BWW Previews: Fall Theatre Roundup in South Dakota

The fall of 2014 is shaping up to be very exciting for Eastern South Dakota theatre! From musicals to dramas, there seems to be a little bit of everything. To make things easy for you, I have complied a list of upcoming shows and theatre's that I believe you won't want to miss this fall. Mark your calendars!

Sioux Empire Community Theatre (SECT)

315 N. Philips Ave. Sioux Falls (605) 360-4800

If you are living in Sioux Falls you don't have to look far for amazing local theatre. SECT has been around for MANY years and has a reputation for producing amazing shows. I had the opportunity to see their production of Les Mis last spring and was blown away by not only the talent on stage but also the talent off stage. From scenic design to chorus member every part of this production was top notch. I am looking forward to seeing all they have in store this season.

Little Shop of Horrors

SEPTEMBER 5 - 21, 2014 Friday-Saturday @ 7 and Sundays @ 2

A down-and out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon "Audrey II" grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination! One of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a household name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the songwriting team of and Alan Menken, who redefined the animated musical film with Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Charming, tuneful and hilarious, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS never fails to entertain.

Of Mice And Men

NOVEMBER 7 - 16, 2014. Friday-Saturday @ 7 and Sundays @ 2

Two drifters, George and his friend Lennie, with delusions of living off the "fat of the land," have just arrived at a ranch to work for enough money to buy their own place. Lennie is a man-child, a little boy in the body of a dangerously powerful man. It's Lennie's obsessions with things soft and cuddly that have made George cautious about with whom the gentle giant, with his brute strength, associates. His promise to allow Lennie to "tend to the rabbits" on their future land keeps Lennie calm, amidst distractions, as the overgrown child needs constant reassurance. But when a ranch boss' promiscuous wife is found dead in the barn with a broken neck, it's obvious that Lennie, albeit accidentally, killed her. George, now worried about his own safety, knows exactly where Lennie has gone to hide, and he meets him there. Realizing they can't run away anymore, George is faced with a moral question: how should he deal with Lennie before the ranchers find him and take matters into their own hands.

The Washington Pavilion

301 S. Main Ave. Sioux Falls (605)367-6000

The Pavilion has always done an EXCELLENT job of brining in popular national tours. It is one of the only venues in the region that allows South Dakotans to experience large-scale professional theatre. The Pavilion has a beautiful theatre and stage and is always a wonderful night out. Their 2014-2015 performance series is once again nothing short of impressive!

Nice Work If You Can Get It- Oct. 7th and 8th at 7:30pm

Get ready for this 1920s-era feel-good musical, complete with extravagant dance numbers, glittering costumes and an unlikely love story between a wealthy playboy and a rough and tumble lady bootlegger. This lighthearted crowd pleaser is set against the backdrop of classic Gershwin hits like "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Fascinating Rhythm." NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT is a sparkling, madcap tale that combines laughter, romance and high-stepping Broadway magic for an evening bursting with girls, glamour and the glorious songs of Gershwin!

Elf- Nov. 12th and 13th- at 7:30pm

ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy's enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF.

Brookings Community Theatre

Brookings - Performances at Fishback Studio Theatre on the campus of SDSU

brookingscommunitytheatre@gmail.com

Brookings Community Theatre was formed in 2004 by a small group of theatre enthusiasts. BCT casts from the local community and strives to provide entertainment and education to the greater Brookings area.

Twelve Angry Jurors- October 9-12

A 19-year-old man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. "He doesn't stand a chance," mutters the guard as the 12 jurors are taken into the bleak jury room. It looks like an open-and-shut case-until one of the jurors begins opening the others' eyes to the facts.

University Of South Dakota (USD)

414 E. Clark St. Vermillion (605) 677-5418

USD's Theatre Department has always maintained a high level of educational theatre providing strong, unique and dynamic shows for the students of USD and Southeastern South Dakota. A show at USD rarely disappoints.

Next To Normal- Sept. 26-27 @ 7:30pm, Sept. 28 @2pm. Oct. 1-4 @7:30pm, Oct 5 @2pm

This dynamic rock musical tells the story of Diana Goodman, wife and mother, who struggles with bipolar disorder and how her life affects the rest of her family. Winner of three Tony Awards and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for best drama, "Next to Normal" is a powerful musical that explores suburbia, mental health and loss.

South Dakota State University Theatre (SUT)

Doner Auditorium on the SDSU campus. Brookings (605) 688-6131

SUT has a wonderful history of providing highly enjoyable educational theatre to the Brookings region. Their theatre majors hail from all over the country. Their 2014-2015 season looks to be dynamic and impressive.

Monty Python's Spamalot- Oct 15-19th

The legend of King Arthur and his Knight of the Round Table features a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French people! Did we mention beautiful show girls?

Chameleon Love- Nov. 18-24th

This original script by Prof. W. James Wood explores the bittersweet dynamics of a family facing a crisis. The famiiy's history and relationships are played out as they grow and learn to redefine their relationships.

University of Sioux Falls

1101 W. 22nd St. Sioux Falls

Jeschke Fine Arts Center- Meredith Auditorium- (605) 331-6787

USF's communication and theatre studies program offers a wide variety of shows throughout the school year. USF is a small university with a lot of heart and spirit.

Falling By; Deanna Jent- Nov. 12-15 @ 7:30pm Nov. 16th @ 2pm

Falling boldly explores the dynamic and complicated reality of a family with an autistic young man. When a relative comes to visit, the entire family is thrown out of equilibrium, with everyone trying to balance what is best for the family and what is best for them. The play bravely speaks a truth about love and family and about hopes and dreams. It asks, "How do you love someone who is difficult to love?"

Olde Towne Dinner Theatre

121 S. Main St.

Worthing , SD

(605) 372-4653

Olde Towne is a unique theatre 10 miles from Sioux Falls. A trip to Olde Towne will always result in a delicious dinner and a great show. If you haven't discovered this little gem, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

Murder at the Howard Johnson's

Sept. 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, Oct. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19*, 20?

* indicates dessert-only matinee for $18 starting at 2 PM

All is fair in love? Even murder? That's the question posed by this light and funny suspense comedy about a love triangle in a Howard Johnson Motor Inn. A three-scene love triangle involving a woman, her husband, and her lover.

Mitchell Area Community Theatre-

Pepsi Cola Theatre- 7th & Main- Mitchell (605)996-9137

The Mitchell Area Community Theatre is a local, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the production, performance and promotion of local theatre. Area Community Theatre exists in the hearts and minds of it's members, volunteers and patrons.

And Then There Were None?

October 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12- 2014

Ten guilty strangers are trapped on an island. One by one, they are accused of murder. One by one, they start to die!

Pierre Players Community Theater-

109 S. Pierre St. (605)224-7826

Pierre Players is a community theater organization providing entertainment to the community and an outlet for those who love theater. Pierre Players strives to bring the audience into the moment!

Wait Until Dark- Sept. 26-28 and Oct. 2-4

This masterfully constructed thriller moves from one moment of suspense to another as it builds toward an electrifying, breath-stopping final scene

So get out there! Check out some of these amazing theatre's and interesting shows. This part of South Dakota is full of great theatre, you just may have to drive a ways to get to it.

*All show synopses were taken from the theatre's websites and are not to be taken as original work.

"Photo Credit:http://postcardparadise.blogspot.com/2011/04/greetings-from-south-dakota.html"

To post a comment, you must register and login.