Thursday, Jun. 25, 2009

Children's play at Looking Glass is a diamond in the rough

Youngsters can enjoy "A Whole New World" in Lebanon tonight through Sunday when the Looking Glass Playhouse presents "Aladdin Jr."

It's the troupe's annual children's production, a bewitching visit to Agrabah, the City of Enchantment, where "every beggar has a story and every camel has a tail." All your favorites will be there in this condensed version of the Disney classic filled with magic, mayhem and music.

Kenny Manness stars as the young street urchin who falls in love with Princess Jasmine (Amy Blood) even as he sets off on a quest to find a fabled lamp with a powerful genie (Caitlin Wade) before the evil Jafar (Ben Matay) can.

Other familiar faces include Iago (Leslie Symonds), the Sultan (Jeff Johnson), Razoul (Hayden Holloway), faithful Abu (Ethan Christopher), and the magic carpet (Bre Ecker and Emily Taylor.

Kathleen Dwyer will direct the large cast during performances at 7:30 tonight through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $6, and reservations are strongly encouraged by calling 537-4962. The theater is at 301 W. St. Louis St.

'Bye Bye Birdie'

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will try to help you put on a happy face when it closes the curtain on "Bye Bye Birdie" tonight through Sunday.

You've got a lot of livin' -- and laughin' -- to do in this 1950s satire based on Elvis Presley's induction into the Army. This time, teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie (a takeoff itself on Presley rival Conway Twitty) is leaving for the Army. But before he ships out, his staff is trying to find a lucky girl from his fan club to whom he can sing "One Last Kiss" on "The Ed Sullivan Show"

Filled with such classic Broadway tunes as "Kids" and the oft-parodied "The Telephone Hour," the show won the Tony for best musical. Show times at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday in Katherine Dunham Hall. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors; the show is not recommended for children under 8.

'Jesus Christ Superstar'

Talented youngsters from across the country will resurrect Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar" Saturday night at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows Amphitheater in Belleville.

The 7 p.m. performance will be the culmination of the 27th annual Youth Sing Praise, a weeklong summer program of music, drama and spiritual growth for high school students who want to further hone their theatrical and vocal talents.

The classic rock opera tells of the dramatic rise to fame and final days of Jesus, much of it through the eyes of his betrayer, Judas, who increasingly questions the prophet's motives. The performance is free and open to the public.

'Love, Sex & the I.R.S.'

Two struggling young musicians will find their lives taxed to the max when the Monroe Actors Stage Company (MASC) wraps ups its two-week run of "Love, Sex and the I.R.S." this weekend in Waterloo.

Matthew Mattingly, of Waterloo, stars as Jon Trachtman, who has been filing joint tax returns with his male roommate, who just happens to have the sexually ambiguous name of Leslie (Brandon Mumme, of Dupo).

When the Feds suspect hanky-panky, history's most hilarious audit ensues, filled with mistaken identities, puzzled girlfriends, an irate landlord and a surprise visit from Mom for good measure. It's all the wacky work of veteran playwrights Billy Van Zandt and Jane Millmore.

MASC will wish you many happy returns with final performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the historic Capitol Theatre at 202 W. Main St. in Waterloo. For reservations, call 939-7469 (SHOW) or buy tickets in advance at the courthouse Cafe in Waterloo or Bon Vivant Wines in Columbia.