Murder takes center stage in a pair of plays stretching across the breadth of the metro area as summer slinks on and music makes the mayhem go ’round.
‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’
Offerings at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre of Jefferson Performing Arts have blossomed to include some full-scale musicals and other Broadway hits.
Since Gary Rucker took the helm as creative and managing director of the theater, the bill of fare has included a locally written story that spans generations as well as a slate of shows including “My Fair Lady,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Spamalot.”
But opening this week is the 2014 Broadway smash about a British noble family, with a bit of music, a load of laughs and a lot of murder.
It seems that a low-born fellow desires to take the title earl of Highhurst, but eight people stand in his way … at first. One by one, they succumb and it’s done, but he may have fallen in love in the mayhem.
David Hoover takes the director’s spot for this show, with John Michael Haas as the murderous main character. Rucker takes the role of all the victims from the D’ysquith Family. Other characters include Christina Cross, Maria Hefte, Magie Windler, Ryan Nocito, Chrissy Bowen, Mitchell Kogan, Ty Robbins, Shelbi Copain and Cara Waring.
In Broadway years, the show is still a toddler.
“It’s a new show and that’s something I’m very excited about,” Rucker said. “It’s very funny and the cast is incredibly talented. I think if people give it a chance, they will be pleasantly surprised.”
That much action can be a monstrous task for a cast and crew.
“The technical elements are a lot of fun but have definitely been a bit challenging, but luckily I have a great production team on it,” he said. “For me personally, getting to play all these wacky characters has been incredibly fun.”
The show is at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 9 at 177 Sala Ave. in Westwego. Tickets start at $42. Visit jpas.org.
‘Chicago’
Kander and Ebb’s Vaudeville-style setting for the murderous 1920s in this Illinois town takes to unique stages of Slidell’s Cutting Edge Center of the Arts as they “paint the town … and all that jazz.”
From “Cellblock Tango” to “Mr. Cellophane,” the musical score is loaded with familiar tunes that have become mainstays of the Broadway songbook since the show debuted in 1975.
The story looks at lover-killer Roxie Hart, death-row inmate Velma Kelly, slick lawyer Billy Flynn, a reporter, a husband, a warden and a group of merry murderesses who can sing and dance to a jazz beat.
Brian Fontenot does dual duty as the director and the hapless husband, and is joined in the show’s ensemble by Daniel Mack as assistant director and Jessica Guastella as choreographer. Chloe Hansen is Roxie, Megan Augustine is Velma and Rob Reidenauer is lawyer Billy Flynn. Ashley Brider is the warden and other cast includes Gretchen Reidenauer, Cambrie Roger, Alyssa Scott, Ashley O’Neil, Heather McLemore, Erica McMannis, Samantha Margiotta, Missy Avery, Becky Daigrepont, Kaya Welsh, Andi Carroll, K Steele, Jesi Abney, Megan Augustine, Dallas McCann, Kevin Houson Mason, Kaylin Amani, Tina Kingman, Chris Hreha, Kelsey Fife, Chris Grimwood, Edward “E.J.” West and Chase Field.
The show opens 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 15 at 767 Robert Blvd. Tickets start at $33. Visit cuttindedgetheater.com.
In production July 30-Aug. 5
Taking roles in Summer Lyric’s ‘A Little Night Music’ are Luke Boucvalt, Ashley Smetherman Lemmler, Leonard Raybon and Katherine Armbrester.
“A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC:” Opening 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; Dixon Hall, Tulane University Uptown campus. Tulane Summer Lyric’s finale by Stephen Sondheim is set in Sweden at the turn of the last century and focuses on actress Desirée Armfeldt and those who love her, including her current and past paramours. They’ve married jealous women, but all agree to head to Desirée’s mother’s country estate for a weekend. Tickets start at $32. liberalarts.tulane.edu.
Kristin Witt is Serafina and Nick DiJulio is Alvaro in the Tennessee Williams Theatre Company’s upcoming production of ‘The Rose Tattoo’ opening July 23.
“THE ROSE TATTOO:” 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 9; Loyola’s Marquette Theater, 6363 St. Charles Ave. Tennessee Williams Theatre Co.’s production about a Sicilian widow living somewhere in Mississippi with her daughter, who deifies her late husband, in spite of his all-too-human foibles, sheltering herself and her daughter. She begins to come out with the arrival of another truck driver named Alvaro. Tickets start at $45. twtheatrenola.com
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