Last chance to see 15 plays and musicals (Feb. 20-22)

by Shawn Parikh

These next couple of days are your last opportunities to see some great shows, so try and get to a couple while time permits:

• In The Beginning, presented by Dallas Theater Center & SMU. Step back in time to discover the magic of these rarely produced plays that bring to life your favorite stories from the book of Genesis. Marvel at the mix of poetry and pageantry that makes these medieval plays as compelling today as they were more than 500 years ago. Delight in a lively, contemporary production of these plays that recaptures the down–to–earth faith that originally inspired them. You'll understand why crowds in 15th century England thronged churchyards and market squares to enjoy these spiritually uplifting yet often raucously entertaining plays. In an era of rampant corruption, disease, and despair–these simple, intense dramas offered a powerful reminder of God's covenant with humankind. The wonders of the modern age with all our technological achievements have not dispelled our spiritual yearning to connect with something beyond ourselves. Now you can share in a timeless theatrical experience that continues to bear a message of hope and faith. Purchase tickets ($23-60) online or by calling 214-522-8499.
• The Bluest Eye, presented by Jubilee Theatre. Story about the tragic life of a young black girl in 1940’s Ohio. Eleven-year-old Pecola Breedlove wants nothing more than to be loved by her family and schoolmates. Instead, she faces constant ridicule and abuse. She blames her dark skin and prays for blue eyes, sure that love will follow. With rich language and bold vision, this powerful adaptation of an American classic explores the crippling toll that a legacy of racism has taken on a community, a family, and an innocent girl. Purchase tickets ($14-20) online or by calling 817-338-4411.
• Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type, presented by Dallas Children's Theater. Farmer Brown's animals are cold, bored and lonely. When Hen finds a typewriter in her nest, a revolution begins! And then Farmer Brown has a problem - his animals go on strike! It's a barnyard musical of mutiny, but on this "Animal Farm" anarchy and rebellion lead to an exquisitely happy ending. Purchase tickets ($12-22) online or by calling 214-740-0051.
• Pride and Prejudice, presented by Repertory Company Theatre. Meet the Bennets and their five precocious daughters in this thrilling adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, one of the most beloved classics of all time. Centering on the tumultuous relationship between headstrong and opinionated Elizabeth Bennet and the proud and arrogant Fitzwilliam Darcy, the story takes us to Regency England, a place where manners and birth mean everything and reputation means as much as gold. Darcy and Elizabeth must unlearn their misconceptions and undo their misunderstandings in order to find true and everlasting love. Call 972-690-5029 for tickets ($12-20).
• A Feminine Ending, presented by WaterTower Theatre's Discover Series. Amanda Blue has put her music career on hold. It takes a long time to write a symphony; besides, there are other considerations. She has a full-time job. Her boyfriend is about to become famous. Her mother is planning to leave her father. And she’s re-connecting with the one that got away. A new romantic comedy, A Feminine Ending is about dreams deferred, loves lost and learning to trust a woman’s voice in a man’s world. Recommended for mature audiences. Regional premiere. Call 972-450-6232 for tickets ($20) or purchase online.
• The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, presented by ONSTAGE in Bedford. Book By Larry L. King ad Peter Masterson, music and lyrics by Carol Hall. High kicking fun ensues when Miss Mona Stangly and Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd take on TV reporter Melvin P. Thorpe and his crusade to close down Texas' most famous brothel, "The Chicken Ranch". Purchase tickets ($12-15) online or by calling 817-644-6444.
• The Seafarer, presented by Stage West. There's a whiff of the supernatural in the air, in this brilliant new play by the author of The Weir. A Christmas Eve poker game takes on higher stakes than anyone intended. "As close to perfection as any contemporary playwriting gets" -- The New York Times. Purchase tickets ($15-28) online or by calling 817-784-9378.
• Steel Magnolias, presented by Richardson Theatre Centre. This southern drama follows the stories and relationships of six women who gather regularly at a Southern beauty parlor as they bond together through their ups and downs, marriage and childbirth. Alternately comic and touching, the three years covered in the women's lives are full of witty dialogue, hilarious banter, and wrenching heartache. Call 972-699-1130 for reservations ($20-22).
• Shadowlands, presented by Theatre Coppell. This intensely moving play charts the extraordinary true love story between C. S. Lewis and American poet Joy Gresham. Famous in his day as a scholar and broadcaster, Lewis is perhaps best known today as the author of the classic books The Chronicles of Narnia. A confirmed bachelor into his fifties, Lewis met and married this remarkable American woman known for her outspoken views and acerbic wit, and their astonishing story has become a testament to the unpredictable nature of love and its enduring legacy. The story also deals with his struggle with personal pain and grief as Lewis must deal with Joy’s subsequent illness. Purchase tickets ($12-14) online or by calling 972-745-7719.
• The Importance of Being Earnest, presented by Duncanville Community Theatre. Satrizing high society lifestyles and fictious identities, this well-known comedy also offers a wealth of love and romance. Call 972-780-5707 for reservations ($10-15).
• Feast of Love, presented by Fight Boy Theatre. An exciting grouping of three short plays, in an exploration of love in is varied forms. Featuring The Dreaming of the Bone by W.B. Yeats, along with two original works, Love in Connemara and The Shoe Boy by Resident Playwrights Catherine Creel and Jordan Scott, Feast of Love presents three short tales from the Emerald Isles. For reservations ($8-10), call 817-675-5674.
• Peter Pan, presented by Plano Community Theatre. Call 972-422-2575 for tickets ($7-9).
• Harvey, presented by Theatre Off the Square. Elwood P. Dowd is a delightfully pleasant and eccentric bachelor whose best friend is Harvey, a 6-1/2 foot tall white rabbit that apparently only he can see. His socialite sister Veta fears that Elwood will scare away suitable suitors for her desperate daughter Myrtle Mae. When Veta attempts to get Elwood out of their way by committing him to a sanitarium, she gets committed herself. In the comedy of errors that ensues, Elwood (and Harvey) become the catalysts for the mending of a broken family and the unexpected blossoming of romance.
• Oliver, presented by The J Players. Charles Dicken's characters are brought to life on the Zale stage in this touching tale of an orphan boy who runs away from the orphanage and tries to pick a pocket or two for Fagin, but gets caught! As Fagin tries to save him, all Oliver wants to do is go to his uncle, and live a good life.
• The Glass Menagerie, presented by Texas Woman's, for this weekend only. Set in Williams typical Southern environment, this drama unfolds through the perspective of a young man, Tom Wingfield (portrayed by Tristan Decker of Fort Worth). The story develops by way of his recollections of his controlling mother, Amanda Wingfield (Taylor Reed of Seattle, Wash.) and his sickly sister, Laura Wingfield (Brittany Fowler of Decatur). The plot is driven by Tom's aggravations with his mother¹s insistent search to find Laura a suitor. Things come to a boiling point when Tom brings home a co-worker, Jim O'Conner, (Daniel Pucul of Sherman). Call 940-898-2020 for reservations ($5-10).