Summer Stages: BWW's Top Summer Theatre Picks - Long Island!

Though we encourage each and every person on (and off) the island to go and support as much live theatre as humanly possible all the time, here are some shows to be on the lookout for while galivanting around the Long Island Theatre scene, this summer!

(We've conveniently listed them in chronological "Opening Night" order, so you can make sure to more easily clear your schedules.)

May 28th thru July 12th: THE PRODUCERS at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, NY

THE PRODUCERS tells the story of a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer, Max Bialystock, and a nerdy, young accountant, Leo Bloom, who concoct a scheme to raise thousands of dollars from backers and then put on a flop of a show. With all the money that will be leftover, the pair will be rich! Only one thing goes wrong: the show is a gigantic hit! With a truly hysterical book co-written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (ANNIE) and music and lyrics by Mr. Brooks , THE PRODUCERS skewers Broadway traditions and takes no prisoners as it proudly proclaims itself an "equal opportunity offender!"

For more information, click here.

June 10th thru June 27th: NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT at the Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, NY

Starring Emmy Award-winner Sally Struthers, this sparkling, Tony Award winner recalls the golden age of American musicals, complete with extravagant dance numbers, glittering costumes and the timeless music of George & Ira Gershwin. Over two dozen classics from the Great American Songbook, like "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" and "Someone to Watch Over Me," highlight the story of a 1920s romance between a wealthy playboy and a rough and tumble lady bootlegger. Don't miss an evening of high-stepping Broadway magic - filled with girls, glamour and glorious Gershwin.

For more information, click here.

June 20th thru July 19th: MARY POPPINS at the Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CMPAC in Oakdale, NY

With music and lyrics by the Academy Award-winning Sherman Brothers (with additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe) and a script by Julian Fellowes, this musical - based on the similarly titled series of children's books by P.L. Travers and the 1964 Disney film - is sure to be a "high-flying" theatrical experience for the whole family!

For more information, click here.

June 23rd thru July 12th: FIVE PRESIDENTS at the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, NY

This funny and incisive new drama is about the meeting of America's most exclusive club - the ex-presidents. Obliged to gather together on the day of Richard Nixon's funeral, four "exes" and one "current" vent frustrations, revisit old grievances, and reveal the toll that it takes on any person foolish enough to seek the highest office in the land.

For more information, click here.

July 1st thru July 18th: SISTER ACT at the Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, NY

Based on the 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, SISTER ACT is a tribute to the universal power of friendship. When Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe disco diva, enters a witness protection program, the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look - a convent! Despite first appearances, Deloris helps her new sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. Featuring original music by Tony Award-winner Alan Menken, this devine musical comedy was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

For more information, click here.

July 16th thru August 2nd: REASONS TO BE PRETTY at the Bare Bones Theater Company in Northport, NY

Garnering a 2009 Tony Award nomination for "Best Play," this show centers on four young working class friends and lovers who become increasingly dissatisfied with their dead-end lives and each other. It is the final installment of Neil LaBute's trilogy that focuses on modern day obsession with physical appearance.

For more information, click here.

July 18th thru August 16th: BAREFOOT IN THE PARK at the Merrick Theatre in Merrick, NY

This by Neil Simon follows a free spirited bride and her buttoned down groom, as they settle down to some rocky happily-ever aftering in a Greenwich Village walkup: occasionally invaded by the bride's easily winded mother and the quirky bohemian who lives in the attic.

For more information, click here.

July 22nd thru August 8th: BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL at the Patchogue Theatre in Patchouge, NY

Featuring the soaring music of Elton John, BILLY ELLIOT is the winner of ten 2009 Tony Awards, including the award for "Best Musical." A modern classic, this phenomenal production tells the inspirational tale of a young boy from a blue-collar British town who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes, and must fight to make his dream come true. Nearly 10 million people around the world have been captivated by BILLY ELLIOT - one of this century's most celebrated, award-winning shows - and now you can too.

July 31st thru August 16th: AMERICAN IDIOT at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in Plainview, NY

The two-time Tony Award-winning hit musical AMERICAN IDIOT, based on Green Day's GRAMMY Award-winning multi-platinum album, boldly takes the American musical where it's never gone before. This high-octane show includes every song from Green Day's album American Idiot, as well as several songs from follow-up release, 21st Century Breakdown. Johnny, Tunny and Will struggle to find meaning in a post-9/11 world. When the three disgruntled men flee the constraints of their hometown for the thrills of city life, their paths are quickly estranged when Tunny enters the armed forces, Will is called back home to attend familial responsibilities, and Johnny's attention becomes divided by a seductive love interest and a hazardous new friendship. An energy-fueled rock opera, AMERICAN IDIOT features little dialogue and instead relies on the lyrics from Green Day's groundbreaking album to execute the story line.

For more information, click here.

August 1st thru August 23rd: SOUTH PACIFIC at the Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CMPAC in Oakdale, NY

This epic musical romance centers on a group of American sailors and Navy nurses stationed in the South Pacific during World War II. Arkansas native Nellie Forbush befriends and quickly falls for Emile de Becque, a French expatriate and plantation owner, and Lt. Joe Cable finds himself in a passionate affair with Liat, the young daughter of Bloody Mary, the local grass-skirt peddler. As the war against Japan escalates, reality sets in for both Forbush and Cable, who struggle to reconcile their unconventional love affairs with their long-held prejudices and insecurities.

For more information, click here.

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