Marietta Lunceford - Page 3

Following the lives of John and Mary, FIRST KISSES covers over 60 years of friendship. At first the 11 year olds are not sure how they feel about being friends with someone of the opposite sex, but they later look back to realize they loved each other from the start.Going through deaths, lost loves, temptations, kids and more together, this couple is written in a very real and engaging way. Played by 8 different actors these characters are portrayed all the way from 11 years old to 72.

With traditional newspapers going out of business and more and more of our news coming to us online, the world around us seems to be getting smaller and information is coming at us faster and faster. For the three guys who make up THE MELTDOWN this is an opportunity to share information in a new and creative way.

Theatre Downtown billed ALL IN THE TIMING as 'Six plays. Seventeen actors. Lots of Laughs.' and I have to say that they got that right. ALL IN THE TIMING includes six short plays by David Ives and there were lots of new faces and lots of laughs.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET grabs you from the very first moment with music. With no lead in other than the writing projected on the curtain before the show begins, "Blue Suede Shoes" starts the audience on a fast paced 90 minutes of almost continuous hits. And the music is definitely the star of the show.

What do the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and NASCAR have in common? Up until last night, I would have said, 'Absolutely nothing!' But last night changed all of that when the Talladega Superspeedway sponsored the world premiere of WHITE LIGHTNING, a 'romantic action adventure' about the roots of stock car racing.

Expertly acted by Jamie Lawrence as Harold and Ellise Pruitt Mayor as Elsie, FALLING: A WAKE is the story of a plane crash, a loving yet troubled couple, and all of the questions that we have about life, love, when to let go and if there is more to life than what we see each day.Does life happen randomly or is there a plan, does fate exist?

Every once in a while, everything falls in place and you have a truly memorable evening. Last night was one of those nights, thanks to ACTA Theatre's production of LOST IN YONKERS and their true community spirit.

NEXT TO NORMAL is an exploration of grief and how it can pull you down to the depths of depression. Although not what you usually expect from Red Mountain Theatre Company, it is a timely and real look at mental illness. It is hard to know where to start in giving accolades to this talented cast and crew.

What happens when you take one guy with three fiancés, add in a naive friend from the Midwest, throw in a long suffering housekeeper trying to keep things straight and put them all in one apartment in Paris in the 1960's?? You get one hilarious night of theatre!

MY BUDDY BILL is written by Rick Cleveland, who has also written for THE WEST WING and MAD MEN. With his wit and insider stories of Washington and Hollywood, Cleveland has now written a fascinating story about his unlikely friendship with President Bill Clinton. MY BUDDY BILL tells an interesting, hilarious and yet poignant story about a lifestyle we can only imagine.

South City Theatre made a move about a year ago and it was a great one. Their latest offering, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, has broken records for ticket sales. It is a classic that will make you laugh and cry.

BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI is a new play by Chicago playwright Evan Linder that combines humor and drama while bringing up issues of race, faithfulness, family, and forgiveness.Presented in readings and productions in 7 cities across the country, Birmingham was fortunate to take part in what will now be a online conversation this Monday.

Exactly 102 years after opening as a Vaudeville house, The Lyric has been refurbished and is open again. It is a gem in the crown of the rebirth of the downtown area of Birmingham and is mesmerizing in its beauty and exciting to be a part of. Find a way to get down there soon.

Around 60 of the most talented young people you will ever find fill the stage with dance and the theatre with song. From traditional Christmas songs, to pop favorites both old and new, country classics to original music written just for this production, every aspect of the holidays is presented. With original songs and arrangements by Jay Tumminello, musical direction by Katie Holmes and directed by Keith Cromwell, this SPECTACULAR is a must-see, if you can get a ticket. Go quickly to redmountaintheatre.org for dates, times and ticket information.

One of the best things about theatre in Birmingham is the wide variety from which we have to choose. This weekend and next is a perfect example. On Friday I headed south to South City Theatre in Pelham to see THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER! and on Saturday I went north to Theatre Downtown to see THE MISS GOOSEPATCH CHRISTMAS PAGEANT. The things they have in common are that they are both funny shows that are done with very minimal sets and a relaxed feel about them. And they both have CHRISTMAS and PAGEANT in the title. Other than that they are pretty much complete opposites.

Face it- we've all seen Scrooge's story a thousand times. But tonight's performance of SCROOGE! THE MUSICAL at the Hoover Library kept me engaged with smart and inventive direction by Jack Mann and an all-star cast.

I know that December can be an overwhelming and hectic time of year. But I also know that there are those days that you just need a break from all of the running around and partying. And I know the perfect thing for you to do- see a live production!

For a 90 minute show with no intermission, A STEADY RAIN packs a lot of punch. It is emotional storytelling, raw human nature, and gripping crime drama all in one intense production. If you like cop shows, great acting, extremely well done theatre, and/or thought provoking subject matter, then you owe it to yourself to see A STEADY RAIN.

Theatre LJCC is giving opportunities to young actors and giving a new generation a chance to learn the appreciation of theatre on their own terms. It is a great idea. OLIVER! will run through November 22 with shows on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The times are kind of all over the place so contact LJCC at 205-879-0411 or at www.bhamjcc.org for exact times and ticket information.

CALENDAR GIRLS by Tim Firth, is a delightful play based on the movie of the same name. It is a pleasant and enjoyable show, especially for a 'girls' night out.'