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Directed by Mary Bright & Richard Brousil Godspell is one of the biggest off-Broadway and Broadway successes of all time. Featuring a sparkling score by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), Godspell boasts a string of well-loved songs, led by the international hit… Read More » Directed by Carol Johnson Patio Playhouse’s Youtheatre presents this musical production based on The Princess and the Pea. Directed by Christopher De Armond This is the stage version of the classic 1934 film that also inspired 1998′s Meet Joe Black. After years of questioning why people fear him, “Death” takes human form and… Read More » Directed by Kevin Jones For the six ladies of “Steel Magnolias,” life at Truvy’s Beauty Parlor is a never-ending series of… Read More » Directed by Deborah Zimmer Growing up in the 1950s, I have fond memories of a childhood that felt safe and secure. “The Good Old Days” may sound corny and cliché, but a trip back to simpler times occasionally can… Read More »
Directed by Geoffrey Cox The Last Five Years is an intimate musical about a five-year relationship between Jamie, a writer whose star is on the rise, and Cathy, a Read More » Directed by Connie Boyd Kaufman and Hart’s wildly whacky Pulitzer Prize-winning play You Can’t Take It With You opened in 1936. It was an immediate success. The country was recovering from the Depression and everyone needed a Read More » Directed by Kat Perhach Welcome to The Soap Box Theatre! We invite you to leave your cares at the door, sit back and watch the creation of an unorthodox Christmas Carol…Dickens with a twist! A behind-the-scenes look of emotional divas, scandalous affairs, technical mishaps, lemon twisting warm-ups and a visit from Read More »
Conceived and Directed by Deborah Zimmer When I decided to put together another musical revue for Patio Playhouse, I realized I had a golden opportunity to poke some loving fun at myself and the countless other volunteers who pour their blood, sweat, tears, hearts and souls into community theater. Of course, any resemblance of these characters to any actual volunteers, living or dead, is impurely coincidental. Consider this show a Read More »
Directed by Richard Brousil and Mary Bright Performance Dates: Aug 5 – 27, 2011 The final collaboration between Rodgers and Hammerstein, The Sound of Music was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical. When Maria, a postulant, proves too high-spirited for the religious life, she is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval Captain. The score includes “Do Re Mi,” “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things,” and the title tune. Directed by Brian Weissman Bickering siblings are reunited at their Texas home as their father lies on his deathbed in this classic black comedy. Directed by Rob Wolter Charlie, a painfully shy man who reluctantly accompanies his friend on a trip to a rural Georgia hunting lodge, pretends to neither speak or understand English to avoid interacting with fellow guests. He is stunned and amazed by the things people will confide to “a foreigner” Directed by Christa Lynn Sherman Shakespeare’s battle of the sexes set in ‘modern’ times. Directed by Geoffrey A. Cox The musical based on the story by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Directed by Richard Brousil and Mary Bright City of Angels is the rarest of musical comedies. One that is not only loaded with music and written in the contemporary jazz idiom, but also filled with sidesplitting comedy. Set in the glamorous, seductive Read More » Directed by Sherrie Colbourn When a young woman spots an unconscious man in running shorts at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, she reasons that since nice guys finish last, this must be ‘Mr. Right’! Directed by Deborah Zimmer When I embarked on this adventure known as Meshuggah-Nuns! a year ago, I had no idea what was in store. What was in store? Well, through all the struggles and the triumphs, I have learned that Read More » Directed by Patrick McBride Rachel’s seemingly perfect life is thrown into turmoil over a series of implausibly disastrous Christmases in this hilarious comedy. Directed by Christa Sherman Shakespeare’s brilliant comedy is brought to a modern audience in this unique, contemporary production of Twelfth Night or What You Will. Directed by Mary Bright & Richard Brousil A delightful musical romp on board a luxury liner, replete with beautiful dancing girls, amazing singers, public enemies, chase scenes, mistaken identities, fraud, deception comedy, gambling and, of course, a Cole Porter score that made them want to make a musical around it. Songs include:
Directed by Rob Wolter Community Theater producing Shakespeare’s Macbeth…gone horribly wrong!
Fat Pig Directed by Jim Clevenger Performance Dates: Sept 16 – Oct 9, 2011 This American play written by Neil Labute is a dark comedy which provides insight and social commentary on society’s prejudice against those who are… Read More »
Prairie Lights Directed by Deborah Zimmer Performance Dates: Nov 4 – 20, 2011 ASL performance Saturday, Nov 12 at 2pm This holiday musical tells the story of a Jewish brother and sister who journey west from New York on an orphan train in 1905 to a tiny Nebraska town, Wellspring, as the town is preparing for Christmas and Hanukkah is approaching. Directed by Richard Brousil and Mary Bright If you’ve ever had a job then Working may as well be the story of your life. Because through music, dance and dialogue you’ll identify and empathize with the lives of everyday people like a steelworker, a car hiker, waitress, housewife, executive, fireman, hooker, mill worker, migrant worker, truck driver, socialite, retiree… These and more are celebrated in Patio Playhouse’s exciting and energetic production. 
Directed by PJ Anbey Performance Dates: Dec 2-18, 2011 The four March sisters live with their mother in New England. Their father is away serving as a chaplain in the Civil War, and the sisters struggle to… Read More » Directed by James Alburger The story takes place during an idyllic afternoon in the summer of 1953 at the Hines cabin in the Poconos. It’s a summer of romantic entanglements which intertwine nine characters. Burt Hines, a recovering workaholic, is anticipating a… Read More »
Directed by Jay Mower Set in a courtroom in the psychiatric wing of New York’s Bellevue Hospital in 1979, the story concerns an incarcerated woman’s valiant attempt to fight those who want to have her committed as mentally incompetent to stand trial on a manslaughter charge. The state, represented by a court appointed psychiatrist and aggressive prosecutor, say Claudia Faith Draper is nuts. In the course of this arresting yet at times funny drama, she demonstrates to the judge that she isn’t crazy. Revelations come out about an abusive childhood, dysfunctional family, divorce, and prostitution. This moving and poignant drama tugs at our very heartstrings and has us progressively rooting for her victory over what seems like nearly insurmountable odds.
Directed by Jim Clevenger Cynthia Wells is having an affair! She’s seeing her therapist Mary Cannon to help her cope with her feelings. But…she’s not quite ready to reveal everything. So whenever she tells Mary about her lover, she describes one of her clients who happens to be a dentist…and Mary’s husband! Mary’s no dummy and quickly figures out who Cynthia is talking about. She plots, plans and conspires a trap to catch them inflagrante delicto and that’s when the fireworks and the funnies start to fly. From Bed to Worse was written by local playwright and therapist Peggy Dougherty. Directed by Jim Clevenger During an ostentatious wedding reception at a Knoxville estate, five reluctant, identically clad bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom, each with her own reasons to avoid the proceedings below in this comedy by “Six Feet Under” writer Alan Ball. Directed by Mary Bright and Richard Brousil Prince Maha Mongkut was born on October 18, 1804 in the kingdom of Siam (now called Thailand). His father, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, become the king of Siam (King Rama II) when Mongkut was five. Mongkut was a true monarch, with total power over his five and a half million subjects. He spoke English, French, and Latin as well as Siamese, Pali, and Sanskrit, although he joked once that some Englishmen “have not understanding of their own language when I speak.” In his personal life Mongkut adhered to Siamese tradition, having 82 children by 39 wives. Nine thousand women lived in his harem, kept apart from the world in a separate city that they were seldom allowed to leave. Mongkut arranged for the women of his court to be educated about the world beyond Siam. He allowed them to receive English lessons from Christian missionaries, but the Siamese women were bored by their preaching. So Mongkut’s consul in Singapore hired another woman, Anna Loenowens, to teach the king’s wives and children. She arrived in Bangkok in 1862. This play is a fictionalized version of this story. They seldom sang Rodgers and Hammerstein songs during court functions. Directed by Sherrie Colbourn This hilarious and frequently touching comedy by Neil Simon focuses on three different occupants of Suite 719 at New York’s famous Plaza Hotel. Directed by Dick Gant A newlywed couple’s lives are thrown into disarray by the return of the wife’s former lover in this classic drama by one of the world’s greatest playwrights.
Directed by Connie Boyd The irascible yet irresistible force known as Sheridan Whiteside takes over the home of his would be hosts when he slips and fractures his hip after a dinner party. Hilarity ensues as he tries to maintain his elaborately elitist lifestyle while recuperating in middle America.
The dictionary defines “miracle” as “a superb or surpassing example of something; wonder; marvel.” That definition certainly describes the story of the initial encounter between Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller. That story – of how a young woman with no formal training managed in a few short weeks to… Read More »
Leave your troubles outside! Willkommen! The process of directing this haunting musical has been a joy for me because my cast is amazingly talented and creative; my crew loyal and steadfast. The musical numbers in the Kit Kat Klub will entertain, raise eyebrows, and perhaps cause a few hearts to beat more rapidly. My personal connection with ‘Cabaret’ is with the characters of Herr Schultz and Fraulein Schneider. Two everyday people caught in a… Read More »
Playwright Julian Wiles calls Fruitcakes “a celebration of small-town life”. It certainly is that. But there are deeper layers to the story than just the portrayal of interesting, eccentric, small-town characters. There is pain, struggle, and alienation. There is also… Read More »
When I mentioned that the lumber I was buying at Home Depot was for the set of “Guys and Dolls”, the cashier looked at me and said, “That was the weirdest Marlon Brando movie ever”. After thinking about it, I decided that I agreed with her, but the story of “Guys and Dolls” began well before that well remembered movie. The show actually… Read More » Directed by Christa Sherman William Shakespeare’s hilarious comedy.
The Mousetrap opened in London in The Ambassadors’ Theatre on November 25th, 1952. It is the longest running play in the world, and has been playing continuously in London since that date. Originally written as a 20 minute radio play entitled Three Blind Mice, it was performed by request for Queen Mary’s 80th birthday in 1947. Later, the piece was released as a short story by the same name. Read More » Directed by Jay Mower An impassioned drama about the lives of eight people hiding from the Nazis in a storage attic in Amsterdam during the last two years of WWII,The Diary of Anne Frank captures the claustrophobic realities of their daily existence: their fear, their hope, their laughter, their grief. But ultimately this is the powerful, moving story of one determined young girl’s courage and hope, wit and wisdom, love and forgiveness. “I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are really good at heart.” “I want to go on living even after my death.” Directed by Dick Gant After writing several tragic masterpieces such as Hamlet and King Lear, based on stories available to him, Shakespeare chose for his last play an original story. On the surface, The Tempest is a delightful romantic comedy. The characters of Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo provide comic scenes ranking with Shakespeare’s best. The character of Prospero, a self-made sorcerer of considerable power, provides a solid core to the events. His tempest brings to him characters who cheated him in the past. However, this is not a revenge tragedy with comic overtones, but a celebration of the marriage of his daughter and the son of the king who helped his brother steal his dukedom. The major theme here is forgiveness. Prospero forgives all involved, including himself, and returns to reason his role as Duke of Milan and to celebrate the marriage of his daughter. Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo remain to rule the island as best they can. We present here a celebration of joy, and I leave it to you to find the deeper meanings in the nooks and crannies of a truly brilliant script. Directed by Vesta Gleissner “Chicken Every Sunday” is based on the lives of the Drachman family (see Drachman.com) who was instrumental in the growth of Tucson, Arizona. My fine cast has captured the essence of truth that allows their characters to live on stage. The show has indeed been a director’s challenge from the prospective of sheer logistics: maneuvering 21 people on our small semi-box set has been an interesting exercise. Thank you to the Board of Patio Playhouse for allowing me the opportunity to breathe life into this delightful story. Directed by Grant Gelvin A recent summer in Dublin, Missouri - the county seat of Chosen County. Directed by Chris Hall E.B. White’s heartwarming tale of friendship and loyalty.
Directed by Richard Brousil “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” has been a favorite of mine ever since I first performed the part of Miles Gloriosus at Moonlight Amphitheater about 15 years ago. This show really leands itself to the outdoor theater experience since it does indeed take place outdoors. When the Plays In The Park organization decided they were going to make the summer season an annual event, I saw my opportunity arise. Many thanks to Jack Campbell and the rest, and to all of the theaters involved in Plays In The Park –May it thrive for many summers! Enjoy the show! Directed by Chris Hall The musical story of A.A. Milne’s beloved storybook character.
Directed by Dick Gant A weir, a small dam, holds back water much as many social occasions hold back our real feelings and prevent the free flow of communication. Once the weir is breached, however, there is no telling where the water will go. In a small pub in the Northwest of Ireland, a few regulars greet a local land owner and a woman from Dublin who has bought a house from him. They banter and spar verbally with each other. Then one of the men tells a strange story about the house that the woman has just bought. Once started, the storytelling flows rapidly, each one becoming stranger. Then the woman surprises the men with a story of her own. The barriers come down, and real comradeship develops. Directed by Chris Hall A musical fable suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee. Directed by Fred Tracey A review of this show’s history reveals that its roots extend back to tumultuous times in this country: the assassination of John F. Kennedy two years to the day before its opening, and war during the sixties. Just like then, we look for someone like Don Quixote to reveal the qualities we look for in each other – nobility, a compassionate spirit, chivalry, and idealism that blazes through what seems to be impossible or improbable. For me, this show is the most noble of all musicals, and “The Impossible Dream” the greatest anthem of musical theater. My wish is for you to leave any cynicism at the door, and for the time you are here to really believe that Don Quixote does exist – in all of us. And afterwards, you leave with his spirit, because only then will your heart lie peaceful and calm. Enjoy the show! Directed by Wayne James Wynne Ray Cooney’s madcap farce!!
Directed by Grant Gelvin and Kat Vaughan “The Herdmans were the worst kids in the whole history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars, even the girls, and talked dirty and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s old broken down tool house.” |
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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)
