Stage Notes is a weekly aggregate post about theater, classical music, dance, comedy and stage news, events, reviews and other pertinent information.
Opening this week:
Broadway at the Center: Monty Python’s Spamalot, today-Sunday at the Winspear.
Plano Symphony Orchestra: American Treasures, 7 p.m. Friday at Robinson Fine Arts Center.
Misfit Circus: Good Grief, 8 p.m. Friday at the Bath House Cultural Center.
Circle Theatre: Totally Made-up Musical, Friday and Saturday.
Tasha Studios: What She’s Having, Friday-Sunday at the Eisemann Center.
Community of Rowlett Players (CORP): Deliver Us From Mama, Friday-July 18.
Uptown Players: Urinetown: The Musical, Friday-July 19.
Art Centre Theatre: The Outsiders, Friday-July 26.
Hip Pocket Theatre: A Twisty Intergalactic Spectacle, Friday-July 26, pictured.
Theatre Three: Fight Night! – Ultimate Fighting Toolkit, 7 p.m. Monday.
Echo Reads: We Have No Cats, Kathleen, 7:30 p.m. Monday at Bath House Cultural Center.
Echo Reads: We Have No Cats, Kathleen, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Whiskers and Soda.
Broadway at the Bass: Hamilton, Tuesday-July 26.
Onstage now:
The Beacon Theater: La Gringa, through Saturday at Cox Playhouse.
Allen Contemporary Theatre: 1776, through Sunday.
The Firehouse Theatre: Shrek the Musical, through Sunday.
Theatre Three: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, through Sunday, pictured.
Shakespeare Dallas: Alice in Wonderland, through July 17 at Samuell-Grand Amphitheater.
Shakespeare Dallas: Merry Wives of Windsor, through July 19 at Samuell-Grand Amphitheater.
The Core Theatre: Ruby Tuesday, through July 19.
Meow Wolf: Phenomenonaly, through Aug. 8.
Pocket Sandwich Theatre: King Arthur & Merlin: A Tale of Sword & Sorcery, through Aug. 22.
Watch the new trailer for Uptown Players’ Urinetown
Ahead of Friday’s opening night, Uptown Players dropped this video trailer for its upcoming production of this golden musical. See our interview with UP’s Jeff Rane and director Penny Ayn Maas in Friday’s issue. The two discuss how the Urinetown — as far-fetched as it was likely intended — parallels the real world today, but also has an optimistic message with queer undertones and banger showtunes.
Along with Maas, the creative team includes Music Director Vonda K. Bowling and Choreographer Gabriela Ayala Yarbrough.
The cast of Urinetown features Max J. Swarner, David Lugo, Emery Gray, Brian Hathaway, Laura Lites, Taylor Nash, AJ Martinez, Mikey Abrams and Ben Meaders.
Featured ensemble members include Ralphael Agee, Jessica Humphrey, Kayla Renee
Jackson, Donovan Marie Lawson, Linda Leonard, Gena Loe, Logan Lowery, Gabrielle Rollins, Gerald Taylor II and Keith J. Warren.
The show runs July 11-19 at the Kalita.
These 10 shows will make up the 10th annual Fort Worth Fringe Festival
Fort Worth Fringe 10th annual poster
Earlier this week, the Theatre Network of Texas announced the shows for its upcoming 10th annual International Fort Worth Fringe Festival. The event will run Sep. 11-13 at the Stolen Shakespeare Guild’s theater.
Passes for FW Fringe come with options including the All-Fringe Pass for every show or select show passes to four or two productions. Passes can be purchased at FWFringe.com.
Single ticket sales will open when the schedule is announced.
This year’s shows include:
Bkakthi: The Unwavering Flame by Supraja Sundaresan (Euless). Appearing for the second time at FW Fringe, this Bharatanatyam varnam dance performance follows a Nayika whose heart is wholly surrendered to Lord Shiva, the Lord of Mount Kailasa.
The Brain Storm Magic Show by Braden Daniels (Dallas) Making his FW Fringe debut, Daniels presents an experience of magic, mystery and mind reading.
Genius, Madness and Murder: Tales of the Scandalous Family of John Wilkes Booth by Strange Girls Productions (Tampa, FL). Asia Booth Clarke recounts stories of the many triumphs, scandals and tragedies of the Booths, with humane and trademark Booth theatricality.
I Grieve Different by Harper Jones and Co. (Dallas). This festival debut centers on a solo, multi-character theatrical piece centered on The Child, a young Black woman navigating grief after her grandmother’s death.
Grilled Cheese by Kevin Velasquez (Mansfield). A story about growing up, holding on, and the courage it takes to let go — on both sides of the table.
kNOw by Olivia Giron (Denton). This festival debut work is inspired by the anatomy and function of the heart and explores the development of shape and gesture using initiations from specific body parts.
A Lost Love Story by Blackberry Theatre (Fort Worth). Franklin and Ashley, high school exes now in their 30s, reconnect for the first time since their breakup 17 years ago.
Mujeres Sin Miedo (Women Without Fear) by Sound Culture (Fort Worth). A spoken word showcase is an opportunity for the Latina voice to be centered, with various themes—from motherhood challenges to love of nature and human rights—addressed in an uplifting and entertaining presentation.
Optimal by Parcos Corpas (Stephenville). A timely, thought-provoking one-act that explores the growing influence of AI and algorithms on everyday life.
Perpetual Soup by OneOff Theatre (Fort Worth). What do we force ourselves to swallow and why? In this story, two men in a time and place that make no difference to anyone make the best of a situation with a dash of laughter.
For updates, visit TexasTheatres.org or on Facebook.
Drunk Romeo and Juliet makes its Dallas debut this month in Deep Ellum
Love, laughter and liquor are headed to Dallas as Drunk Romeo & Juliet premieres here at Deep Ellum Art Co. The entertaining twist on Shakespeare’s most iconic love story will open July 16 for a limited time run delivering some major tragedy and romance on the rocks.
Presented by the Drunk Shakespeare Society in partnershipwith Fever, Drunk Romeo & Juliet features one professional actor who downs more than five shots of alcohol before diving headfirst into the world’s most famous tale of star-crossed lovers. For many of us, that’s a Wednesday — minus the theatrics.With Drunk Shakespeare Society, the result has the potential to be bold, chaotic and unforgettable experience that may just turn R&J into a comedy..
The show blends poetry, pop culture and liberal departures that make the show accessible for Shakespeare aficionados and first-timers alike. No prior Shakespeare knowledge required -.
A New York Times Critics Pick, the original concept challenges a cast of classically trained actors to perform a Shakespeare play in under 90 minutes while one cast member is noticeably intoxicated. The Drunk Shakespeare Society has performed for more than a thousand nights and consumed more than a thousand liters of liquor, becoming the company with more performances of Shakespeare than any other in America. Its mission is to share the high drama, enduring characters and poetic brilliance William Shakespeare created more than 400 years ago — but inebriated.
Tickets are available at Dallas.DrunkShakespeare.com with multiple seating options available. A premium option is available with the Royal Experience for two. This places attendees on a hand-carved throne as King or Queen for the night and includes a bottle of fine champagne, two handcrafted cocktails, treats and the opportunity to influence the performance.
Follow at @drunkshakespeare on IG.
–Rich Lopez
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