By Dan Mearns
“We’re back!” declares actor Kyle Marie on the cover of the Charlotte Players 61st season brochure. Following a pandemic-shortened 60th season, the return of a full schedule for 2021-22 is reason to celebrate for the nonprofit theater and the community it serves.
The most anticipated event of the new season may be an appearance by The Oak Ridge Boys on March 28, 2022, at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda. Tickets go on sale Aug. 2.
“We’ll have four price points for tickets, and we’re hoping to seat 1,600 people,” said Charlotte Players executive director Sherrie Moody.
Grammy Award winners and Country Music Hall of Fame members, The Oak Ridge Boys this year are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their Grammy-winning song “Elvira,” which was originally released in 1981. Their new album, Front Porch Singin’, was released on June 11.
The Players season brochure is available at the Charlotte Players Community Theater Center, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. The brochure can be downloaded at www.charlotteplayers.org.
Langdon Playhouse Stage Productions
The theatre season begins in September at the Langdon Playhouse, 1182 Market Circle, Port Charlotte. All shows are at 7:30 p.m., except for Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
4 Beekman by Ron Clark
Sept 10 – 19
Deanne and Robert, a May-December couple, have just returned from their honeymoon, and Deanne is shocked to find that Robert has unwittingly bought the very same apartment that she used to live in with her ex-husband, Skip. Not only that, but Skip has also bought the apartment right next door to theirs. There are lots of love and laughs in this romantic comedy.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang
Oct. 8 – 17
Winner of the 2013 Tony Award as Best Play, this comedy concerns Vanya and his sister Sonia, who live in a quiet farmhouse in Pennsylvania. Their peace is suddenly disturbed when their movie-star sister Masha returns unannounced with her 20-something boy toy Spike. So begins a weekend of rivalry, regret, and raucousness.
A Nice Family Christmas
by Phil Olson Nov. 5 – 14
It is Christmas Eve and a young newspaper reporter on the brink of being fired has been assigned a last-chance story about a typical family Christmas – his family’s Christmas. He goes home to his crazy and neurotic family, who provide no shortage of material. When they learn he’s writing an article with some very personal family information, the fruitcake hits the fan.
Exit Laughing by Paul Elliott
Jan. 6 – 16
Connie, Leona, and Millie’s weekly highlight for 30 years has been their bridge game with the “girls.” When one member of the foursome dies, the remaining girls decide to borrow their friend’s ashes for one last game of their lives. That wild night includes a police raid, a stripper, and a whole new way of looking at life.
Bell, Book and Candle
by John Van Druten Feb 4 – 20
A successful 1950 Broadway play starring Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer that evolved into a popular 1958 movie with Kim Novak and James Stewart, “Bell, Book, and Candle” concerns a witch named Gillian, who casts a spell over an unattached publisher, partly to keep him away from a rival and partly because she is attracted to him. He falls head over heels in love with her and wants to marry her, but witches, unfortunately, cannot fall in love, and this leads to a number of difficulties. Ultimately, the lady breaks with her companions in witchery, preferring the normal and human love offered by the attractive publisher. But before the happy conclusion of the romance, Gillian comes awfully close to losing him.
Curtain Up! by Peter Quilter
March 11 – 27
A hilarious story of five women who inherit equal shares in a dilapidated theater and plan to bring it back to life. They try various fundraising schemes, but their most ambitious is to hold a concert featuring local talent and a world-famous star who agrees to appear for no fee. Their plans go awry, however, and it’s a race to keep their audience from guessing the truth of the matter.
There’s a Burglar in My Bed
by Michael Parker April 13 – 24
William Worthington III and his wife of 30 years are contemplating a divorce. Their 200-acre New England compound includes a 26-room mansion and small beach cottage. The pre-nup spells out exactly what each will receive in a settlement with one exclusion: The priceless Worthington necklace. True to the laws of farce, both parties arrange burglaries to acquire the necklace for themselves.
Wedding Belles by Alan Bailey and Ronnie Claire Edwards May 13 – 22
Four garden club ladies meet a young girl who has come to their little Texas town to marry an infantry man before he ships off for World War II. The women impulsively decide to throw the girl an elaborate wedding. Their lives and friendships are thrown into turmoil as they race to accomplish the nuptials in one frenzied afternoon.
Special Events at the Langdon Playhouse
The Peace River Trio
Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Squawk! The Show
Nov. 27 at 1, 4 and 7:30 p.m.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Dec. 1 – 5
Happy New Year!
Dec. 31 at 6:30 and 9 p.m.
Cahal Dunne in Concert
Feb. 27 at 2 p.m.
Special Events at Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center
Comedy for a Cause
Friday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m.
The Edwards Twins
Feb. 7 – 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Late Nite Catechism: ’Til Death Do Us Part Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
John Denver Tribute Band with Ted Vigil Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
The Martin & Lewis Tribute Show
March 8 at 7:30 p.m.
The Oak Ridge Boys
March 28 at 7:30 p.m.
