The Classic Theatre’s production of ‘As You Like It’ opens September 9, 2021. Photo: The Classic Theatre of San Antonio.
The Classic Theatre of San Antonio is opening the second season of Theatre in the Rough with ‘As You Like It’ by William Shakespeare. Opening on Thursday, September 9, it will run until Sunday, September 26, 2021. Performed at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, it will be directed by Nick Lawson with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 7:30p.m. with the exception of a performance on Monday, September 20 and no performance on Thursday, September 23. Tickets are available online. (The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, 2021)
‘As You Like It’ – Rosalind’s uncle rises to the throne and she is immediately banished from court. With her best friend and uncle’s daughter Celia by her side, she runs into the forest of Arden for refuge, only to catch the lovesick eye of another banished youth named Orlando. The result is a hilarious conglomeration of cross-dressing, foolery, melodic songs, questionable poetry, and laughs aplenty. Will love always win or are we merely mad? ‘As You Like It’ is an entertaining and touching exploration of life, death, love, family, and the bonds that tie us together.
Cast includes Kacey Roye, Josey Porras, Eddie Morfin Jr., Hunter Wulff, Randee Nelson, Adam Ochoa, Natalie Blackman, and Emit Quintero.
The Camille Playhouse announced its 58th season this week. Photo: google
This week, the Camille Playhouse in Brownsville announced its 58th season. The season consists of ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ in September, ‘Our Lady of the Tortilla’ in October, ‘Humbug’ in December, ‘Sweet Charity’ in February, ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ in April, and “Lucky Stiff’ in May. Ticket information is available online. (Camille Playhouse, 2021)
‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ September 10-19 This happy-go-lucky view of small-town vice and statewide political side-stepping recounts the good times and the demise of the Chicken Ranch, known since the 1850s as one of the better pleasure palaces in all of Texas. Governors, senators, mayors, and even victorious college football teams frequent Miss Mona’s cozy bordello, until that Puritan nemesis Watchdog focuses his television cameras and his righteous indignation on the institution. Music and lyrics by Carol Hall; book by Larry L. King.
‘Our Lady of the Tortilla’ October 15-24 The Cruz family is volatile even in the best of times. On this particular day, Nelson, the youngest son, enters the house in a panic to hide the more obvious religious relics from the sight of his “gringo” girlfriend, who is visiting for the weekend. Nelson’s mother, Dahlia, is obsessed with retrieving her husband from his new girlfriend; Eddie, her elder son, shows up in a van with his failed life and pregnant girlfriend. But the “real” pandemonium is caused by sweet, long-suffering Dolores, Dahlia’s old-maid sister, when she sees the face of the Holy Virgin in a tortilla. This miracle brings hordes of believers and reporters to camp out on the Cruz’s lawn to await further miracles. As the family struggles with beliefs and conflicts, old and new, the endurance of family love is revealed to be the real miracle. Book by Luis Santeiro.
‘Humbug’ December 10-19 As ‘A Christmas Carol’ with a modern-day twist, Humbug follows the story of Eleanor Scrooge, a ruthlessly ambitious Wall Street executive who has an aversion to Christmas and an insatiable appetite for power. Locked in her office on a snowy Christmas Eve, Eleanor is determined to finish a corporate takeover proposal until three “advisors” provide her with an eye opening new appreciation for the holidays and the spirit of Christmas. An upbeat and moving adaptation of Dickens’ holiday classic, Humbug is one for the ages. With a contemporary flair, it is a tale the whole family will enjoy. Book by John Wooten
‘Sweet Charity’ February 11-20 Inspired by Federico Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria, ‘Sweet Charity’ explores the turbulent love life of Charity Hope Valentine, a hopelessly romantic but comically unfortunate dance hall hostess in New York City. With a tuneful, groovy, mid 1960s score by Cy Coleman, sparkling lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and a hilarious book by Neil Simon, ‘Sweet Charity’ captures all the energy, humor, and heartbreak of Life in the Big City for an unfortunate but irrepressible optimist.
‘Jekyll & Hyde’ April 01-10 Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic thriller, ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ is the gripping tale of a brilliant mind gone horrifically awry, set to a powerful pop rock score by Frank Wildhorn with book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. In an attempt to cure his ailing father’s mental illness by separating “good” from “evil” in the human personality, talented physician Dr. Jekyll inadvertently creates an alternate personality of pure evil, dubbed Mr. Hyde, who wrecks murderous havoc on the city of London. As his fiancée Emma grows increasingly fearful for her betrothed, a prostitute, Lucy, finds herself dangerously involved with both the doctor and his alter ego. Struggling to control Hyde before he takes over for good, Jekyll must race to find a cure for the demon he has created in his own mind.
‘Lucky Stiff’ May 13-22 Based on the novel “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo” by Michael Butterworth, Lucky Stiff is an offbeat, hilarious murder mystery farce, complete with mistaken identities, six million bucks in diamonds, and a corpse in a wheelchair. The story revolves around an unassuming English shoe salesman who is forced to take the embalmed body of his recently murdered uncle on a vacation to Monte Carlo. Should he succeed in passing his uncle off as alive, Harry Witherspoon stands to inherit $6,000,000.00. If not, the money goes to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn, or else his uncle’s gun-toting ex. Music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, book by Lynn Ahrens.
The Camille Playhouse opened its doors in January 1964 after the City of Brownsville provided the land in Dean Porter Park and the Sams Foundation provided a grant to fund the construction of the facility. With a drive to stimulate interest in theatre through production of stage performances and the development and application of the arts necessary to such productions, utilizing the talents and abilities of those in the Brownsville community and neighboring communities with a passion for the art, thereby engaging audiences in the artistic process, sparking the imaginations of young children and developing the next generation of stage actors, the theater is proud to be carrying on Camille’s dream and legacy of having community theatre in Brownsville. Camille’s legacy remains the primary mission.
Leslie Alexander as Mrs. Higgins, Shereen Ahmed as Eliza Doolittle and Kevin Pariseau as Colonel Pickering in The Lincoln Center Theater Production of Lerner & Loewe’s ‘My Fair Lady.’ Photo: Joan Marcus, used with permission.
North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio is pleased to announce that the North American tour of Lincoln Center Theater’s critically acclaimed production of Lerner & Loewe’s ‘My Fair Lady’ relaunches the Majestic Theatre 2021-2022 Broadway in San Antonio season. Directed by Bartlett Sher, the North American tour will play eight performances September 21-26 at the Majestic Theatre. Tickets start at $45 and are available online, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 982.ARTS (2787), or by visiting the Majestic Box Office. The Majestic Box Office does not accept single ticket orders over the phone; all ticket sales must be made in person. Majestic Box Office hours are noon to 5p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10a.m. to 5p.m. Friday. Weekend hours vary, call (210) 226.3333 to verify. Orders for groups of 10 or more may be placed by calling (210) 226-5967. (North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio, 2021)
Tickets go on sale this Friday July 9 at 10a.m. Performance times are 7:30p.m., Tuesday through Thursday; 8p.m. on Friday; 2p.m. and 8p.m., Saturday and at 2p.m. and 7:30p.m. on Sunday. Welcoming audiences, artists, staff, cast, and crew back to the Majestic Theatre at full capacity safely and responsibly remains Broadway in San Antonio’s top priority. Masks will be required while in the theatre for this performance. Health and safety protocols are subject to change and will be clearly communicated to ticket holders in advance of each performance. Current protocols are available online.
Lincoln Center Theater’s production of Lerner & Loewe’s ‘My Fair Lady’ is the winner of 5 Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Revival of Musical and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, 5 Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical Revival and 3 Drama League Awards including Best Musical Revival. The production, which premiered in the spring of 2018, ended its long run at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater on July 7, 2019 after playing 548 performances.
Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play and Gabriel Pascal’s motion picture Pygmalion, ‘My Fair Lady,’ with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, premiered on Broadway on March 15, 1956. The legendary original production won 6 Tony Awards including Best Musical and ran for 2,717 performances making it, at the time, the longest-running musical in Broadway history. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins so that she may pass as a lady.
Boasting a score that contains such now-classic songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Get Me to the Church on Time,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” “On the Street Where You Live,” “The Rain in Spain,” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face,” Lincoln Center Theater’s production of ‘My Fair Lady’ was hailed by The New York Times as “Thrilling, glorious and better than it ever was. A marvelous and transformative revival.” New York Magazine described it as ‘Enthralling,” adding that “Bartlett Sher’s glowing revival proves that a beloved musical from another era can keep on kicking.” Entertainment Weekly raved “A sumptuous new revival of the most perfect musical of all time. A masterful piece of entertainment.”
‘On Your Feet!’ will run from June 25 – July 18 at the Woodlawn Theatre. Photo: Woodlawn Theatre
Opening this Friday June 25 is the Woodlawn Theatre’s performance of ‘On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan.’ This production will run until Sunday July 18, 2021. Tickets to the musical production that was on hold for over a year are now selling fast. Do not miss this opportunity to return to live theater with a show that will have you dancing in the aisles. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3p.m. There will be no show on July 4. There will be a special 7p.m. performance on Thursday, July 15. Due to COVID-19 seating restrictions, all tickets are general admission and must be purchased in advance, online only. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. The Woodlawn Theatre Box Office is currently not conducting in-person or phone purchases. (Woodlawn Theatre, 2021)
‘On Your Feet!’ is the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, two people who believed in their talent, their music and each other, and became an international sensation. Universally crowd-pleasing and uplifting, ‘On Your Feet!’ is a celebration of greatest hits that will have audiences dancing in the aisles. Featuring the songs “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “1-2-3,” “Live For Loving You,” “Conga,” and many more, ‘On Your Feet’ is a portrait of a legendary artist that reveals fierce determination and visionary creativity matched with the exhilarating energy of the Miami Sound Machine. Sponsored by KONO 101.1.
Director: Christopher Rodriguez Choreographer: Carla Sankey Music Director: Jaime Ramirez Assistant Choreographer: Jimmi Nelson-Reid
Cast: Gloria Estefan: Jillian Sainz Emilio Estefan: Miguel Ochoa Gloria Fajardo: Melissa Gonzalez Consuelo: Rita Duggan Jose Fajardo/Ensemble: Michael Rodriguez Rebecca Fajardo/Ensemble: Madeline Gutierrez Young Gloria: Ella Sofia Gonzalez Young Emilio/Nayib: Gavino Garcia/Ricardo Martinez
Special Community Nights: ASL Appreciation Night – Friday July 9 Pride Appreciation Night – Saturday July 3
During the run of ‘On Your Feet!’, Woodlawn Theatre is partnering with Girls Inc. SA and will be collecting in-kind donations on their behalf. Donation list includes crayons, pencil colors, washable markers (thick/thin), blunt scissors, construction paper, paint brushes, acrylic paint, glue sticks, white glue, watercolor paper, watercolor paints, glitter, pom poms, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and construction paper.
Everyone over the age of two should wear a mask and practice social distancing while at the theater, including skipping a seat in between parties. Full COVID-19 policies available HERE.
Performances of ‘Our Town’ will be at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Photo: Siggi Ragnar, used with permission.
The Classic Theatre of San Antonio’s production of ‘Our Town’ opens at the San Antonio Botanical Garden this Thursday, May 13, 2021. It will run until Sunday May 30 with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30p.m. The San Antonio Botanical Garden is the perfect place to physically distance, get some fresh air, and connect with nature, all while enjoying some Theatre in the Rough. (The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, 2021)
Thornton Wilder’s ‘Our Town’ tells the story of the fictional American small town of Grover’s Corners between 1901 and 1913 through the everyday lives of its citizens. How do the characters find meaning and contentment with their choices as their dreams, relationships, and futures unfold? It is directed by Mark Stringham and cast includes John Boyd, Brian Eanes, Christi Eanes, Sam Egger, Alyx Irene Gonzales, Vincent Hardy, Jonathan McDonald, Michael McCaslin, Adam Ochoa, Magda Porter, Keli Rosa Cabunoc Romero, Ian Rossmeier, Mark Stringham, Cheryl Tanner, Chad Thompson, and Bella Villarreal.
Tickets are available online and range from $24.00 to $39.00. Guests are asked to bring their own chairs and/or blankets to each performance and there will be masks and chairs available for purchase, if need be. There is no intermission for this production. COVID-19 Safety Policies and visitor information can be found online.
Ticket Policies • Ticket sales are final. There are no refunds. Plays, dates, and artists are subject to change without notice. • The Classic Theatre of San Antonio reserves the right to refuse admission to anyone. • No refunds will be issued to latecomers. • Cell phones and/or recording devices are not permitted to be used in the theatre during a performance. Use of such devices may result in ejection without refund. • Please do not text during the performance – it is distracting to actors and audience members alike. • The Classic Theatre of San Antonio reserves the right to make schedule and production changes. When possible, we will call all ticket holders regarding the cancellation of a specific performance. • Children under the age of four will not be admitted to performances at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio. • There is no dress code. Many patrons dress in business casual for regular performances.
The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio presents Swan Lake. Photo: The Children’s Theatre of San Antonio, used with permission.
The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio (CBSA) is set to make a splash with the production of the iconic classic ‘Swan Lake’ brought to life by the award-winning Artistic Director and Founder Vanessa Bessler. With nationally and internationally acclaimed dancers ranging in age from 3 to 21, viewers can see the future of ballet spinning into shape right before their eyes at the Tobin Center this May. Performances will be Friday, May 21 at 7p.m. and Saturday May 22 at 2p.m. and 7p.m. Tickets are available online. (Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, 2021)
‘Swan Lake’ tells the love story of Prince Siegfried and Odette, a beautiful swan princess. The fairytale comes to life with a full-length production featuring dazzling costumes custom made in Moscow, integrated multimedia scenery, and a talented array of over 140 award-winning classical dancers, gifted special needs artists, and many other exceptional young children rounding out the talented ensemble cast.
Critically acclaimed Hungarian-born principal dancer Mate Szentes will accompany the young dancers as Prince Siegfried. Known for his “bold attacks” and “glittering technique” by art critics, Szentes receives invitations to perform worldwide from Vienna to Japan. He works with world-renowned choreographers such as Ma Cong, Val Caniparoli, Mariana Oliveira, Melissa Barak, Katarzyna Skarpetowska, Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, among many others, and danced as a company artist around the world, as well as a principal dancer for the Richmond Ballet. He is a permanent guest principal dancer with the American Contemporary Ballet and Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet. He was invited to participate in the very prestigious National Choreographers Initiative in 2016 and 2018. Since 2016 he has choreographed original works showcased in Richmond, San Diego and New Mexico.
The dancers will perform the ballet using choreography based on the revival of the production created by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov that was first staged for the Imperial Ballet in 1895 at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. To add to the majesty of the production, they will be wearing beautiful, elaborate costumes created by a leading costume maker in Russia whose work can be seen at the top theatres around the world.
“Swan Lake is the most celebrated ballet in the world and one of the most challenging and beautiful to perform,” says six-time Youth America Grand Prix Outstanding Teacher Award Winner and Children’s Ballet Director Vanessa Bessler. “Many of our dancers have received scholarships and acceptance to attend the best academies in the world and gained international acclaim from the most elite competitions in ballet since they last performed Swan Lake several years ago. We can’t wait to return to the theatre and celebrate Tchaikovsky’s largest and most acclaimed masterpiece. They are ready and excited to take to the stage once again.”
The Children’s Ballet continues to enforce extensive safety protocols to include both virtual and limited capacity in-person rehearsals, screenings, masks, gloves, long sleeves, social distancing, and much more. As a result, the organization has been Covid free since reopening its doors on May 23, 2020. The Tobin Center leads the charge on safety precautions that have allowed the arts and entertainment to continue by enforcing strict safety initiatives, limited capacity, and mask mandates that exceed both federal and state requirements.
Ballet and performing arts lovers, parents, grandparents and children of all ages will not want to miss this breathtaking performance by some of San Antonio’s most prestigious rising artists.
The award-winning Children’s Ballet of San Antonio (CBSA) is an authentic, professional-level ballet company that produces professionally staged productions showcasing San Antonio’s most talented children. Dancers are selected by invitation or audition. The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio is a nonprofit organization 501(c)3. The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio (CBSA) seeks to inspire the pursuit of excellence and prepare children for productive and creative lives through dance by offering extensive training and performance opportunities for talented children from all backgrounds.
Pre-sale tickets are now available for ‘Men on the Verge of a His-panic Breakdown’ which opens on April 29, 2021. Photo: Teatro Audaz
Teatro Audaz presents ‘Men on the Verge of a His-panic Breakdown’ by Guillermo Reyes and directed by Matthew Byron Cassi, Abe Rodriguez and Gabriel Torres. It opens on Thursday April 29 at 7:30p.m. Live streamed performance dates: April 29 -May 2, recorded live scheduled performances dates May 6 – May 9. Performance times are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m. Presale tickets are now available online. Performances are streamed live online and recorded from The Public Theater of San Antonio’s main stage. Featuring performances by Ivan Ortega, Fernando Vieira, and Jai Gonzalez-Quintero. (Teatro Audaz, 2021)
This series of comedic monologues, which The New York Times called “Glorious,” chronicles the lives of various Latino immigrants dealing with transcultural shock of race and gender identity known as the “Hispanic breakdown.” The play is bracketed by the misadventures of the naïve Frederico or “The Gay Little Immigrant That Could” who arrives in Los Angeles during the first day of the 1992 riots and believes he is witnessing the filming of another Lethal Weapon sequel. Other characters include Vinnie, a kept boy being asked to leave the home of his wealthy sugar daddy because he has turned 30; Paco, a Cuban restauranteur who was imprisoned by the Communists in Cuba for being gay and has now been exiled by his right-wing Miami family for the same reason; the Teacher, a stuffy, sexually repressed English-language instructor who abuses his Latino students when they cannot learn properly the “language of Princess Di”; and La Gitana, a drag Flamenco dancer struggling with AIDS as he stages his final performance. The play ends with Federico’s final misadventure as he tells of his newly found romance, a better job and his acquisition of citizenship in a grand, positive finale. “Some of the characters seem to be hanging onto their American existence by a thread, but make no mistake, these are tough, tenacious men.”
‘Golda’s Balcony’ opens Thursday and will consist of all streamed online performances. Artwork by Jeremy Whittington
The Public Theater of San Antonio’s next production is ‘Golda’s Balcony.” It opens Thursday April 8 and will run until Sunday April 18, 2021. This production will be streamed online only. Get your live stream link now for Golda’s Balcony and experience this beautiful story based on the life of Golda Meir. (The Public Theater of San Antonio, 2021)
‘Golda’s Balcony’ by William Gibson is a dramatic look at idealism, power, and the strength it takes to shape the destiny of a nation. This tight-knit story of war and peace opens in 1973, on the eve of the Yom Kippur War, and uses flashbacks as Golda tells the story of her life: her journey from her birthplace in Russia to her life in the United States.
*The presentation may contain themes and content not suitable for all audiences.
Performance times will be Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m. Tickets are available online. Golda Meir – Diane Kondrat*, Director – Susan Hardie, Stage Manager – Sondra Gervasi* *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
The Classic Theatre’s production of ‘Antigone’ opens Thursday at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Photo: The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, used with permission.
Opening this week, The Classic Theatre of San Antonio presents ‘Antigone,’ a dramatic adaptation by Emily Mann from the play by Sophocles. Directed by Kelly Hilliard Roush, performances will be Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 7:30p.m. It will run from Thursday April 8 to Sunday April 25 at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place, San Antonio, TX 78209. Cast includes Josey Porras, John Boyd, Kacey Roye, Jon Manzke, Neil Redfield, Adam Ochoa, Gypsy Pantoja, and Marisa Varela. (The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, 2021)
The play ‘Antigone’ begins with two brothers fighting for the kingship of Thebes. Both men die in battle. Their successor and uncle, Creon, decides that one brother will be buried but the other brother will be left on the field of battle. Their sister, Antigone, finds herself having to choose between what she believes to be right, burying her brother, or following the laws of man and facing death herself. What happens when we are forced to choose between doing what we feel is right and what the world is telling us is right? What forces us to take a stand? What are we willing to die for?
Tickets
To gain access to ‘Antigone’ or any of our upcoming productions this season, you do NOT need to purchase a separate ticket to the Botanical Garden. Tickets to ‘Antigone’ are available online.
COVID-19 Safety Protocol
This production is staged and costumed with COVID-19 safety protocols in mind. Actors and crew remain at a distance of at least 6 feet apart from one another and are masked when not speaking and when backstage.
Ticket Policies
Ticket sales are final. There are no refunds. Plays, dates, and artists are subject to change without notice. The Classic Theatre of San Antonio reserves the right to refuse admission to anyone.
No refunds will be issued to latecomers. Cell phones and/or recording devices are not permitted in the theatre during a performance. Use of such devices may result in ejection without refund. Please do not text during the performance – it is distracting to actors and audience members alike. Please remember to turn your devices off at the end of intermission. The Classic Theatre of San Antonio reserves the right to make schedule and production changes. When possible, we will call all ticket holders regarding the cancellation of a specific performance. Children under the age of four will not be admitted to performances at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio. There is no dress code but many patrons opt to dress in business casual for regular performances.
Flex Passes
Flex Passes for season Season 13 (2020-2021) are available for purchase. Tickets to shows in season 13 are now available online. Please contact the box office for more information at 210-589-8450.
The Classic Theatre of San Antonio will be performing Antigone in April as part of their Theatre in the Rough series. Photo: The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, used with permission.
The Classic Theatre of San Antonio is continuing its season of Theatre in the Rough with ‘Antigone.’ This dramatic adaptation by Emily Mann from the play by Sophocles is directed by Kelly Hilliard Roush. It will run from April 8 through 25, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 7:30p.m. at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Cast includes Josey Porras, John Boyd, Kacey Roye, Jon Manzke, Neil Redfield, Adam Ochoa, Gypsy Pantoja, and Marisa Varela. Ticket information and COVID safety protocols are available online. (The Classic Theater of San Antonio, 2021)
The play ‘Antigone’ begins with two brothers fighting for the kingship of Thebes. When both men die in battle, their successor and uncle, Creon, decides that one brother will be buried but the other brother will be left on the field of battle. Their sister, Antigone, finds herself having to choose between what she believes to be right: burying her brother, or following the laws of man and facing death herself. What happens when we are forced to choose between doing what we feel is right and what the world is telling us is right? What forces us to take a stand? What are we willing to die for?
