It’s not just football season in Georgia, October also kicks off the performing arts season
in the Golden Isles. Our local theatres have some fantastic and diverse offerings with something to appeal to everyone—musicals, comedies, and even some opera! So if the games get you down, remember there’s nothing like a good Sunday matinee to lift your spirits.
The Island Players are celebrating 60 years of live theatre while entertaining Golden Isles audiences and providing local actors with the fantastic opportunity to participate in a strong community theatre program. Their season begins this month with classic musical “Hello, Dolly” (based on the play The Matchmaker. Performances are Thursday, October 20, 7:30 p.m., Friday, October 21, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 22, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, October 23, 3:00 p.m., Friday, October 28, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, October 29, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, October 30, 3:00 p.m. (Schedule was revised due to Hurricane Matthew, please note the additional Saturday matinee performances.)
In January, they’ll bring Neil Simon’s Rumors to the stage. Performance dates January 13-15, 20-22, 27-29. Is He Dead? by Mark Twain will be the March production, with shows March 3-5, 10-12, 17-19. The season will wrap up with I’ll be Back before Midnight, by Peter Colley, May 5-7, 12-14, 19-21. Island Players Board President, John Harper, says it’s going to be fun season that you won’t want to miss!
Season tickets to see all shows are $70. If you’d like priority seating for each show, purchase an Angel ticket for $90. It’s worth the extra $20 when it’s cold and windy out! Tickets to individual shows are $20 each. You can purchase benefactor and corporate ticket packages and gift certificates on the website at theislandplayers.com as well.
On the mainland, you’ll find Elegant Island Living Publisher David Butler brushing up on his lines for the upcoming production of Ken Ludwig’s madcap, screwball comedy Lend Me a Tenor at the Brunswick Actor’s Theatre on Newcastle St. BAT stage veterans Liz Gowen and Rob Clarkson are some of the other actors bringing to life the wild goings-on at the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, circa. 1934, as they prepare to welcome Il Stupendo! The part seems tailor-made for our dear Mr. Butler, and the zany comedy antics will leave audiences teary-eyed with laughter. Shows are Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. October 15-30. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain. Desserts and beverages served before the show and during intermission. Reserved seating is available. Tickets are $25 per person with desserts and beverages included. BAT founder Lynda Dalton Gallagher says, “BAT is the perfect after dinner fare!”
BAT Patron Passes are on sale now for $100 per person. A Patron Pass gives you one admission to the each of the 6 shows for the 2017 season for a savings of $50. The shows of the season are being determined with February and August plays yet to be announced. In April, the actor and actress chosen by EIL readers for their Best of 2016, Michael Dyche and Amy Lovin, will be featured in Greater Tuna by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard. Show runs April 15-30. In June, it’s another wonderful Southern comedy by playwriting trio Jones, Hope, and Wooten (Dixie Swim Club, Doublewide Texas). The Savannah Sipping Society will run weekends June 10-25. October brings Edward Albee’s classic, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with show dates October 14-29. Hark, the herald angels sing, or hit the stage, at least, in December’s production of Samuel and Bella Spewack’s My Three Angels. Shows will be weekends December 2-17. The BAT mantra is “Laughter is always the best medicine,” so plan to come out to the shows and cure whatever ails you! Visit soglogallery.com for more information and tickets.
Down the street at The Historic Ritz Theatre, outstanding performers, original productions are center stage. “Golden Isles Arts & Humanities is proud to be at the forefront of keeping the arts and culture vibrant in our community and our upcoming season is no exception,” said Heather Heath, executive director. “We are very excited to kick off the season with a brand new show by Katie Deal – she is a real Georgia talent and we have had many requests to have her back. And there are many other great performers headed our way. There’s something for everyone!”
WILDFLOWERS: The Women of Country Music, has been rescheduled due to Hurricane Matthew, so keep an eye on the calendar so you don't miss this show! Katie Deal stars in a one woman concert tribute featuring the music and stories of country music’s pioneering women, honoring legends such as The Carter Family, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Reba McEntire.
In December, everyone’s favorite radio theatre show returns. This year Ritz Radio Theatre will present It’s A Wonderful Life on December 9-11 &16-18, with performances Friday and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. The beloved holiday story of an angel who helps a despairing businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed will be presented by a talented cast of local actors. The show is done just as it would have been done in the 1940s as a live radio drama, in front of a live audience, with period costume and sound effects.
January’s theatre experience is a trip to the opera. Tosca will be performed by Peach State Opera, Georgia’s only touring opera company, on Sunday, January 29, 2017. Puccini’s melodrama about a volatile diva, a sadistic police chief, and an idealistic artist has offended and thrilled audiences for more than a century. If you’re worried about sitting through a performance you can’t understand, never fear! The show is a condensed version sung in English.
February 23-26, 2017, The Big Read novel comes to life in a multi-media staged reading of A Wizard of Earthsea featuring local actors, musicians and artists. The production will focus on Ged’s journey to himself and the fantastical world and words that are so important to the story.
For more information about the 2016-17 season at The Ritz and to purchase tickets, please visit goldenislesarts.org or call 912.262.6934.
