re you ready for the summer theater season? It’s starting this week, and I’m excited to be drowning in titles.
[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″]Pictured above: Ethel Birrell, Amalie Larsen and Valerie Rachelle star in StageWorks Fresno’s ‘Mamma Mia,’ which opens Friday, July 12. Photo: The Munro Review[/perfectpullquote]
The good news is that I’m here to keep you informed with previews, features and reviews. The even better news is that I am giving tickets away for every production listed. And I’m putting all these giveaways into one post to make it easier for busy theatergoers to enter.
Here are the ground rules:
Ticket giveaways are open only to members, donors and individual sponsors of The Munro Review. A free basic membership is available, and paid memberships start at $5 a month. (You can always opt for a one-time donation of as little as $3.) I love signing up new free members, but even better is adding members who are willing to financially support local arts journalism. It’s the only way this site can continue to stay alive. Details on becoming a member are below. Memberships and donations are tax-deductible; this is a non-profit site under the fiscal sponsorship of the Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC).
To enter, follow the directions below (and be sure to tell me which production you’re hoping for). You’re welcome to enter for multiple events, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.
OK, let’s dive in to what’s available. Productions are listed by opening date:
‘Friends: The Musical Parody’
Company: national tour of off-Broadway production.
Venue: Tower Theatre.
Opening: 8 p.m. Thursday, July 11.
Runs through: one performance only.
What to expect: A song list that includes “495 Grove Street: How Can We Afford This Place?,” “Will They or Won’t They?” (sung by Ross and Rachel), and “The One Where We Make a Million Dollars an Episode.” Producers promise “our favorite moments from all 10 years of Friends through an uncensored, fast-paced, music-filled romp.”
Here’s a video:
The giveaway: A pair of tickets to opening night.
How to enter: Leave a comment on this post answering this question: Who is your favorite character on “Friends”? (Or, if you’re too shy to share, just tell me you want to see the show.)
Deadline to enter: 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 9.
The winner: Gloria Burrola.
‘Mamma Mia!’
Company: StageWorks Fresno.
Venue: Shaghoian Hall.
Opening: 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 12.
Runs through: Sunday, July 14 (four performances).
What to expect: A robust production of the ABBA jukebox musical with a big set, large cast, live band and lots of raucous energy. Joel C. Abels directs.
Here’s a sneak peek from my CMAC show (interview begins at 27:50 mark):
The giveaway: A pair of tickets for opening night and a pair of tickets for Saturday night.
How to enter: Leave a comment on this post answering this question: Have you ever worn a Spandex jumpsuit? (Or, if you’re too shy to share, just tell me that you want to see the show.)
Deadline to enter: 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 9.
The winners: Chris Simmons, Kaila Igasan.
‘Disney’s Freaky Friday’
Company: Children’s Musical Theaterworks.
Opening: 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 12.
Runs through: Sunday, July 21 (eight performances).
Venue: Fresno Memorial Auditorium.
What to expect: Mother and daughter switch souls, just like in the original movie, but now they sing about it, too. Fun fact: Fresno theater favorite and Broadway star Heidi Blickenstaff originated the role of the mother in both the original professional production and the new Disney movie movie musical that was released last year.
How to enter: Leave a comment on this post answering this question: If you were given a chance to go back to high school for a week as your younger self, would you take it? (Or, if you’re too shy to share, just tell me that you want to see the show.)
Deadline to enter: 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 10.
The winner: Kaila Igasan.
‘The Comedy of Errors’
Company: Woodward Shakespeare Festival.
Opening: 8 p.m. Friday, July 12.
Runs through: July 21 (six performances).
Venue: California Arts Academy Severance Theatre.
What to expect: Producers are calling this the “rain check run” because it’s a restaging of the festival’s late-spring production at Woodward Park that was rained out several times. Some of the same cast returns for this version. The good news is that this version can’t be called for weather (unless there’s a blackout and no air conditioning).
The giveaway: a pair of free tickets with special reserved seating to any production opening weekend. (Technically the play is free, though a $10 donation per ticket is suggested.)
How to enter: Leave a comment on this post answering this question: Which do you prefer, Shakespeare indoors or outdoors? (Or, if you’re too shy to share, just tell me that you want to see the show.)
Deadline to enter: 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 10.
The winner: Julie Richter.
The Munro Review has no paywall but is financially supported by readers who believe in its non-profit mission of bringing professional arts journalism to the central San Joaquin Valley. You can help by signing up for a monthly recurring paid membership or make a one-time donation of as little as $3. All memberships and donations are tax-deductible.
‘Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical’
Company: Reedley’s River City Theatre.
Venue: Reedley Opera House.
Opening: Friday, July 12.
Runs through: Sunday, July 28 (11 performances).
What to expect: The classic “you take the bad with the good” musical based on the tale by Robert Louis Stevenson. Steve Jones directs.
The giveaway: a pair of free tickets to the 8 p.m. Saturday, July 27, performance. (prize date updated)
How to enter: Leave a comment on this post answering this question: Is it a Dr. Jekyll day for you today? Or a Mr. Hyde day? (Or, if you’re too shy to share your inner psychological secrets, just tell me that you want to see the show.)
Deadline to enter: 10 a.m. Thursday, July 18.
The winner: Kevin Conorich.
‘Calamity Jane’
Company: Good Company Players.
Opening: Thursday, July 18.
Runs through: Sunday, Sept. 15 (39 performances).
Venue: Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater.
What to expect: Country singer and Fresno fan Louise Mandrell returns after a seven-year absence to reprise her role in the Western musical based on the life of the famed frontierswoman. Mandrell promises new fun this time around, including some featured moments on the harmonica and banjo. Laurie Pessano directs.
Here’s an interview I did with Mandrell for my CMAC show:
The giveaway: Win a pair of show-only tickets to the evening performance on Sunday, July 28. (prize date updated)
How to enter: Leave a comment on this post answering this question: Which would you rather know how to play: the harmonica, banjo or fiddle? (Or, if you’re too shy to share, just tell me that you want to see the show.)
Deadline to enter: 10 a.m. Thursday July 18.
The winner: Jeanne Behnke.
‘Be More Chill’
Company: Selma Arts Center.
Opening: 7 p.m. Friday, July 19.
Runs through: Saturday, July 27.
What to expect: Wildly popular on social media, this off-Broadway musical about the ultimate high school geek — and the high-tech solution to make him cool — made it this year all the way to Broadway. Selma Arts Center nabbed the rights. Miguel Gastelum directs.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the “Be More Chill” photo shoot at CMAC:
The giveaway: Win two tickets to any opening weekend performance.
How to enter: Leave a comment on this post answering this question: Take the “Who’s Your Squip Spin the Roulette” quiz (link here) by taking a screenshot, then tell us which celebrity you got. (Or, if you’re too shy to share or don’t do screenshots, just tell me that you want to see the show.)
Deadline to enter: 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 16.
The winner: Javier Cabrera.
‘Big River’
Company: Shine! Theatre.
Venue: Tower Theatre.
Opening: 8 p.m. Friday, July 19.
Runs through: Saturday, July 20 (four performances only).
What to expect: In this youth production, director tony sanders (who does not capitalize his name) is offering a sensitive interpretation of the Mark Twain classic tale with a nod toward the Black Lives Matter movement. “Theater at its best acts as a mirror for society to view itself,” he says.
The giveaway: Win a pair of tickets to any performance.
How to enter: Leave a comment on this post answering this question: Have you ever sailed the Mississippi River? (Or, if you’re too shy to share, just tell me you want to see the show.)
Deadline to enter: 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 16.
The winner: Michelle Olson.
‘Legally Blonde’
Company: CenterStage Clovis Community Theatre.
Opening: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 25.
Runs through: Saturday, Aug. 3 (eight performances).
What to expect: Sarah Rosenthal plays Elle and Dakota Simpson plays Emmett in this cheery musical adaptation of the popular movie.
The giveaway: Win a pair of tickets to any opening-weekend performance.
How to enter: Leave a comment on this post answering this question: Have you ever said the expression “Omigod you guys?” (Or, if you’re too shy to share, just tell me you want to see the show.)
Deadline to enter: 5 p.m. Saturday, July 20.
The winners: Heather Schuhlein, Christian Westergaard and Caty Perez.
‘La Cage Aux Folles’
Company: StageWorks Fresno.
Venue: Dan Pessano Theatre
Opening: Friday, July 26.
Runs through: Sunday, Aug. 11 (10 performances).
What to expect: If you saw the movie “The Birdcage,” you’ll know the outline of this classic musical about Georges, a Parisian club owner, and Albin, the head drag performer, who face a test when their son announces his engagement to the daughter of ultra-conservative political parents. This Fresno premiere features so many wigs you’ll lose count.
The giveaway: Win a pair of tickets to any opening-weekend performance. I’ll be giving away two pairs.
How to enter: Leave a comment on this post answering this question: What’s your favorite shade of mascara? (Or, if you’re too shy to share, just tell me you want to see the show.)
Deadline to enter: 10 a.m. Monday, July 22.
The winners: John Beynon and Sandi Moore.
A REMINDER
Tax-deductible memberships for The Munro Review start at $5 a month, and you can make a one-time donation of as little as $3. (Paid memberships help keep the site running, and paid members get special members-only benefits. Please consider a paid membership in support of independent, local arts journalism.) A free membership option is available. For details on how to join, go to the Membership and Sponsorship page. No purchase, donation or membership is necessary to enter the ticket giveaway.