Jerri Shafer - Page 3

Established in 2004, The Penguin Project has evolved into a National program, with Chapter sites throughout the United States. The program provides a supportive environment for children with disabilities to explore their creative talents. It has also demonstrated that participation in the performing arts has therapeutic value by enhancing social interaction, communication skills, self-confidence and self-esteem. The impact of the program has reached beyond the stage to create a social network for children who previously had very few friends and limited social opportunities. Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Annie Jr. features everyone’s favorite little redhead in her very first adventure. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930’s New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy. Performances are Nov 17 and 18 @ 7pm & Nov 19 @ 4pm, at Thomas Ewing Jr. High School, 2024 Sheridan Dr., Lancaster, OH 43130. Purchase tickets: https://www.riseupartsalliance.org/tickets

Based on the suspenseful short story by Daphne du Maurier (and the basis for Alfred Hitchcock's movie of the same title), two strangers, Nat and Diane, take shelter in a small summer cabin from a relentless mass of attacking birds. When a young woman, Julia, appears unexpectantly with disturbing news of the outside world, the gravity of the strange and unprovoked global bird attacks sinks in. Doing their best to survive without power, little food, and a possible armed neighbor who may be alive and watching them, their survival becomes even more doubtful when boredom, stress, and paranoia take hold of their makeshift sanctuary. The Birds performances run November 11 - 26, 2023, at MadLab, 277 North 3rd Street, Columbus, OH, 43215 For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://newherring.org/

Based on Charles Dickens’ final unfinished novel, this hilarious whodunit invites the audience to solve its mystery by choosing the identity of the murderer. The tale is presented as a show-within-a-show, as the Music Hall Royale – a delightfully loony Victorian theatre company – presents Dickens’ brooding mystery. Performances run Nov. 10, 11, 17, 18, @ 7:30pm and Nov. 12, 19, @ 2pm at Columbus Performing Arts Center, Van Fleet Theatre, 549 Franklin Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43125. For tickets or more information, visit: https://www.imaginecolumbus.org/

The Man Who Came to Dinner is a classic screwball comedy set in the small town of Mesalia, Ohio in the weeks leading to Christmas in the late 1930s and involves famous (and famously cranky) radio personality, Sheridan Whiteside, slipping on a piece of ice on the doorstep of the Stanley family and having to spend 6 tumultuous weeks recuperating in their home. 

The musical begins as the bells of Notre Dame sound through the famed cathedral in fifteenth-century Paris. Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer who longs to be 'Out There,' observes all of Paris revelling in the Feast of Fools. Held captive by his devious caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, he escapes for the day and joins the boisterous crowd, only to be treated cruelly by all but the beautiful Romani woman, Esmeralda. Quasimodo isn’t the only one captivated by her free spirit, though – the handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the Roma – and it’s up to Quasimodo to save them all.

A camera breaks and four friends drink in an interwoven tale spanning seven centuries, with a murderous sister, a treehouse astronomer, a bear, a subway, and the ghost of Thelonious Monk.

In this delightful, laugh-a-minute comedy, four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by Fate – and an impromptu happy hour – and decide it’s high time to reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’ve lost through the years.

The New Albany Middle School Theatre Department presents, Oliver Jr. the Broadway Junior version of Lionel Bart's classic musical based on Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist, as its fall musical. The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. By Lionel Bart, Directed by Melissa Gould, Cast: Oliver Twist: Jackson Stukus & Craig West (double cast), Fagin: Eliot James, Nancy: Kayla Haynes, Artful Dodger: Juliet Erlenbach, Bill Sikes: Aidan Ellison, Mr. Brownlow: Myles Patton, Bumble: Ava Coleman, Widow Corney: Emma Bader, Dr. Grimwig: Harper Rosebaugh, Bet: Lila Griveas, Noah Claypoole: Tatum Holmes, Charlotte: Hope Rooney, Mrs. Bedwin: Eve Limpach, Charlie Bates: Meredith Zeallear, Mr. Sowerberry: Jaxon Hamilton Mrs. Sowerberry: Anna Jenkins, Market Sellers: Gia Ellenberg, Olivia Fuller, Noelle Griffith, Aeva Joyner, Old Sally: Shae Star,Matron: Madison Waltman, Fagin’s Gang: Madeline Bowser, Belina Chang, Ava Coleman, Gia Ellenberg, Olivia Fuller, Noelle Griffith, Tatum Holmes, Anna Jenkins, Aeva Joyner, Ryen Lacy, Eve Limpach, Royale Lyles, Evie Nacht, Hope Rooney, Rowan Sittler, Estelle Woolford, Meredith Zeallear, Alice Zusman, Ensemble: Ava Bame, Autumn Bampton, Anne Farrell, Beatrice Galaise, Reese Juday, Marie Leray, Samantha Pietro, Charlotte Proudfoot, Dance Captains: Juliet Erlenbach, Aeva Joyner, Meredith Zeallear, Asst. Dance Captains: Royale Lyles, Rowan Sittler New Albany Middle School Theatre presents Oliver Jr. to be performed October 27 - 29, 2023, at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts - Mershad Hall. 100 E Dublin Granville Rd, New Albany, OH 43054 170 E Dublin Granville Rd, New Albany, OH 43054 Purchase tickets: https://sites.google.com/a/napls.us/nams-drama-club/home

Four couples. Three Bedrooms. One endless Saturday night. Trevor and Susannah, whose marriage is on the rocks, inflict their miseries on their nearest and dearest friends and family: three couples whose own relationships reflect the give and take of married life. Set in the mid 1970s, the play takes place sequentially all in one evening in the bedrooms of the three beleaguered couples where beds, tempers, and domestic order are ruffled. A long-running hit in London and New York. By Alan Ayckbourn, Directed by Darnell Lautt, Cast: Delia - Gail Matos, Ernest - John Pekar, Nick - Peyman Majidi, Jan - Mary Murphy, Kate - Jane O’Brien, Malcolm - Fred Norris, Susannah - Raia Hirsch, Trevor - Scott Poling. Performances run October 21, 27 & 28 2023 at 7:30 pm and October 22 & 29, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Event space at Maria’s Mexican Restaurant, 129 E Main Street, Lancaster, OH 43130. Purchase tickets: https://www.thelancasterplayhouse.org/

Join the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium Friday, October 20th as they celebrate Halloween 80s style with The Reagan Years Ultimate 80s Dance Party! The Reagan Years recreates the sounds of the best Pop, Rock, New Wave and Heavy Metal hits of the M-TV Era. Get out your best 80s fashion and don't miss your chance to relive the greatest decade of all with a rockin’ bar, oversized dance floor, and tons of your all-time favorite songs. Tickets are $40. You can purchase a ticket for dance floor general admission with limited seating, or secure a seat in the balcony. The event will also include a cash/credit bar. Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.mvac.org/reagan-years

This madcap comedy follows three actresses across the footlights, down the rabbit hole, and into a strangely familiar Wonderland that looks a lot like American theatre – the resemblance is uncanny!

Come One, Come All! Spend a night Under the Big Top at the Carnival of Wonders presented by New Vision Dance Company on Saturday, October 14 at 3pm and 7pm  located at the Jeanne B. McCoy Center for the Arts in New Albany, Ohio. 

When the Hollywood film production of Moby Dick descends upon a small fishing town in County Cork, Ireland, the townspeople are both fascinated and frustrated by the disruption in their ability to fish. Chaos ensues when the third, and final, whale for the production goes missing! What did happen to Moby Dick?

Successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued from a car crash by his 'Number One Fan,' Annie Wilkes, and wakes up captive in her secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads the manuscript to his newest novel and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain. Annie forces Paul to write a new 'Misery' novel, and he quickly realizes Annie has no intention of letting him go anywhere. By William Goldman based on the novel by Stephen King, Directed by Ben Viccellio, the Cast includes: Maureen Browning, Bruce Jacklin & Steve Jefferson. Performances are Oct. 20 - Nov. 11 , 2023, at The Alcove Dinner Theatre, 116 South Main St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. For tickets or more information, visit: https://www.alcoverestaurant.com/dinner-theatre.html#/

Who wouldn’t want to join Charlie Bucket in his adventurous tour of Willy Wonka’s world-famous Chocolate Factory? This family-friendly play tells the story of the impoverished boy Charlie, who wins a golden ticket to the mysterious, magical, and sometimes even dangerous world of Willy Wonka's design.Now is your chance with our For Kids, By Kids production of Roald Dahl’s classic story as a one act play adapted by Richard R. George! Favorite characters such as  Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, Veruca Salt, Mike Teevee, Grandpa Joe and of course Willy Wonka and Charlie himself come to life in front of your eyes.  

Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old, who is exceptional at Math but finds people confusing. The play opens with Christopher discovering a dead dog in his neighbor, Mrs. Shears' garden. Despite his father’s warning not to get involved, Christopher decides to investigate the death of the dog.

The Inheritance, written by Matthew Lopez, inspired by E.M. Forster’s masterpiece Howards End, “The Inheritance” is an epic examination of survival, healing, class divide and what it means to call a place home. Part 2 - Picking up where PART ONE ended, PART TWO takes its characters on roller-coaster journeys of self-discovery and self-destruction. All lives intersect as they face the decision to heal or to burn. Written by Matthew Lopez, Directed by Joe Bishara, featuring Frank Barnhart, Anthony Baldasare, Niko Carter , Mark P. Schwamberger, Jeff White, Dayton Edward Willison, Euan Baker, Ahmed Ankolkar, Jacob Erney, Bobby Loyd and Josie Merkle. Performances run Sept 21 - 30, 2023 at Abbey Theatre of Dublin, 5600 Post Rd. Dublin, Ohio 43017. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.evolutiontheatre.org/

Fairfield’s a place where nothing ever happens, at least not since Billy Myers got that nasty papercut a decade ago. And with the exception of a pair of vain newscasters, a few fringe skywatchers, and a kooky grandfather living in a galactically fantastic past, most townsfolk are okay with their humdrum ways. Like it or not, though, the winds of change are about to descend on Fairfield faster than a delivery from the town’s famous Flying Saucer Pizza. A couple of love-struck teens report an alien sighting, and Fairfield finds itself in a frenzy. Luckily, the members of SAWPE (that’s the Society of Alien Watchers to Protect Earth) are selling tinfoil hats to help protect everyone. Even the president comes to this sleepy burg, but not everyone in town agrees with his plan to attack the space-traveling Zordonians. It’ll be up to a brave little girl and her unwavering grandpa to stop a war of the worlds in this ridiculously silly one-act comedy that’s out of this world! Performances are Sept.15 at 7pm, Sept.16 at 2pm & 7pm, & Sept.17 at 4pm, 2023, at Lancaster Parks & Recreation, 701 Union Street, Lancaster, OH 43130. Purchase tickets: https://www.riseupartsalliance.org/tickets

ebellion is nigh in Matilda JR., a gleefully witty ode to the the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination! This story of a girl who dreams of a better life and the children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the 'revolting children' who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson. Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence... and special powers! She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace! Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda JR.is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination. Performances are Sept 15 - 17, 2023, at Knox Memorial Theater, 112 East High St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. For tickets or more information, visit: https://www.mtvarts.com/index.php/upcoming-events/198-matilda-jr

The Inheritance, written by Matthew Lopez, inspired by E.M. Forster’s masterpiece Howards End, “The Inheritance” is an epic examination of survival, healing, class divide and what it means to call a place home.