a new show every performance. There are over 40,000 potential combinations. Performances will be held in the Cellar Theatre (Fine Arts Building) Feb. 24–27 and Mar. 1–3 at 8 p.m., then Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $16 or $12 for students, available for purchase at ugatheatre.com.
The Bigger The Hair: As part of the Broadway Entertainment Series presented by Classic Entertainment, the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Hairspray is back on tour. Bringing the classic production to a new generation of theater audiences, Broadway’s award-winning creative team led by director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell has reunited. Set in 1960s Baltimore, 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. One performance will be held in The Classic Center Theatre Mar. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Attendees must present one of the following for entry: proof of vaccination, signed health and safety affidavit with temperature check or negative COVID test within 72 hours of the event. Tickets are $25–$80, available for purchase at classiccenter.com.
The Truth Is Out There: Bringing Southern Gothic comedy to the stage, Athens Creative Theatre presents The Sugar Bean Sisters. Weaving together romance, murder and alien abduction, this tale centers on the Nettle sisters, who are determined to escape spinsterhood—one by searching for a good Mormon husband in Salt Lake City and the other by preparing to board a spaceship when the “space people” return. See what unfolds as sister Faye awaits an alien landing on the anniversary of having witnessed an alien space craft 25 years ago in her father’s sugarcane field. Performances will be held at Quinn Hall (Memorial Park) Mar. 24–26. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit accgov.com/ACT.
Cleansing The Soul: Written as the first installment of a 10-play chronicle dramatizing the African-American experience in the 20th century, Gem of the Ocean will be presented by the UGA Theatre. Set in 1904, 285-year-old former slave and “soul-cleanser” Aunt Esther witnesses developing civil unrest after a senseless tragedy at a local steel mill. Seeking asylum, a young man approaches her home, resulting in a harrowing spiritual journey to a “City of Bones” in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. Performances will be held in the Fine Arts Theatre Apr. 14–16 and 20–23 at 8 p.m. and Apr. 24 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 or $12 for students, available for purchase at ugatheatre.com.
Happily Ever After?: Watch classic storybook characters come together in the modern classic Into the Woods presented by Town & Gown Players. Breaking a witch’s curse to make wishes come true has disastrous results as a haunting lesson in consequences for one’s actions comes to fruition. Follow the Baker and his wife on a musical journey as they encounter several familiar characters from the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Performances run Apr. 22–23 and 28–30 at 8 p.m., then Apr. 24 and May 1 at 2 p.m. Proof of vaccination will be required for entry. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for members, seniors and students, available for purchase at townandgownplayers.org.
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