Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Theater productions open at all 4 Tarrant County College campuses this week

By Shawn Parikh

With the semester almost ending, a lot college theater departments around the metroplex are set to open a new show in the next week or so. The 4 campuses in the Tarrant County College system have shows opening today or tomorrow which only run this week. With the variety of genres, one of these ought to strike your fancy. Click on the title if more info is needed:

• I Hate Hamlet, presented by TCC Theatre Northwest. A young actor who has just earned fame and fortune on TV is apprehensive about returning to New York to play Hamlet in the prestigious Shakespeare in Central Park festival. To add to his insecurities, his realtor has rented him an apartment once inhabited by John Barrymore, who many consider to have given one of the greatest performances of Hamlet in the twentieth century. A séance brings the ghost of John Barrymore back to the apartment where he once lived. Barrymore offers guidance to the young actor, who has to decide between the easy money that he could make with a new television series and the confidence to be gained by facing the world’s most difficult acting challenge. The box office can be reached at 817-515-7724 for tickets (free-$6). Runs November 28 – December 2.
• The Sheep Thief, presented by TCC Southeast Drama. A young boy gets caught stealing a sheep and is shaved of all his hair and branded with a mark on his forehead so that everyone will know that he is a thief and not to be trusted. Dumped in the desert, the thief covers his marking with a headscarf and goes to the nearest village where he is taken in by a trusting family in return for his work. However, has be actually changed or is he still the same thief at heart? The box office can be reached at 817-515-3799 for tickets (free-$5). Runs November 28 – December 1.
• The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged, presented by TCC Northeast Playhouse. A parody of the plays written by William Shakespeare with all of them being performed (in shortened form) during the show by only three actors. Typically, the actors use their real names and play themselves rather than certain characters. The fourth wall is nonexistent in the performance with the actors speaking directly to the audience during much of the play, and some scenes involve audience participation. Reserve tickets (free-$5) by calling 817-515-6687. Runs November 28 – December 1.
• Sylvia, presented by TCC South Drama. A modern romantic comedy about a marriage and a dog. No reservations (free-$6) needed. Runs from November 29 – December 1.

And also in the area, TCU has opened a show that only runs from November 27 - December 2.

• Little Women: The Musical. Follows the saga of the March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—as they grow up in Civil War America. With a book by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, this show is sure to charm young and old alike. For tickets ($5-10), call 817-257-5770.

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