GUNTERSVILLE — Few experiences embody culture like a night at the theater and enjoying a live stage show in your own neighborhood is second to none.
Community theater is an important social fabric for local thespians and the local communities for which they perform. North Alabama boasts several long-running and accomplished community theater programs that attract talented actors and actresses, as well as devoted patrons of the arts.
The Whole Backstage Theatre – Guntersville
The oldest continually running theater in North Alabama, currently in its 49th season, The Whole Backstage exists solely through the support of its patrons. An all-volunteer non-profit organization, the theater hosts several community shows throughout the year, including an annual summer musical for youth. “Willy Wonka Jr. the Musical” runs today through Sunday. The cast and crew are made up entirely of children, ages 18 years and younger.
The rest of the 2022-2023 season is as follows:
“To Kill a Mockingbird”: Sept. 30 – Oct. 9
“Black Tie Christmas”: Dec. 8-11
“Cheaper by the Dozen”: Jan. 27 – Feb. 5, 2023
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”: April 14-23, 2023
“Into the Woods”: June 16 – 25, 2023
Tickets can be reserved by visiting The Whole Backstage online or by calling 256-582-7469.
Shoals Community Theatre – Florence
Shoals Community Theatre is a nonprofit “working to enrich, educate and entertain through theatrical production,” according to its website. The historic 75-year-old theater in downtown Florence features a full season of theatrical performances, concert series, movie screenings and guest lecturers.
Upcoming shows for the 2022-2023 season are as follows:
“9 to 5, the Musical”: Aug. 11-14
“Any Number C”an Die: Oct. 20-23
“The Red Velvet Cake War”: Jan. 19-22, 2023
“Snow White”: March 16-19, 2023
“Side by Side by Sondheim, a Musical Celebration”: April 13-16, 2023
Reserve tickets online or by calling 256-764-1700.
The nonprofit community theater showcases local talent in a wide variety of productions. Theatre Huntsville’s vision is “to enrich the community through the shared experience of live performing arts as North Alabama’s premier regional theatre company.” Upcoming shows during the 25th season are as follows:
“Dreamgirls”: Sept. 16-25
“God of Carnage”: Oct. 14-22
“A Christmas Story”: Nov. 11-20
“Clue on Stage”: Jan. 20-29, 2023
“Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind”: Feb. 10-18, 2023
“Stick Fly”: March 17-26, 2023
“In Love and Warcraft”: April 21-29, 2023
“Monty Python’s Spamalot”: June 9-25, 2023
Rocket City Playwrights’ Series: Aug. 19, 2023
Email [email protected] or call 256-536-0807 for tickets.
The Lighthouse Theatre Company – Albertville
An educational, nonprofit organization, The Lighthouse Theater Company was developed to share the arts with children in the community. The theater hosts classes, workshops and summer camps for kids of all ages and abilities.
This summer, camps included “Newsies, Jr.”, “Around the Campfire,” “Creative Arts Camp,” and “Aladdin Kids”. The last camp of the summer, “Footloose the Musical”, is for Advanced Musical Theater students and will run July 25-29.
Auditions for “Princess Sing-a-Long” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer the Musical” will be July 23. Registration for fall classes, which start Aug. 16, can be found online.
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