‘Assassins’ at The Cellar Theater

cellarassassinsbooth — Chris Berry as John Wilkes Booth in ‘Assassins’ playing at The Cellar Theater. It opens on Friday June 8, 2018. Photo: Carrie Daniels, used with permission.

Opening this weekend at The Public Theater of San Antonio’ Cellar Theater is ‘Assassins’ and will play from Friday June 8 through Sunday July 1. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m. This musical has music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman, based on an idea by Charles Gilbert, Jr. It is directed by George Green. Tickets are available online or at the box office at (210) 733-7258 and are $35 for adults, $25 for military members with ID, $25 for seniors age 60 and older and $20 for students with ID. Group Rates 10 or more are available. Additional ticket service fees may apply. Tickets are selling fast. (The Cellar Theater, 2018)

* Contains themes and content not suitable for all audience members

‘Assassins’ uses the premise of a murderous carnival game to produce a revue-style portrayal of men and women who have, successfully or not, attempted to assassinate Presidents of the United States. The musical numbers vary depending on the eras being depicted. While this production focuses on the individuals, there is a much deeper message. The topic is one that has existed for decades and has now come to the forefront of everyday debate. While gun control seems to be to leading point of the discussion, the bigger question remains: what draws a person to violence? History shows that this is not a new problem. It is simply a growing one. Cast includes Chris Berry as John Wilkes Booth, Brendan Brady as Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald, Tyles Askins as The Proprietor, Brian Hodges as Charles Guiteau and James R Welch as John Hinckley.

The Public Theater of San Antonio
The Cellar Theater
800 West Ashby Place
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 733-7258

Theater review: ‘Anything Goes’ at the Woodlawn Theatre

Now playing at the Woodlawn Theatre is the musical comedy ‘Anything Goes’ about Billy Crocker, a stowaway aboard an ocean liner bound for London from New York. He is in love with heiress Hope Harcourt and with the help of his friends, he plots to win her over before she marries Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. The show runs through May 13 with show times every Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. ‘Anything Goes’ features songs and lyrics by Cole Porter, is directed by Christopher Rodriguez and stars Carla Sankey as lead Reno Sweeney. Tickets prices range from $18 to $30 and are available online, or by calling the box office at (210) 267-8388.

‘Anything Goes’ is set in 1934 aboard the ocean liner SS American and begins as Reno, a nightclub singer and an old friend of Billy Crocker’s, expresses her love for him in “I Get a Kick Out of You.” Billy, a young Wall Street broker goes to the dock to say farewell to his boss Elisha J Whitney who is on his way to London on business. When the sailors and guests board the ship, “Bon Voyage,” Billy sees Hope, a beautiful girl he met beforehand, and upon hearing that she will be on that same ship, he stows away hoping to win her heart. During “Easy to Love,” he declares his love for Hope who agrees with him but turns him away. Eventually, Billy wins her over and Reno and Lord Evelyn, Hope’s fiancée, end up together.

The combination of silly antics, comedy and first rate singing and dancing makes ‘Anything Goes’ a joy to experience. Carla Sankey is excellent as Reno Sweeney and Isidro Medina is a scene stealer as the haughty British Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, who desperately tries to fit in by unsuccessfully picking up American idioms. Show highlights include “I Get a Kick Out of You” when Reno makes her entrance and “It’s De-Lovely” when Billy and Hope share a beautiful and elegant dance number worthy of any classic Hollywood musical. It is refreshing to see such a classic production at the local level. Overall, this family friendly musical is charming and funny with spectacular musical numbers and it is a must see.

‘Anything Goes’ at the Woodlawn Theatre

The next production at the Woodlawn Theatre is the musical comedy ‘Anything Goes.’ This show opens on Friday April 13 and runs through May 13 with show times every Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. On Saturday April 21 there will be a special matinee show at 2p.m. with no evening show that day. It is presented by arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc., 560 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10022. ‘Anything Goes’ features songs and lyrics by Cole Porter, is directed by Christopher Rodriguez and stars Carla Sankey as lead Reno Sweeney. Sankey is also director of choreography for the production. (Woodlawn Theatre, 2018)

Tickets are on sale online, or by calling the box office at (210) 267-8388. Prices are $18 for students and children, $24 for seniors, military and first responders and $30 for adults. Groups of ten or more receive a 20% discount. Free parking is available and located behind Vogue College of Cosmetology on W Lynwood Ave. This area is specifically designated for patrons and is patrolled by a uniformed security guard during the run of each show.

‘Anything Goes’ is based on the book by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, later revised by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The setting is 1934 aboard the ocean liner SS American. Along for the ride are headstrong temptress Reno Sweeney and her pal Billy Crocker. The two team up when Billy, a known playboy, falls for heiress Hope Harcourt, only to find she’s engaged. Reno and Billy concoct a wild plan to break up Hope and fiancé Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Hilarity ensues and musical dance numbers abound as the ship makes it way from New York to London. With musical direction by Jane Haas, ‘Anything Goes’ features a renowned score from legendary Cole Porter, including “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “It’s De-Lovely,” “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” and the musical’s main title “Anything Goes.”

During the production’s run, Woodlawn Theatre will be accepting donations to benefit The Guadalupe Dance Company. In addition, the Theatre will showcase works by local artist Sarah Brooke Lyons as part of their mission to highlight and support visual arts in the San Antonio community.

Special performances:
Pride Night – April 20th
College Night – May 4th
Educational Night – May 11th
ASL (American Sign Language) Night – May 12th

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

‘The Secret Garden’ at The Playhouse San Antonio

secretgarden17 — ‘The Secret Garden’ opens tonight at The Playhouse San Antonio. Photo by Daniel D Baumer, used with permission.

Tonight is opening night for The Playhouse San Antonio’s midseason musical ‘The Secret Garden.’ This family friendly musical will run through Sunday March 12 and is directed by Laura Michelle Hoadley. It stars Ashley Doyle as Mary Lennox and Nicholas Szoeke as Archibald Craven. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets are available online or by calling the box office at (210) 733-7258. Prices are $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. Group rates are available for groups of ten or more. (The Playhouse San Antonio, 2017)

‘The Secret Garden’ is a musical based on the 1911 book of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett with script and lyrics by Marsha Norman and music by Lucy Simon. The story is set in the early 20^th century and tells the story of Mary Lennox, a young English girl born and raised in the British Raj. When she is ten years old she becomes an orphan when a cholera outbreak kills her family. She is sent to live in England with relatives she has never met which include her tormented uncle Archibald Craven. While living at Misselthwaite Manor she and a young gardener tend a neglected garden back to life and she learns that a little kindness can make a big difference in her life and that of her family.

The Playhouse San Antonio
800 West Ashby Place
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 733-7258

‘Pippin’ at the Woodlawn Theatre

This month the Woodlawn Theatre will open its 2017 season and first on the list is the local production of the Tony Award-winning ‘Pippin’. This musical journey of a young prince in search of fulfillment opens Friday February 10 and runs through Sunday March 12. It is sponsored by KONO 101.1 and has a show rating of PG-13 for suggestive dance style and some adult language. Show times are every Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets are available online or by calling the box office at 210-267-8388. Prices are $18 for students and children, $24 for seniors and military and $29 for adults and all tickets are subject to a $3 service fee. Groups of ten or more receive a 20% discount. (Woodlawn Theatre, 2017)

‘Pippin’ uses a mysterious performance troupe led by a Leading Player to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince who is searching for meaning and significance to his life. To prove his loyalty to his father, he goes to war but when the Leading Player convinces him to fight tyranny, Pippin kills Charles and takes over the throne. After he realizes his mistake he convinces the Leading Player to bring his father back to life. Pippin then falls in love with a widow with a young son and must decide whether to settle down or continue to make magic with the dazzling troupe of performers. The show is directed by Katie Benson with musical direction by Josh Pepper and choreography by Alonzo Corona. Even though the characters of Pippin and his father Charlemagne are real life people from the Middle Ages this particular show makes no reference to true historical facts. Rather, it explores the glories of war, the temptations of love and the intrigues of political power before unveiling that happiness lies not in the extraordinary but in the ordinary moments of everyday life. With Trevor Chauvin as Pippin and Gianna Rodriguez as the Leading Player the show features styled dancing, high-flying acrobatics, wondrous music and soaring songs including the popular “Magic To Do.”

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

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Tag: musicals