Curtains Up

For the past two years, uncertainty has filled local stages, with theater groups weighing their ability to present performances to indoor audiences.

But these troupers never lost their spirit — and now, area theater is back in the spotlight! Audiences were delighted this winter to see their favorite thespians on stage at Theatre at the Mount (although with reduced capacity in the auditorium), and are looking forward to a new season in North Central Massachusetts.

Ready for some live entertainment? Here it comes!

The Hubbardston Community Theater, whose goal is to provide a theatrical experience to children and families throughout the community, has scheduled March productions of a Disney show, My Son Pinocchio, Geppetto’s Musical Tale at the Barre Players Theater. The production is a retelling of the children’s book, The Adventures of Pinocchio, but the story is told from Geppetto’s perspective. When Pinocchio runs away to become a star in a traveling show, Geppetto must negotiate through a maze of adventures and comic encounters to find him. The show runs on March 18-20; see hubbardston-communitytheatre.com for ticket information.

The New Players Theatre Guild has scheduled Women in Jeopardy at in late March and early April at its Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Fitchburg. Picture it: Thelma and Louise meets The First Wives Club in this fun and flirtatious comedy. Divorcées Mary and Jo are suspicious of their friend Liz’s new dentist boyfriend. He’s not just a weirdo; he may be a serial killer! Visit NPTG.org for tickets.

In April, Theatre at the Mount will present Something Rotten!, a hilarious new comedy that tells the story of two brothers, both playwrights, who are stuck in the shadow of Renaissance rockstar Will Shakespeare. When a soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing ad acting at the same time, the brothers set out to write the world’s very first musical. With its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul, Something Rotten! is an uproarious dose of pure Broadway fun! The show runs on weekends, April 22 through May 1, at Mt. Wachusett Community College in Gardner.

The troupe at the Mount returns in August, with Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville. Rachel takes best friend Tammy on a bachelorette getaway to Marley’s less than stellar Margaritaville resort, their arrival unexpectedly upending the world of bar headliner Tully and best friend Brick who are used to wining and dining the revolving door of single women arriving on the island each week. It’s a classic case of boy meets girl, girl is unimpressed, and boy does everything he can to win her over, while their two best friends fall for each other — all told through the familiar music of Jimmy Buffett. For ticket information on the Theatre at the Mount shows, visit mwcc.edu/tam.

As the season evolves, more curtains are likely to rise around the region, including performances by the venerable Stratton Players, who have been trodding local boards since 1925 (strattonplayers.com) and the Barre Players (barreplayerstheater.com). Check their websites throughout the season, to see what’s on the playbill!  §