Top of the World Photos - West End

Babes With Blades Theatre Company (BWBTC) launches its 20th Anniversary Season: "Origins" with its 20th world premiere The Invisible Scarlet O'Neil, playing at the Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., September 2 - October 14. Based on the 1940s comic strip by Russell Stamm, the new play is written by BWBTC Ensemble Member Barbara Lhota, directed by Ensemble Member Leigh Barrett and features violence design by Ensemble Member Libby Beyreis. Preview performances are Saturday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 3 at 3 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. Opening Night is Saturday, Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. Regular performances are Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Preview tickets are $10, student and senior tickets are $15, early bird general admission (available online through September 9) are $20 and general admission (after September 9) are $25. To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit BabesWithBlades.org.

Gloucester Stage Company continues its 38th season of professional theater on Cape Ann with N. Richard Nash's moving American classic The Rainmaker from July 14 through August 5 at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. Set in the time of a paralyzing drought in Depression-era America, The Rainmaker tells the story of a pivotal hot summer day in the life of spinsterish Lizzie Curry, whose father and two brothers are worried as much about her marriage prospects as they are about their dying cattle. Enter Starbuck, the consummate con man, who promises to solve all their problems, for a fee. Directed by Gloucester Stage Artistic Director Robert Walsh, The Rainmaker cast features Brian Homer as Starbuck; Jessica Bates as Lizzie Curry; David DeBeck as H.C. Curry, the patriarch of the Curry family; Joe Short and Sean McCoy as the Curry brothers; Dave Rich as File and longtime Gordon College Professor of Theater Arts Norm Jones as Sheriff Thomas. N. Richard Nash's most celebrated play, The Rainmaker, appeared in all three mediums; on Broadway in 1954, as a motion picture starring Katharine Hepburn in 1956, and as a television production in 1982. A musical version of The Rainmaker, entitled 110 Degrees in the Shade, debuted on Broadway in 1963.

From Broadway and B-Movies to fiascoes in fashion, Mr. Blackwell was the original arbiter of wrong and right on the red carpet. From Carol Channing ('Finger paints, chicken feathers, and glue thrown into an electric fan'-1966) to Bette Midler (Potluck in a laundramat'-1973), Blackwell remarked, 'I'm only saying out loud what everyone else is whispering.'

The whimsical, world-famous candy man himself is back, this time in the mountains of Western North Carolina, as he takes the stage at Flat Rock Playhouse in their Studio 52 Family Series production of Roald Dahl's WillyWonka. Opening March 24th through April 2nd at the Flat Rock Playhouse Main Stage, this timeless family favorite will sport a 'delicious stage full of amazing characters, singing, dancing and acting for the inner child in all of us, with perhaps a few parenting lessons along the way,' says Director Dave Hart.

This exuberant stage production is like a Norman Rockwell painting brought to life. Set in Hohman, Indiana in 1940, raconteur, Jean Shepherd (Chris Carsten) reminiscences about nine-year-old Ralphie's quest for an official Red Ryder, Carbine-Action, 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle B-B gun.

'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' a version of which is now on stage at Great Lakes Theatre, is considered by many literary critics to be one of Shakespeare's 'lesser' plays. Not bad, just not up to the dramatic level of the great writer, though its farcical nature is often praised.

Nathalie Armin, Paul Bhattacharjee, Simon Chandler, Michael Cochrane, Tariq Jordan, Belinda Lang, Shereen Martin, Daniel Rabin, Simon Rouse, Rick Warden and David Yip comprise the cast for THE BOMB - a partial history.

San Diego Theatres' presentations for this season at the historic and nationally acclaimed Balboa Theatre continues. For those that loved the 40's swing production of 'In the Mood' these past two seasons, this season the Balboa will be hosting The Big Band Broadcast on April 10 at 2PM ~ a swinging sentimental re-enactment of the best of the 40's big band era, with glamour, panache, humor, and top quality musicianship.

IN THE MOOD, a 1940s musical revue will be presented at the California Theatre of the Performing Arts in San Bernardino, CA on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 8:00pm. Now in its 16th year, this appearance is part of IN THE MOOD's 2009/2010 National Tour.

When The Lights Go On Again, a new musical celebrating the music of the 1940s and World War II, will open Wednesday, November 1st at 7 PM at the Triad Theatre