Marietta Lunceford - Page 4

I have been looking forward to tonight ever since I got a small preview of Tam DeBolt as Sophie Tucker during the opening weekend of the Lyric Theatre. And rightly so. SOPHIE TUCKER is one of the most entertaining and real performances I have ever seen.

One of the least talked about and yet most wonderful things about our area is the Alabama School of Fine Arts, situated in downtown Birmingham. It boasts the beautiful Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre. Although I have been to this theatre several times, today was the first time to be in the building during a school day and in the theatre to see the kids from ASFA perform. They are performing Shakespeare's AS YOU LIKE IT this weekend and it is worth your time to support them.

Having just seen a beautiful production of THE SECRET GARDEN at Red Mountain Theatre Company two short weeks ago, I was surprised to turn my calendar and realize I was headed back there so soon for SISTER ACT. Once again, RMTC has outdone themselves with a stellar performance.

Theatre Downtown brings yet another production of STEEL MAGNOLIAS to the Birmingham area. If you haven't seen this classic, don't miss this chance. Since everyone has just done it, it might be awhile before you get the opportunity again.

In sharp contrast to last night's irreverent and rock filled AMERICAN IDIOT, I once again have seen how diverse and amazing theatre is in Birmingham. Tonight I went to see THE SECRET GARDEN at Red Mountain Theatre Company. For all of the cursing, adult themes and rawness of last night, tonight was one of the most enchanting things I have ever seen.

AMERICAN IDIOT at Birmingham-Southern College is edgy, gritty and all that you want it to be. BSC took a risk doing a current and potentially controversial show and for students of art, a risk like that is almost always worth it.

According to Theatre League president Mark Edelman, FLASHDANCE , which was seen this weekend as part of the Broadway in Birmingham series, is a new production. This tour marks 'the next stage in the development of this work.' In an email to season ticket holders Edelman explains that 'since the premier in London's West End, the show has gone through several different incarnations here in the U.S.' In this critic's mind they need to keep working. Last night's performance of FLASHDANCE at the Birmingham- Jefferson Civic Center Concert Hall was a huge disappointment.

UAB (The University of Alabama at Birmingham) is known for its world class medical school and hospital and lately for having its football program cancelled and then reinstated. But what you might not realize is the superior theatre department that UAB has. After seeing SPRING AWAKENING there last night, I am convinced that UAB has one of the top theatre programs in the state, if not the country.

I have spent many wonderful hours at South City Theatre, both on stage and in the audience. South City has a reputation for picking out enjoyable plays and doing a good job presenting them. I don't usually miss one of their plays, but this time I almost did. ARSENIC AND OLD LACE is not one of my favorite plays, so I almost decided to skip this one. Man, am I glad I didn't make that mistake!

When life becomes almost too much to handle, where do you turn? I say, to the theatre! And SONS OF THE PROPHET written by Stephen Karam at Birmingham Festival Theatre shows us that humor can get us through the pain. SONS OF THE PROPHET has a warning on its poster- 'This show may cause various emotional responses such as laughter, enthusiasm and deep thought.' I certainly experienced all of that and more. I would strongly suggest that you call 205-933-2383 or go to www.bftonline.org for ticket information. SONS OF THE PROPHET runs through April 16 so you have time to see this super funny, meaningful play.

Following the lives of John and Mary, FIRST KISSES covers over 60 years of friendship. At first the 11 year olds are not sure how they feel about being friends with someone of the opposite sex, but they later look back to realize they loved each other from the start.Going through deaths, lost loves, temptations, kids and more together, this couple is written in a very real and engaging way. Played by 8 different actors these characters are portrayed all the way from 11 years old to 72.

With traditional newspapers going out of business and more and more of our news coming to us online, the world around us seems to be getting smaller and information is coming at us faster and faster. For the three guys who make up THE MELTDOWN this is an opportunity to share information in a new and creative way.

Theatre Downtown billed ALL IN THE TIMING as 'Six plays. Seventeen actors. Lots of Laughs.' and I have to say that they got that right. ALL IN THE TIMING includes six short plays by David Ives and there were lots of new faces and lots of laughs.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET grabs you from the very first moment with music. With no lead in other than the writing projected on the curtain before the show begins, "Blue Suede Shoes" starts the audience on a fast paced 90 minutes of almost continuous hits. And the music is definitely the star of the show.

What do the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and NASCAR have in common? Up until last night, I would have said, 'Absolutely nothing!' But last night changed all of that when the Talladega Superspeedway sponsored the world premiere of WHITE LIGHTNING, a 'romantic action adventure' about the roots of stock car racing.

Expertly acted by Jamie Lawrence as Harold and Ellise Pruitt Mayor as Elsie, FALLING: A WAKE is the story of a plane crash, a loving yet troubled couple, and all of the questions that we have about life, love, when to let go and if there is more to life than what we see each day.Does life happen randomly or is there a plan, does fate exist?

Every once in a while, everything falls in place and you have a truly memorable evening. Last night was one of those nights, thanks to ACTA Theatre's production of LOST IN YONKERS and their true community spirit.

NEXT TO NORMAL is an exploration of grief and how it can pull you down to the depths of depression. Although not what you usually expect from Red Mountain Theatre Company, it is a timely and real look at mental illness. It is hard to know where to start in giving accolades to this talented cast and crew.

What happens when you take one guy with three fiancés, add in a naive friend from the Midwest, throw in a long suffering housekeeper trying to keep things straight and put them all in one apartment in Paris in the 1960's?? You get one hilarious night of theatre!

MY BUDDY BILL is written by Rick Cleveland, who has also written for THE WEST WING and MAD MEN. With his wit and insider stories of Washington and Hollywood, Cleveland has now written a fascinating story about his unlikely friendship with President Bill Clinton. MY BUDDY BILL tells an interesting, hilarious and yet poignant story about a lifestyle we can only imagine.