David Clarke - Page 39

The Alley Theatre in Houston has been annually producing a stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' novella A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas since 1988. In 1990, Michael Wilson's adaptation, titled A CHRISTMAS CAROL - A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS, had its premiere at The Alley. With family friendly chills and a thrilling, Wizard of Oz-esque spin on the classic parable of redemption and the true meaning of Christmas, the show continues to delight audiences year after year.

I have to admit, it's hard for me to get exited about stage adaptations of the Cinderella story. Growing up, I had Rogers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA starring Julie Andrews crammed down my throat. The 1997 version starring Brandy promised to be a fresh and relevant take on the material, but I was not impressed. Now, the New York Theatre Scene is about to welcome Rogers and Hammerstein's version on Broadway. But, maybe they need to reexamine things because at Houston's Ensemble Theatre the African-American Shakespeare Company and Carlton Leake version of CINDERELLA is captivating, powerful, and beautiful! This well-liked and exhilarating piece of theatre is back by popular demand and being presented for its third time at Ensemble Theatre.

Linda Kelin and Barbara Gehring, met as adults and instantly realized they should have been friends as kids. They eventually shared their diaries with each other, spawning what would eventually become GIRLS ONLY - THE SECRET COMEDY OF WOMEN. After sharing their dairies with each other, they decided to share them with an audience in an improvisational theatre setting. Eventually, that idea morphed into the show now being presented in Houston at Main Street Theater's Chelsea Market Location. The show still utilizes improvised scenes in addition to its scripted material, original songs, and dance to celebrate every aspect of being a woman that audiences can share across cultures, generations, and even sex (for any men brave enough to attend).

As the holiday season approaches, Gerald LaBita and the Houston Arts Scene are saying a fond farewell to Theater LaB Houston's venue on Alamo Street in the First Ward Arts District. Gerald LaBita and his team have performed over 120 Houston premieres in the 63 seat, 1600 square foot intimate performance space. Despite this saddening news, Theater LaB Houston's World Premiere of Julia Kay Laskowski and Patti Rabazza's HOME FOR THE DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY HOLIDAYS! is sure to brighten any mood and fill the audience with mirth and merriment.

Based on the endearing Little House on the Prairie book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Main Street Theater's Theater for Youth is presenting a feel good children's holiday show that the whole family can enjoy. A LITTLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS, adapted by James DeVita, is inspired by the Christmas happenings in Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, and borrows Mrs. Oleson and Nellie Oleson from On the Banks of Plum Creek. The plot of the play revolves around a pre-Christmas party that is being thrown at the Ingalls' home. An unexpected storm threatens to cut off everybody's access to town, so the guests have to make a hurried departure and cut the party short. Continued rains and a ruined bridge threaten to ruin Christmas for Laura and Mary, until they come up with their own plan to preserve the magic of the holiday.

Nordstrom's may not be ready to get into the Christmas spirit before November 27, but Stages Repertory Theatre is reprising last year's wildly popular musical celebration of the season. Roger Bean's WINTER WONDERETTES is more a yuletide cabaret than a musical with plot. The barely-there story is about the Marvelous Wonderettes performing at Harper's Hardware Holiday Happening. Yet, the best gift of all is that Stages has reassembled their original Marvelous Wonderettes, giving these talented ladies a third opportunity to wow Houston audiences with every ounce of their charismatic star power.

Ann Bannon, a puesdonym for Ann Weldy, wrote six lesbian themed pulp novels from 1957 to 1962. These novels are collectively known as The Beebo Brinker Chronicles, and have experienced several renaissances of rediscovery. The most recent was when Cleis Press rereleased the series from 2001 to 2003 with newly penned autobiographical forwards. The Hourglass Group presented the World Premiere of Kate Moira Ryan and Linda S. Chapman's play adaptation of the series in 2007. The writers used material from the second, third, and fourth novels (I Am a Woman, Women in the Shadows, and Journey to a Woman) to construct their narrative. THE BEEBO BRINKER CHONICLES found success both Off-Off-Broadway and Off-Broadway, and was awarded the GLAAD Media Award for "fair, accurate, and inclusive" character portrayals of gay and lesbian people.

Laurence Connor and James Powell's direction of the current tour is energetic and lively from opening to close. There are cleverly paid notes of homage to Trevor Nunn and John Caird's original direction of the piece. Yet, the team really takes advantage of being able to breathe new life into the show, almost completely restaging every scene. Likewise, they have taken the opportunity to present a grittier and more realistic LES MISERABLES.

Theatre Southwest is currently presenting THE OLDEST PROFESSION by Paula Vogel, who is known for her decidedly strong, controversial works like HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE that examines incest and THE BALTIMORE WALTZ that is about AIDS. In THE OLDEST PROFESSION, she gives audiences a chance to see a softer side of her writing, using prostitution as a way to explore the community of sisterhood while weaving in dated but humorous political zingers (i.e. "This is America where any girl can start in the alley and wind up a madam!") disparaging the economic boom and decline that began with President Reagan's 80s. In the end, this show is really about the passing of businesses, clients, and our close friends and how we deal with that loss as a community.

It is the mission of The Catastrophic Theatre to destroy audiences with impressive and unique theatre. Unfortunately, the World Premiere of FLEAVEN only destroys audiences by sending them out into the world wondering what was missing. At 27 years old, I thought maybe it was not living through the Disco era that left me benumbed by the performance. However, it's disco era vibe pastiche is fleshed out with 90s inspired rap beats and cultural references from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Furthermore, my parents' eclectic tastes in everything pop-cultural ensured that I had a strong understanding of many things I did not live through. So, simply put, that wasn't it. The problem was that despite laughing out loud at a few outlandish and genuinely humorous moments, I simply was not moved in any emotionally tangible way. From beginning to end, I felt no emotional connection to this Grinchian tale? (Think of Grinchian as being similar to Faustian, but with Dr. Suess' Grinch.)

The Country Playhouse is presenting Charles Marowitz's MURDERING MARLOWE in their Black Box Theatre. With a healthy dose of elevated Elizabethan language and speculative fiction, the play tells the story of jealousy run awry. William Shakespeare, a fledgling artist, takes advantage of the government's disgust at Christopher Marlowe's sexual tastes and written blasphemies, and seeks to overthrow the successful playwright. He longs to claim Marlowe's spot as his own and this eventually leads to the murder of Christopher Marlowe in a pub in Deptford, England.

Patrick Carfizzi has a lot of future projects lined up. Yet, Houston audiences are lucky enough to have the opportunity to see him perform as Mustafa in Rossini's THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS, playing now through November 11, 2012. When Patrick Carfizzi isn't on stage he is teaching (which is something he loves and plans to do more of as time and schedule permits), volunteering for community groups, and working with the elderly from time to time. He is "delighted, honored, and grateful" to do what he does for a living. Despite his busy schedule, he spent a few minutes to talk with me about his career in opera, THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS, and his character Mustafa.

Betsy Morgan is heading to Houston for the first time in the touring production of LES MISERABLES. She tells me she has "pseudo-family" in town, and she is looking forward to seeing those family and friends in addition to everything that Houston has to offer. One of her first big parts was originating Leslie in the musical GIANT, which is all about Texas, so she is excited to see some of the Historic aspects of our city. Taking time out of her busy schedule, she chatted with me about her life in the theatre, LES MISERABLES, touring, and performing as Fantine.

Providing the Regional Premieres of both the play and playwright, Stark Naked Theatre Company's production of BODY AWARENESS by Annie Baker is an exciting and captivating examination of familial dysfunction and how destructive and liberating the self-objectification and exploitation of the human body can be.

Houston Grand Opera is performing Gioachino Rossini's splendid, humorous, and simply delightful L'italiana in Algeri or THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS for the first time. Even knowing that comedic operas exist, it is still seems somewhat like a contradiction to this opera novice. With that said, being able to laugh and smile all the through a performance made this production all the more memorable and enjoyable.

Just under a week until Halloween, Bayou City Theatrics kicks off their inaugural season with Richard O'Brien's cult-favorite, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. While audiences at the Toyota Center waited for the original material girl to take the stage, Bayou City Theatrics channeled 80s inspired glam pop-punk fashions with their own breed of material girls (and boys) and treated their audience to a fresh rendition of the classic show.

Houston Grand Opera is opening its 2012-2013 season with a lavish and fresh production of one of the world's favorite operas, LA BOHÈME by Giacomo Puccini. The familiar opera tells the story of four bohemian artists that live in the same garret (apartment) in 1830s Paris. The poet, Rodolfo, falls for Mimi, a seamstress suffering from Tuberculosis. His friend Marcello, a painter, has recently broken up with Musetta, but is still fascinated by her. In a series of short glimpses into their lives, the audience sees Rodolfo and Mimi fall into a deep, passionate love that is eventually troubled and torn asunder by Rodolfo's jealousies and concerns about her health.

Clear Creek Community Theatre, which is in their 48th season of producing theatrical events, is providing audiences with the opportunity to enjoy Edward Albee's well-known hit play WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?. Whether you read it in school, saw the film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, or have seen another production of the oft produced hit, most people are familiar with the dynamic drama that still allures and entertains audiences.

One would never guess that [title of show] is only Standing Room Only Productions' 6th production. The show is perfectly polished, and every aspect of the production is simply magnificent.

As many gear up for Halloween, Music Box Musicals' inaugural production is striking a different nerve-a political nerve. With a wonderful production of John Weidman and Stephen Sondheim's thought-provoking musical ASSASSINS, Music Box Musicals invites audiences to listen. Not only to the tales they present on stage, but in our lives outside of the theatre as well.