New wave of plays, musicals, and world premieres (Apr. 3-5)

by Shawn Parikh

This weekend brings to DFW a whole variety of shows ranging from old classics to new works that are world premiering. With such a big weekend of theater, make sure you see a few while the time is right:

• The Black Monk, presented by Undermain Theatre. An emissary from the unknown appears to a young scholar, written by David Rabe, based on an Anton Chekhov story. Kovrin, a young scholar exhausted to the point of madness by his studies decides to visit his childhood friend Tanya on her father's garden estate. The two fall in love and plan to marry. Kovrin tells Tanya the legend of the black monk whose image has been reflected in mirages for a thousand years and who will soon return in the flesh. One day in the garden, the black monk appears to the young man and claims to hold the key to an enlightenment that may lead to total devastation. Show officially opens April 4. Purchase tickets ($15-25) online or by calling 214-747-5515.
• The Glass Menagerie, presented by WaterTower Theatre. Tom is torn between the duty to his overbearing mother Amanda and his desire to escape the shackles of his life. Trapped between the two is the delicate and isolated Laura. Praised for its tenderness and charm, Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie stands as Williams’ most intimate and riveting drama. Purchase tickets ($25-40) online or by calling 972-450-6232.
• dont u luv me?, presented by Dallas Children's Theater. Angela has a new boyfriend. C.J.'s romantic. He sends her flowers. He texts her day and night. But C.J. has his own struggles. Soon his devotion feels like control and the relationship spirals dangerously downward. This powerful world premiere by award-winning playwright Linda Daugherty, author of The Secret Life of Girls and EAT (It's Not About Food), explores the hidden world of aggression and violence in teen dating while encouraging young people to make choices that result in healthy relationships. Purchase tickets ($12-22) online or by calling 214-740-0051.
• The History Boys, presented by Uptown Players. The story blends comedy with tragedy as an unruly bunch of bright, funny senior boys in a British boarding school are in pursuit of sex, sports, and a place at a good university. In all of their efforts, they are helped, hindered, and enlightened by a maverick English teacher who seeks to broaden their horizons, and by a young history teacher who questions the methods of their schooling. In The History Boys, Alan Bennett raises – with gentle wit and pitch-perfect command of character – not only universal questions about the nature of history and how it is taught, but also questions about the purpose of education today. Purchase tickets ($25-30) online or by calling 214-219-2718.
• Oedipus Rex, presented by MBS Productions. This play tells the story of Oedipus and his quest to discover the cause for the plague affecting Thebes. His search leads him to a series of revelations, each more horrific then the next culminating in the most intense and disturbing ending of any play ever written. This new translation by Ian Johnston is dynamic, yet doesn’t loose sight of the beauty of Sophocles’ poetry while at the same time making it accessible to modern audiences. Mr. Johnston has been interviewed on NPR about his work as a Greek scholar and translator and we are thrilled to be able to present this seminal new translation. He has received countless accolades for his work and we are pleased to be the first company he’s granted permission to mount a production of his new translation. Purchase tickets ($18-21) online or by calling 214-477-4942.
• Captain Phantasm vs. The Nefarious Dr. Noir, presented by Pocket Sandwich Theatre. From the unashamed authors of “Escape From Stalag 18” comes this gripping tale of “Captain Phantasm,” a costumed hero trained in the mysterious and inscrutable fighting techniques of the Orient as he faces “Dr. Noir,” a nefarious criminal mastermind with impeccable fashion sense, a melodramatic flair, and no fear of popcorn. Mix in characters such as “Pretty Perfect,” a beautiful reporter with moxie, spunk, and chutzpah out the yin-yang; and “Mittens” and “Fluffy,” two lovely but fiendishly deadly vixens, and what have you got? Uh – we’re not sure, but we’ll let you know when we figure it out. Call 214-821-1860 for reservations ($10-18).
• Best of One Day Only Vol. 2, presented by Rover Dramawerks, for this weekend only. Fourteen 10-minute plays will be presented over a period of three days, each performing twice. These plays were selected from more than 80 plays by a blind panel of readers. Seven plays presented on Thursday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. and seven plays presented on Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 p.m All Single Tickets are $12, but $20 to see all shows. Purchase tickets online or by calling 972-849-0358.
• Rockin’ With Mother Goose, presented by Casa Mañana's Children's Playhouse. See Jack & Jill, Humpty Dumpty, Little Bo Beep and more of those beloved characters as we present the classic Mother Goose rhymes to upbeat, catchy music. There are little life lessons tucked into each song to help teach children about good manners, safety and responsibility. Developed by local artists Brad Jackson and Alex Vorse, this world premiere musical puts a new spin on the classics to make your favorite rhymes come alive. Purchase tickets ($15-17) online or by calling 817-332-2272.
• A Chorus Line, presented by TCU Department of Theatre, for this weekend only. Book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, Music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lyrics by Edward Kleban. For tickets, call the Theatre TCU Box Office at 817-257-5770.
• Harvey, presented by Granbury Opera House. Purchase tickets ($10-15) online.