Two sides of St. Tammany Parish theaters open shows this weekend, ranging from fact-based drama in Mandeville to a fantasy-based musical in Slidell, showing the broad spectrum of experiences and stories available to the local audience.
‘The Laramie Project’
The brutal death of a University of Wyoming student and the subsequent attention on the tragedy are weighty matter that forms the heart of a unique bit of theater opening Saturday at 30 by Ninety Theatre in Mandeville.
“The Laramie Project” grew out of the real experiences after Matthew Shepard was beaten and left for dead on a fence in the middle of a prairie outside of the Wyoming town that’s home to the state’s university. While the 21-year-old survived the near-freezing night, he would later succumb to his injuries.
Two young men were arrested, charged and tried in a case that attracted national attention for many reasons, including the fact Shepard was gay and targeted because of it.
Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project visited the town of Laramie for more than 200 interviews a half-dozen times over the course of 18 months and penned the work that features a relatively small cast playing dozens of roles in this theatrical experience.
The strong subject matter hits home for director Christopher Manguno, noting the play “has been a passion piece for me since I was in high school.”
“As a young, gay kid in a city not so different from Laramie, I loved seeing how all walks of life reacted to a tragedy,” he said. “This show has had so much love and care poured into it, and while the subject matter is heavy, the show itself is not.”
Kaufman and company spoke to people involved in the trial, along with Laramie residents. They crafted a show that tells the story but also offers a look at the emotions and spirit behind the events.
“There is so much love, passion and humanity that went into making this show,” said the director. “I hope that everyone who comes can escape the world of today, and be transported to a not-so-distant past, in Laramie.”
The cast includes Tom Bubrig, Andrea Elu, Beth Harris, Stephen Latimer, Casey Lipscomb, Jacob Meyers, Lauren Price, Evette Randolph, Amy Riddell and Isabelle Wolke.
The subject matter of the show merits an advisory for themes, language and the sometimes graphic descriptions of the violence perpetrated on Shephard.
The show opens Saturday and is at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through May 3 at 880 Lafayette St. Tickets start at $17. Visit 30byninety.com.
‘Shrek the Musical’
Ezra Gamer, left, as Donkey and Lucas Bissett as Shrek in the Slidell Little Theatre production of ‘Shrek the Musical’ opening this week.
A DreamWorks Oscar-winning animated film that spawned a Tony-winning Broadway show comes to Slidell Little Theatre on Friday, filled with fairytale characters, hummable tunes and a twisted feel-good message about ogres, donkeys and little tyrants with big egos.
Rachael Knaps is Fiona in Slidell Little Theatre’s production of ‘Shrek the Musical.’
In the story, an ogre named Shrek is none-too-happy about his swamp being invaded by fairytale misfits and really dislikes a certain smart-mouthed donkey. The exodus of characters from the Kingdom of Duloc has been prompted by Lord Farquaad, who finds out he needs to marry a princess to become a king. And then there’s Fiona, a formidable crown-wearing captive in a dragon-guarded castle with her own secrets.
The show also includes new music written just for the stage. It is directed by Skylar Broussard. The cast includes Lucas Bissett as Shrek, Rachael Knaps as Fiona, Ezra Garner as Donkey, Casey Sharp-Jones as Lord Farquaad, Dee Carter as Dragon, and Maria Chin, Ke’Shone White, Carlye Stark, Lise Harbom, Joshua Evans, Annaliese Giardina, Amelia Chin, Pluto Topper, Sonni-Anne Talamo, Max Roth, Danny Jepson, Cohen Parker, Adaline Shehadeh, Claire Barbry, Millie Tiblier, Kimberly Nichols, Elise Litchliter, Cailey Williams, Julianna Giardina, London Hauck, Lola Penton, Molly Stark, Natalie Bywater, Logan Puglisi, Shelby Crosswhite, Gianna Hakin, Genevieve Delaney and Whitney Schultz.
The show will run at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through May 2, except April 18. Tickets start at $25. The theater is at 2024 Nellie Drive. slidelllittletheatre.org.
Onstage this week, April 16-22
“JAGGED LITTLE PILL:” 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 26; Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Drive, Metairie. Tony-winning jukebox musical based on Alanis Morissette’s 1995 album touches on some weighty subject matter that might seem pervasive in contemporary home life today — pain, recovery and empowerment. Producers note the musical is recommended for mature audiences ages 16 and up. Tickets start at $39. jpas.org.
“LAST NIGHT AT THE RUE BAYOU:” 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays through May 3; Storyville Music Hall, 1104 Decatur St. Local musicians and performers highlights a final evening at the club before a corrupt parish commissioner attempts to seize Miss Elean Durand’s legendary “juke joint at the crossroads between the living world and the spirits of the bayou.” Tickets start at $64 and include two drinks and a “locally sourced taste of New Orleans.” ruebayoumusical.com.
Laura Waringer is Beth in the 2010 United Kingdom premiere of ‘Little Women,’ shown at right in the photo.
“LITTLE WOMEN:” 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Monday except Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday; Lupin Theatre, 69 Newcomb Circle, Tulane University. The March sisters of Concord, Massachusetts, have been celebrated in a variety of motion pictures and plays since Louisa May Alcott brought the Civil War-era family to life just after the war in novel form. Tickets start at $10. Visit purplepass.com/tulanetd.
Hailey Alexis Lewis is Anna of Cleves in tour of ‘Six’ coming to the Saenger Theatre.
“SIX:” 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday; Saenger Theatre, 1111 Canal St. The ex-wives of England’s King Henry VIII get a chance to tell their story, with some crazy beats and staging in a “history remix” that’s still running on Broadway. This marks the Tony-winning show’s second cruise to the Crescent City. Suitable for ages 10 and up. Tickets start at $39. saengernola.com.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
