topic Re: Attending local theater - a great experience in Community Chat

Attending local theater - a great experience

GingerPeach — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 22:39:15 GMT

I go rarely to the theater but I saw Red Hot Patriot last year, a one-woman performance by Kathleen Turner in the play based on the life of Molly Ivins (two of my favorite women).

Do you remember Molly Ivins? She was a firecracker newspaper columnist (and wrote several books as well). The play was wonderful and really captured its subject. (Of course, I can only gauge this from her columns since I never met Ms. Ivins.)

I even sat directly behind Nancy Pelosi and her husband. Now that was unexpected.

Seeing Kathleen Turner live was fabulous. She was strong throughout the whole of the play.

Has anyone seen any great plays lately?

Re: Attending local theater - a great experience

dooBdoo — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 23:01:27 GMT

@GingerPeach wrote:
I go rarely to the theater but I saw Red Hot Patriot last year, a one-woman performance by Kathleen Turner in the play based on the life of Molly Ivins (two of my favorite women).

Do you remember Molly Ivins? She was a firecracker newspaper columnist (and wrote several books as well). The play was wonderful and really captured its subject. (Of course, I can only gauge this from her columns since I never met Ms. Ivins.)
I even sat directly behind Nancy Pelosi and her husband. Now that was unexpected.
Seeing Kathleen Turner live was fabulous. She was strong throughout the whole of the play.

Has anyone seen any great plays lately?

@GingerPeach, What a great thread! I love live theater and I have several family members who act and also work behind the scenes in local theater. The last play I saw was "Steel Magnolias" and I enjoyed it just as much as the movie.

I admit I hadn't thought about Molly Ivins in a long time, but now that you mention her name and invoke her spirit I'm going to go back and re-read some of her good work. Thanks!

Everyone, please support your local theater groups!

Re: Attending local theater - a great experience

GingerPeach — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 23:11:50 GMT

Yes, what dooBdoo said!

About 20 years ago, I volunteered at a tiny theater as an usher. It was fun. If you like the idea of volunteering at a local theater, but you don't want to paint scenery, or act, or take tickets, try being an usher. (Well, for the acting, you can't just "show up." You do need some talent!) You also get to (sometimes) sit on the steps and watch the plays for free if you're an usher.

Re: Attending local theater - a great experience

blackhole99 — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 23:25:31 GMT

In our area local theater it is just that, local actors, actresses and volunteers putting on a show. The last thing I saw was a comedy Nunsense which indeed was very funny and the vocals were fabulous.

Re: Attending local theater - a great experience

Mominohio — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 23:32:15 GMT

For a small city (about 50,000) we have a great historic theater and they do some Broadway series things with local talent that are just fantastic.

This summer, I took my mom to see Mary Poppins, and it was wonderful and magical. We had a great time.

I try to take my mom to some kind of performance or symphony at least once a year. Usually just the two of us. It is the kind of thing she never did (or made money for) when growing up poor, or raising a family. She so appreciates doing something special like that, and there are so many small theater groups and orchestras out there across the country, that do a magnificent job.

Re: Attending local theater - a great experience

hoosieroriginal — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 00:10:56 GMT

When I lived in San Diego my friend and I went regularly. There is an outdoor theatre in Balboa Park right under the flight path. When the planes came over (like every 5 minutes), everyone on stage and the musicians would freeze (the planes were very low because it is right above the airport). It was a lot of fun - great theatre in San Diego.

Re: Attending local theater - a great experience

IamMrsG — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 00:36:50 GMT

This is a timely thread for me. Just a few days ago DH and I purchased tickets to take our 5 yr old grandson to his first play, a Mo Willems musical. I always enjoyed taking his father to plays and concerts when he was a boy, so taking our grandson brings it full circle. I am really looking forward to it.

Re: Attending local theater - a great experience

onewhiteSparrow — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 01:16:41 GMT

One of my friends is a usher in one of the theaters. She loves doing that to see friends coming to the theater for music and plays.

Another friend plays the violin in the theaters with a large group.

Of course my Husband and I are always there to support her fun time of playing. Wonderful music.

Also I love to always go see Phantom of the Opera when it comes to our town. Been 5 times seeing that play.

The play Cats was cute and of course I enjoyed the ending. With the flying saucer in the yard with the cats all around.

Re: Attending local theater - a great experience

NickNack — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 01:29:50 GMT

I love to go to the theatre. There's nothing that comes close to Broadway, but we do have a couple of good local theatres. The last one I saw was Lost Highway. It was the story of Hank Williams life and it was very interesting. I'm not particularly a Hank Williams fan so I wasn't sure how much I'd like it, but I enjoyed it a lot. I even knew most of the songs, which I didn't think I would.

A few years ago I went to Atlanta to see Jersey Boys. I had been dying to see that, and when I heard it was coming I knew I wanted to go. It was fantastic! We made a fun weekend of it.

Re: Attending local theater - a great experience

ValuSkr — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 13:46:07 GMT

It must have been nice to see Nancy. Hoping she makes a comeback in Congress.

Re: Attending local theater - a great experience

VaBelle35 — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 13:50:24 GMT

The DC Metro area used to have a ton of theaters but many went under or consolidated during the downturn of the economy.

In my small town we have a children's theater, ballet company and a performing arts theater.

One of the local theaters had an incedible performance of South Pacific. The talent on that stage (who were doctors, lawyers, accountants during the day) was incredible.