Calendar

The first and most famous story of The Chronicles of Narnia has become a musical presentation of this unique, enchanted world filled with creatures and spirits of myth and fable, both good and evil, demonic and transcendent. The principal inhabitants, however, are the intelligent talking animals ruled by the majestic King Aslan, the great lion of Narnia. Though Aslan is often absent from the land (so that his very existence is doubted by some), he returns when the need for him is greatest.

The roads are flooded, the bridges are washed out, and less generous souls are staying safely indoors, but it takes more than a little rain to keep the ladies of the Charitable Sisterhood from fulfilling their sworn mission. Come sit in on this month’s meeting in the basement of Second Trinity Victory Church; our five angels of mercy will leave you breathless with laughter as they do their best to help the victims of global disaster, spiritual deprivation, and, most of all, each other. Don’t miss this hilarious and heart-warming World Premiere by award winning Richmond playwright Bo Wilson. Performances are 9/30, 10/1, 10/3, 10/6, 10/7, 10/8, 10/9.

Kim’s widowed dad, John, is a grinch, and she’s decided enough is enough. She hatches a plan to break him out of his rut this Christmas and invites several unwanted guests, including John’s first love, Leslie, who he hasn’t seen in 30 years, her elderly mother and her ten-year-old niece, who seem to want to give him nothing but grief. Add Kim’s husband, Dennis, who John has never accepted, and her friends, Laney and Julie, a couple of over-the-top Christmas fanatics, and you’ve got a “Christmas to end all Christmases!” When they all get iced in together, seasonal madness ensues, and it’s a Christmas John will never forget! Performances are 9/30, 10/1, 10/3, 10/6, 10/7, 10/8, 10/9.

Featuring Beth McClary as Florence Foster Jenkins and Jerry M. Draper as Cosme McMoon. For more than half a century the name Florence Foster Jenkins has been guaranteed to produce explosions of derisive laughter. Not unreasonably so, as this wealthy society eccentric suffered under the delusion that she was a great coloratura soprano when she was in fact incapable of producing two consecutive notes in tune. Nevertheless, her annual recitals in the ballroom of the Ritz Carlton hotel, where she resided, brought her extraordinary fame. As news of her terrible singing spread, so did her celebrity. Her growing mob of fans packed her recitals, stuffing handkerchiefs in their mouths to stifle their laughter—which Mrs. Jenkins blissfully mistook for cheers. The climax of her career was a single concert at Carnegie Hall in 1944. Famously, it sold out in two hours.

Smoke on the Mountain tells the story of a Saturday Night Gospel Sing at a country church in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains in 1938. The show features two dozen rousing bluegrass songs played and sung by the Sanders Family, a traveling group making its return to performing after a five-year hiatus.Pastor Oglethorpe, the young and enthusiastic minister of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, has enlisted the Sanders Family in his efforts to bring his tiny congregation into “the modern world.” Between songs, each family member “witnesses” — telling a story about an important event in their life. Though they try to appear perfect in the eyes of a congregation who wants to be inspired by their songs, one thing after another goes awry and they reveal their true — and hilariously imperfect – natures. By the evening’s end, the Sanders Family have endeared themselves to us by revealing their weaknesses and allowing us to share in their triumphs.

Who died? Will the killer be found? And will the playwright finish the script? After all, there is a read-through on Monday!

A theater group is holding auditions for a murder mystery called “Death of A Disco Dancer.” The usual suspects show up to audition, including Mia Monahan, the militant method actress; Amber Frost, the ditzy drama queen; Chad, the energetic actor who never gets a part in anything; Alan, the accomplished theater major who works at a fast-food place in the meantime; Troy May, the egocentric actor who always gets a role; his gorgeous assistant, Tantanya, who holds his imported bottled water and carries his portfolio; and Mrs. Needleman and her precious daughter, Julie, fresh from the Little Miss Pumpkin Pageant finals. However, director Vivian Vinderlou and assistant director Reed Moore don’t have enough copies of the script for everyone, and, well, the script isn’t even finished. Fortunately, playwright Jim Culter arrives with a few more copies and a few more finished pages just as one of the actors mysteriously dies. As luck would have it, Jim brought Inspector Bonnie Brauvera to the auditions to serve as technical advisor for the play.