16 theater productions ending their run this weekend

This is your last chance to see one of this shows, so you better hurry before they are gone forever.

There are quite a few shows closing this weekend, including a few college productions that only had one week of performances. Try and see a couple of the following shows before time runs out:

Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, presented by Music Theatre of Denton. The story, set in Gilbert, Texas, concerns a brothel a little outside of town that has been operating for more than a century. In the late 1970s, it is under the proprietorship of Miss Mona Stangley, who, while taking care of her girls, is also on good terms with the local sheriff, Ed Earl Dodd. When a crusading television reporter, Melvin P. Thorpe, "uncovers" the illegal activity (that is, makes an issue out of something that is common, but quiet, knowledge in Texas), political ramifications cause the place to be closed down. Call 940-382-1915 for tickets ($11-18).
Man from Nebraska, presented by Kitchen Dog Theater. A luxury sedan, a church pew and visits to a nursing home form the comfortable round of Ken Carpenter's daily life. And then one night, he awakens to find that he no longer believes in God. This crisis of faith propels an ordinary middle-aged man into an extraordinary journey of self-discovery. This wickedly funny and spiritually complex play examines the effects of one man's awakening on himself and his family. Purchase tickets ($10-20) online or by calling 214-953-1055.
Little Shop of Horrors, presented by Theatre Arlington. The hit musical about a down and out Skid Row floral assistant who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon “Audrey II” grows into an ill- tempered R&B singing carnivore seeking global domination! This Theatre Arlington revival is an affectionate spoof of 1950’s sci-fi that’s full of laughs and thrills! Call 817-275-7661 for reservations ($20).
Urinetown, presented by Runway Theatre. One of the most uproariously funny musicals in recent years, Urinetown is a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides he's had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! Call 817-488-4842 for reservations ($10-15) or make them online.
First Kiss, presented by Teatro delle Muse. Tim has a theory that the first kiss is a preview of the relationship to come. And for poor Tim, that's not always been a good thing. Each of the women in his past has led him one step closer to his ultimate first kiss with Vicki, the woman of his dreams. Purchase tickets ($15) online.
The Music Man, presented by Rockwall Community Playhouse. The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band the vows to organize -- this despite the fact that he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marion the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain's fall. Call 972-722-3399 for reservations ($15-18).
Treasure Island, presented by Casa Mañana’s Children’s Playhouse. World premiere of an all-new musical based upon the classic tale by Robert Louis Stevenson. Young Jim Hawkins befriends an old pirate named Billy Bones, who has a treasure map. This is just the kind of adventure Jim has dreamed of his entire life. But, the hunt for buried treasure can only mean one thing – Pirates! Set sail on the high seas with this shady crew of matey men to Treasure Island. Purchase tickets ($11-16) online or by calling 817-332-2272.
ZERO, a one-man show starring Danny O'Connor. ZERO is a shockingly hilarious, gritty exploration via six distinct and diverse characters into the many conflicts and speedbumps a man goes through at the brink of leaving his youth and entering the dreaded adulthood he fears, wants, worries about, and has always hoped for. Purchase tickets ($15) online or by calling 972-941-5600.
No Time for Sergeants, presented by Artisan Center Theater. The story places a young, naive hillbilly in the U.S. Air Force (although he wants to be in the infantry). You’ll roar with laughter and cheer this country bumpkin as he turns the Air Force inside out. Generals, sergeants, doctors – no one is spared from the devastation he creates as he attempts to reach his goals. Purchase tickets ($6-13) online or call the box office at 817-284-1200.
The Seagull, presented by SMU Division of Theatre from October 10-14. Considered one of Chekhov’s masterpieces, The Seagull deftly combines both comedy and tragedy in a story of romantic triangles and unrequited love. The play, developed in opposition to the melodramatic theatre of the 19th century, focuses on themes of theatre, art, and nature, and reflects Chekhov’s view that a life without purpose is no life at all. The plot centers on the romantic and artistic conflicts between four theatrical characters: the ingenue Nina, the fading leading lady Irina Arkadina, her son the experimental playwright Konstantin Treplyov, and the writer Trigorin. The Meadows production includes material originally deleted by the Russian censors when the play debuted in the late 1890s. It will be directed by guest artist Henry Woronicz, an acting and directing veteran of Broadway, regional theater and television. Call 214-768-ARTS for tickets ($7-13).
The Matchmaker, presented by UTA Department of Theatre Arts from October 10-14. By three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Thornton Wilder. The amiable farce about two store clerks having the time of their lives in Victorian New York includes a series of slapstick situations involving mistaken identities, secret rendezvous, separated lovers and a trip to night court before everyone is paired with the perfect partner, thanks to matchmaker Dolly Levi. Directed by Associate Professor and Dramaturg Dennis Maher. For reservations ($5-8), call the Box Office at 817-272-2669.
Rhinoceros, presented by Richland College Theatre from October 10-13. By Eugene Ionesco. Over the course of three acts, the inhabitants of a small, provincial French town turn into rhinoceroses; the central character, Bérenger, a flustered everyman figure who is often criticized throughout the play for his drinking and tardiness, is ultimately the only human who does not succumb to this mass metamorphosis. The play is often read as a response to the sudden upsurge of Fascism and Nazism during the events preceding World War II, and explores the themes of conformity, culture, philosophy, and morality. All performances are free.
To Kill a Mockingbird, presented by TCC Northwest Drama from October 10-14. Adapted by Christopher Sergel. Coming of age story about a sister and a brother named Jean Louise "Scout" Finch and Jeremy Atticus "Jem" Finch respectively, who are growing up in the fictional small town of Maycomb, Alabama, in the Deep South of America in 1935. The story takes place over a period of three years and is told through the recollections of the younger sister, Jean Louise Finch or "Scout", as she is commonly referred to by friends. During the story the children's father, attorney Atticus Finch, is appointed to defend a black man who has been accused of raping a white girl. The box office can be reached at 817-515-7724 for tickets (Free-$6).
Lone Star and Laundry & Bourbon, presented by TCU Department of Theatre from October 11-13. The two one-acts by James McLure give a picture of life in the one-horse town of Maynard, Texas, where the women get drunk during the day and the men get drunk at night. These black comedies depict the effects of the Vietnam War on those who went and those who stayed home. For tickets, call 817-257-5770.
Oleanna, presented by Shane-Arts Theatrical Ensemble Rep. A play by David Mamet, the award-winning author of Glengarry Glen Ross and Speed the Plow, investigates the provocative and controversial "curse of modern education." Call the box office at 877-238-5596 for tickets ($15-20).
Nipples to the Wind, an ICI Production, for this weekend only. Through a series of monologues, we meet 14 unforgettable characters by 2 actresses, including a narcissistic suicide hotline operator, a little league mom who winds up in jail, and three sisters at confession, each telling their own version of the same event. Nipples to the Wind is an old Texas expression that captures a "head up, chest out" attitude. It’s an uproarious new comedy that celebrates the spirit of women and their ability to keep going. Call 214-544-4630 for tickets ($25-30) or purchase online.