Lots of upcoming events squeezed comfortably into my fall preview of metro theater, but that’s no excuse for one enormous omission. While noting that new musicals heavily outweighed drama in September, I overlooked a landmark opening. (Alprazolam)
When the John Beasley Theater presents Radio Golf Friday, Sept. 23-Oct. 16, it marks the completion of the magnificent 10-play cycle by August Wilson. In other words, the theater will have offered all of his award-winning plays that span each decade of African-American life in the 20th Century. Some, such as Jitney, have received encore presentations.
Given the company’s proven experience in staging Wilson’s masterpieces, expectations should be high under any circumstances. Add the casting of Tony-nominated Anthony Chisholm to reprise his Broadway role of Old Joe, and it becomes compelling to head south to the theater at 3010 R Street.
John Beasley will direct a cast familiar with the Wilson scripts, including regulars Tyrone Beasley, Andre McGraw, TammyRa and Raydell Cordell III. Performances start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $27, $22 for students, seniors and TAG members.
Radio Golf, first on Broadway as recently as 2007, was Wilson’s final work. He returns to the Hill District of Pittsburgh where a developer with big plans needs to buy the house of a reluctant seller.
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Omahans never have to suffer without sweet cabaret sounds for long when the likes of Jill Andersen, Mary Carrick, Camille Metoyer Moten and Becky Noble are willing to serenade us with song.
This time it’s Mary Carrick, accompanied by Todd Brooks in a switch from his usual play-directing duties, at the PS Collective at 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 25. She calls her new show in Benson “Songs with a Twist of Lime.” She’ll feature songs that made it on Broadway, songs that didn’t last long on Broadway and some that never made it at all but she finds worth sharing.
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When I plugged the Blue Barn season in that fall preview, I didn’t mention that they’re calling it “The Rebellious One.” Makes sense when they’re opening with Bug by Tracy Letts and billing it as a “psycho-thriller” before doing one subtitled The Vibrator Play and winding up with the controversial Spring Awakening. You’ll see more about Bug and its visiting guest star in next week’s Reader.
—Warren Francke
Cold Cream looks at theater in the metro area. Email information to coldcream@thereader.com.