As hot as the weather has been this summer, the regional theater scene is keeping pace, led by the final weekend for Merry-Go-Round's fabulous “Les Miserables.”
The outstanding vocal work and compelling story make this the must see musical of the summer. “Les Miserable” runs through Friday, July 18, at the MGR Playhouse in Emerson Park.
Next week starts the run of the runaway hit, “The Producers.” It runs through Aug. 15. Both shows are regional premiers; MGR is one of a handful of regional theaters receiving permission to stage the shows, a testament to the reputation for quality that Ed Sayles has built over the years. Tickets for both shows are available at 255-1875.
Ithaca's Hangar Theatre has a musical up as well. Its production of Rogers and Hammerstein's “Oklahoma!” revisits the play that came to redefine the American musical. “Oklahoma!” runs through July 26. It is followed by John Millington Synge's comedy “The Playboy of the Western World.” The Wednesday, Aug. 6, performance of “Playboy” is a “pay-what-you-can” night, one way Hangar tries to make theater available to anyone. Tickets are available at (607) 273-4497 or (800) 284-8422.
Cortland Repertory opens tonight through Aug. 2 with its featured musical, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” The musical is based, very loosely, on the true story of a legendary brothel known as the “Chicken Ranch” (so named because during the depression, customers were allowed to pay with poultry.) Next up for CRT is “A Few Good Men.” This Aaron Sorkin compelling courtroom drama follows from Aug. 6 to 16. Contact Cortland Rep at (607) 427-6160 or (800) 427-6160.
Syracuse's The Talent Company has brought back its winter hit, with much of the original cast, “Disney's High School Musical.” It will run in the New Times Theater at the New York State Fairgrounds through Aug. 3. Call 479-SHOW for tickets or information.
Rochester's Black Sheep Theatre runs “The Philadelphia Story” July 18 through Aug. 2. Performances are at Black Sheep's “Little” Theatre Village Gate Square, 274 N. Goodman St., Suite D-313. Tickets are available in advance for $12 by calling the box office at (585) 746-7616.
July 30 and Aug. 1 mark the performance of “A.L.I.C.E. in Wonder City,” Mario X. Soto's original script staged by the Auburn Public Theater's summer Theater Arts Program for youth. Time of the performances still to be announced. For information call APT at 253-6669.
The APT opened its 70-seat movie theater last week. Screenings of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” continue at 7 p.m. through Thursday evening, July 17. On Friday, at 8 p.m., the theater will run “Surfwise” with special guest Jonathon Paskowitz. The film is about Paskowitz's father who gave up his medical practice and raised his family as itinerant surfers.
Acme Mystery Company at Syracuse's Spaghetti Warehouse is showing “Hello, My Name is Death.” The interactive mystery runs through Aug. 21. To learn more, call 475-1807.
That's it for now.
Play nice.
Tom Woods writes monthly on local and regional theater news; e-mail him at thewoodhead@yahoo.com
Next week starts the run of the runaway hit, “The Producers.” It runs through Aug. 15. Both shows are regional premiers; MGR is one of a handful of regional theaters receiving permission to stage the shows, a testament to the reputation for quality that Ed Sayles has built over the years. Tickets for both shows are available at 255-1875.
Ithaca's Hangar Theatre has a musical up as well. Its production of Rogers and Hammerstein's “Oklahoma!” revisits the play that came to redefine the American musical. “Oklahoma!” runs through July 26. It is followed by John Millington Synge's comedy “The Playboy of the Western World.” The Wednesday, Aug. 6, performance of “Playboy” is a “pay-what-you-can” night, one way Hangar tries to make theater available to anyone. Tickets are available at (607) 273-4497 or (800) 284-8422.
Cortland Repertory opens tonight through Aug. 2 with its featured musical, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” The musical is based, very loosely, on the true story of a legendary brothel known as the “Chicken Ranch” (so named because during the depression, customers were allowed to pay with poultry.) Next up for CRT is “A Few Good Men.” This Aaron Sorkin compelling courtroom drama follows from Aug. 6 to 16. Contact Cortland Rep at (607) 427-6160 or (800) 427-6160.
Syracuse's The Talent Company has brought back its winter hit, with much of the original cast, “Disney's High School Musical.” It will run in the New Times Theater at the New York State Fairgrounds through Aug. 3. Call 479-SHOW for tickets or information.
Rochester's Black Sheep Theatre runs “The Philadelphia Story” July 18 through Aug. 2. Performances are at Black Sheep's “Little” Theatre Village Gate Square, 274 N. Goodman St., Suite D-313. Tickets are available in advance for $12 by calling the box office at (585) 746-7616.
July 30 and Aug. 1 mark the performance of “A.L.I.C.E. in Wonder City,” Mario X. Soto's original script staged by the Auburn Public Theater's summer Theater Arts Program for youth. Time of the performances still to be announced. For information call APT at 253-6669.
The APT opened its 70-seat movie theater last week. Screenings of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” continue at 7 p.m. through Thursday evening, July 17. On Friday, at 8 p.m., the theater will run “Surfwise” with special guest Jonathon Paskowitz. The film is about Paskowitz's father who gave up his medical practice and raised his family as itinerant surfers.
Acme Mystery Company at Syracuse's Spaghetti Warehouse is showing “Hello, My Name is Death.” The interactive mystery runs through Aug. 21. To learn more, call 475-1807.
That's it for now.
Play nice.
Tom Woods writes monthly on local and regional theater news; e-mail him at thewoodhead@yahoo.com
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