RAISE THE CURTAINS!
Local theaters fill summer season with creative, rousing shows
Nothing says summer like baseball, barbecue and a noir twist on classic Elizabethan theater. Not quite right? How about the beach, blockbusters and a fresh take on the immortal tale of Cyrano de Bergerac? OK, maybe not everyone pictures summer the same way. If your idea of the season includes Broadway and Shakespeare, we have a few shows for your calendar.
• “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” Central Square Theater, through July 1.
In France, before the revolution, two bad boy ex-lovers prey on the innocent with wickedness and wit. The twist: an all-male cast. Gender politics go sideways in this story of power, sex and money. As the theater’s warning states, there is “full nudity, sexual content, violence and a damn good sword fight.” (centralsquaretheater.org)
• “The Wiz,” the Lyric Stage, through July 1.
The Lyric creative team bring New Orleans-themed magic to this adaptation of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Of course they keep the tunes — “Ease on Down the Road,” “A Brand New Day,” “Home” — in this institution, which won seven Tony Awards. (lyricstage.com)
• “Mame,” North Shore Music Theatre, Tuesday-June 17.
The perfect time for the Tony Award-winning musical that gave us “We Need a Little Christmas” is, well, December. But who cares? This tale of a 1920s New York bohemian who suddenly becomes the guardian of her 10-year-old nephew is timeless. (nsmt.org)
• “Noir Hamlet,” BCA Plaza Theatre, June 14-30.
Ever think Shakespeare’s masterpiece could be improved with a high ball and side piece? Yup,
so did local playwright John Minigan. Hamlet crosses paths with rival gumshoe Paolo Niro while trying to solve the mystery of his father's murder in 1949 Los Angeles. (bcaonline.org)
“Born for This,” Cutler Majestic Theatre, June 15July 15.
Six-time Grammy winner Bebe Winans and director Charles Randolph-Wright of “Motown the Musical” have created an autobiographical show tracking a man and his destiny to become a Gospel legend. (artsemerson.org) “Salt,” Oberon, June
22.
Ruby Rose Fox has never distinguished between rock star and theatrical artist. And why should she? If it worked for Laurie Anderson, it can work for Ruby. Skipping the typical record release party, Fox created a one-woman show to celebrate her new album, “Salt.” After the election of Donald Trump, Fox tossed the stuff she was working on to write the deeply political and personal material in “Salt.” (americanrepertorytheater.org) “Million Dollar Quartet,”
Cape Playhouse, July 10-21.
In the mid-'50s, rock 'n' roll didn't have anything to distinguish it from R&B, rockabilly, country and blues. Well, OK, it had a little extra energy and way more screaming teenagers. This show spotlights this clattering combination of sounds and their pioneers — Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Sun Records founder Sam Phillips. (capeplayhouse.com)
“Cyrano,”
Gloucester Stage, July 13-Aug. 11.
Cyrano is a swashbuckler with a nose for the romantic. Maybe a bit too much nose for it. In this new adaptation by Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers, beauty and brains continue their epic showdown for the hand of fair Roxane. (gloucesterstage.com)
“The Book of Mormon,”
Boston Opera House, Aug. 14-26
Do you like Rodgers & Hammerstein's jaunty melodies and big, smiling dance routines? Well “The Book of Mormon” has bushels of those. But it doesn't have the old-fashioned values or classic Broadway cheer. To put it bluntly, “The Book of Mormon” is the most offensive, most hilarious musical to come from the Great White Way. (boston. broadway.com)