Category: Theater News

Greater Tuna’s Jaston Williams in ‘Don’t Blame the Car!’ at The Classic Theatre

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Jaston Williams’ ‘Don’t Blame the Car!’ opens on Thursday June 27 at The Classic Theatre. Photo: The Classic Theatre, used with permission. 

On Thursday June 27, The Classic Theatre is opening their Second Series production of Greater Tuna’s Jaston Williams’ ‘Don’t Blame the Car!’ It will run until Sunday June 30 with only six performances: June 27 at 8p.m., June 28 at 8p.m., June 29 at 2p.m. and 8p.m. and June 30 at 2p.m. and 7p.m. General admission tickets are $25 and available online. There will be no late seating at any performance. Written and Performed by Jaston Williams. The theatre is handicapped accessible. (The Classic Theatre, 2019)

Jaston Williams’ first driver’s license read 4 feet 11 and 85 pounds. He learned to drive from his mother who assured him that passing on the right was permitted even on a two-lane road. The day his father tried to teach him to drive a standard shift, the man had to cut the lesson short and return home for bed rest. Hear this along with other stories including the one about the twirler who repeatedly injured herself with her own baton and the true account of why Jaston holds a lifelong grudge against potatoes.

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 589-8450

‘Four Places’ at The Surround Project

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Courtesy photo: used with permission. 

Local theatre company The Surround Project is taking on their second outing this summer with ‘Four Places’ by Joel Drake Johnson. Once again partnering with The Classic Theatre of San Antonio to bring another San Antonio premiere to the stage, the company will explore themes similar to those tackled in their maiden voyage production of ‘9 Circles.’ Co-founder Eva Laporte directs ‘Four Places’ by Joel Drake Johnson which will run from Thursday June 13 through Sunday June 23 and will consist of eight performances only with showtimes Thursday through Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. (The Surround Project, 2019)

General seating in groups begins 45 minutes to curtain. No late seating or re-entry will be allowed. This play includes mature content. Tickets are $25 and are available online and consists of General Admission seating only. Guests will check-in and be assigned seating groups.

Laporte shares the connection between the two plays: “There’s a through line from our first production of ‘9 Circles,’ a play about war trauma, sexual violence and the politics of war, to our current production of ‘Four Places.’ In this play, we’re exploring the politics of a family and the trauma adult children must face in order to be happy, resilient, fulfilled people.”

In ‘Four Places,’ a seemingly innocent and routine family lunch between Peggy and her two adult children Ellen and Warren slowly reveals itself to have dire implications. The cast includes Kathy Couser as Peggy, Catherine Babbitt as Ellen and Andrew Thornton as Warren. Sarah Fisch rounds out the cast as Barb, the waiter for the family lunch. Directed by Eva Laporte, it includes Lighting Design by Kaitlin Muse, Music Composition & Sound Design by John Coker.

The Surround Project is inviting local non-profits to participate and build a bridge between audiences and experts, creating a dialogue about the themes seen on stage.

“Our first official community partner for ‘Four Places’ is Jewish Family Service. Providing mental health services for the entire San Antonio community, JFS is a local resource for many of the issues found in our play. JFS CEO Talli Dolge, MS, is excited to work with us and will serve as one of our talk back panel experts,” Eva LaPorte

Special Events:
Audiences are invited to join an informal chat with the artistic team after every performance. More information about The Surround Project is available online where new events will also be added.
Friday, June 14  – Donor Pre-show Reception
Sunday, June 15 –  Expert-led panel post-show discussion
Friday, June 21 – Dual ASL-interpreted performance

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 589-8450

Theater summer camp at The Classic Theatre

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Camp Classic is a theatre arts camp and begins in July at The Classic Theatre. Photo: Classic Theatre, used with permission.

It is not too late to get kids registered for summer camp. Camp Classic is a theatre arts camp linked to classical mythology for children ages 5-13 of all ability levels, located in the heart of the Deco District. (The Classic Theatre, 2019)

Campers will travel back in time to the days of adventure and magic, heroes and heroines, gods and rulers and giants and ogres. They will learn how to make a story come to life by using elements of the theatre to create their own characters, props, masks, costumes, and set pieces, culminating in a final performance. Camp Classic curriculum is based on TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) standards and National Core Arts Standards in Theatre Arts.

Registration is available online. Campers may register for more than one individual sessions. Each week will be split into three age groups, ages 5-7, 8-10 and 11-13, and focus on one of the following: Greek Mythology, Mexican Folklore, and European Fairytales.

Dates
Week 1 (July 15-19, 2019) Greek Mythology- Alpha
Campers will unlock the stories of Hercules, Dionysus, Athena, The Trojan War and The Iliad and The Odyssey.

Week 2 (July 22-26, 2019) Greek Mythology – Omega
Added week of Greek Mythology camp.

Week 3 (July 29-Aug 2, 2019) Mexican Folklore
Campers will learn Mexican heritage stories of La Lorona, Quetzalcoatl, El Cucuy, Tlaloc and the Cempasuchil Flower.

Week 4 (August 5-9, 2019) European Fairytales
Campers will explores stories such as Rumpelstiltskin, Rapunzel, Beowulf, Hansl and Gretl and The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

Camp Times – 9a.m. to 3p.m.
Every Friday of each session will end with a class performance.

Camp Rates (per week)
Early Bird Rate – $235
After May 1 – $250

Included in camp rates are one camp shirt and take-home masks, costumes and props on final day of session. Sibling Discounts Available. $25 non-refundable tuition deposit due upon registration. $25 Extended Care available from 7:30a.m. to 5:30p.m.

Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 468-3900

‘Cabaret’ opens Saturday at the Vexler Theatre

cabaretOpening this weekend at The Sheldon Vexler Theatre is ‘Cabaret. This dark musical about escaping the trials of life opens on Saturday May 4 and will run through Sunday June 2, 2019. Tickets are now available online and are $23 for general admission, $20 for seniors/military, $19 for JCC (Barshop Jewish Community Center) and $15 for students. Showtimes are 8p.m. Saturday, 2:30p.m. Sunday and 7:30p.m. Thursday.

‘Cabaret’ is based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. It is set in the infamous Kit Kat Klub where Emcee Sally Bowles and the rest of the ensemble take the stage nightly to tantalize the crowd and to leave their troubles outside. In a seedy Berlin nightclub, as the 1920s draw to a close, a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assured them they will forget all their troubles at the Cabaret. With the Emcee’s bawdy songs as wry commentary, ‘Cabaret’ explores the dark, heady and tumultuous life of Berlin’s natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. Memorable songs include “Cabaret,” “Willkommen” and “Maybe This Time.”

*Disclaimer: contains adult themes and language and is recommended for mature audiences. Parental discretion is advised.

The Sheldon Vexler Theatre
12500 NW Military Hwy, Ste 275 @ Wurzbach Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78231
(210) 302-6835

Digital lottery for ‘Hamilton’ tickets at Majestic Theatre

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Elijah Malcomb, Joseph Morales, Kyle Scatliffe, Fergie L. Philippe and Company. Photo: Joan Marcus, used with permission. 

Producer Jeffrey Seller and The Majestic Theatre today announced the digital lottery for ‘Hamilton’ tickets will begin in conjunction with the show’s first performance (May 7) in San Antonio at the Majestic Theatre. Forty (40) tickets will be sold for every performance for $10 each. The digital lottery will open at 11a.m. on Sunday, May 5 for tickets to the Tuesday, May 7 performance. Subsequent digital lotteries will begin two days prior to each performance. (Broadway in San Antonio, 2019)

How to enter:

• Use the official app for ‘Hamilton,’ now available for all iOS and Android devices in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
• You can also visit Hamilton The Musical  to register.
• The lottery will open at 11a.m. two days prior to the performance date and will close for entry at 9a.m. the day prior to the performance.
• Winner and non-winner notifications will be sent at approximately 11a.m. the day prior to the performance via email and SMS if mobile number is provided.
• No purchase or payment necessary to enter or participate.
• Each winning entrant may purchase up to two (2) tickets.
• Only one entry per person. Repeat entries and disposable email addresses will be discarded.
• Tickets must be purchased online with a credit card by 4p.m. the day prior to the performance using the purchase link and code in a customized notification email. Tickets not claimed by 4p.m. the day prior to the performance are forfeited.
• Lottery tickets may be picked up at will call beginning two hours prior to the performance with a valid photo ID. Lottery tickets void if resold.

Additional rules:
Patrons must be 18 years or older and have a valid, non-expired photo ID that matches the name used to enter. Tickets are non-transferable. Ticket limits and prices displayed are at the sole discretion of the show and are subject to change without notice.

Lottery prices are not valid on prior purchases. Lottery ticket offer cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. All sales final – no refunds or exchanges. Lottery may be revoked or modified at any time without notice. No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not improve the chances of winning.

Tickets for ‘Hamilton’ are currently on sale. Patrons are advised to check the official ‘Hamilton’ channels and Ticketmaster for late release seats which may become available on short notice.

‘Hamilton’ is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, ‘Hamilton’ is the story of America then, as told by America now. With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and music supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, ‘Hamilton’ is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

‘The Little Foxes’ at the Classic Theatre

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‘The Little Foxes’ opens at the Classic Theatre on Friday May 3. Photo: Siggi Ragnar, used with permission. 

Coming up next month at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio is ‘The Little Foxes,’ written by Lillian Hellman and directed by Melissa Utley. This classic drama opens on Friday May 3 and will run through Sunday May 26. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets are $33 for general admission, $29 for senior, military, educator or SATCO, and $18 for student and are available online or at the box office by calling (210) 589-8450. Proper ID is required. On opening night, there will be a complimentary champagne reception after the show. (The Classic Theatre, 2019)

‘The Little Foxes’ is a 1939 play set in a small Alabama town in 1900. The title comes from Chapter 2, Verse 15 of the Song of Solomon in the King James version of the Bible, which reads, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” In pursuit of the American Dream, this riveting story captures the life of a Southern family who has decided to partner together to pursue the biggest business deal that will make-or-break their lives. But as the financial dream gets bigger and tensions rise, where do the pieces for this family’s future fall?

Special Student Performances – Thursday May 9 at 7p.m.

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 589-8450

‘Freud’s Last Session’ at the Cellar Theater

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Wesley Deitrick as Sigmund Freud and John Stillwaggon as C.S. Lewis in ‘Freud’s Last Session.’ Photo: Siggi Ragnar, used with permission. 

Opening this Friday April 19 at The Public Theater’s Cellar Theater is ‘Freud’s Last Session’ by Mark St. Germain. This thought-provoking play centers around Dr. Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis as they debate about God’s existence, life, love and other subjects. It runs until Sunday May 12. Tickets are available online or at the box office by calling (210) 733-7258. Prices are $35 for adults, $30 for military members with ID and seniors age 60 and older and $25 for students with ID. Group rates are available for groups of ten or more. Additional ticket service fees may apply. There will be a post-show reception on opening night. Show times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m. (Cellar Theater, 2019)

In ‘Freud’s Last Session,’ Dr. Sigmund Freud invites the young C.S. Lewis to his home in London. On the day England enters World War Two, Freud and Lewis clash about love, sex, the existence of God and the meaning of life, just weeks before Freud took his own life. Crisp and carefully calibrated, this story is deeply touching and filled with humor while exploring the minds, hearts and souls of two brilliant men that are addressing the greatest questions of all time. Cast includes Wesley Deitrick as Sigmund Freud and John Stillwaggon as C.S. Lewis with David Rinear as Director.

Cellar Theater
800 W. Ashby Place
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 733-7258

‘In The Heights’ at the Woodlawn Theatre

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‘In The Heights’ opens Friday April 12 at the Woodlawn Theatre. From left to right: Jillian Sainz as Nina Rosario, Miguel Ochoa as Usnavi De La Vega, Lisa Decker as Vanessa and Venny Mortimer as Benny. Photo: Woodlawn Theatre, used with permission.

Coming up this week at the Woodlawn Theatre is ‘In The Heights.’ It opens on Friday April 12 and runs until Sunday May 5, 2019. ‘In The Heights’ is a musical with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and book by Quiara Alegria Hudes and takes place over the course of three days in the largely Hispanic-American neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. There will be a special Thursday show on April 18 at 7p.m. and an Easter show on Sunday April 21 at 7p.m.  Tickets are available online or by calling the Box Office at 210-267-8388. Prices are $30 for adults, $24 for Senior/Military/First Responders and $18 for Children/Student. Groups of ten or more receive a 20% discount. (Woodlawn Theatre, 2019)

‘In The Heights’ tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood – a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It is a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind. This musical is the winner of the 2008 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations.

Cast includes: Usnavi De La Vega – Miguel Ochoa, Nina Rosario – Jillian Sainz, Kevin Rosario – Michael J Gonzalez, Camila Rosario – Victoria Nieves, Benny – Venny Mortimer, Vanessa – Lisa Decker, Sonny – Michael Parisi, Abuela Claudia – Ana Hernandez, Daniela – Melissa Gonzalez, Carla – Amy Mireles, Piragua Guy – Rene Sandoval, Graffiti Pete – Chibbi Orduna. The Director is Tim Hedgepeth, Choreographer Carla Sankey and Musical Director Andrew Hendley.

Promotional Nights:
Student Night: Saturday April 13- $10 /Child/Student tickets with code STUDENT
Pride Night: Friday April 19 – 25% off all tickets with code PRIDE
ASL Night Sunday May 5 – 25% off all tickets with code ASL

Woodlawn Theatre
1920 Fredericksburg Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 267-8388

Registration open for Camp Broadway

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Registration is now open for Camp Broadway coming up in August. Photo: Las Casas Foundation, used with permission. 

Broadway’s original summer camp will shine its spotlight at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre Monday, August 5 through Friday, August 9. Camp Broadway, in partnership with Las Casas Foundation is the only dramatic camp in San Antonio that immerses young aspiring artists in a week of theatrical training and rehearsals with professional actors from Los Angeles and New York. (Las Casas Foundation, 2019)

Open to all skill levels, Camp Broadway is a five-day summer camp from 9a.m. to 5p.m., designed to immerse children ages 10 to 17 in an authentic Broadway rehearsal process. No previous theatre experience is necessary to enroll in the camp. After a week of training, the program culminates in a special on-stage performance for family and friends with professional actors at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre.

For $600, Camp Broadway enables theatre-loving children to develop their confidence, character, and presentation skills through ensemble performance.

Mainstage package includes 5 days (40 hours) of instruction and activities including:
• Intensives in singing, acting and dancing taught by Broadway professionals
• A memorable lunch on stage of the Majestic Theatre and talkback with industry professionals
• Camp Broadway swag – including official t-shirt, labeled bag and pencil
• A collectible Mainstage program patch
• Professional ‘Cast of Characters’ headshot
• Healthy lunches, snacks and water

Mainstagers and their families also receive:
• Access to the ‘Call Board’ – with exclusive sneak peeks and all the need-to-know details to get ready for Broadway
• End-of-day info to prepare for the next day’s activities
• A keepsake playbill from the Mainstage Finale performance
• Complimentary admission to the Family Finale show at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre

Registration is limited and available online. Camp Broadway San Antonio features a sibling discount for families with multiple children who want to enjoy a turn in the spotlight. A special discount for military families is also available.

Las Casas Foundation is dedicated to the development of the performing arts through education and scholarships, as well as the restoration and preservation of historic theatres. Las Casas Foundation offers a variety of educational initiatives to nurture and grow the performing arts, including an annual scholarship program, awarding $100,000 in scholarship funds each year, as well as additional educational and training opportunities.

Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
226 N. St. Mary’s St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-5700

‘Hamilton’ tickets on sale March 15 through Verified Fan

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‘Hamilton’ will be playing at the Majestic Theatre in May. Photo: Joan Marcus, used with permission. 

Producer Jeffrey Seller and The Majestic Theatre announced this week that tickets for ‘Hamilton’ will be available online through Ticketmaster Verified Fan® at 10a.m. on Friday, March 15. Verified Fan is a new fan-facing technology from Ticketmaster that allows pre-registered fans to unlock access to tickets without competing against scalpers and bots. Ticketmaster Verified Fan® registration is now open and will close Monday, March 11 at 11:59p.m. (Broadway in San Antonio, 2019)

Those who registered will be notified by Ticketmaster via email on Thursday, March 14 if they have been selected for the Verified Fan on sale. The Ticketmaster Verified Fan® on sale will be available for purchases online only and for performances from May 7 through 26. There is a maximum purchase limit of four (4) tickets per household for the engagement. Tickets range from $75.50 – $195.50, with a select number of $425.50 premium seats available. Ticket prices do not include any applicable fees. There will be a lottery for forty (40) $10 seats for all performances. Details will be announced closer to the engagement. A limited number of tickets will be available at The Majestic Theatre (226 East Houston Street) at 10a.m. on Friday, March 15.

‘Hamilton’ is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and Broadway, ‘Hamilton’ is the story of America then, as told by America now. With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, ‘Hamilton’ is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

Majestic Theatre
224 E. Houston St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-5700