Upcoming productions sure to entertain
The coming weeks will be another busy period for theater-lovers and the stagecurious in the Shreveport-Bossier City area.
Shreveport Little Theatre will conclude its staging of the Arthur Miller drama, “All My Sons,” a World War II story based on actual events. It is scheduled to end its run March 8. Call 424-4439.
The annual dinner theater at First Baptist Church Minden will present “The Music Man” beginning March 13. The audience will see how a shady salesman turns a sleepy Iowa town on its ear with his “Think System” of musical instruction. For ticket information, call 377-4434.
The Strand Theatre will present “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” on March 13. In 1850s Oregon, a family of brothers decides it needs a female touch around the homestead. Next, there’s almost no end to the awkward courting that comes to town. You can reach the Strand Theatre box office at 226-8555.
Beginning March 19, Bossier Parish Community College’s Cavalier Players will present “Nicholas Nickleby.” The story follows young Nicholas as he navigates the treacherous road to manhood and adult responsibility, based on the Charles Dickens novel. For more information, contact the performing arts box office at 678-6021.
The Cabaret Theatre will present “The Nerd” beginning April 9. It asks the question of how far you can be expected to go to help someone who once saved your life. When a nerdy architect’s friends decide his life needs a little “messing with,” the nerd is faced with the man responsible for saving his life in Vietnam. However, the confrontation is far from what it appears. The script was written by American actor and author Larry Shue. For ticket information, call 560-5662.
It’s fun for the entire family when BPCC retells the story of “Snow White” beginning April 10. This is another of the fractured children’s classics told by Steve Slaughter, former head of the theater department at BPCC. It’s a musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale with the familiar characters and some new ones Slaughter created just for this production.
River City Repertory Theatre will present “The Goat or Who is Sylvia?” beginning April 15 at East Bank Theatre in Bossier City. The comedy will provide an excuse to forget income tax day and stars local favorites, Patric McWilliams, Logan Sledge, and Susan Kirton. It will be directed by Robert Buseick. Tickets go on sale at the end of March.
Stage Center will present “The Lion King Experience” beginning April 23 at the Emmett Hook Center. This kid-sized production has kept all the memorable music and choreography of the adult version. The familiar tale of hope and adventure will be brought to life by some of the area’s talented young actors, singers, and dancers. Tickets are not yet on sale. Call 218-9978.
Shreveport Little Theatre’s next musical outing will be “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd.” The production has a book, music, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, and examines the relationship between the upper and lower classes of British society in the 1960s. Although the title may be unfamiliar to some, the music is well known, and includes “A Wonderful Day Like Today” and “Who Can I Turn To?” Shreveport Little Theatre Academy’s senior group will close out the month of May with its staging of “Little Women: The Musical.” The show is based on the beloved Louisa May Alcott novel and brings to life the classic characters. Trying to kick-start her writing career, Jo March asks her friend, Professor Bhaer, for advice. The result is a tale of her family growing up in Civil War America. The box office will open later in the year for this production.
A little farther down the road, Cabaret Theatre will produce “Murder in the Magnolias,” “Mama Mia” will come to the Strand, and the summer will be full of local musical stage productions, as well. At Shreveport Little Theatre, SLTA Jr. will bring “Cinderella Kids” to the stage, and the adults will be putting the musical “Chicago” on its feet. Down at the Emmett Hook Center, First United Methodist Church will produce “Mary Poppins.” The School of Performing Arts has also scheduled “Broadway Bound” for this August.
Tickets are not yet on sale for all of these productions, so call for more information, and get your opera glasses polished, there is a lot to see in the months ahead.
Joe Todaro may be reached at joetodaro@scribio.com.
