Stage offers drama, musicals and more throughout Cape Fear region
Venues offer variety of shows.
THEATER AND DANCE
Cape Fear Regional Theatre: The theater at 1209 Hay St. just completed its 50th season with a new artistic director, Tom Quaintance.
The 2012-13 season kicks off with "Jesus Christ Superstar," to be staged Sept. 21-Oct. 7. It continues with "Around the World in 80 Days," Oct. 26-Nov. 11; "Legally Blonde: The Musical," Jan. 24-Feb. 10; "The Parchman Hour," March 8-24; and Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," April 19-May 5.
Special shows include the annual holiday production, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," Dec. 4-14; and Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Feb. 28-March 3, a collaboration with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra to be staged at Fayetteville State University's Seabrook Auditorium. The theater also will stage its annual outdoor show on the banks of the Cape Fear River, although the show and dates have yet to be determined. 323-4233 or cfrt.org.
Gilbert Theater: The theater has a new artistic director, Robyne Parrish. It stages its plays at 116 Green St., above Fascinate-U Children's Museum. The season opens with "The Fantasticks," Sept. 20-Oct. 7. It continues with the annual "A Christmas Carol," Nov. 22-Dec. 9; "An Evening of One-Acts," Jan. 31-Feb. 13; "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds," April 4-21; and "Groucho: A Life in Review," May 30-June 16. 678-7186 or gilberttheater.com.
Methodist University: The college's theater department stages plays in Reeves Auditorium. The schedule includes "The Troupe," Sept. 27-30; "Proof," Nov. 8-11; "Doubt," Feb. 28-March 3; and "Directing Class Projects," April 18-21. 630-7105 or methodist.edu.
Fayetteville State University: The season includes "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot," Sept. 27-30 in Butler Theatre; "Spoon River Anthology," Nov. 15-18 in Butler Theatre; "Aesop’s Fables," Feb. 11-12 in Seabrook Auditorium; and "Opus II," April 19-28 in Butler Theatre. 672-2574 or uncfsu.edu/arts.
Fayetteville Technical Community College: Shows include "Hello, Dolly!" Nov. 2-18; "The Glass Menagerie," Feb. 22-March 10; "Winnie the Pooh," April 19-28; and "Blithe Spirit," June 21-30. faytechcc.edu
Givens Performing Arts Center: The center is on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. It presents a "Broadway and More" series as well as youth shows and other special programs. The tentative schedule includes "Smokey Joe's Cafe," Sept. 28; homecoming concert, Oct.26; "Cirque Chinois," Nov. 13; "Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon," Nov. 16; "Cherish the Ladies: A Celtic Christmas," Nov. 29; "Spamalot," Jan. 15; the River People Music and Culture Festival, Jan. 25-26; "Drum!" Feb. 8; "The Midtown Men," March 25; Russian National Ballet presents "Swan Lake," April 2; "Of Mice and Men," April 25. 910-521-6287 or uncp.edu/gpac.
Temple Theatre: The theater at 120 Carthage St. in downtown Sanford attracts regional audiences with a mixture of comedies, dramas and musicals. The 2012-13 season features "Sweet Charity," Sept. 13-30; "The 39 Steps," Oct. 18-Nov. 4; "A Christmas Carol," Nov.29-Dec. 16; "The Swingin' Cowboys," Jan. 24-Feb. 10; "Forever Plaid," Feb. 28-March 17; "The Smell of the Kill," March 28-April 14; and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," May 2-19. 919-774-4512 or templeshows.com.
Harnett Regional Theatre: The Dunn theater stages musicals, comedies and dramas. A new schedule has not been announced. onlinehrt.org.
Sampson Community Theatre: The theater is at 115 Fayetteville St. in Clinton. The season includes "The Carol Burnett Show Revue," Aug. 24-Sept 2; "Nuncrackers," Nov. 11-18; and "A Christmas Carol," Dec. 7-16. 910-592-8653 or facebook.com/SampsonCommunityTheatre.
Judson Theatre Company: The company presents stars from film and television in classic plays for one-weekend runs at Sandhills Community College's Owens Auditorium. JudsonTheatre.com
North Carolina State Ballet: The ballet is based at the Charlotte Blume School of Dance in Fayetteville. It produces an annual production of "The Nutcracker" for the public and school groups with shows featuring students and professional dancers. Public performances are scheduled Dec. 2, 8 and 9 at the Crown Theatre. It also will stage a program of ballet classics March 17 at Methodist University. 485-4965 or ncstateballet.com.
Updated: August 2012