Boston’s Theater Scene Remains Vital

Boston’s theater scene remains vital. Here’s a sample of what’s coming up.

 

“Dancing at Lughnasa” 

March 3 – 19, Arlington Friends of the Drama 

It’s late summer of 1936 in the Donegal home of the Mundy family. The five eclectic, unmarried sisters come alive with the arrival of their first radio.  The house is suddenly filled with music and dancing. These strong Irish Catholic women are not afraid to confront one another, yet they always have each other’s backs.  Brian Friel’s touching memory play details the family’s life on the Irish countryside when the tide turns and a bitter challenge must be faced. afdtheatre.org.

 

“An Evening with Laura Benanti” 

March 10 – 11, Umbrella Arts Center 

Tony Award-winning stage and screen star Laura Benanti is a celebrated stage and screen actress hailed by The New York Times for her effortless vocals. Appearing in concert for two nights only, Ms. Benanti has starred in such Broadway shows as “Into the Woods,”Nine” (opposite Antonio Banderas),Gypsy” (Tony Award),She Loves Me,” andMy Fair Lady. theumbrellaarts.org.

 

“Ceol Agus Craic: A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration”

March 11 – 12, Reagle Music Theatre

Reagle’s St. Patrick's Day salutewill deliver all the good fortune you need!  This year’s revue stars Reagle favorite, Broadway's acclaimed Ciarán Sheehan (“Phantom of the Opera”), and his critically acclaimed musicians and friends from Galway and beyond.  From "The Wild Rover" to "Danny Boy" and "Galway Bay," this celebration of Irish culture, music and dance will feature showstopping Irish Step dances from The Harney Academy, plus Irish classics performed by some of Reagle’s most beloved artists.   It’s a true pot of gold! reaglemusictheatre.org.

 

“The Secret Garden”

March 17 – April 2, Company Theatre

A young orphaned Mary Lennox travels from India to England in 1910 to live with her reclusive Uncle. She feels neglected and alone.  Ultimately, a brooding English manor, a coveted garden, and the healing power of hope come to change the course of an entire village as Francis Hodgson Burnett’s novel is brought to life in this captivating Broadway musical. companytheatre.com.

 

“Into The Woods”

March 21 – April 2, Emerson Colonial

What comes after Happily Ever After? What happens if you actually get your wish? 

“Into The Woods” explores that and more as it weaves together several fairy tales, sometimes to startling conclusions. This charming production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony-winning triumph comes to Boston straight from its New York run, featuring Montego Glover (The Witch), Stephanie J. Block (The Baker’s Wife), Sebastian Arcelus (The Baker) and Gavin Creel (Cinderella’s Prince/The Wolf) – all reprising their Broadway roles. Boston’s own Sam Simahk is also a member of the cast. emersoncolonialtheatre.com.

Note: Block and Arcelus will appear the first week only. Additional casting will be announced.

 

“The Crucible”

March 29 – April 2, Hanover Theatre

Widely considered one of America’s greatest plays, Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” dramatizes the Salem witch trials of the late 1600s. Miller originally wrote the piece in response to the McCarthy-era communist “witch hunt” that gripped the United States in the 1950s.  The themes and emotions clearly resonate in today’s world. Director Livy Scanlon is assembling an experimental staged reading for Hanover Theatre Rep featuring an all-female cast.  Audiences are invited to stay for post-show dialogues with members of the community and creative team. thehanovertheatre.org.

 

“Sister Act”
April 7 – May 14, Lyric Stage Company of Boston

After witnessing a murder, free spirited, disco diva Deloris Van Cartier finds herself hiding out in the stately convent of The Queen of Angels Cathedral. With thugs in the shadows, at odds with a rigid Mother Superior, and facing a totally foreign and very strict lifestyle, Deloris (now Sister Mary Clarence) finds divine intervention as she brings the church choir from dour to dazzling by adding her signature musical pizzazz. Raise your voice for a divine, feel-good show! lyricstage.com.

 

“My Fair Lady”

April 18 – 30, Boston Opera House

Esteemed Bartlett Sher directs this luminous Lincoln Center production of the Lerner & Loewe classic.  Boasting such songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” and “On the Street Where You Live,” ‘My Fair Lady” tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a pompous linguistics professor who’s determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady.”  But in the end, who’s really been transformed?  It’ll be loverly to find out. boston.broadway.com.

 

“Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, 

Part 1: Millennium Approaches” 

April 20 – May 21, Central Square Theatre 

A modern masterpiece, Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America” careens from New York City to Heaven and back in the midst of the 1980s AIDS crisis and Ronald Reagan’s administration. A brilliant exploration of human connection mixing real-life and fictional characters, this epic tale will be brought to life via Bedlam Artistic Director Eric Tucker’s signature, pared-down approach. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, “Angels in America” is still fiercely hopeful today. centralsquaretheater.org.

 

“The Prom”

May 5 – June 3, Speakeasy Stage Company

Emma didn’t set out to be the face of a movement; she just wanted to take her girlfriend to their high school prom. But just when it seems she might win over the hesitant PTA, four bumbling, self-obsessed Broadway has-beens in search of misguided relevance barge into Edgewater, Indiana, to put a spotlight on the issue — and themselves. As the worlds of Broadway and Main Street America collide, the courage of one girl reminds us that love unites us all. This smart, heartwarming show won the 2019 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical.  So grab your corsage! speakeasystage.com.