Stages brim with wicked good shows

Case Dillard as Bert and the Company of Mary Poppins. PHOTO: DEEN VAN MEER. Enlarge

The 2012-2013 Toledo area theater season is good, wicked good.

In addition to the Broadway in Toledo series presented by the Theater League and featuring Billy Elliott The Musical, Oct. 2-7; Blue Man Group, Dec. 4-9; Mary Poppins, Feb. 26-March 3; and Dreamgirls, April 25-28, Theater League has added two special engagements, Lord of the Dance, Feb. 7, and Wicked, Aug. 13-Sept. 1. Tickets soon will be available for this musical tale of how the witches of Oz came to be.

"They are the shows our patrons, our season members asked for," said Mark Edelman, founder and president of the Theater League, a Kansas City, Mo.-based production company.

The season runs the gamut from heartwarming to humoring and from enchanting to inspiring.

Billy Elliott The Musical celebrates the life of a young boy who chooses dancing over boxing and inspires a whole community.

Blue Man Group, three silent guys who poke fun at cultural foibles while having fun with the audience, will give a unique performance.

"They're an interesting phenomenon... out-of-work actors who hit on this avant-garde comedy, music, sound, dance show where they are dressed as blue characters," Edelman said.

The timeless Mary Poppins flies onstage, and the newly staged Broadway hit Dreamgirls tells the story of a 1960s singing girl group.

Returning to the Stranahan stage is Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, based on Irish folklore and the classic tale of good versus evil, and Wicked which sold out several shows in 2010.

This eclectic mix at the Stranahan resounds and flourishes in multiple professional and community theaters this season.

The Valentine Theatre will offer Broadway favorites this season including The 39 Steps, Nov. 11; A Chorus Line, Feb. 2; Hair, March 1, and Fiddler on the Roof, April 3.

Cirque Chinois, the National Circus of the People's Republic of China, brings its award-winning circus act and stunts to the stage on Oct. 28 for one performance.

There's lots of laughter on tap in the Valentine Comedy Series. The Capitol Steps comedy troupe will debut its political, music-filled satire Take the Money and Run for President on Oct. 18. The Upright Citizen's Brigade, a 90-minute long-form of improvisational comedy featuring comedians from New York and Las Vegas, will make its Toledo premiere on Dec. 16. The Second City comedy group is back by popular demand with its new show Laughing Matters on Feb. 23.

"Deadites," enthusiasts of Evil Dead the Musical, will flock to the Valentine's Studio A Theatre on Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 26 through Nov. 10.

Off-Broadway's longest running musical I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change also is coming to Studio A Feb. 22 through March 10. This musical comedy makes audiences laugh at the trials and tribulations of dating, being married, loving, and losing.

Pinkalicious is part of the Valentine's Gala celebration and is on stage today at 1 and 3 p.m. The Valentine's Children's Series includes How I became a Pirate, Jan. 26; Martha Speaks, March 9; Junie B. Jones, April 6; and Treasured Stories of Eric Carle, April 27.

Theater is cherished throughout the Toledo area and we are lucky to have so many wonderful community theaters offering something for everyone. Here are a few highlights from some of our local and regional theaters.

The Toledo Repertoire Theatre Mainstage 80th season has opened with Hamlet, running through Sept. 23 and includes I Hate Hamlet, Nov. 9-Nov. 18; A Christmas Carol, Nov. 30-Dec.2 at the Valentine Theatre; The Fox on the Fairway, Jan. 18-27; Death of a Salesman, April 19-28; and The Drowsy Chaperone, June 7-23.

Special event productions include War of the Worlds, Oct. 26 and Oct. 27; The Laramie Project, March 7-10; The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, March 8-10; and MOMologues, May 9-12. Edgy Rep readings are November, Oct. 13; The Pillowman, Feb. 2; and You've Got Hatemail, March 23.

The Young Rep productions are It's a Wonderful Neverland, Feb. 22-24; Fiddler on the Roof, July 18-21; and Guys and Dolls, Jr., Aug. 8-11.

The Village Players Theatre 56th season steers away from mainstream productions to offer From Up Here, the story of a troubled teen who took a gun to school, open through Saturday. The season continues with Time Stands Still, Nov. 2-17, and follows a wounded photojournalist and her husband in the aftermath of the Iraqi War. The Dinner Party, Jan. 11-26, is a comedy about a French dinner party where the guests don't know each other or why they are there. In Born Yesterday, March 8-23, a business tycoon hires a journalist to give his seemingly dim-witted fiancee a crash course in politics, history, and love. The season closes with Impossible Marriage, May 10-25, where a young girl is expected to marry someone twice her age but not before they clear a number of roadblocks along the way.

So many shows and not enough space so here's a smattering of well-known and not-so-well known offerings being presented in some of our community theaters.

Adrian's Croswell Opera House: The Rat Pack Lounge, Sept. 21-30; Sandusky State Theatre: Honky Tonk Angels, Oct. 18-20; Oregon Community Theatre: The Producers, Nov. 2-10; Black Swamp Players: A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody, Dec. 7-16; Waterville Playshop: Lend Me a Tenor, Feb. 8-10; Genoa Civic Theatre: Godspell, May 3-12; and Monroe Community Players: Steel Magnolias, May 17-19.

Be sure to check out the calendar for a more complete listing of the 2012-2013 theater season.

Contact Julie Njaim at: jnjaim@theblade.com.

Theater Calendar:

WEEK OF SEPT. 16: From Up Here, opened Sept. 7, through Sept. 22 (VP); The Liar, opened Thursday, through today (Freed); Of Mice and Men, opened Friday, through Sept. 23 (Amil); Hamlet, opened Friday, through Sept. 23 (Rep); Working, opened Friday, through Sept. 23 (Fremont); Pinkalicious, today (Valentine); In the Whirl of Winds, Sept. 20, 21 (Freed); Enchanted April, Sept. 21- Sept. 30 (BSP); The Irish Comedy Tour, Sept. 21 (Croswell); The Rat Pack Lounge, Sept. 21- Sept. 30 (Croswell); Porridgegate, Sept.21- Oct. 7 (ACT); Theatre Express, Sept. 22 (Owens).

SEPT. 23: Stars and Stripes, Sept. 23 (SST); SMTD Scholarship Concert, Sept. 23 (UM, Mendelssohn Theatre); Proof, Sept. 28-30 (Lourdes); A Grand Night for Singing, Sept. 29 (UM, Hill Auditorium).

SEPT. 30: Billy Elliot, Oct. 2-7 (Theater League; Stranahan); Titanic: A New Musical, Oct. 4-7 (3B); A Streetcar Named Desire, Oct. 4-13 (Findlay); Almost, Maine, Oct.4-14 (UM, Arthur Miller Theatre); The Rocky Horror Show, Oct. 5,6 (RRCA); Escanaba in Love, Oct. 5-7 (MCP).

OCT. 7: Menopause the Musical, Oct. 10, 11 (Stranahan); Orpheus, Oct. 12-21 (UT); Sunday in the Park with George, Oct. 11-21 (UM, Mendelsshon Theatre); Diary of Anne Frank, Oct. 12-21 (Ritz Players); Dial M for Murder, Oct. 12-21 (WCCT in Bryan Little Theater); November, Oct. 13 (EdgyRep Reading at Pam's Corner, 116 10th St.).

OCT. 14: Nunset Boulevard, Oct. 14 (NPACVW); Woody, Oct. 14 (SST); Elective Affinities, Oct. 17 (NCT Reading); The Capitol Steps Take the Money and Run for President, Oct. 18 (Valentine); Honky Tonk Angels, Oct. 18-20 (SST); Reefer Madness, Oct. 18-21 (Freed); Hairspray, Oct. 18-21, (FDDC); The Seagull, Oct. 18-27 (BGSU, Eva Marie Saint Theatre); Good Good Trouble on Bad Bad Island, Oct. 19-21 (Amil); The Rocky Horror Show, Oct. 19-27 (Croswell); The Best Haunted House Ever, Oct. 19, 20 (CTW); Once on this Island, Jr., Oct. 19-21, (ARTS at First Presbyterian Church, Findlay); In the Mood, Oct. 20 (Stranahan); Comedian Tim Wilson, Oct. 20 (MCCC).

OCT. 21: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Oct. 23 (SST); Rock the Presidents, Oct. 24 (Franciscan at Valentine); ArcAttack!, Oct., 25 (Ritz); The Capitol Steps, Oct. 26 (Freed); Angelina Ballerina, Oct. 26 (SST); The War of the Worlds, Oct. 26, 27 (Rep); Royal Comedy Tour, Oct. 26 (Stranahan); Evil Dead the Musical, Oct. 26-Nov. 10 (Valentine, Studio A); Improvised Shakespeare, Oct. 27 (Freed).

OCT. 28: Cirque Chinois, Oct. 28 (Valentine); Masters of Motown, Nov. 2 (RRCA); The Wizard of Oz, Nov. 2-4 (WP); The Producers, Nov. 2-10 (OCT); Comedy Hypnotist Frederick Winters, Nov. 2 (ARTS at Alexandria's, 132 E. Crawford St., Findlay); Precious Hearts, Nov. 2-4 (WCCT in Bryan Little Theater); Everybody Loves Opal, Nov. 2-11 (Genoa); Time Stands Still, Nov. 2-17 (VP); ImaginOcean, Nov. 3, (NPACVW); Second City for President, Nov. 3 (TCA).

NOV. 4: Bunnicula, Nov. 9 (Franciscan); Ravenscroft, Nov. 9-18 (Fremont); I Hate Hamlet, Nov. 9-18 (Rep); Auntie Mame, Nov. 9-11 (Ritz Teen).

NOV. 11: The 39 Steps, Nov. 11 (Valentine); Blue Man Group, Nov. 11 (VMCCC); Nunset Boulevard, Nov. 14 (Stranahan); Holiday Spectacular, Nov. 15-17 (Freed); Seven Short Farces by Anton Chekhov, Nov. 15-18 (Owens); Bat Boy: The Musical, Nov. 15-18 (UM, Arthur Miller Theatre); Lorie Line presents Immanuel: The 2012 Holiday Extravaganza, Nov. 16 (Franciscan); Our Town, Nov. 16-18 (TCA); Metamorphoses, Nov. 16-Dec. 2 (UT); Fill These Hearts, Nov. 17 (Franciscan); Mike Birbiglia - My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, Nov. 17 (Stranahan).

NOV. 18: Branson on the Road, Nov. 18 (Croswell); Holiday Madcap, Nov.18 (SST); The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Nov. 23-Dec. 2 (Amil).

NOV. 25: We Need a Little Christmas, Nov. 25-Dec. 12 (SST); Always...Patsy Cline, Nov. 28 (SST); Henry County's Got Talent, Nov. 29 (MVCT); A Christmas Carol, Nov.29-Dec. 2 (BGSU, Donnell Theatre); The Poisoned Apple, Nov. 29, Dec. 2 (CTW); Nuncrackers, Nov. 29-Dec. 16 (Findlay); A Night at the Movies, Nov. 30 (PMT, location TBA); Death by Chocolate, Nov. 30-Dec. 9 (ACT); A Christmas Carol, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 (Rep at Valentine Theatre); Miracle on 34th Street, Nov. 30-Cec. 9 (Croswell).

DEC. 2: Frindle, Dec. 3 (Franciscan); Blue Man Group, Dec. 4-9 (Theater League; Stranahan); A Midsummer Night's Dream, Dec.6-9 (UM, Power Center); The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Dec. 7-9 (MCP); A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody, Dec. 7-16 (BSP); Barefoot in the Park, Dec. 7-16 (WCCT in Montpelier Playhouse).

DEC. 9: The Gift of the Magi, Dec. 11 (SST); The Swing Sisters Fabulous 40's Holiday, Dec. 15 (RRCA); Joy! Joy! A Christmas Celebration, Dec. 15 (SST).

DEC. 16: The Upright Citizen's Brigade, Dec. 16 (Valentine); Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Dec. 21-30 (RRCA); Shrek - The Musical, Dec. 22 (NPACVW).

JAN. 6: Velveteen Rabbit, Jan. 8 (Ritz); Working, Jan. 11-20 (Amil); The Dinner Party, Jan. 11-26 (VP); Nelson Illusions, Jan. 12 (Ritz).

JAN. 13: Spamalot, Jan. 13, 23 (VMCCC); The Fox on the Fairway, Jan. 18-27 (Rep); Romeo and Juliet, Jan. 19 (Freed presented by National Players); Collage Concert, Jan. 19 (UM, Hill Auditorium).

JAN. 20: How I Became a Pirate, Jan. 25 (Franciscan at the Valentine); Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grille, Jan. 25-Feb.3 (Fremont); Nobodies of Comedy, Jan. 26 (Ritz); How I Became a Pirate, Jan. 26 (Valentine).

JAN. 27: Kaleidiscopika, Feb. 1 (RRCA); Escanaba in Da Moonlight, Feb. 1-10 (Genoa); Stephen Knight illusionist/magician, Feb. 2 (POH); The Pillowman, Feb. 2 (EdgyRep Reading at UT); A Chorus Line, Feb. 2 (Valentine); Suicide in B Flat, Feb. 7-10 (Freed).

FEB. 3: Lord of the Dance, Feb. 7 (Theater League; Stranahan); The Elevator Family, Feb. 8-10 (Amil); Lend Me a Tenor, Feb. 8-10 (WP); The Jason Bishop Show, Feb. 9 (TCA).

FEB. 10: Doubt: A Parable, Feb.14-17 (3B); Songs for a New World, Feb. 15, 16 (RRCA); How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Feb. 15-24 (BSP); Twelve Angry Jurors, Feb. 15-23 (OCT); Golden Dragon Acrobats, Feb. 16 (NPACVW); Man of La Mancha, Feb. 15-24 (Ritz Players).

FEB. 17: Warriors Don't Cry, Feb. 17 (Freed); Three Sisters, Feb. 22-March 3 (UT); The Skin of Our Teeth, Feb. 21-24 (UM, Mendelssohn Theatre); MT Studio - TBA, Feb. 21-24 (UM, Arthur Miller Theatre); Funny Money, Feb. 21-23 (DC); On Golden Pond, Feb. 21-March 2 (Findlay); Alexander and the Terrible...Day, Feb. 22 (Franciscan); It's a Wonderful Neverland, Feb. 22-24 (Young Rep); I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Feb. 22-March 10 (Valentine, Studio A); Second City Laughing Matters, Feb. 23 (Valentine); School for Nerds, Feb. 22, 23 (CTW).

FEB. 24: The Civil War Music and Stories, Feb. 25 (Franciscan at the Valentine); Mary Poppins, Feb. 26-March 3 (Theater League; Stranahan); Hair, March 1 (Valentine).

MARCH 3: My Heart in a Suitcase, March 6 (Franciscan); The Laramie Project, March 7-10 (Rep); The Laramie Project 10 Years Later, March 8-10 (Rep); Leaving Iowa, March 8-17 (ACT); The Dixie Swim Club, March 8-17 (Amil); Love Letters, March 8-17 (Fremont); Born Yesterday, March 8-23 (VP); Martha Speaks, March 8 (Franciscan at the Valentine); Franc D'Ambrosio's Hollywood - Songs of the Silver Screen, March 9 (TCA); Martha Speaks, March 9 (Valentine).

MARCH 10: Bowfire, March 10 (NPACVW); Disney's 101 Dalmatians Kids, March 15-17 (ARTS at First Presbyterian Church, Findlay).

MARCH 17: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, March 15-24 (MCP); Ugly Duckling and Tortoise and the Hare, March 19 (Ritz); New Writers' Festival, March 22 (UT); 100 Years of Broadway, March 22 (Ritz); Peter Pan, March 22-24 (RRCA); You've Got Hatemail, March 23 (EdgyRep Reading at Owens); Easter Celebration of Life and Resurrection!, March 22,23 (SST).

MARCH 24: Nunsense, March 28-30 (MVCT).

MARCH 31: Fiddler on the Roof, April 3 (Valentine); August: Osage County, April 4-14 (UM, Arthur Miller Theatre); Vicki Lawrence: A Two Woman Show, April 5 (NPACVW); Junie B. Jones, April 6 (Valentine).

APRIL 7: Celtic Crossroads, April 7 (TCA); Blather, Blarney & Balderdash, April 11, 14 (CTW); KidPower: Operation Lunchline 3-D, April 12 (Franciscan); Disney's Aladdin Jr., April 12-14 (Amil); Noises Off, April 12-21 (Owens); Ghost Light, April 12-21 (UT); Bringtime Swingtime, April 13, 14 (MCCC).

APRIL 14: Always...Patsy Cline, April 17 (SST); Nine, April 18-21 (Freed); Crazy for You, April 18-21 (UM, Power Center); Moon Over Buffalo, April 19-28 (BSP); Are We There Yet?, April 19-27 (OCT); Death of a Salesman, April 19-28 (Rep); trideaDANCE, April 20 (Ritz).

APRIL 21: Romeo and Juliet, April 22 (Franciscan at Valentine); Treasured Stories of Eric Carle, April 25, 26 (Franciscan at Valentine); International Play Festival, April 25-28 (Freed); DreamGirls, April 25-28 (Theater League; Stranahan); Fiddler on the Roof, April 25-May 12 (Findlay); Seussical the Musical, April 26 (MCCC); Motor City Dance Extension Jazz in Motion II, April 27 (RRCA); Treasured Stories of Eric Carle, April 27 (Valentine); Late Night Catechism, April 27 (VMCCC).

APRIL 28: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, May 3-5 (WP); Godspell, May 3-12 (Genoa); Annie, May 3-19 (Fremont).

MAY 5: Musical Theatre Senior Showcase, May 5 (UM, Mendelssohn Theatre); The MOMologues, May 9-12 (Rep); The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, May10-19 (Amil); Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, May 10-19 (Ritz Players); Impossible Marriage, May 10-25 (VP).

MAY 12: Steel Magnolias, May 17-19 (MCP).

MAY 19: Urine Town The Musical, May 23-26 (3B); Adventures of a Comic Book Artist, May 24, 25 (CTW).

JUNE 2: The Drowsy Chaperone, June 7-23 (Rep).

JUNE 16: Echoes of War, June 21 (RRCA); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, June 21-June 23 (PMT, Perrysburg High School).

JULY 7: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, July 12-21 (Ritz Players); Honk!, July 12-21 (ACT at Archbold High School).

JULY 14: Fiddler on the Roof, July 18-21 (Young Rep).

JULY 21: Disney's Beauty and the Beast, July 25-28 (3B Youth).

JULY 28: Oklahoma!, Aug. 1-3 (MVCT); Guys and Dolls, Jr., Aug. 8-11 (Young Rep).

AUG. 11: Wicked, Aug. 13-Sept. 1 (Theater League; Stranahan).

Note: This listing is as complete as the theaters had available at the time of publication. Some theaters including Glacity Theatre Collective had not selected its season.