On Theater: NTAC, Concordia kick off season
There’s a little something for every theatergoer at the Newport Theatre Arts Center this season, beginning with a golden oldie, Noel Coward’s “Fallen Angels,” now on stage and continuing through Sunday.
Coward’s 1925 light comedy becomes a wild and wacky farce in this production, featuring a terrific knock-down, drag-out performance by Della Lisi. It gets the new season off to a rousing start.
Next up is another play set in the 1920s, “Anna in the Tropics” by Nilo Cruz. The 2003 Pulitzer Prize-winner made its debut a few seasons back at South Coast Repertory. “Anna,” set in a Florida cigar factory where “lectors” read to the workers to break the monotony, will be on stage from Nov. 14 through Dec. 14.
The mood turns grim in January when Agatha Christie’s courtroom drama “Witness for the Prosecution” arrives for a monthlong visit. “Witness,” also a vintage piece (patrons may recall Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton in the 1957 movie version), is ticketed for production from Jan. 23 to Feb. 22.
“Later Life,” A.R. Gurney’s romantic drama about two people rediscovering each other at advanced ages, will be on the Newport Theatre Arts Center stage from March 20 through April 19. The play’s theme resonates strongly for this writer, who also found his soul mate in his “later life.”
It’ll be back to Al Capp’s Dogpatch in late May for the musical comedy “Li’l Abner,” featuring characters from the popular 1950s comic strip. Spoofing hillbillies and national politics of the day, “Li’l Abner” will be staged in Newport from May 29 through June 28.
Performances at the center are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., with matinees Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. The theater is located at 2501 Cliff Drive in Newport Beach, and tickets are available by contacting the box office at (949) 631-0288.
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Irvine’s Concordia University, which recently produced a highly involving version of the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Proof,” has announced its schedule for the 2014-15 season.
Upcoming is Jason Robert Brown’s “Songs for a New World,” to be directed by Peter Senkbeil with musical direction by Rob Blaney. The musical program will be presented in Concordia’s Studio Theatre from Oct. 31 through Nov. 9.
Craig Lucas’ “Reckless,” which premiered at South Coast Repertory eons ago, is the next Concordia production, scheduled from Jan. 9 to 18. It’ll be followed by the stage version of the Alfred Hitchcock movie “The 39 Steps,” slated from March 20 to 29.
Two student-directed one-acts, Arthur Kopit’s “Chamber Music” and a homegrown original play, will be on stage for one weekend only, April 23 to 26. “Chamber Music,” to be directed by Concordia student Katie Foggiano, will share the bill with “Refrain and Reprise” by student Trenton Semple, directed by fellow student Jacob Schott.
Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” closes out the Concordia season. Tony Vezner will direct the production, which will be staged from May 23 to 31 in the Nelson Amphitheatre. The ticket price is right — admission is free.
Concordia University is located at 1530 Concordia in Irvine. Tickets for all performances may be reserved at https://www.CUI.edu/GOtheatre.
TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot.
