There are performances on theater stages (and a beach!) from Provincetown to Falmouth this week, with new ones in Wellfleet, Brewster, West Harwich and Falmouth. Productions feature writers from Stephen Sondheim to Noel Coward, Greek tragedy to children’s shows, plus Provincetown, a world premiere and Broadway star.
Unreleased plays are also developed through staged readings with the unique Cape Cod Theater Project back in person in Falmouth. Premiering from June 30 to July 2 at Falmouth Academy (7 Highfield Drive) is “The Violet Sisters” by Gina Femia. Season info: https://capecodtheatreproject.org/ and see our related story.
On our website at www.capecodtimes.com/entertainment, you’ll find what our reviewers have to say and recommend about the shows continuing this weekend: “Private Lives” at the Cape Playhouse in Dennis; “Lady Hamlet”, at the Provincetown Theatre; “Buried Child” at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre; “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at the Cotuit Center for the Arts; and “Kiss Me Kate” at the College Light Opera Company in Falmouth.
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CLOC is also set to open its upcoming five-night musical, “No, No Nanette” on Tuesday, July 5; http://www.collegelightoperacompany.com/. In the middle of the Jazz Age, when Nanette wants to go live the high life with her friends in Atlantic City, she gets told “No” by everyone but sneaks out for an adventure anyway. A pre-show talk at the July 8 performance will reveal how a 1971 revival of the show changed the face of Broadway.
And Cape Playhouse moves on to its next show, “Always…Patsy Cline,” on Wednesday, July 6. For more on this production and what’s to come, read on:
Indoor/outdoor shows at WHAT
A Sondheim you may not have heard
In tribute to composer/lyricist Sondheim, who died last year, the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater will present ‘Marry Me a Little’, a revue devised by Craig Lucas and Norman René featuring ‘musical trunks’ that were cut from productions finales of “Anyone Can Whistle”, “Follies”, “Company”, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and “A Little Night Music”.
The show stars Sam Perwin and Brittany Rolfs as two New York bachelors stuck in lonely apartments who sing fantasies and yearn for a lonely Saturday night. Kevin Quill makes his WHAT debut as musical director and accompanist.
Performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday July 1-22 indoors on the Julie Harris Stage at WHAT (2357 State Highway, Route 6). Tickets: $25 to $40, with discounts for seniors and students; 508-349-9428, http://www.what.org/.
Young chefs prepare a meal with the help of the public
A summer of family theater through Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater’s WHAT for Kids shows begins at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, with MJ Halberstadt’s new commissioned show “How to Cook a Good Idea” outdoors in the Larry Phillips Performance Pavilion (2357 State Highway, Route 6).
The interactive comedy, directed by Amie Lytle, will feature young artists from WHAT’s Professional Development Internship Program in a story about friendship, mistakes, apologies, forgiveness and the pressures of being a restaurant owner. 8 years old. This imaginary restaurant includes a secret magic pot bubbling with good ideas – suggested by the public – that help when the smallest chef is confused.
The shows, written and designed to be a shared experience for all ages, will continue at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday until August 11. Tickets: $12. Reservations and information: 508-349-9428, http://www.what.org/.
In Falmouth:The Cape Cod Theater Project’s 4 season plays focus on the lives of women today
Three outdoor shows at Cape Rep
A musical revival of Broadway with familiar faces
Most summer evenings at the 200-seat outdoor theater at the Cape Rep Theater in Brewster will be filled with the musical sounds of “Mamma Mia”, a lively romance based on ABBA songs – from “Dancing Queen” to ” Super Trouper” – and written in part by band members of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.
Returning from the company’s 2018 production of the Broadway musical, Trish LaRose will play Donna Sheridan, a single mother living on a Greek island whose daughter (Chelsey Jo Ristaino) has three possible fathers from a romantic summer there. years, as well as associate artists Alison Weller and Maura Hanlon as Donna’s best friends. The cast also includes familiar Cape Rep actors Anthony Teixeira, Jared Hagan and Ari Lew as three possible fathers.
The show, directed and choreographed by Dani Davis with musical direction by Sarah Pool Wilhelm, will be presented at 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday July 6 through August 14 at the theater at 3299 Main St./Route 6A. Tickets: $40.
puppets and cows
Cape Rep performs its Summer Children’s Show Series at 10 a.m. select weekday mornings at the Outdoor Theater. From Tuesday to August 30, it’s “Someone’s in the Kitchen with Puppets, Paul and Mary,” featuring puppeteer Mary Wilson and singer/songwriter Paul Kehoe. On Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 1, it’s “Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type,” based on the children’s book by Doreen Cronin. Tickets: $12.
If it rains, daytime and nighttime shows in the outdoor theater move indoors, where masks are mandatory. Tickets and information: 508-896-1888 or https://caperep.org/.
Victoria Clark of Broadway in Provincetown
This week’s Provincetown stop by a Broadway star will feature Victoria Clark, Tony Award winner for ‘The Light in the Piazza’ and star of ‘Sister Act’, ‘Gigi’ and ‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella “. She’s slated to return to Broadway this fall in the title role of the off-Broadway hit “Kimberly Akimbo,” but she’ll make her debut on the Provincetown series first, singing and talking to Seth Rudetsky as musical director and animator.
Shows are at 7 p.m. July 1 and 2 at the Art House, 214 Commercial St. Tickets and information: https://provincetownarthouse.com/.
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Greek tragedy on a beach
Campfire Quorum Summer Production, July 3 through August 3. 7, will be “Love of a Nightingale,” Timberlake Wertenbaker’s modern retelling of an ancient Greek myth that the “avant-garde” troupe will perform on a beach. Well, actually two beaches.
This is the second production from the new company, dubbed a Provincetown Community Compact “think-ubator” project. The show uses movement, a marine setting and a Greek refrain to tell the story of Philomela, who is raped and silenced by her brother-in-law, then she and her sister get their violent revenge. The production, directed by Megan Nussle, features local actors Brittany Rolfs, Lee Goffin-Bonenfant, William Mullin, Ed Donovan, Alice Murphy and Sam Sewell.
The nonprofit Outer Cape says its mission is to “create nomadic, organic, fantastical live theater.” Campfire Quorum strives to establish a mutually symbiotic relationship between art and nature using environmental sites and minimal resources to bring fantasies to life in lasting and evocative ways. In this way, our productions serve a dual purpose of promoting awareness and appreciation of our natural sites, while envisioning a sustainable path for live theatre, its performers and the environment.
The shows will take place at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on six Sundays, including three days at Herring Cove South Beach on Province Lands Road (July 3, 10 and 31) and three on the beach at Crown & Anchor, 247 Commercial St. (17 and July 24 and August 7). Tickets: $40, $50 for the “Dionysiac Experience”; https://www.campfirequorum.org/, 508-687-2267. Proof of vaccination is required to attend.
Family shows start in West Harwich
The Summer of Family Shows on the outdoor stage at the Cape Cod Theater Company/Harwich Junior Theater (105 Division St., West Harwich) kicks off with “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse,” which runs at 3 p.m. July 3, then from Monday to Thursday July 5 -21. The play, adapted by Kevin Kling (NPR’s “All Things Considered”) from the story by Kevin Henkes, is a children’s tale that emphasizes the importance of caring.
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The show will be directed by Jane Staab, founder of Boston University’s Wheelock Family Theater, with a cast including Tess O’Leary, Oliver Shaw, Kelly Martin, Grace Olah, Tristan Divincenzo, Matt Gardner, Emily Murray, Ashlynn Nee, Kathy Hamilton, Perry Gill, Henry Cramer, Juliet Seeley, Georgia Lee Small, Mia Lyons, Bodhi Gardner and Phoebe Schuessler.
Reservations and information: www.capecodtheatrecompany.org, 866-811-4111 or 508-432-2002.
Celebrate a musical legend
Following the closure of “Private Lives” at the Cape Playhouse, the theater will put the spotlight on an iconic singer from decades ago with its production of the musical “Always…Patsy Cline.” Created by Ted Swindley, the show tells the story of country music pioneer Cline – the ‘original cross-over’ musical artist who died in a plane crash at 30 – through real-life letters chronicling the stages of his 10 year career. . These were written between Cline and super fan turned close friend and confidante Louise Segar, who accidentally met at a bar in 1961.
The show’s soundtrack features 27 Cline hits, including “Crazy”, “Walkin’ After Midnight”, “I Fall to Pieces” and “Sweet Dreams”. Jillian Louis will star as Cline, whose credits include Broadway’s “It Shoulda Been You,” Off-Broadway’s “Soul Doctor” and “Chick Flick” and a touring production of the TV show “Cheers” in the role of Diana.
Louise’s role will be Sally Wilfert, who appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning production of “Assassins,” “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “King David”; she was Rona Lisa Peretti on the first national tour of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and has numerous Off-Broadway and Carnegie Hall credits. Directing will be Paige Price, whose 35-year career in theater includes acting on and off Broadway, and as artistic director of Theater Aspen and the Philadelphia Theater Company.
The show runs July 6-16 at the theater, 820 Main St. (Route 6A), Dennis; https://www.capeplayhouse.com/.
Contact Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll at [email protected] Follow on Twitter: @KathiSDCCT.
