In the dead of winter it is often hard to keep yourself occupied. You can only be entertained for so long in the comfort of your own home and going outside means braving the cold. Thinking of different things to keep busy can be challenging, but we have a solution! This year there are tons of new musicals at local venues that will get you out of the house and cure your winter blues! Read on to see the shows that will cure your cabin fever!
Attending a musical
production is more than your average family outing, it is a experience that
involves the entire audience, making the theatre come alive with each and every
song. As the story unfolds, music is performed to accompany the climactic
events, often making viewers feel even more enraptured by the show. This year, local venues are offering up a
docket that aims to please every type of theatre goer. Check out the lineup
below to see the musicals you’ll want to add to your must-see list for
2014.
Rock of AgesFebruary 1 at Proctor’s Theater
Love 80’s rock and a
classic love story? Then you won’t want to miss Rock of Ages! This
fan-favorite will have viewers rockin’ in their seats and rollin’ on the floor
with laughter. Watch the love of a small town girl and big city rocker come
alive while you sing along to hits like Don’t Stop Believin’, We Built
This City, The Final Countdown, Wanted Dead or Alive, Here I Go Again, Can’t
Fight This Feeling and I Want To Know What Love Is.
AIDA February 6 at C-R Productions at Cohoes Music Hall
A contemporary
musical take on a grand classic tale of the timeless bond between an enslaved
princess and an Egyptian soldier. Forbidden love blossoms between them, the
young lovers are forced to face death or part forever. A shining example of
true devotion ultimately transcends the differences between their warring
nations, heralding a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity.
Caroline or Change February
7 at SLOC
The musical is set in
1963 in Lake Charles, Louisiana during the American civil rights movement,
November-December 1963, encompassing the time of the assassination of John F.
Kennedy.
Caroline Thibodeaux is a black maid for a Jewish family, the Gellmans, spending
her days in their dank basement doing the laundry for the pitiful sum of $30 a
week.
Sister Act February 18-23
at Proctor’s Theater
This no-nunsense
musical reminds us that everyone has something to teach us. Sister Act tells
the story of a woman who witnesses a crime and for her protection is placed in
a convent. Deloris Van Cartier, a diva of sorts, helps her sisters find
their voices as she learns to find her own. Get your groove on and fall in love
with this heart-warming story.
Disney’s Little Mermaid Jr.February 27 at C-R Productions at Cohoes Music Hall
C-R Kids presents
Disney’s Little Mermaid, Jr. featuring middle school students from around the
Capital Region. In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid
Ariel longs to leave her ocean home – and her fins – behind and live in the
world above. But first she’ll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal
with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that
she’s the girl whose enchanting voice he’s been seeking.
Spring Awakening February 27 at UAlbany
Performing Arts Center
This groundbreaking
rock musical retells the controversial German play from 1891. The story follows
a group of teenagers, including best friends Melchior and Moritz, on a quest of
self-discovery, love, sexuality, friendship, and rebellion. Holding a mirror up
to our time, this is the must-see musical of a new generation.
Man of La Mancha March 8 at Proctor’s Theater
Enter the mind and the world of Don Quixote as he pursues his quest for the impossible dream. Against all odds, a man sees good and innocence in a world filled with darkness and despair. This lyrical and amusing adventure is a classic tale of the triumph of man over his own follies.
The Book of MormonMarch
11-16 at Proctor’s Theater
This high-energy
musical will have audiences on the edge of their seat wanting more. The
Book of Mormon tells the tale of two Mormon missionaries trying to
spread the word of God to a remote village in Uganda. The boys are utterly
unprepared, giving this religious satire many humorous moments. From the
creators of South Park, The Book of Mormon delivers
a show that is impossible to forget.
UrinetownMarch 13 at C-R Productions at Cohoes Music Hall
A hilarious tale of
greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a time when water is worth its
weight in gold. In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a
20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The
citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company
that profits by charging admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs. A
hero decides he’s had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to
freedom!
Diary of a Spider a Worm and a Fly March 21 at Proctor’s Theater
This coming-of-age
musical brings to life the all too familiar feeling of wanting to belong. Diary
of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly makes us feel like we are not alone and
encourages children to be comfortable in their own skin. Families will love
this meaningful story wrapped in light-hearted music and whimsical design. Make
this play a part of your next family night out and buy tickets today.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee March 21 at SLOC
The 25th Annual Putnam
County Spelling Bee is a one act musical comedy conceived by Rebecca Feldman
with music and lyrics by William Finn, a book by Rachel Sheinkin and additional
material by Jay Reiss. The show centers on a fictional spelling bee set in a
geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School. Six quirky adolescents
compete in the Bee, run by three equally-quirky grown-ups.
Sweeney Todd April 10 at C-R Productions at Cohoes Music Hall
C-R Kids presents
Sweeney Todd, featuring high school students from around the Capital Region.
The rare instance of a musical thriller, chilling, suspenseful, heart-pounding
masterpiece of murderous barber-ism and culinary crime tells the infamous tale
of the unjustly exiled barber who returns to London seeking revenge against the
lecherous judge who framed him.
Bring It On The MusicalApril 18-19 at Proctor’s Theater
Bring It On: The
Musical gives the cult-classic
a new face with pumped up stunts and even more thrilling choreography. This
musical takes an old favorite and makes it even harder to resist with an
original story by Tony Award Winner Jeff Whitty. Brush off that high school
spirit and come see a reinvented version of everybody’s favorite cheerleading
tale.
Broadway’s Next H!t Musical April 25 at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Every song is fresh.
Every scene is new. Every night is different. It’s all improvised and it’s all
funny. The New York Times calls Broadway’s Next H!t Musical
“Hilarious!”; Time Out NY says, “At last! A musical of, for, and
by the people.” In this hysterical, unscripted theatrical awards
show, master improvisers gather song suggestions from the audience and create a
spontaneous evening of music, humor, and laughter.
The Monster Who Ate My PeasMay 4-5 at Proctor’s Theater
Bring your
vegetable-hater to this story of a boy, his peas, and a monster with an agenda.
This kid-friendly musical discusses the common problem that kids have with
eating their veggies; a boy will do anything to avoid eating his peas and does
the unthinkable when a monster makes him an offer he cannot refuse. Learn about
facing your fears and doing what is right at this whimsical musical that
all ages will enjoy!
Little Shop of Horrors May 6 at C-R Productions at Cohoes Music Hall
A down-and out skid
row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic
plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon “Audrey II”
grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers
him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally
revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination!
Flashdance The Musical May
6-11 at Proctor’s Theater
We all have a dream
and will do almost anything to achieve it, sacrificing things we never thought
we would to get where we want to be. Flashdance: The Musical brings
this dilemma to life telling the story of an ordinary girl with extraordinary
dreams. Come watch this electric musical packed with explosive dance moves and
the pop-culture phenomenon you have grown to love.
Young Frankenstein May 9 at SLOC
Young Frankenstein,
officially known as The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, is a musical
with a book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics by Brooks. It
is based on the 1974 comedy film of the same name written by Brooks and Gene Wilder
and directed by Brooks, who has described it as his best film. It is a parody
of the horror film genre, especially the 1931 Universal Pictures adaptation of
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and its 1939 sequel, Son of Frankenstein.
The Phantom of the Opera May
28-June 8 at Proctor’s Theater
Come see this classic,
back on tour again making its stop at Proctor’s Theatre. This tragic love story
tells has enthralled audiences for ages and is back again to tug at the heart
strings of America. A man who has never been loved searches for exactly that in
this tale of a “beauty and a beast”. Watch the magic come alive with
entrancing love songs and a moving plot progression that will remind us why
this story has withstood the test of time.
If these shows don’t
include exactly what you are looking for, check out our events
calendar to see other local productions. For more
information on show times and tickets visit Proctor’s
website. Live this year to the fullest and experience all
the theatrical magic that this venue has to offer.
For more information
on upcoming entertainment near you, visit Albany.com!