Friday, June 27, 2008

Last weekend to see these 17 plays, musicals, and a festival (June 27-29)

By Shawn Parikh

This weekend brings an end to some great shows, including Kitchen Dog's New Works Festival. Make sure to seize the next couple of days by seeing some great theater:

Sick

• Sick, presented by Kitchen Dog Theater - 2008 New Works Festival. A college professor brings his star student home to meet his dysfunctional family a home so obsessed with cleanliness that the real dirt lurks around every corner and behind every sentence. Toying with our post 9/11 phobias, this quirky dark comedy plays upon our fears, both real and imagined. World premiere. Purchase tickets ($15-25) online or by calling 214-953-1055.
• Bloodletters, presented by The Modern Stage. Tells the parallel stories of Grace a middle-aged horror fiction writer, and the characters in one of her tales. Each of the five actors plays at least two characters: one in the play, one in the story within. While Grace lives a quiet and congenial suburban life with her retired husband Ray, the fictional world is roiling with sexuality and bloodlust, embodied by the villain of her latest tale, the vampire playboy Tyrone. Though Grace is a success as a writer, her daughter Valerie resents that success, thinking her mother’s work was inspired by Valerie’s childhood bouts of mental illness. When Valerie’s daughter Cami reads one of grandma’s forbidden stories, Grace’s two worlds seem to crash into each other, and both layers of the scenario meet in a darkly funny jaw-dropper of an ending. Purchase tickets ($20-30) online or by calling 1-800-595-4849.
• Homeland Insecurity or How I Learned to Love the Patriot Act, presented by MBS Productions. In the not to distant future, under yet another Bush Presidency, it has been determined that the best way to prevent another terrorist attack is to quarantine all cows to prevent sabotage of the meat supply and to assign an armed soldier in every home. George and Sylla Shrub are supporters of the president and welcome Sgt. Jenkins, a crackerjack marine, with open arms. Their lives not only become disrupted, but it strains the relationship due to all the security precautions their new houseguest imposes on them. Sylla, the more liberal of the two, since she religiously watches Oprah daily, begins to question the need for such protection. The war that ensues in their home is no match for the war on terror. This outrageous comedy by Bretton B. Holmes is a patriotic, politically incorrect, and guaranteed to offend someone somewhere out there. Purchase tickets ($16-21) online or by calling 214-477-4942.
• Monty Python’s Spamalot, presented by Casa Mañana. Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic "Monty Python and The Holy Grail." Directed by Tony Award-winner Mike Nichols, with a book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez, Spamalot tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences everywhere are eating up Spamalot. Call 817-332-2272 for tickets ($35-90) or purchase online.
• Hairspray, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. Welcome to the ‘60s! It’s 1962 – the ‘50s are out and change is in the air. Baltimore’s Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion – to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show” and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program’s reigning princess, win the heart of hearthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her ‘do? Only in Hairspray, based upon the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters. Tickets ($18-80) can be purchased online or by calling 214-631-ARTS.
• Gilligan’s Island: The Musical, presented by Rover Dramawerks. herwood Schwartz, the original creator of the successful Gilligan's Island TV series, co-authored the book with his son and long-time collaborator Lloyd J. Schwartz, so audiences can be sure of a zany good time, complete with Gilligan fumbling any chance of a rescue! Throw in fun music and lyrics by Sherwood Schwartz's daughter and son-in-law, Hobe Juber and Laurence Juber (best known as a guitarist with Paul McCartney's group Wings), and the show is a natural for Rover Dramawerks and their "theatre off the beaten path" mission. Purchase tickets ($15-18) online or by calling 972-849-0358.
• Damn Yankees, presented by Garland Summer Musicals. A musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., during a time when the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball. The musical is based on Wallop's novel, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant. Call the Box Office at 972-205-2790 for tickets ($19-24).
• Cootie Pancake, presented by Hip Pocket Theatre. A dark farce by Johnny Simons. The endearing story of Cootie Pancake, a special child, who goes on an unexpected journey with his favorite traffic reporter. Gates open at 7 p.m. with the show beginning at 9 p.m. Live music before and after each performance. Call 817-246-9775 for reservations ($5-15) or purchase online.
• Tom, Dick and Harry, presented by Pocket Sandwich Theatre. In this uproarious story of three brothers, Tom and his wife are about to adopt a baby. His brothers are anxious to help make a good impression on the woman from the agency who has arrived to check on the home and lifestyle of the prospective parents. Unfortunately Dick, who has stashed boxes of smuggled brandy and cigarettes in the house, and Harry, who is in possession of a cadaver he is planning to sell illegally to a medical school, fail miserably. The adoption agency representative is aghast - and the illegal Croatian aliens who do not speak English are no help at all! The authors of this hilarious farce-comedy (father and son) are two of England’s most popular comedy playwrights. Other of their comedies which the Pocket has produced have been the immensely crowd-pleasing shows, “Run For Your Wife” and “Caught In The Net.” Call 214-821-1860 to make reservations ($10-18).
• The Comedy of Errors, presented by Collin Theatre Center. This is an hilarious story of two sets of identical twins. Aegeon of Syracuse has come to Ephesus to seek his son, who went in search of his missing twin and mother months ago. Too bad that Ephesus has just declared war on Syracuse, and will instantly put to death any Syracusean found within their borders unless a ransom is paid. Meanwhile, the son, Antipholus, and his servant, Dromio (also an identical twin), keep running into strangers who seem to know them. A series of wild mishaps based on the mistaken identities leads to wrongful beatings, a near-incestuous seduction, an arrest, and accusations of infidelity, theft, madness, and demonic possession. Tickets are $5.
• Chesapeake, presented by Circle Theatre. Lee Blessing's "doggy tale" about a struggling performance artist, a conservative Southern politician and a Chesapeake Bay retriever is as profound as the journey is entertaining. Purchase tickets ($20-30) by calling 817-877-3040.
• Twelve Angry Men, presented by Ennis Public Theatre. The story begins after closing arguments have been presented in a murder case, as the judge is giving his instructions to the jury. According to American law (both then and now), the verdict (whether guilty or not guilty) must be unanimous. The question they are deciding is whether the defendant, a young teenaged boy from the city slum, murdered his father. The jury is further instructed that a guilty verdict will be accompanied by a mandatory death sentence — the electric chair. The jury of twelve move to the jury room, where they begin to become acquainted with each others' personalities and discuss the case. Call 972-878-PLAY for reservations ($12-24).
• The Music Man, presented by Artisan Center Theater. A con man, Harold Hill, promises to teach musically disinclined children in order to sell musical instruments. Along the way he falls in love and turns over a new leaf. When those “Seventy-Six Trombones” come marching in and leading the big parade, all ages will be hum along to the wonderful songs of one of the most beloved musicals of all time. Purchase tickets ($8-13) online or by calling 817-284-1200.
• My Fair Lady, presented by Repertory Company Theatre. Is arguably the best musical of the Golden Age and maybe the best musical ever. The musical succeeds as theater and develops the characters fully with an engaging story based on George Bernard Shaw's 1912 classic, Pygmalion. For tickets ($12-20), call 972-690-5029.
• The Garbage Fairies, presented by Texas Radio Theatre Company, for two performances only. Where in our modern world can you find mysterious creatures who don't wish to be found? Perhaps the junked up lots or corners piled with trash are more than what they appear. One night Jessica, a young girl who loves stories about elves, fairies and dragons wishes to see them for real, so her dog Fred takes her to meet the Garbage Fairies. Witness a modern fairy tale where all the action takes place on the infinite stage of your imagination. Playing at Arlington Museum of Art and Dallas Public Library.
• Bye Bye Birdie, presented by Dallas Young Artists Summer Musical Theatre Camp. The second annual Dallas Young Artists Summer Musical Theatre Camp, in partnership with Garland Summer Musicals, concludes this year’s summer camp experience with a professional quality performance of Bye Bye Birdie. Tickets available at the Granville Arts Center Box Office or by calling 972-205-2790. Tickets will also be available at the door.
• Footloose - The Musical, all-youth production presented by Casa Mañana. Based upon the 1980's big-screen sensation which took the world by storm with its youthful spirit, dazzling dance and electrifying music. It tells the story of a city boy from Chicago, Ren, who is forced to move to a rural backwater American town where dancing and rock-n-roll music is banned. Trouble breaks out as Ren breaks loose and soon has the whole town on its feet. Featuring an all youth cast of students enrolled in Camp Casa, this fast-paced show is not only packed full of amazing dance numbers, but also serves up some classic 80's hits, including "Holding Out For A Hero," "Almost Paradise," "Let's Hear It For The Boy," and the unforgettable title track, "Footloose." Purchase tickets ($13-20) online or by calling 817-332-2272.

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