‘Sweet’ season
Revivals, musicals and fresh fare on tap for local stages this spring
By JIM FARMER
Friday, March 09, 2007
Local theaters sometimes use the winter months for somber or more experimental shows. With that behind us, spring and summer offer up an unusually high number of gay or gay-themed productions to round out the ‘06-’07 theater season.
Onstage Atlanta, as usual, offers fare for gay audiences in spades. First up is Henry Hwang’s drama “M. Butterfly,” based on the true story of a French diplomat’s 20 year-relationship with a female-impersonating opera star. And this summer, the Decatur-based troupe presents Terrence McNally’s “The Full Monty,” based on the Oscar-winning film about a handful of friends who raise money by taking it all off.
Another company that deals prominently with gay fare is Process Theatre, which could stage one of the spring’s liveliest comedies. From “Sordid Lives” writer Del Shores comes “Southern Baptist Sissies,” the story of four gay men with a common background — growing up in the Baptist Church. Directed by Process Theatre artistic director Dewayne Morgan, “Sissies” boasts a slew of gay performers including Topher Payne.
Over in Little Five Points, Doyle Reynolds and Brian Crawford star in 7 Stages’ “The Violet Hour,” penned by Richard Greenberg, author of the Tony Award-winning gay baseball play “Take Me Out.” The new play is about friends who go off to war together.
Beginning March 15, Craig Stewart’s highly lauded “A Day in the Life,” about a black gay man, is being restaged at Balzer Theatre with an opening night appearance by V103’s Miss Sophia.
And at Shakespeare Tavern, Heidi Cline and musicals go together hand in hand, so this version of Kander and Ebb’s “Cabaret” could be one to watch. If Cline can keep her cast on a leash, this could be a swell production. The Tavern often does its most inspired work when it takes a gamble and strays from the work of The Bard.
Speaking of musicals, Actor’s Express’ “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” reunites “Gypsy” co-stars Libby Whittemore and Wendy Melkonian in a spoof with music directed by Freddie Ashley, who brought us “The Last Sunday In June” Pride play last year.
In a few weeks, Theater in the Square unveils “Crooked,” the tale of a young woman who moves to Mississippi and finds unexpected love with a woman. Currently playing at Horizon Theatre is “Almost, Maine,” a romantic comedy where couples in a small town, including two men, fall in love.
Georgia Shakespeare Festival gears up for a busy spring with shows including “Twelfth Night” at the company’s “Shake at the Lake” in May. Their summer slate features gay playwright Joe Orton’s witty “Loot” and a restaging of “Metamorphoses,” one of the best shows of 2006, featuring great acting, a giant onstage pool and male frontal nudity.
Divas are ALSO big over the course of the next few months. Molly Ringwald comes to Atlanta this month in the touring version of the musical “Sweet Charity,” and none other than Jennifer Holliday stars in her signature role as Effie in Theatre of the Star’s “Dreamgirls.”
A few classics are on tap as well. The Alliance has David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross” with a superb cast including Chris Kayser, and Theatre in the Square is set to open “All the King’s Men.”
From: www.southernvoice.com/2007/3-...6613.cfm
Revivals, musicals and fresh fare on tap for local stages this spring
By JIM FARMER
Friday, March 09, 2007
Local theaters sometimes use the winter months for somber or more experimental shows. With that behind us, spring and summer offer up an unusually high number of gay or gay-themed productions to round out the ‘06-’07 theater season.
Onstage Atlanta, as usual, offers fare for gay audiences in spades. First up is Henry Hwang’s drama “M. Butterfly,” based on the true story of a French diplomat’s 20 year-relationship with a female-impersonating opera star. And this summer, the Decatur-based troupe presents Terrence McNally’s “The Full Monty,” based on the Oscar-winning film about a handful of friends who raise money by taking it all off.
Another company that deals prominently with gay fare is Process Theatre, which could stage one of the spring’s liveliest comedies. From “Sordid Lives” writer Del Shores comes “Southern Baptist Sissies,” the story of four gay men with a common background — growing up in the Baptist Church. Directed by Process Theatre artistic director Dewayne Morgan, “Sissies” boasts a slew of gay performers including Topher Payne.
Over in Little Five Points, Doyle Reynolds and Brian Crawford star in 7 Stages’ “The Violet Hour,” penned by Richard Greenberg, author of the Tony Award-winning gay baseball play “Take Me Out.” The new play is about friends who go off to war together.
Beginning March 15, Craig Stewart’s highly lauded “A Day in the Life,” about a black gay man, is being restaged at Balzer Theatre with an opening night appearance by V103’s Miss Sophia.
And at Shakespeare Tavern, Heidi Cline and musicals go together hand in hand, so this version of Kander and Ebb’s “Cabaret” could be one to watch. If Cline can keep her cast on a leash, this could be a swell production. The Tavern often does its most inspired work when it takes a gamble and strays from the work of The Bard.
Speaking of musicals, Actor’s Express’ “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” reunites “Gypsy” co-stars Libby Whittemore and Wendy Melkonian in a spoof with music directed by Freddie Ashley, who brought us “The Last Sunday In June” Pride play last year.
In a few weeks, Theater in the Square unveils “Crooked,” the tale of a young woman who moves to Mississippi and finds unexpected love with a woman. Currently playing at Horizon Theatre is “Almost, Maine,” a romantic comedy where couples in a small town, including two men, fall in love.
Georgia Shakespeare Festival gears up for a busy spring with shows including “Twelfth Night” at the company’s “Shake at the Lake” in May. Their summer slate features gay playwright Joe Orton’s witty “Loot” and a restaging of “Metamorphoses,” one of the best shows of 2006, featuring great acting, a giant onstage pool and male frontal nudity.
Divas are ALSO big over the course of the next few months. Molly Ringwald comes to Atlanta this month in the touring version of the musical “Sweet Charity,” and none other than Jennifer Holliday stars in her signature role as Effie in Theatre of the Star’s “Dreamgirls.”
A few classics are on tap as well. The Alliance has David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross” with a superb cast including Chris Kayser, and Theatre in the Square is set to open “All the King’s Men.”
From: www.southernvoice.com/2007/3-...6613.cfm
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