Oh, so much opening. Let the season begin ...
Opening
Chapter Two — Arizona Theatre Company. See story.
Sterling Boyns and Vaune Suitt are part of the “Celia, A Slave” cast that will perform at The Rogue Theatre.
Celia, A Slave — The Rogue Theatre, 300 E. University. This will not be easy to see. But, judging on the script and the accolades — the script won the 2015 Yale Drama Series playwriting competition for Tucson playwright Barbara Seyda — it will be powerful and resonant. Seyda based the play on the 1855 murder trial of a woman known simply as Celia, a Slave. After repeatedly being raped by the slave master, she bludgeoned him to death, burnt his body and scattered his ashes. She was quickly found guilty and hung. The judge would not allow evidence that she had been repeatedly raped. Relying on court transcripts and papers, Seyda tells the story of what led up to the trial and the trial itself through interviews with the dead. The result is a piece that examines the injustice suffered by slaves, especially women, the legal system, morality, and even economics. The Yale award is given to emerging playwrights. In 2015, the judge was British playwright Nicholas Wright, who had this to say about “Celia, A Slave”: “My reason for rating the play so highly was the thick lump of pain that it placed in my chest and that I carried around with me for days afterwards. I had a completely primitive and intuitive reaction to the tragedy of the story and to the whole of life, in a way.” Cynthia Meier directs and the cast includes Sterling Boyns, Vicki Brown, Darwin, David Greenwood, Holly Griffith, Ryan Parker Knox, T Loving, Joseph McGrath, Molly McKasson, Ida Rhem, Vaune Suitt, Luka Vonier, Destiny Wells, and Andrew Wilson. Previews are 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7 and 8, opening is 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9. Regular performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 24. Additional 2 p.m. matinees on Sept. 16 and 23. Previews are $28; regular performances, $38. Student rate 15 minutes before curtain: $15. Reservations and information at TheRogueTheatre.org or 551-2053.
Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” starring Diana Huey, is at Centennial Hall through Sept. 17.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid — Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. You know the story: Ariel is a beautiful mermaid who lives in an elaborate kingdom beneath the sea. Oh, she can sing with a voice so beautiful that she is revered all over that watery kingdom. But Ariel has long been entranced with the human world. When a prince, Eric, is thrown overboard during a storm, Ariel is there to save him. And she falls in love with him. She wants to trade her fins for legs. The evil Ursula, sister to Ariel’s dad, King Triton, makes her a deal: She will make her human for three days, in which time she must find and secure a kiss from the man she loves. If she does, she gets to keep her legs and remain human. If she doesn’t, well it will be a watery nightmare for her. The payment: she would have to give up her voice, which Ursula will keep “safe.” Broadway in Tucson brings the musical here. It’s 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 and 14; 8 p.m. Sept. 15; 2 and 8 p.m. Sept. 16, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17. $29-$115. 1-800-745-3000. Broadwayintucson.com.
L-R, Michele Holland, Mary Ann Fout, Nick Smallwood, Linda Andresano, Ocktober Pross and Gail Rosen in Roadrunner Theatre’s production of “The Curious Savage.” — Credit: Nick Smallwood
The Curious Savage — Roadrunner Theater, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. Mrs. Savage is a widow and a rich woman — her husband left her $10 million. She would like to do good with it; her stepchildren want to get their greedy hands on it. So they have her committed to an asylum, where she meets all sorts of misfits who could really use the help her millions can give. The John Patrick comedy is 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 1. Tickets are $20. 207-2491. Roadrunnertheatrecompany.org.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest — The Community Playhouse, 1881 N. Oracle Road. The adaptation of Ken Kesey’s riveting novel takes the Community Players’ stage. An inmate is transferred to a prison for psychiatric evaluation. He’s expecting it to be a lightweight experience. But he doesn’t count on the mean-spirited Nurse Ratched. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 24. $15. 887-6239. communityplayerstucson.org.
Continuing
The Phantom of the Opera — The Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway. A love story with goofy song and dance. Call for show dates and times. Through Nov. 5. $20.95. 886-9428. thegaslighttheatre.com.
Jeanne Torres is the cat Samantha in Invisible Theatre’s production of “Indoor/Outdoor.” Photo by Tim Fuller
Indoor/Outdoor — Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Ave. Poor Samantha. The cat is devoted to her somewhat neurotic owner who has rescued her from the pound. And he to her. But as time goes on, Samantha feels the two aren’t communicating. So she goes out into the world to discover if she is really an indoor cat, who she is and what she wants. Kenny Finkle wrote the comedy. It’s 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 17. There is an additional 3 p.m. performance on Sept. 16. $34. 882-9721. invisibletheatre.com.
From left, Jonathan Northover, Brie Zepeda and Steve Wood in Live Theatre Workshop’s production of “Seminar.”
Seminar — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. Four aspiring young novelists sign up for private writing classes. Some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken. The Theresa Rebeck comedy can be vicious. And very funny. Adult language. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 23. $20. 327-4242. livetheatreworkshop.org.
Scarborough — Temple of Music and Art Cabaret, 330 S. Scott Ave. A student and teacher on a romantic weekend. If they get caught, everything is on the line. In the second act, the roles are switched up. Post show discussion. Adult content. 2 p.m. Sept. 10; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8, 9 and 15. Through Sept. 17. $18-$22. 468-6111. somethingsomethingtheatre.com.
You’ve Ruined a Perfectly Good Mystery — The Comedy Playhouse, 3620 N. First Ave. A famous investigator and an outlandish narrator draw the audience into this comedy by Christian Neuhaus and Rick Stemm. Literally drawn in— the audience gets to decide which clues should be followed. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 17. $16. 270-9310. thecomedyplayhouse.com.
The Rootin Tootin Tale of Little Red Riding Boots — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. Little Red Riding boots sets out to bring some beef jerky to her Gran. Along the way she meets critters, vermin and outlaws. Stephen Frankenfield adapted the “Little Red Riding Hood” story and Richard Gremel wrote the music for this piece geared toward kids. 12:30 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 17. $7-$10. 327-4242. livetheatreworkshop.org.
