Jaston Williams returns to The Classic Theatre with ‘Clear to Partly Cloudy’ from Thursday July 27 to Sunday July 30, 2017. Photo: Kirk Tuck, used with permission.
Jaston Williams returns to The Classic Theatre for the San Antonio premiere of his one man show ‘Clear to Partly Crazy’ from Thursday July 27 to Sunday July 30, 2017. Previously seen on ‘A Wolverine Walks Into a Bar,’ he muses on subjects all Texans understand; from cheerleaders to tornadoes and certifiably insane blood relatives. Travel with him from grandstands to storm cellars to the occasional mental institution, laughing all the way. Written and performed by Jaston Williams. No late seating will be allowed at any performance. Show times are Thursday and Friday at 8p.m. Saturday at 3p.m. and 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission and are available online. (The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, 2017)
Jaston Williams is best known as one of the trio of writers of the Greater Tuna series. Along with Joe Sears and Ed Howard, they wrote ‘Greater Tuna,’ ‘A Tuna Christmas’ and ‘Red, White and Tuna.’ The shows are comedic plays each set in the fictional town of Tuna, Texas and are an affectionate view and satire of small-town, Southern life and attitudes. Williams and Sears play the entire cast of over twenty characters of both genders and various ages.
The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 589-8450
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is the movie adaptation of the French comic book series Valerian and Laureline. It opens in theaters on Friday July 21, 2017.
Pierre Christin is a French comics creator and writer and he, along with Jean-Claude Mézières, a French comic strip artist and illustrator created the French comic book series Valérian and Laureline. First published in 1967, it is also known as Valérian: Spatio-Temporal Agent, or simply as Valérian, and it recounts the adventures of the dark-haired Valérian, a spatio-temporal agent and his redheaded female colleague Laureline as they travel the universe through space and time. The movie adaptation, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, will be released in theaters on Friday July 21, 2017. It stars Dane DeHaan as Major Valerian, Clara Delevingne as Sergeant Laureline, Clive Owen as Arün Filitt, their commander and Rihanna as Bubble, a shapeshifting entertainer.
According to Wikipedia, Valérian and Laureline, Valérian is a classical hero who is kind, strong, brave and follows the orders of his superiors even if he does not always agree with them. His partner Laureline is intelligent, determined, independent and good looking. The comic series combines space opera with time travel. Christin’s writing style contains humor, complexity and strongly humanist and left-wing liberal political ideas while Mézières’ art is best known for its vivid depictions of the alien worlds and species that they encounter along the way. It is considered innovative in European comics and pop culture and its influence can be seen in films such as Star Wars and The Fifth Element. Many of the stories have been translated into several languages.
Tickets for ‘The Bodyguard’ are now on sale. It will play at the Majestic Theatre from September 19 through September 24, 2017.
The new season of North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio begins in September with the first U.S. national tour of the hit musical ‘The Bodyguard.’ It will play eight performances at the Majestic Theatre from Tuesday September 19 through Sunday September 24, 2017 and tickets are now on sale. Ticket prices begin at $35 and are available online, at the box office, through Ticketmaster online or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Box office hours are 10a.m. to 5p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday hours vary. Performances are 7:30p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8p.m. on Friday, 2p.m. and 8p.m. on Saturday and 2p.m. and 7:30p.m. on Sunday. Orders for groups of ten or more may be place by phone at (210) 226-5967. (North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio, 2017)
‘The Bodyguard’ is based on the 1992 Oscar-nominated Warner Bros. film and is adapted by Academy Award-winner Alexander Dinelaris. It is the story of former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard Frank Farmer who is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge but what they do not expect is to fall in love. Considered a romantic thriller, it features such classic songs as So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and the mega-hit I Will Always Love You. This version changes the focus of the story from the bodyguard to Rachel Marron. Grammy® Award-nominated and multi-platinum R&B and pop recording artist Deborah Cox stars as Rachel Marron and television star Judson Mills stars as bodyguard Frank Farmer. Jasmin Richardson will be playing the role of Rachel Marron for the Saturday matinee and Sunday evening performances.
Majestic Theatre
224 E Houston St
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-5700
Kass Ortiz as Tracy Turnblad in The Playhouse San Antonio’s production of ‘Hairspray.’ Photo: Daniel D Baumer, used with permission.
One of Broadway’s most popular musicals, ‘Hairspray,’ opened at The Playhouse San Antonio last weekend. This musical is based on the 1988 John Waters film of the same name and tells the story of Tracy Turnblad whose innocent desire to dance on a television show ends up shaking up her hometown of Baltimore. It runs until Sunday August 6 with show times on Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets are available online and prices range from $12 for children to $42 for general adult admission.
‘Hairspray’ begins with “Good Morning Baltimore” where the audience is introduced to the perky Tracy Turnblad whose world revolves around watching The Corny Collins show. While watching the show one afternoon she finds out that there will be auditions to replace one of the ‘council members’ who is taking a leave of absence due to a pregnancy. She eagerly goes to audition only to be rudely turned away, “Miss Baltimore Crabs.” While there she bumps into teenage heartthrob Link Larkin and that leads to a romantic dream sequence, “I Can Hear the Bells.” She ends up gaining a spot on the show and with the help of friends and family manages to get The Corny Collins Show fully integrated.
The stage version of ‘Hairspray’ is slightly different than the movie, which most people are familiar with, but it is still a joy to experience. With its infectious songs, energetic dancing and vital social commentaries it is easy to see why it so popular with theater audiences as evident by a sold out opening weekend. Show highlights include “Big Blonde and Beautiful,” a song about being proud of how you look despite what people think and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” when Tracy emerges from the back of the theatre to crash the competition at the end. Danielle King, who plays Motormouth Maybelle, gives a poignant rendition of “I Know Where I’ve Been” that reminds audiences of the serious side of the show. Amid singing and dancing, ‘Hairspray’ tackles such topics as racism, segregation and finding love despite weight and color differences. The colorful staging and vibrant costumes bring this show to life. Top-notch choreography and a talented cast who work well together makes this a must-see show.
Hector Machado as Pablo Neruda in The Classic Theatre’s production of ‘Burning Patience’ playing until Sunday. Photo: Siggi Ragnar, used with permission.
Now playing at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio is ‘Burning Patience’ by Antonio Skármeta. Translated by Tim Klinger and directed by José Rubén De León, it stars Hector Machado as Pablo Neruda, Marisa Varela as Rosa González, Juan Carlos Calderon as Mario Jiménez and Amanda Ireta-Goode as Beatriz González. It tells the story of Mario Jiménez, a fictional postman in revolution-era Chile who befriends the real-life poet Pablo Neruda. There are still three chances to catch this delightful and poetic production at 8p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3p.m. on Sunday. General admission tickets are $20 and are available online or by phone at (210) 589-8450. There is no late seating at any performance.
‘Burning Patience’ is set in 1969 in Isla Negra, Chile where Mario Jiménez, the local postman frequently visits poet Pablo Neruda to bring him his correspondence. He is a big fan of Neruda and since he also wishes to be a poet his visits usually center around poetry. Until one day when Mario brings exciting news that he has met Beatriz, the woman of his dreams and wants Neruda’s help in winning her heart—with poetry, of course. Beatriz’ mother Rosa disapproves and wants to send her away to separate them and goes so far as to write Neruda to ask him to intervene. Love wins in the end and the two end up married but their happiness is disrupted when Neruda falls ill and dies when the country’s political instability touches home.
Productions at The Classic Theatre are quality classic works and ‘Burning Patience’ is no exception. Audience members at last Friday’s performance were there because they were either familiar with Pablo Neruda or the movie adaptation but this was the exception and not the rule. Familiarity with the subject matter is not necessary to enjoy this excellent piece of theater, only a love and appreciation of poetry. The cast works perfectly together but Calderon’s portrayal of the love-struck Mario with the heart of a poet is the shinning beacon of the story. Neruda’s personal life is also examined including his political views and his 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. Overall, it is a must see, well-balanced story of love, friendship, politics and poetry and will appeal to fans of classic literature.
The movie adaptation of ‘My Cousin Rachel’ by Daphne du Maurier is now in theaters.
Daphne du Maurier was an English author and playwright whose works are described as nonconventional and moody with overtones of the paranormal despite being classified as a romantic novelist. Her works include the novels “Rebecca,” “My Cousin Rachel” and “Jamaica Inn” and the short stories “The Birds” and “Don’t Look Now/Not After Midnight.” The newest movie adaptation of “My Cousin Rachel” is now in limited release and stars Rachel Weisz, Sam Claflin, Iain Glen and Holliday Grainger. It tells the story of a young man in Cornwall who meets the wife of his older cousin and suspects her of having been responsible for his death.
According to Amazon, “My Cousin Rachel” is set in 19th century England where Philip Ashley was orphaned at a young age and is raised by his older cousin Ambrose. Ambrose is single and loves Philip as his own and considers him his heir. Their perfect world is turned upside down when Ambrose goes on a trip to Florence where he falls in love, gets married and just as suddenly dies. The new widow, Rachel, turns up in England shortly after that. She is beautiful, sophisticated and mysterious and even though she may have had something to do with Ambrose’s death, Philip is drawn to her.
This Thursday July 13 Whataburger is having a fundraiser to benefit the YMCA at O.P. Schnabel Park’s Youth Sports programs. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
Whataburger periodically hosts events to help the community and schools. These events have ranged from “Oh Whata Nights” to jalapeño eating contests, drawings and raffles. Coming up this week, Whataburger is hosting an “Oh Whata Night” fundraiser to benefit the YMCA at O.P. Schnabel Park’s Youth Sports programs. This event is scheduled for Thursday July 13 from 5p.m. to 8p.m. at the Leon Valley Whataburger. (Whataburger, 2017)
The public is invited to come and show their support by enjoying their favorite menu items and Whataburger will donate 20 percent of the sales during the posted hours to the organization. Guests will be able to participate in the popular “Whataburger for a Year” drawing where one customer’s name will be drawn to win the ultimate prize-a free Whataburger every week for a year. There will also be a photo booth and the first 100 customers will receive free Whataburger sunglasses.
Whataburger has been making burgers since 1950 when Harman Dobson opened a humble hamburger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. He wanted customers to take one bite and say, “What a burger” so he named his stand on Ayers St “Whataburger.” Since then Whataburger now has over 700 locations across the country and continues to deliver fresh, made to order meals everyday with superior customer service. Community support includes charitable giving and volunteerism to nonprofit organizations that focus on children’s charities, cancer research, hunger assistance, disaster relief and military support.
Whataburger
7016 Bandera Rd near Huebner Rd
Leon Valley, TX 78238
(210) 680-0721
Morgan Clyde as Fiona, Alejandro Pesina as Donkey and Joshua Goldberg as Shrek in the Woodlawn Theatre’s production of ‘Shrek, The Musical.’ Photo: Woodlawn Theatre, used with permission.
The hot summer months are here and those looking for an indoor activity to enjoy with the family might want to consider a night at the theater. Now playing at the Woodlawn Theatre is ‘Shrek, The Musical,’ the family friendly tale of the loveable green ogre based on the hit DreamWorks animated movie. It runs until Sunday July 30 with show times on Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets range from $18 to $29 and are available online. This highly entertaining show brings the beloved characters from the movie to life onstage for a musical about an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess.
The story begins with Shrek’s parents throwing him out on his seventh birthday to fend for himself, “Big Bright Beautiful World,” while warning him that his life will not be easy because of his looks. Years later, Shrek is living in a swamp, alone and bitter but content with his solitary life. That is, until the quiet is interrupted by a group of fairy tale characters, including Pinocchio, The Three Bears, Peter Pan, the Ugly Duckling and many more. They have been thrown out of the Kingdom of Duloc by the evil Lord Farquaad just for being different. Shrek agrees to travel to see Lord Farquaad to convince him to let them come back so he can have his swamp back. Along the way he rescues a talkative donkey from some of Farquaad’s guards and in return for his kindness, he offers Shrek his friendship, “Don’t Let Me Go” and ends up tagging along for the rest of the journey. Once there, he is given the task of rescuing Princess Fiona who is trapped in a castle. In return, Lord Farquuad promises to give Shrek the deed to the swamp.
While the cast of ‘Shrek, The Musical’ is bigger than in most shows, they all work in synch to make this an enjoyable show. Joshua Goldberg, as Shrek, has good chemistry with Morgan Clyde who plays Fiona and they complement each other on stage. Alejandro Pesina’s spot on comedic timing makes him the perfect choice for playing the funny and sometimes irreverent Donkey. Joshua Buce’s hilarious portrayal of Lord Farquaad makes this production a must-see. Show highlights include Shrek and Donkey’s “Travel Song” when their friendship evolves and “Freak Song” when the ensemble accepts who they are and agree to fight together against their tormentors. Some of the humor is off-color but it still appeals to audiences of all ages with its themes of friendship and acceptance.
Kass Ortiz stars as Tracy Turnblad in The Playhouse San Antonio’s production of ‘Hairspray’ opening this week. Photo: Daniel D Baumer, used with permission.
Opening at The Playhouse San Antonio this week is the local production of the Tony Award-winning musical ‘Hairspray.’ This wildly popular musical opens on Friday July 7 and will run until Sunday August 6 in the Russell Hill Rogers Theater. It is the story of Tracy Turnblad, whose innocent desire to dance on a television show ends up shaking up her hometown of Baltimore. The book was written by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music is by Mark Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Mark Shaiman. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets are available online and are $42 for general adult, $23 for military with valid ID, $23 for seniors aged 60 and up, $15 for students with valid ID and $12 for children aged 12 and under. Discounts are available for groups of ten or more. (The Playhouse San Antonio, 2017)
‘Hairspray’ is set in 1962 where Tracy Turnblad, a plus size teenager with a passion for singing and dancing, dreams of her chance to dance on the local dance television show. When she finally wins a spot on The Corny Collins Show, she becomes an overnight celebrity and meets a wide variety of characters. They band together to challenge the status quo which leads to social change when they campaign for the show’s integration. Amid singing and dancing, ‘Hairspray’ tackles such topics as racism, segregation and finding love despite weight and color differences. Omar Leos is the director and it stars Kass Ortiz as Tracy Turnblad, David Nanny as Edna Turnblad, Brendan Brady as Corny Collins, Emily Cleveland as Penny Pingleton and Cade Thomas as Link Larkin.
The Playhouse San Antonio
Russell Hill Rogers Theater
800 W Ashby Place
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 733-725
Hector Machado as Pablo Neruda in ‘Burning Patience’ opening Thursday at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio. Photo by Siggi Ragnar, used with permission.
Opening this week at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio is ‘Burning Patience.’ Teatro Farolito is bringing the premiere of this love story to San Antonio audiences as part of the Classic Presents series. It opens on Thursday July 6 and runs until Sunday July 16, 2017. This stage adaptation of the 1985 novel by Antonio Skármeta tells the story of Mario Jiménez, a fictional postman in revolution-era Chile who befriends the real-life poet Pablo Neruda. It was adapted to the screen in the 1994 film Il Postino: The Postman. (The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, 2017)
In ‘Burning Patience,’ Mario is the postman of Isla Negra, a small Chilean fishing village where almost everyone is illiterate except for Latin America’s greatest poet Pablo Neruda. Neruda not only lived through World War II, but he also lost his friend and fellow poet, Federico García Lorca, during the Spanish Civil War. In Chile, there is a dance in which wives, daughters and mothers of thousands of “missing” dance with photographs of loved ones pinned to their clothing. Skármeta’s ‘Burning Patience’ is such a dance. In the absence of marked graves, art is the closest thing to a memorial that the missing in Chile may ever have.
There will be only eight performances with show times on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio. General admission tickets are $20 and are available online. There will be no late seating at any performance. It is directed by José Rubén De León and stars Hector Machado, Marisa Varela, Amanda Ireta-Goode and Juan Calderon.
The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 589-8450
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