Closing weekend for 5 theater productions (Jan. 30-Feb. 1)

by Shawn Parikh

This weekend marks the end for a small amount of shows, so now you have the chance to see a few before time runs out:

• Violet, presented by WaterTower Theatre. When Violet was 13 years old, a tragic accident left her scarred for life. Now an adult, she must embark on a cross-country pilgrimage to find a cure for her ailment - a journey that will reconcile the tragic events of her past with the harsh realities of her present. Boasting a score that mixes country, bluegrass and R&B, Violet is the story of one woman’s healing journey to discover love, courage, and the meaning of acceptance. Recommended for mature audiences. Tickets ($22-40) are available online or by calling the WTT Box Office at 972-450-6232.
• Sherlock’s Last Case, presented by Irving Community Theater. This diabolically funny play is sure to confound and please all audiences. It takes an amusing fresh look at the heroes, Holmes and Watson, adds the familiar figures of Inspector Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, and the children of Professor Moriarty, and mixes them all with wit, humor and plot twists galore to make a first-rate whodunit. Purchase tickets ($13-18) online or by calling 972-252-2787.
• I Love A Piano, presented by Artisan Center Theater. A nostalgic musical journey, spanning seven decades of American history as seen through the eyes of Irving Berlin. It has been said of the man, "Irving Berlin has no place in American music - he IS American music!" This show tracks the life of a piano with one sour key through four generations of singers and dancers who have performed with it and around it. With six actors and over 60 of Berlin's enduring and popular favorites, this spectacular new show captures the spirit of America from the Ragtime rhythms of the 20th century through the swinging sophistication of the 1920's and 30's. From the sentimental songs that inspired a nation during two World Wars to the innocent optimism of the 1950's. Timeless classics, such as "White Christmas," "God Bless America," "Puttin' On The Ritz," and "There's No Business Like Show Business," do more than define the music of a generation, they define the music of our country. Call 817-284-1200 for tickets ($6-15).
• Anna in the Tropics, presented by Denton Community Theatre. Before the days of mechanization in the cigar making industry, a Cuban family brings their business and traditions to Florida. One such tradition is to hire someone, called a lector, read to the workers as they rolled the cigars. When a new lector comes and reads the novel Anna Karenina, their lives are forever changed. Each chapter releases repressed emotions from the family members. This moving piece won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize in Drama. Mature subject matter. Call 940-382-1915 for tickets ($10-17).
• Villian Wore a Dirty Shirt, a Melodrama, presented by Plano Community Theatre. Call 972-422-2575 for tickets ($15).