Marietta Lunceford - Page 2

It is always interesting to hear how people first get involved in the theatre. Many feel that pull as children, others discover it in high school. Still others try it as adults and get "the bug." Howard Green had his opportunity in high school, but said, "No, thank you!" Green made up for that 'error' later on in his life and now enjoys every opportunity he gets to be a part of of the theatre community.

There is so much talent in the Birmingham area and I would like to take the summer to highlight some of the people we look forward to seeing regularly on our stages. They might not be the people you already know, but ones you would recognize if you saw them. They might be someone you see in the crowd of show after show, they might be up and comers that you have noticed and want to get to know better or they might be like our first actress, Amy Johnson.

When people in the community try their hand at theatre, including people with no experience and do so with fun and love while raising money for a good cause, I think we are all winners. And to quote THE RED VELVET CAKE WARS , 'you can agree with me, or you can be wrong!' Kudos to the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany for helping us to put the world outside away for a couple of hours and  making us all laugh. This fun show will be performed again this coming weekend, Friday & Saturday: June 17 & 18, at 7:30 PM and Sunday: June 19, at 2:30PM.

If laughter is the best medicine, then I will not be sick for the rest of the year. Between the hilarious plays I have seen recently and last night's DIE FLEDERMAUS (The Bat), I have certainly had a couple of weeks full of chuckles. Birmingham is certainly the place to be if you need a laugh this weekend.So go to www.BhamMusicClub.org or call 205-253-1313 for more information about DIE FLEDERMAUS. Or better yet, just head on down to ASFA tonight or tomorrow afternoon and get a ticket at the door. But hurry- this delight will only be presented this weekend, June 10-12.

THE EXPLORERS CLUB at Theatre Downtown is an Alabama premiere that takes you away from the ordinary and whisks you to 1879 London. Set in the bar and meeting room of an all male club, you quickly forget the world you live in and are transported away.

PALS, an original work written by nine students from Spain Park High School and drama teacher Eric Reid St. John, is based on letters from and some of the events of World War I. When the British joined the war, Lord Kitchener, the Secretary of War decided to make brigades out of groups of young men from the same communities, same churches, schools and factories. These PALS brigades would train and fight together. The town of Leeds, England was one of those communities who sent most of their young men into battle together and it is from their stories that SPHS created this piece of art.

What can an actor do when his series is cancelled and he isn't sure where to go from there? Head to NYC and perform Shakespeare in the park, of course. But what if that actor is scared of playing Hamlet and not sure of his own abilities? And what if he finds himself in John Barrymore's old apartment and Barrymore's ghost shows up? And what if his girlfriend is pushing him towards Hamlet and away from the bedroom? Throw in a crazy, psychic realtor and a stern German agent with the hots for Barrymore and you have the makings of I HATE HAMLET, the latest offering from South City Theatre in Pelham.

Terrific New Theatre near Pepper Place in Birmingham has had a long and interesting history. With all that Carl Stewart and his late partner Steve Stella dreamed for their new venture in 1986, I wonder if they could have imagined that 30 years later, TNT would still be going strong. As Stewart retires, we see a new day dawning when Tam DeBolt takes the reins as artistic director of Terrific New Theatre on August 1, 2016.

With all of the great shows there are to see this summer, there are just as many theatre camps for your kids. Workshops, intensives and camps cover the full range from getting kids ready for a professional career to just having a good time and learning some important life lessons. Offered by some of the top theatre companies and taught by some of the industry's best, these camps are a great way to keep active and keep those minds working over the hot summer weeks.

School is out and the fun days of summer are upon us. But that doesn't mean that there isn't a lot of great theatre still available.All of this and there is more coming soon about summer camps and their productions. I know I have a summer full of shows I am seeing. I hope you do, too! As one friend put it, 'If you are ever bored in Birmingham, it is your own fault!' Amen.

I have been looking forward to tonight ever since I got a small preview of Tam DeBolt as Sophie Tucker during the opening weekend of the Lyric Theatre. And rightly so. SOPHIE TUCKER is one of the most entertaining and real performances I have ever seen.

One of the least talked about and yet most wonderful things about our area is the Alabama School of Fine Arts, situated in downtown Birmingham. It boasts the beautiful Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre. Although I have been to this theatre several times, today was the first time to be in the building during a school day and in the theatre to see the kids from ASFA perform. They are performing Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT this weekend and it is worth your time to support them.

Having just seen a beautiful production of THE SECRET GARDEN at Red Mountain Theatre Company two short weeks ago, I was surprised to turn my calendar and realize I was headed back there so soon for SISTER ACT. Once again, RMTC has outdone themselves with a stellar performance.

Theatre Downtown brings yet another production of STEEL MAGNOLIAS to the Birmingham area. If you haven't seen this classic, don't miss this chance. Since everyone has just done it, it might be awhile before you get the opportunity again.

In sharp contrast to last night's irreverent and rock filled AMERICAN IDIOT, I once again have seen how diverse and amazing theatre is in Birmingham. Tonight I went to see THE SECRET GARDEN at Red Mountain Theatre Company. For all of the cursing, adult themes and rawness of last night, tonight was one of the most enchanting things I have ever seen.

AMERICAN IDIOT at Birmingham-Southern College is edgy, gritty and all that you want it to be. BSC took a risk doing a current and potentially controversial show and for students of art, a risk like that is almost always worth it.

According to Theatre League president Mark Edelman, FLASHDANCE , which was seen this weekend as part of the Broadway in Birmingham series, is a new production. This tour marks 'the next stage in the development of this work.' In an email to season ticket holders Edelman explains that 'since the premier in London's West End, the show has gone through several different incarnations here in the U.S.' In this critic's mind they need to keep working. Last night's performance of FLASHDANCE at the Birmingham- Jefferson Civic Center Concert Hall was a huge disappointment.

UAB (The University of Alabama at Birmingham) is known for its world class medical school and hospital and lately for having its football program cancelled and then reinstated. But what you might not realize is the superior theatre department that UAB has. After seeing SPRING AWAKENING there last night, I am convinced that UAB has one of the top theatre programs in the state, if not the country.

I have spent many wonderful hours at South City Theatre, both on stage and in the audience. South City has a reputation for picking out enjoyable plays and doing a good job presenting them. I don't usually miss one of their plays, but this time I almost did. ARSENIC AND OLD LACE is not one of my favorite plays, so I almost decided to skip this one. Man, am I glad I didn't make that mistake!

When life becomes almost too much to handle, where do you turn? I say, to the theatre! And SONS OF THE PROPHET written by Stephen Karam at Birmingham Festival Theatre shows us that humor can get us through the pain. SONS OF THE PROPHET has a warning on its poster- 'This show may cause various emotional responses such as laughter, enthusiasm and deep thought.' I certainly experienced all of that and more. I would strongly suggest that you call 205-933-2383 or go to www.bftonline.org for ticket information. SONS OF THE PROPHET runs through April 16 so you have time to see this super funny, meaningful play.