Summer Stages: BWW's Top Summer Theater Picks - Orlando

One of the best and worst things about living in Orlando is the weather. What better place to keep cool and avoid the tourists then at one of our many local theaters. Enjoy an outdoor dinner then catch a show in a comfortably air conditioned theater. Orlando's summer theater season is filled with classic stories and music from the 50s and 60s and promises to entertain audiences of all ages.

SLEEPING BEAUTY at Orlando Shakespeare
Runs from June 20 to July 28.

This fun retelling of the classic Grimm's fairy tale by BranDon Roberts promises to be fun for the family. It's Princess Rose's birthday and the entire kingdom is rejoicing! But the bitter wise woman, Wartsuch, disrupts the celebration and casts a wicked curse on the little princess dooming her to sleep for 100 years. Complete with a handsome prince and a magical kiss, SLEEPING BEAUTY will delight audiences of all ages.

For tickets and showtimes visit: http://www.orlandoshakes.org.

DREAMGIRLS at MadCow
Runs from June 7 to June 30.

The 1960s were a time of early R&B and soul music with successful girl groups like The Supremes. This Tony Award Winning musical and 2006 movie, follows the story of a girl group from Chicago hoping to get their big break in Motown. There are big ballads and sparkling dance numbers as the Dreamgirls find their musical identity and true love.

Featuring Cherry Hamlin as Deena Jones, Jasmine Thompson as Lorrell Robinson, and Jayne Trinette as Effie White, DREAMGIRLS will be the Orlando Theater's Summer Blockbuster not to miss.

DEATH OF A SALESMAN at MadCow
Runs from August 2 to August 25

This classic Arthur Miller masterpiece returns to the Orlando stage to tell the story of Willy Loman's unfulfilled dreams and disappointments. A bad economy, unequal opportunities, ambition and entitlement, combine with Miller's characters to create this sad story. Those of us who were forced to read the play in high school school may find the idea of sitting through it snooze-worthy, but there's something relevant to today's culture as we all search for our version of the American dream. "Why am I trying to become what I don't want to be . . . when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am." -DEATH OF A SALESMAN

For more information about DREAMGIRLS and DEATH OF A SALESMAN visit http://www.madcowtheatre.com/.

BOEING, BOEING at TheaterUCF
Runs June 13-16, June 20-23, July 12, 14, 18, 20

Bernard lives in Paris as a bachelor with three gorgeous stewardess girlfriends to entertain him. The thing is that none of the ladies knows that the others exist. Bernard is able to keep this swinging lifestyle together until his friend Robert come to live with him. Trouble ensues when all three ladies come into town at the same time.

THE FANTASTICKS at TheaterUCF
Runs June 27-30, July 11, 13, 19, 21

Known as the longest running American theater production, THE FANTASTICKS is not your average love story. From the outside it seems like feuding families bring together two young lovers, but not everything is as it seems. Will true love prevail? Book and lyrics by Tom Jones, and music by Harvey Schmidt is catchy and sweet. This would be a perfect date night show

For more information about BOEING, BOEING and THE FANTASTICKS visit http://theatre.cah.ucf.edu/season.php.

FOREVER PLAID at Winter Park Playhouse
Runs from August 2 to August 24

Before the boy bands like NSYNC and Backstreet Boys, there were the boy bands of the 1950s. Their close harmonies and smooth sounds (sans the overwhelming dance moves), made these singing quartets classic. FOREVER PLAID is the story of four male singers brought together to sing in a final show. The twist is that The Four Singers died in a bus crash while on their way to their real first concert. FOREVER PLAID will delight older audiences with 30 hit songs from the decade.

For more information visit http://www.winterparkplayhouse.org/.

Photo Credit: Mad Cow Theater

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