May 22, 2017
‘Into the Woods’ opens McLeod Summer Playhouse
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The McLeod Summer Playhouse launches the 2017 season with “Into the Woods,” the first of a three-show subscription series.
The season schedule is: “Into the Woods,” June 16-18 and June 23-25; “Sister Act,” sponsored by SIH Medical Group, July 7-9 and July 14-16; and “Singin’ in the Rain,” July 27-30, co-presented by Carbondale Community Arts and McLeod Summer Playhouse. The regular season performances are at the McLeod Theater.
The summer productions include a Theater for Young Audience production of “Pinkalicious the Musical.” The performance runs on select dates June 3-July 15 in the C. H. Moe Theater. The schedule for this production follows.
“Into the Woods,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine, features familiar characters Cinderella, Jack of Beanstalk fame, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood and others, intertwined to make a brand-new, reimagined production. The 2014 Disney movie version of this play broke box office records and won an Academy Award for Meryl Streep as “best actress in a supporting role.”
“Sister Act,” based on the move starring Whoopi Goldberg, tells the story of a third-rate lounge singer who hides out in a convent after witnessing a gangland killing. The rousing score raises its voice with disco, R&B, and church hymn influences.
The traditional All Southern High School Theatre Project production this year is the popular “Singin’ in the Rain,” a stage adaptation of the great movie musical. This production features high school actors who work with the McLeod Summer Playhouse professionals for a high-quality production on the McLeod stage. “Singin’ in the Rain” tells the story of a famous film star who falls in love with an unknown actress hired to dub his leading lady’s voice. The production includes such well-known songs as “Make ‘Em Laugh,” “Good Mornin’” and of course, “Singin’ in the Rain.”
“Pinkalicious the Musical” is a “pink-a-tastic” story that follows the perilous predicament of a young girl who turns pink from eating too many of her favorite cupcakes. This production is by the McLeod Summer players.
Here is the schedule for that production:
10 a.m. showings – June 7, 14, 21, 28 and July 12
2 p.m. showings – June 3, 17, 24 and July 8, 15
Tickets for “Pinkalicious the Musical” are $14 for adults, $10 for students and children.
Season subscription and individual tickets are on sale now for the regular Playhouse season. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. except on Sundays, which begin at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $14 for students and $10 for children. Go here for season ticket information. Get tickets at the McLeod Theater or SIU Arena box offices, by phone at 618/453-3000 or online.