May
HEAVEN ON WHEELS This musical – by Tally Sessions and Peter Holland – is about the history of stock car racing. Co-production of Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte and Once Upon a Blue Ridge Production. May 26-29, 8 p.m. $25. Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, 650 E. Stonewall St. 704-342-2251. www.actorstheatrecharlotte.org
WELCOME TO THE MONKEY HOUSE Theatrical adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s satirical classic short story collection, Welcome To The Monkey House. May 27-29, 8 p.m. $20-$25. Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST), 1118 Clement Ave. 704-455-8542. www.nccast.com.
WICKED Grammy and three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway production. The musical tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and her sister, Glinda the Good Witch, long before Dorothy of Kansas sets foot in Munchkinland. May 26-27, 7:30 p.m.; May 28, 8 p.m.; May 29, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; May 30, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; June 1-3, 7:30 p.m.; June 4, 8 p.m.; June 5, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; June 6, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; June 8-10, 7:30 p.m.; June 11, 8 p.m.; June 12, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; June 13, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. 704-372-3600. www.ovensauditorium.com.
GIRLS ONLY: THE SECRET COMEDY OF WOMEN This comedy celebrates females with a two-woman cast who mixes sketch comedy, improvisation, audience participation and songs and videos relating to feminine subject matter like teenage diaries, breast feeding, tampons and maxi pads, menstrual cycles and menopause, slumber parties and more. May 26-27, 7:30 p.m.; May 28-29, 8 p.m.; May 30, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; June 1-3, 7:30 p.m.; June 4, 8 p.m.; June 5, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; June 6, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; June 8-10, 7:30 p.m.; June 11, 8 p.m.; June 12, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; June 13, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; June 15-17, 7:30 p.m.; June 18, 8 p.m.; June 19, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; June 20, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; June 22-24, 7:30 p.m.; June 25, 8 p.m.; June 26, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; June 27, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; June 29-July 1, 7:30 p.m.; July 2, 8 p.m.; July 3, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; July 4, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; July 6-8, 7:30 p.m.; July 9, 8 p.m.; July 10, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; July 11, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; July 13-15, 7:30 p.m.; July 16, 8 p.m.; July 17, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; July 18, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; July 20-22, 7:30 p.m.; July 23, 8 p.m.; July 24, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; July 25, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; July 27-29, 7:30 p.m.; July 30, 8 p.m.; July 31, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Aug. 1, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. $34.50 and up. Stage Door Theater, North College St. at 5th St. www.blumenthalcenter.org.
TRIBE On Q Productions’ latest is a 2005 National Black Theater Festival Reader’s Series pick, written by local playwright Nichole Gause. It tells the story of a mother-son relationship on the verge of despair. When Patrice, a single mother who depends on her son, finds herself at odds with his newly claimed spirituality (revolving around a group called “the Tribe” and differing significantly from her own faith and the one she expected he follow), she is crushed. On top of all that, her son has turned out to be a conniving thief. May 26-27, 7:30 p.m.; May 28, 8 p.m.; May 30, 3 p.m.; June 3, 7:30 p.m.; June 4-5, 8 p.m.; June 6, 3 p.m. $18 (“Pay What You Can Night” on June 2). Duke Energy Theatre, 345 North College St. 704-372-1000. www.blumenthalcenter.org.
JUST DO IT The season finale of this themed reading and performance series, with a cash bar, free raffle and a special appearance by Phoebe. This month’s theme is “The Last Time.” $5. May 28, 8 p.m. Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Road. www.theatrecharlotte.org
June
ICE FISHING ON EUROPA Fishing on Europa is a Special Project combining playwrights, directors, actors, designers and other theatre practitioners in a collaborative workshop to use text, multi-media, music, dance, graphic design and other cross disciplines to produce Ice Fishing on Europa. June 3-12, times vary. $20-$25. Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST), 1118 Clement Ave. 704-455-8542. www.nccast.com.
THE KING & I This play tells the story of a British woman named Anna who moves to Bangkok to teach. While there she falls in love with the king, but struggles with whether or not to return home or settle where she is with the people who are now like family to her. June 11-12, 8 p.m.; June 13, 2 p.m.; June 18-19, 8 p.m.; June 20, 2 p.m.; June 25-26, 8 p.m.; June 27, 2 p.m. $10 in advance. Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St., Matthews. 704-321-7275. www.matthewsplayhouse.com.
6TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS PARTY Watch the three-hour ceremony broadcast on a big screen in the McGlohon Theatre. Along with complimentary refreshments and a cash bar, the party will feature great door prizes for lucky winners who participate in theater trivia contests and games throughout the evening. June 13, 7:30 p.m. McGlohon Theatre, 345 N. College St. www.blumenthalcenter.org.
OKLAHOMA This musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein is set in Oklahoma and tells the story of a farm girl named Laurey and two rivals struggling for her affection. Featuring songs like “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” and “People Will Say We’re in Love.” June 17-19, 8 p.m.; June 20, 2 p.m.; June 24-25, 8 p.m.; June 26, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. $20-$22. Duke Family Performance Hall, 207 Faculty Drive, Davidson. For tickets, call 704-372-1000 or visit www.carolinatix.org.
INTO THE WOODS Stephen Sondheim’s imaginative musical based on the stories and poems of the Brothers Grimm. This Broadway performance includes variations of the fairy tales: Little Red Riding Hood, The Baker and his Wife, Cinderella, and Jack & the Beanstalk. June 18, 19, 25, 26, 8 p.m.; June 20, 2:30 p.m.; June 22, 7 p.m.; June 23, 24, 7:30 p.m. $15 and up. CPCC’s Halton Theater, 1206 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6534. http://tix.cpcc.edu.
RALPH HARRIS’ MANISH BOY In his new one-man show MANish Boy, Ralph Harris shares hilarious tales of his upbringing and explores the ways in which his formative years have affected the man he is today. June 22-27. Times vary. $24.50 and up. Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St. For tickets, call 704-372-1000 or visit www.carolinatix.org.
ALADDIN JR. Stage adaptation of the Disney hit, including Aladdin, Jasmine, and the Genie, takes the audience on a journey of magic and mayhem. June 24-25, 11 a.m.; June 26, 2 p.m. $5. Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St., Matthews. 704-321-7275.
A YeAR WITH FROG AND TOAD Children’s musical that captures the joys and trials of Arthur Lobel’s Frog and Toad. In the play, Frog and Toad encounter adventures along with their friends Snail, Turtle and Lizard. June 30, 10 a.m.; July 1, 10 a.m.; July 2, 10 a.m.; July 3, 10 a.m.; July 5, 10 a.m.; July 6, 10 a.m.; July 7, 10 a.m.; July 8, 10 a.m.; July 9, 10 a.m.; July 10, 10 a.m. $7-$10. Halton Theater, 1201 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6840.
July
BAREFOOT IN THE PARK Neil Simon’s quintessential classic about newlyweds trying to survive their first year of marriage. July 2, 3, 9, 10, 8 p.m.; July 6, 7 p.m.; July 7, 8, 7:30 p.m.; July 11, 2:30 p.m. Tickets-$17. CPCC’s Pease Auditorium, 1200 Pease Lane. 704-330-6534. http://tix.cpcc.edu.
REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES This play by Jo’sefina Lopez examines a Latino family as it goes through teenage rebellions, cultural clashes and expectations in regards to weight. July 8-24. $20-$25. Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST), 1118 Clement Ave. 704-455-8542. www.nccast.com.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND JR. Stage adaptation of the classic tale Alice in Wonderland. July 22-23, 11 a.m. July 24, 2 p.m. $5. Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St., Matthews. 704-321-7275.
August
ROPE Queen City Theatre Company takes on this homoerotic thriller by Patrick Hamilton. In the play, Wyndham Brandon persuades his weak-minded friend Charles Granillo to assist him in the murder of a perfectly harmless man named Ronald Raglan. Aug. 5-21, 8 p.m. $16-$24. Duke Energy Theatre, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000. www.queencitytheatre.com.
This article appears in May 25-31, 2010.
