Theatre Kim's January Picks

If you made a New Years resolution to see more live theatre in 2016, Central PA theatres are making it easy to get your resolution-keeping off to a good start! From Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella at the Hershey Theatre to Arthur Miller's All My Sons at Oyster Mill Playhouse, January offers something theatrical for everyone in Central PA.

Here are my top picks in Central PA theatre this month:

1) The Laramie Project (Theatre Harrisburg)
January 8-17

This will be my first time seeing this show, but I'm really looking forward to it. I have high hopes for this to be a powerful piece of theatre that is very relevant and eye-opening. From the Theatre Harrisburg website, here's a description of the show:

In October 1998, a twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten, and left tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming. His bloody, bruised, and battered body was not discovered until the next day, and he died several days later in an area hospital. His name was Matthew Shepard, and he was the victim of this assault because he was gay. Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project made six trips to Laramie over the course of a year and a half, in the aftermath of the beating and during the trial of the two young men accused of killing Shepard. They conducted more than 200 interviews with the people of the town. Some people interviewed were directly connected to the case, while others were citizens of Laramie, and the breadth of the reactions to the crime is fascinating. Kaufman and Tectonic Theater members have constructed a deeply moving theatrical experience from these interviews and their own experiences in Laramie. THE LARAMIE PROJECT is a breathtaking collage that explores the depths to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable.

2) Court Street Cabaret (Open Stage of Harrisburg)

January 15 & 16
This is an annual favorite of mine. Stuart Landon and a handful of guests put on a great show that's always filled with good times, good tunes, and good talent. It's usually a combination of Broadway favorites and surprisingly good tunes from lesser known shows. Open Stage's intimate black box theatre is the perfect setting for this casual cabaret.

3) [title of show] (Carlisle Theatre Company)
January 22-24

No, that's not a typo. Yes, [title of show] is actually the title of this show. This musical hasn't been done in our area very often, but it's a special treat for musical theatre fans, so I was super excited when I found out that it was being done locally. It's a musical about two guys writing a musical about writing a musical. The concept sounds almost too simple, but it works. Theatre fans will enjoy an abundance of industry references and inside humor, and those not very familiar with the musical theatre industry can still enjoy the catchy modern music and humor in this show.

4) Beyond the Footlights Cabaret (Hershey Theatre)
January 23
This is, hands down, my favorite theatre event of the entire year every year. This cabaret is a benefit for the Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards, a program that recognizes local high school theatre talent. The night starts with wine, hors d'oeuvres, and a silent auction, which always includes some amazing items for theatre lovers. Then comes a delicious meal that is served ON THE STAGE of the theatre. Trust me... Dining on the stage of this beautiful theatre is just as amazing as it sounds! Following dinner, past Apollo Award nominees and recipients take the stage to perform a selection of show tunes. I've been an evaluator for the Apollo Awards since its inception in 2008, and every year I'm completely blown away by the truly outstanding talent that comes out of our local high schools! There are typically two ticket options for this event: the full experience ticket and a dessert/show only ticket.

So whether you're trying to keep a New Years resolution or simply want to catch a good performance, January is a great month for theatre in Central PA. Make sure to check out this complete listing of upcoming theatre events in the area this month.