Jerri Shafer News

This version of the classic tale of Cinderella, her wicked step sisters and a glass slipper is an immersive theatre experience, emphasizing audience participation. The Fairy Godmother needs help from the audience because she is out of practice and not at all certain her magic is going to work properly. Cinderella’s slipper is tried on audience members, who are also consulted on various matters pertaining to the story. And of course, this play reveals the timeless message of love prevailing over all adversity as Cinderella and the Prince ultimately live happily ever after. Performances run Sept 23 - Oct 2, 2022 at Hilliard Civic and Cultural Arts Center, 5425 Center St, Hilliard, OH 43026. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.hilliardartscouncil.org/

A snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again. Adapted for Stage by Ken Ludwig, Director - Bob Kile, Stage Manager - Sue Rapier, the Cast: Hercule Poirot - Larry Cole, Monsieur Bouc - Phil Wells, Mary Debenham - Rachel Luther, Hector MacQueen - Zach Dozier, Michel - Jim Daniels, Princess Dragomiroff - Joyce Leahy, Greta Ohlsson - Beth Connell, Countess Andrenyi - Sarina Hyland, Helen Hubbard - Kate Charlesworth-Miller, Col. Arbuthnot - Randy Benge, Samuel Ratchett - Donnie Lockwood. Performances run Sept 23 - OCT 9, 2022 at Little Theatre Off Broadway, 3981 Broadway, Grove City, Ohio 43123. Order Reserved Seating Tickets at the link: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/63398

Beauty is in the eye of the ogre in Shrek The Musical JR., based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and fantastic Broadway musical. It's a 'big bright beautiful world' as everyone's favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek JR. is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family. Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek. One day, Shrek finds his swamp invaded by banished fairytale misfits who have been cast off by Lord Farquaad, a tiny terror with big ambitions. When Shrek sets off with a wisecracking donkey to confront Farquaad, he's handed a task — if he rescues feisty princess Fiona, his swamp will be righted. Shrek tries to win Fiona’s love and vanquish Lord Farquaad, but a fairytale wouldn't be complete without a few twists and turns along the way. Book, and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, Music by Jeanine Tesori, Directed by Bruce Jacklin. Performances are Sept 23 7:30pm, Sept 24 2:00pm & 7:30pm, Sept 25 2:00 PM, at Knox Memorial Theater, 112 East High St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. For tickets or more information, visit: https://mtvarts.com/

Get ready to rock out! When Nina enters her first air guitar competition, she thinks winning will be easy. But as she befriends a group of charismatic nerds, she discovers that there is more to this artform than just pretend; it's about finding yourself in your favorite song and performing it with raw joy. Airness is a fun and exuberant reminder that everything we need to rock is already inside of us. Written by Chelsea Marcantel, Directed by Mark Mann. Airness performances run Sept 23 thru Oct 9, 2022, at Shadowbox Up Front, 503 S Front St. Columbus, Ohio 43215. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.redherringtheater.org/

On Thursday September 15, 2022, Mount Vernon Arts Consortium (MVAC) presented Clint Black In Concert. A collection of material that will certainly stand the test of time, Out of Sane, is one of the most personally gratifying albums Black has ever recorded. “I believe it's one of my best albums ever and I think my fans will love it,” says Black. Upcoming shows include Shrek Jr. the Musical presented by MTVarts September 23-25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.mvac.org Check out our website for lots more exciting shows to come!

Inspired by a true story that explores the tricky terrain of finding love amidst the confusion of sexual identity, and the inextricable bond between doctor and patient. A well-intentioned doctor convinces the parents of a male infant to raise their son as a girl after a terrible accident. Two decades later, the repercussions of that choice continue to unfold. Written by Anna Ziegler. Directed by Mark Phillips Schwamberger, the Cast includes: Ollie Worden, Ralph Scott, Valtinen Erik Karille, Britt Kline, Scott Douglas Wilson. Performances run September 15 - 24, 2022 at Abbey Theatre of Dublin, 5600 Post Rd. Dublin, Ohio 43017. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.evolutiontheatre.org/

Short North Stage is presenting a limited run of Tick Tick... Boom! as a benefit for the theater. Before Rent, there was Tick, Tick... Boom!. This autobiographical musical recently made into a Netflix film by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning composer of Rent, is the story of a composer and the sacrifices that he made to achieve his big break in theater. His girlfriend wants to get married and move out of the city, his best friend is making big bucks on Madison Avenue and, yet, Jon is still waiting on tables and trying to write the great American musical. Set in 1990, this compelling story of personal discovery is presented as a rock musical filled with instantly appealing melodies and a unique blend of musical theater styles. Join us for this limited special event featuring a free beautiful catered reception following each show. Show dates are September 9th and 10th at 7pm and September 11th at 2pm. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased at www.cbusarts.com or by calling the CbusArts Box Office at 614-469-0939. Visit www.shortnorthstage.org for more information.

Red is a play by American writer John Logan about artist Mark Rothko first produced by the Donmar Warehouse, London, on December 8, 2009. It is an intimate play about a profound painter in whose soul a Manichaean battle between life and death is played out on his canvases by a struggle between red and black. Performances are benefitting The Garden for All. Directed by Ben Smallwood, the cast includes Nash Feiler and Hal Houston. Red will run August 19 & 20 at Five 14 Church, 5744 N Hamilton Rd., Columbus, Ohio. To purchase tickets, visit: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/66234

Zoe, a black student at a liberal arts college, is called into her white professor's office to discuss her paper about slavery and its effect on the American Revolution. What begins as a polite clash in perspectives explodes into an urgent debate about race, history, and power.

New Vision Dance Company hosted the inaugural NEW ALBANY DANCE FESTIVAL at the stunning Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater in New Albany, Ohio on Saturday, July 30, 2022. This event was a collaboration of dance, music, health, and wellness.

The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world's most beloved musical. Featuring a trove of cherished songs, including 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain,' 'My Favorite Things,' 'Do Re Mi,' 'Sixteen Going on Seventeen' and the title number, The Sound of Music won the hearts of audiences worldwide, earning five Tony Awards and five Oscars. The inspirational story, based on the memoir of Maria Augusta Trapp, follows an ebullient postulate who serves as governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp, bringing music and joy to the household. But as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria, Maria and the entire von Trapp family must make a moral decision. Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, Directed by Michael Ruehrmund and Katey Munger, featuring the Westerville Symphony. Performances run July 28 - 30, 2022 at Alum Creek Park North Amphitheatre, 221 W. Main St., Westerville, OH 43082. For tickets or more information, visit: https://www.westerville.org/tickets

Short North Stage opens its 2022-23 Season with the epic rock musical ROCK OF AGES. It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace, and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strips last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing and longs for small-town girl Sherrie who is new to Hollywood with stars in her eyes. However, the rock 'n' roll fairy tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri and the gang save the strip – and themselves – before it's too late? Only the music of hit bands Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake and more hold the answer. Come join the party this summer! We know you wanna rock!

It's Show Week for Jonathan Larson's 'RENT' at OHIO University Lancaster.

In a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920's draw to a close, a garish Master of Ceremonies welcomes the audience and assures them they will forget all their troubles at the Cabaret. Check out photos from the production!

This summer, New Albany High School Theatre Department is producing the musical comedy Something Rotten!, a hilarious mash-up of sixteenth century Shakespeare and twenty-first century Broadway about two brothers who set out to write the world's first musical. Check out photos from the production!

See photos of Evolution Theatre Company's GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM. Beau, a pianist expat living in London, meets Rufus, an eccentric young lawyer, at the dawn of the internet dating revolution. After a life spent recovering from the disappointment and hurt of loving men in a world that refused to allow it, Beau is determined to keep his expectations low with Rufus.

What did our critic think of CRAZY FOR YOU at Hilliard Arts Council?A celebration of arts and community for the Hilliard community; who could ask for anything more?

Hilliard Arts Council is proud to present our annual large stage summer musical: Crazy For You. This Tony award winning musical will showcase the efforts of a large cast of talented actors, singers and dancers hailing from the greater Columbus area in a production featuring lavish costumes, big production numbers, a full pit orchestra and of course the high-quality community theatre you expect from a Hilliard Arts Council show. Billed as “The New Gershwin Musical Comedy”, Crazy for You is a romantic comedy musical about a well-to-do young New Yorker, Bobby Child, who is sent to Nevada to foreclose on a theatre owned by the family business. Falling in love with the local postmistress, Bobby decides to produce a show to save the theatre. Performances run July 15, 16, 8:00 pm & July 17, 3:00 pm at Hilliard Darby HS Performing Arts Center, 4200 Leppert Rd, Hilliard, OH 43026. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.hilliardartscouncil.org/

Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other's lives, as Miss Honey begins not only to recognize but also appreciate Matilda's extraordinary personality. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace! Performances are July 15, 16, 22, & 23 @ 7:30 PM and July 17 and 24 @ 2:30 PM at McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St. Worthington, OH 4308. Tickets https://www.worthingtoncommunitytheatre.com/

Two hapless understudies occupy their time backstage, trying to understand art, life, theatre and their precarious existence within it. Described as 'delectable' by The New York Times and 'gleefully absurd' by Time Out New York, this hilariously witty comedy ponders Beckett, showbiz and just what on earth it's all about. It turns out, the only people who truly understand Beckett's Waiting For Godot are the understudies. Check out photos of the production. Written by Dave Hanson, Directed by Donovan Johnson, the Cast: Matt Hermiz as ESTER; Michael Herring as VAL and Anita McFarren as LAURA. Stage Manager is Lauren Wong. Sound design by Jesse Charles and Light design by Kurt Mueller. Waiting for Waiting For Godot performances run May 5 thru May 22, 2022, at Red Herring Theater, 3723 S. High St. Columbus, Ohio. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.redherringtheater.org/