"I've been talking to our patrons throughout this last year about what they wanted to see on our stage," said Michael B. Winters, Artistic Director of ONSTAGE. "What I heard over and over again is, 'We want to laugh!' So, we're giving our audiences what they've asked for, with a little mystery and crime thrown in for fun."
"Back in February, I directed a staged reading of an adapted screenplay for MBS Productions' 7 Plays in 7 Days series," explained Hathaway. "Among the other selections was this hysterical comedy that had ONSTAGE written all over it. Joe, the play's author, was in attendance one night and we got to chatting. Lightbulbs were going off all through my brain for the show and it turns out they matched Joe's vision. He agreed to adding some new material to make it a little longer to accommodate an intermission, so the version we're premiering really is a brand new, never-before-seen work."
Major added, "Last winter, I flew in from New York to see a reading of my newest script at a festival in Addison. Little did I know I'd be meeting a lifelong friend for the first time. My conversations with Mike have convinced me that ONSTAGE is the perfect fit for my strange sense of humor. We started sharing ideas and soon we were finishing each others' sentences like obnoxious twin sisters. You don't find that kind of synergy often and it's very exciting!"
The entire season is comprised of five plays and two musicals, many new to the theater.
Complete information on our 2019 Season:
LET'S MURDER MARSHA
January 25th, 2019 - February 10th, 2019
Written by Monk Ferris.
Directed by Joe Chapa.
Rated PG
A happy housewife named Marsha, hopelessly addicted to reading murder mysteries, overhears her loving husband discussing her upcoming birthday surprise with an interior decorator. To her ears, though, it sounds like they are planning to murder her! With the assistance of her next-door neighbor, she tries to turn the tables on them with a poisoned potion. When her own mother shows up for her birthday a day early, Marsha thinks she's also in on the diabolical scheme. Add in Marsha's maid, the maid's date (a cop) and secret identities in these "I Love Lucy" style antics, you might find yourself wondering if someone will actually say, "Let's murder Marsha!"
THE APPLE TREE
March 15th, 2019 - April 7th, 2019
Book by Jerry Bock Sheldon Harnick
Additional Book Material by Jerome Coopersmith
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Bock Sheldon Harnick
Based on stories by Mark Twain, Frank R. Stockton and Jules Feiffer
Directed by Ben Phillips
Rated PG-13
The Apple Tree is made up of three mini-musicals: "The Diary of Adam and Eve", a quirky, touching spin on the tale of the world's first couple, adapted from Mark Twain's "Extracts from Adam's Diary"; "The Lady or the Tiger?", a rock and roll fable set in a mythical barbarian kingdom, which explores the fickleness of love; and "Passionella", based on Jules Feiffer's offbeat Cinderella-story about a chimney sweep whose dreams of being a "glamorous movie star" nearly sabotage her one chance for true love. This witty charming musical is from the brilliant songwriting team behind Fiddler on the Roof and She Loves Me.
WAIT! AREN'T THEY DEAD?
May 10th, 2019 - May 26th, 2019
**WORLD PREMIERE! **
Written by Joe Major.
Directed by Mike Hathaway
Rated PG-13
Washed-up movie star Barbara Bankhead, desperate for a comeback, travels to Louisiana with her germaphobic assistant in hopes of persuading her retired rival, Lana Fontaine, to star in a film with her. Desperate for cash to save her decaying family estate, Lana reluctantly agrees, but only on the condition that she receive first billing. When Barbara refuses, Lana holds Barbara prisoner in her home until her demands are met. Meanwhile, a newspaper reporter stumbles upon a murderous secret in Lana's past. Can he use it to become the key to saving Barbara from second billing? This hilarious spoof of the 60's "Hag Horror" films mixed with real-life inspirations stars the comedy duo of Sherry Etzel and Lana K. Hoover!
ALONE TOGETHER
June 28th, 2019 - July 14th, 2019
Written by Lawrence Roman.
Directed by Liz J. Millea
Rated PG-13
After 30 years of seemingly endless child rearing, George and Helene's kids have finally left the nest - the youngest of three sons having just left for college. Now the middle-aged couple are finally alone together and have time to renew their romance that has suffered while raising the family. Or so they think. Within a week, all three sons come running back home after experiencing some hard knocks in the real world. Complicating matters further is the arrival of retro flower child Janie who, unbeknownst to George and Helene, has been invited by departing son Keith to occupy his vacant bedroom. Mom and Dad have to put all their combined skills into pushing the kids out of the nest...again!
I HATE HAMLET
August 16th, 2019 - September 1st, 2019
Written by Paul Rudnick
Directed by Bill Sizemore
Rated PG-13
Andrew seems to have it all: celebrity and acclaim from his starring role in a hit television series; a rich, beautiful girlfriend; a glamorous, devoted agent; the perfect New York apartment which once belonged to John Barrymore; and the chance to play Hamlet in Central Park. There are, however, a couple of glitches: his series has been canceled and he has no desire to play Hamlet. When Andrew's agent visits him, she reminisces about her brief romance with Barrymore many years ago which prompts a séance to summon his ghost. From the moment Barrymore returns, in full Shakespearean garb, Andrew's life is no longer his own. The laughs are nonstop as Andrew wrestles with his conscience, Barrymore, his sword, and the fact that he really hates Hamlet!
NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY
October 4th, 2019 - October 27th, 2019
By Douglas Cohen
Directed by Alex Krus
Rated PG-13
Detective Morris Brummell and actor Christopher "Kit" Gill have much in common: both dream of success headlined in The New York Times and contend with overbearing mothers. Morris shares an apartment with his mother, Flora, while Kit's mother, Alexandra, a recently deceased theatrical star, continues to haunt him. To make a name for himself, Kit becomes a serial killer and Brummell is assigned to the case! Will the detective solve the string of murders before his new girlfriend, Sarah, becomes the latest victim? And more importantly, can she win the approval of Flora? Watch a cast of four assume a host of identities in this very funny musical based on the hit novel and film of the same name!
MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET
December 6th, 2019 - December 22nd, 2019
Written by Tom Dudzick
Directed by Seth Johnston
Rated PG-13
Meet the Nowaks of Buffalo, NY. Clara and her three grown kids have always known they were special, ever since the miraculous night in 1942 when the Blessed Mother appeared to Grandpa in his barbershop! Since then, the neighborhood has looked upon the Nowaks' 20-foot commemorative shrine as a beacon of hope and faith amidst the urban rubble. And now daughter Ruth unveils her plan to write and star in a one-woman show about the family miracle so the "whole world will know!" However, as her plans for theatrical immortality unfold, the entire family's faith is shaken to the very core when a deathbed confession causes the family legend to unravel. The results are heartfelt and hilarious!