'Carousel' closes summer season in Huron

Kate Kennedy portrays Carrie Pipperidge and Erin Elizabeth Brown is Julie Jordan in the Huron Playhouse production of 'Carousel,' opening Tuesday in Huron, Ohio.

HURON, Ohio -- The Huron Playhouse closes its 64th Summer Season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel, opening Tuesday at McCormick School.

The musical opened on Broadway in 1945 and has had several revivals. It won four 1994 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical. The score includes classics "If I Loved You," "June Is Bustin' Out All Over," and "You'll Never Walk Alone."

"Carousel" will be performed by Huron Playhouse at 8 p.m. nightly Tuesday through July 28 in McCormick School, 325 Ohio St., Huron, Ohio, about 65 miles southeast of Toledo. Tickets are $17 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, and $13 for children 11 and younger. Information: 419-433-4744.

Youth theater

MONROE -- Director Tracy Glover couldn't hold back a rousing round of applause as she watched the River Raisin Youth Theatre rehearse for the Friday opening of Les Miserables: Student Edition at River Raisin Centre for the Arts.

"I was very pleased," she said of last week's rehearsal. When Mike Trapp, executive director, asked Glover about directing such a dark-themed musical, Glover asked herself: "'Are we just crazy or should we go for it?'"

She knows the right choice was made. "I think we just wanted something -- last year we did Oliver -- a little more contemporary, a little meatier, and a little more challenging for the kids that they would appreciate," Glover said. Her cast of 85 ranges from ages 8 to 18 and she marvels at their professionalism and commitment.

The student edition created by Music Theatre International has a few cuts but stays true to the story line, she said. Petty thief Jean Valjean, played by Chad Schultze, struggles against adversity in 19th century France while being pursued by inspector Javert played by Nick Righter.

"It's very well done. Even though it is a rather dark and heavy subject matter, there is a lot of hope. It's very true to life: bad things happen, and this is how you get through it."

"Les Miserables: Student Edition" will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday at River Raisin Centre for the Arts, 114 S. Monroe St., Monroe. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $10 for students and children. Information: 734-242-7722 or www.riverraisincentre.org.

Benefit musical

The Canaan Outreach Center presents singing and praise dancing in its second annual Benefit Musical at 6 p.m. Saturday in Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, 1333 Western Ave.

Donations will be accepted at the door to benefit the center's Summer Enrichment Program for children ages 5 to 14. The program includes educational classes, personal interest classes, physical activity, and field trips to the Toledo Zoo, Toledo Firefighter's Museum, Cedar Point, Toledo Police Museum, and nursing homes. Information: 419-244-5700.

'God Knows My Needs'

L'apo Theatrical Productions presents God Knows My Needs Saturday at Maumee Indoor Theatre in Maumee.

This moral, spiritual, and uplifting drama follows sisters Janae and Nyomee who lost their mother at a young age. One sister rises to the challenges presented growing up without a mother and the other sister travels a rougher road.

Playwright Opal Dunlap, 18, has produced and directed two previous spiritual dramas: If There is a Will, There is a Way and Staircase to Heaven: Love, Faith, and Prayer.

"God Knows My Needs" will be performed at 7 p.m. Saturday at Maumee Indoor Theatre, 601 Conant St., Maumee. Tickets are $10 at the door. Information: 567-694-5276.

Patsy Cline

SANDUSKY -- The music and story of music legend Patsy Cline will be heard this weekend as the Sandusky State Theatre presents Always...Patsy Cline.

This dinner theater presentation features Lisa Layne as Patsy Cline singing treasured songs including "Crazy," Sweet Dreams," and "I Fall to Pieces." The story unfolds through the eyes of Cline's star-struck fan Louise Seger, played by Cindy Bilby, and celebrates the country music star's career and life. Cline died in a plane crash in 1963 at age 30.

"Always...Patsy Cline," will be performed at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. today and Friday and at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Sandusky State Theatre, 107 Columbus Ave., Sandusky. Tickets for the show only range from $21 to $31. Tickets for the dinner and the show are $49. Doors open one hour before show time. Information: 419-626-1950 or www.sanduskystate.com.

Please send theater items at least two weeks in advance to jnjaim@theblade.com