Summer Theatre in El Paso

Looking at the theatre calender in El Paso for the month of July you will find tons of shows to satisfy any theatre appetite.

Jess and I had the pleasure of watching Avenue Q last month on the Campus of El Paso Community College at Transmountain.  The show had us laughing from start to finish and we left the theatre that evening impressed with the nice facility and talented actors and technicians that call it their home.  Director Keith Townsend has done a fine job in resurrecting this top notch theatre program.
 
Digging around I found a few other shows that we are hoping to catch this month.  Hope this info is helpful to you in your search for a great night of theatre entertainment.

Spring Awakening at EPCC

Spring Awakening” —July 26-29. Winner of 8 Tony Awards including the awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score. With a ravishing rock score by Duncan Sheik, this brave new musical restores the mystery and thrill to the shattering transformation that stirs in each soul, sometime around age 13. Directed by Keith Townsend.
Transmountain Campus Forum Theatre on Hwy 54 (Diana exit). Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds benefit EPCC Performance Studies student scholarships. Admission: $15 ($10 non-EPCC students/military; $7 EPCC students/staff and seniors). Tickets may be reserved at the Forum Box Office at 831-5056.
No one under age 7 admitted.

Metropolis at UTEP

"Metropolis" -- The UTEP Dinner Theatre will stage the musical version of the landmark sci-fi silent film through July 22. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays (no meal). Full-price tickets range from $24 to $40, depending on the day. Discounts are available for children, students, and UTEP faculty, staff and Alumni Association members. 747-6060, academics.utep.edu/udt

‘42nd Street’ — The El Paso Independent School District’s Fine Arts Department presents its 27th annual musical production at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, July 25-28, at Coronado High School’s Ross Capshaw Theatre, 100 Champions Place. Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes, this swinging musical features music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin and book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble. Tickets: $5 ($3 students, seniors and military). Information: 760-8520.




Ruddigore

‘Ruddigore’ — The Gilbert and Sullivan Company of El Paso celebrates its 43rd season with the supernatural comic opera (aka “The Witch’s Curse”) at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 27-28, Chamizal National Memorial, 800 S. San Marcial. Tickets: $12 ($10 students, seniors and military). Information: 591-6210 or GandSelpaso.org. Sir Despard Murgatroyd is a man under pressure. He has inherited a witch’s curse forcing him to commit a crime a day or die in agony. So it’s a huge relief when shy Robin Oakapple is revealed as his long-lost elder brother – true inheritor of the curse.
day.






‘Alice in Wonderland’ – El Paso Playhouse, 2501 Montana, hosts their stage version of the Lewis Carroll classis June 29-July 21. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Directed by Stephanie Ortega. Tickets: $10 ($8 seniors, $7 military/students with ID; $5 students under 18). Information: 532-1317,elpasoplayhouse.com.

Alice at the El Paso Playhouse

Upcoming Summer Theatre Productions In El Paso

I was happy to see that a new theatre company called the Green Apple Theatre Collective is staging its first production on Friday  July 15th at the Glasbox Gallery located at 1500 Texas Avenue.  The company will be taking on the entertaining play Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks.  The play chronicles the lives of two brothers Lincoln and Booth as they try to survive and cope with women, racism, gambling, and their rough upbringing.  I applaud the Company for breathing new life into the El Paso theatre scene and wish them all the success in the world with their debut.  Check out the article by Doug Pullen of the El Paso Times that sheds more light on the company and the production.  Doug Pullen Article on Green Apple Theatre Collective




The Utep Theatre Department will be staging Urinetown The Musical as part of its dinner theatre season this month. Urinetown debuted at the New York International Fringe Festival, and then was produced Off-Broadway at the American Theatre for Actors, from May 6, 2001 to June 25, 2001. The show takes place at the Utep Dinner Theatre located at the Utep Union, West Wing.  Show runs through July 24th.  Performances are at 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30 pm July 17th and 24th.  For more information call  747-5234, or 747-6060.  Check out the article written in the El Paso Times for more details on the production. Urinetown Article in the El Paso Times

The UTEP Department of Theatre and dance will be staging the William Shakespeare Classic The Tempest from July 22nd thru July 31st.  Tickets for the show range from $8-$10 dollars. For reservations and more info call 747-5118.



The El Paso Playhouse is nearing the finish line for its run of the A Few Good Men.  I have had a great time performing with the talented cast in this first production of the 2011-2012 season for the Playhouse. The director, Darci Georges, deserves a ton of credit for bringing such a great story to life.  The show will have its final two performances on Friday July 15th and Saturday July 16th at 8pm.  To reserve your seat for the show call (915) 532-1317.  Remember to tell them Smiling Jack
Ross sent you.





The El Paso Independent School Distict will stage the musical Bye Bye Birdie at Coronado High School's Ross Capshaw Theatre July 20-23.  Curtain goes up at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are a steal at only $5 ($3 for students, seniors, and military).  The theatre is located at 100 Champions Place.




The EPCC Summer Repertory Company will conclude its 3rd annual summer season with four productions at the EPCC Transmountain Campus Forum theatre on Highway 54 (Diana exit). Tickets for the productions start at $10 ($5 for students, faculty, staff, military, and seniors).  Box office opens at 6:30 pm.  Info: 831-5056 or 831-3205.

July 14-16  Eleven: A New 1930's Musical Fable.

July 16, 23, and 30. Rodeo Mongolia: A Children's Musical (shows begin at 2pm)

July 21-22.   My Big Gay Italian Wedding

July 28-30.  The Great American Trailer Park Musical