Jerri Shafer News

Firebringer is an original story that follows a tribe of prehistoric humans as they struggle to survive the stone age. The musical is set in the prehistoric era of mankind and deals with the ramifications of new inventions. At the dawn of humanity, one tribe of cave-people survived the many trials of prehistoric life under the wise leadership of Jemilla, The Peacemaker. Check out photos!

The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit, the benevolent victim, Mr. Brownlow takes him in. Fearing the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sikes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver’s chances of discovering the true love of a family. Performances are July 9-17 at Knox Memorial Theater, 112 East High St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. For tickets or more information, visit: https://mtvarts.com/

Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda JR. is a joyous girl power romp. Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence... and special powers! 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! Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination. New Albany Youth Theatre will present Matilda The Musical, Jr. to be performed 7/8/22 – 7PM 7/9/22 – 2PM & 7PM, 7/10/212 – 2PM at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts. 100 E Dublin Granville Rd, New Albany, OH 43054 Purchase tickets: https://newalbanyyouththeatre.org/

Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler, Nathan Detroit, tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for fourteen years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown, as a result. Guys and Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong. Performances run July 8 thru the 17th, 2022 at the Wigwam Theater (10190 Blacklick-Eastern Road Northwest, Pickerington, OH 43147). For tickets: http://pickeringtoncommunitytheatre.org/

On Monday, July 4 Ariel-Foundation Park & Mount Vernon Arts Consortium presented - Faithfully: Journey and Eagles Tribute: A tribute and salute to the music of two era-defining bands, bringing the classic hits of both The Eagles and Journey to life and getting packed crowds across the country to stand up for the opening notes of ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’ Upcoming shows include Clint Black on Thursday, September 15th. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.mvac.org Check out our website for lots more exciting shows to come!

Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts gang explore life's great questions as they play baseball, struggle with homework, sing songs, swoon over their crushes, and celebrate the joy of friendship.

Celebrate PRIDE 2022 with Evolution Theatre - Central Ohio's LGBTQIA Theatre Company as they present the area premiere of Birds of a Feather by Marc Acito. On the surface, it's about two male penguins who partnered, adopted an egg, hatched and raised a chick together. But in reality, it's about so much more!

New Albany Middle School was selected to perform as the only Middle School on the ABC6 Bicentennial Park Stage at the 2022 Columbus Arts Festival. This was a wonderful opportunity for these 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to share their passion for musical theatre with their community! The NAMS Theatre Department performed selections from their recent productions of “Xanadu Jr.”, “Mary Poppins Jr.” and finished off with the number “We don’t talk about Bruno” from the smash hit “Encanto”. Director: Melissa Gould, Musical Director: Sean Hooper. Performers: Aline Bhat, Anna Fishbaugh, Annie Trybus, Ava Baker, Ava Feisel, Brie Funk, Cali Russell, CJ Gaines, Drew Wintersteller, Ella Davis, Eva Vian, Eve Limpach, Evie Nacht, Gabby Lewis, Ghost Thomas, Gia Ellenberg, Hope Rooney, Ian Kopf, Kayla Haynes, Kendall Beus, Lee Brechter, Lila Griveas, Lilly Steel, Maggie Hill, Maria Thiel, Myles Patton, Neil Teri, Noelle Griffith, Olivia Fuller, Olivia Horne, Olivia Smith, Parker Cohn, Regan James, Riley Malone, Riley Snead, Riley Walsh and Sahil Shah. Crew : Carter Purcell, Ella Proudfoot

New Vision Dance Company was selected to perform on the ABC6 Bicentennial Park Stage at the 2022 Columbus Arts Festival. This was a wonderful opportunity for these talented dancers to share their passion with their community! New Vision is launching the first ever New Albany Dance Festival on July 30, 2022. The company performed pieces choreographed by Artistic Director Melissa Gould as well as company members Lili Engel, Janaya Davis, Jonathan Hill and Jessica Gould. NVDC was joined by guest vocal artists Emily Baird, Lorelei Roeger and Emma Wintersteller. New Vision Dance Company members performing: Arnav Nawani, Charlotte Rutherford, Clara Love, Dominic Catrone, Elise Pierson, Erykah Strickland, Janaya Davis, Jennifer Myers, Jessica Gould, Joe Gould, Jonathan Hill, Lauren Seger, Lexi Daniels, Lili Engel, Rachel Cory, Sally Squires and Sydnie Liggins.

The Mount Vernon Arts Consortium (MVAC) welcomed Kevin Nealon on June 16th, 2022 to the Woodward Opera House in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Upcoming shows include The Reagan Years: Talented East Coast musicians replicating Pop, Rock, New Wave, and Heavy Metal hits of the MTV Era. Selling out shows since 1996 and knows all the lyrics to Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire.’ Friday, June 17 at 7:30 PM. This is part of the Free Summer Concert Series at The Schnormeier Event Center, 10 Pittsburgh Ave., Mount Vernon, OH. On Saturday June 18th MVAC welcomes Aureum: An Aerial and Acrobatic Adventure Tale for 2 performances in The Knox Memorial, 112 E. High Street, Mount Vernon, OH. And Clint Black on Thursday, September 15th. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.mvac.org Check out our website for lots more exciting shows to come!

Next to Normal is a 2008 American rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. The story centers on a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects that managing her illness has on her family. Performances are June 17th thru the 25th, 2022 at the McCoy Center, 100 E. Dublin Granville Rd., New Albany, OH 43054. For tickets or more information, visit: https://www.newalbanycommunityplayhouse.org/nexttonormal

Moonlight and madness collide in an original backstage musical fable about the hopes and dreams of life on the stage. Learn all about the show!

Follow the true story of the 19th-century astronomer, Henrietta Leavitt as she maps distant stars in galaxies beyond our own during a time when women's ideas were dismissed until a man claimed credit for them. Social progress and astronomical advances are realized as Henrietta and her fellow female “computers” change the way we see the heavens and the earth in this incredible story of bold love, boundless determination, and the vast grandeur of the cosmos. It’s an unparalleled treat for the heart, mind, and senses. The show runs June 10th thru the 26th, 2022 at Red Herring Theater, 3723 S High ST, Columbus OH 43207. For more information visit: https://www.redherringtheater.org/ or call (614) 723-9116.

It sure is hard to be humble when you're a swashbuckling, egocentric super-hero. But our gallant guy-in-green tries his best as he swaggers through The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, a frantically funny, Monty Pythonesque retelling of the classic. This time around, the legendary legend, in his never-ending quest to aid the needy, encounters a lovely damsel-in-distress (oddly obsessed with skin conditions); an ever-scheming sheriff who would rather bowl a strike than hit a bull's-eye; a gold-hoarding, bad-guy monarch wannabe; and a good-natured 'Town's Guy' who manages to make his way into every scene, whether he belongs there or not. Combine them with an expandable band of spoon-wielding Merry Men whose collective IQs equal six, and you've got an irreverent jaunt through Sherwood Forest you won't soon forget! Performances run June 10 thru the 12th, 2022 at The Davis Auditorium, Lancaster Camp Ground, 2151 West Fair Ave., Lancaster, OH 43130. For more information visit: https://www.riseupartsalliance.org

Original Productions Theatre (OPT) and the Abbey Theater of Dublin will co-present the world premiere production of “Voice of the Net,” written by Otterbein University Associate Professor Jeremy Llorence. The in-person production will be performed June 2-5 and June 9-12, 2022. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students, seniors and matinees (2 p.m. on June 5 and 12). All performances are available for purchase at www.DublinOhioUSA.gov/abbey-theater.

“The Uncanny” is a first for Stage Right Theatrics in that it features both film and stage elements. The play is directed by Ohio resident Matt Hermiz, who had this to say about adapting part of the play for film: “The primary male character is a Hollywood film producer versed in particular in horror films and the cinematic history thereof. It seems like a logical extension of the play’s themes to tell part of the overall story with the cinematic medium.” Performances are May 20-21 and 27 at 7:30 PM, May 22 at 1:30 PM, and May 25-26 at 7 PM at the Abbey Theatre of Dublin (5600 Post Rd, Dublin, OH 43017). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://conservativefestivaloh.com/

In this hilarious and outlandish story, the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other the chance to return to life. A funny, moving look at what makes a life well-lived!

Shadowbox Live was the host venue for the Central Ohio Theatre Roundtable (DBA Theatre Roundtable) Annual Celebration. The celebration took place on May 15, 2022 at 7 PM. Theatre Roundtable is a Columbus-based consortium of community, educational, and professional theatre companies that exists to further the performing arts in Ohio. “After a one-year hiatus, Theatre Roundtable is excited to provide an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the artists, organizations, productions, and theatrical initiatives that were produced in 2020 and 2021,” Theatre Roundtable President Joe Bishara said. In lieu of Production awards, Theatre Roundtable presented four (4) citations, one (1) Fellowship and one (1) Award. For more information visit: https://theatre-roundtable.org/

Broadway’s hit angsty rock musical hits the Garden Mainstage in a spectacular new staging by Artistic Director Edward Carignan and New York City Choreographer Trevor Schmidt. Featuring a heart-pounding score by alternative singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik (pop hit “Barely Breathing”), Spring Awakening is a seductive and intimate look at the challenges of adolescent lovers in strict 19th Century German society. The subject of an upcoming HBO documentary and winner of 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical, this landmark musical is an electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality and rock and roll that is still very relevant today. Presented by a thrilling cast of up and coming talent this show will inspire, ignite, and illuminate everyone in the audience. Spring Awakening will perform from May 5th now extended to June 4th at the Short North Stage (https://www.shortnorthstage.org/) Showtimes are 7pm Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and 2pm Sundays. Tickets range From $39 - $54 with student rush tickets available for $20 at the door. Group discounts available. Visit www.cbusarts.com for more information.

Hilarity abounds in this portrait of three couples successively occupying a suite at the Plaza. A suburban couple take the suite while their house is being painted and it turns out to be the one in which they honeymooned 23 (or was it 24?) years before and was yesterday the anniversary, or is it today? This wry tale of marriage in tatters is followed by the exploits of a Hollywood producer who, after three marriages, is looking for fresh fields. He calls a childhood sweetheart, now a suburban housewife, for a little sexual diversion. Over the years she has idolized him from afar and is now more than the match he bargained for. The last couple is a mother and father fighting about the best way to get their daughter out of the bathroom and down to the ballroom where guests await her or as Mother yells, “I want you to come out of that bathroom and get married!” Performances run May 14 thru May 21, 2022. Gallery Players, 1125 College Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43209. Please visit https://galleryplayers.eventive.org/schedule to get specific showtimes and purchase tickets.