Theatrically Speaking for March & April 2020

The theatre scene is bursting with fabulous productions this season.
Here are my top picks.

By Nancy Churnin

Little Women
Presented by Dallas Theater Center at Kalita Humphreys Theater
Fresh off the appearance of Greta Gerwig’s interpretation of Little Women on the big screen, local audiences can see Kate Hamill’s take on the Louisa May Alcott novel about four sisters growing up during the Civil War, directed by Sarah Rasmussen.

Where: Kalita Humphreys Theater | 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd., Dallas
When: Now through Sun. March 1
Web: dallastheatercenter.org

Hans & Sophie
Presented by Amphibian Stage Productions in Fort Worth
Director and Fort Worth native Illana Stein, Austin native Deborah Yarchun and actor Sean Hudock drew from the book The Heart of the White Rose for this premiere about the real-life brother and sister that built a resistance movement against Hitler in Nazi Germany.

When: Now through Sun. March 1
Web: amphibianstage.com

Madame Bovary
Presented by Undermain Theatre
Producing artistic director Bruce DuBose directs the regional premiere of Adrienne Kennedy’s adaptation of Gustave Flaubert’s novel about a woman longing for a life she can’t have.

When:  Now through Sun. March 8
Web:  undermain.org

Funny, You Don’t Look Like a Negro
Presented by Theatre Three
This company continues with its mission to produce and promote new work by local theater artists with Denise Lee’s raucous, interactive new comedy about how biases and preconceptions can complicate the simple act of how we talk to each other.

Where: Theatre Three | 2800 Routh St., Dallas
When:  Now through Sun. March 15
Web: theatre3dallas.com

The House on Mango Street
Presented by Cara Mia Theatre at Latino Cultural Center
A young Latina girl tries to make sense of her place in the world in this Amy Ludwig play adapted from the book by Sandra Cisneros.

When:  Now through Sun. March 8
Web: caramiatheatre.org

Mlima’s Tale
Two-time Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Lynn Nottage tells the story of an elephant and the ivory trade.

Where: Second Thought Theatre at Bryant Hall, Kalita Humphreys campus, Dallas
When: Through Sat. March 14
Web:  secondthoughttheatre.com

Come From Away
The North Texas premiere of the uplifting Broadway musical about the kind people of Gander who cared for passengers and crew trapped in their small town after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 features Dallas favorites Chamblee Ferguson and Julie Johnson.

Where:   Dallas Summer Musicals, Music Hall at Fair Park, Dallas
When:   Tues. March 10 – Sun. March 22
Web:  dallassummermusicals.org

The Children
The regional premiere of Lucy Kirkwood’s Tony-nominated play about a pair of retired nuclear scientists that receive an unexpected visit from a former colleague.

Where:   Stage West, Fort Worth
When:   Thurs. March 12 – Sun. April 12
Web:  stagewest.org

A Critical Case of Murder
Someone is murdering theater critics one by one in Kurt Kleinmann’s comedy murder series, which recreates the feeling of a live radio broadcast of the 1930s and 1940s.

Where:   Pegasus Theatre’s RadioVizion, Lochwood Library, Dallas
When:   Thurs. March 12 – Sat. March 28
Web:  pegasustheatre.org

The Wiz
The newest professional theater in the metroplex presents the jubilant Tony Award-winning  The Wiz, a contemporary twist on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a rock, gospel and soul-infused score.

Where:   The Firehouse Theatre, Farmers Branch
When:   Thurs. March 19 – Sun. April 5
Web:  thefirehousetheater.com

The Women Who Compose for Broadway
How many women can you name who composed for Broadway? The answers will come quickly after seeing this new show created by actor, director and University of North Texas professor Marjorie Hayes. Enjoy incredible music and learn about the challenges and triumphs behind the notes.

Where:   Bishop Theatre Arts Center, Dallas
When:   Fri. March 20 – Sun. April 5
Web:  bishopartstheatre.org

American Mariachi
A young woman caring for her ailing mother is inspired to start a mariachi band in the 1970s when that’s something that women don’t do. This play, by Jose Cruz Gonzalez is a co-production with the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.

Where:   Dallas Theater Center, Wyly Theatre, Dallas
When:   Sat. March 21 – Sun. April 5
Web:   dallastheatercenter.org

Cement City
This world premiere commission by Bernardo Mazón Daher explores how the West Dallas community, Cemento Grande, came to be.

Where:   Teatro Dallas, Latino Cultural Center, Dallas
When:   Thurs. March 26 – Sat. April 11
Web:  teatrodallas.org

Fun Home
Expect this company and the intimacy of the Kalita Humphreys to do well by this autobiographically inspired Tony Award-winning Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron’s musical adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel about discovering and embracing her sexuality as a lesbian.

Where:   Uptown Players, Kalita Humphreys Theater, Dallas
When:   Fri. April 10 – Sun. April 26
Web:   uptownplayers.org

Pipeline
A provocative play by actress and playwright Dominique Morisseau. Winner of the MacArthur “genius” grant, about an African American mother torn between her commitment to public education and desire to give her son the advantage of private school.

Where:   Dallas Theater Center at the Wyly Theatre, Dallas
When:   Fri. April 10 – Sun. May 3
Web:   dallastheatercenter.org

The Elephant Man
Bernard Pomerance’s Broadway play inspired by the life of Joseph Merrick, who was known for his deformed body, offers an acting challenge for the performer who portrays the deformity of Merrick, here called John Merrick, with acting rather than prosthetics.

Where:   Theatre Three, Dallas
When:   Mon. April 13 – Sun. May 3
Web:   theatre3dallas.com

I Am My Own Wife
The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning one-man play by Dallas’ own Doug Wright tells the true story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, who survived the Nazi and Communist regimes in East Berlin as a transgender woman.

Where:   WaterTower Theatre, Addison
When:   Fri. April 17 – Sun. May 3
Web:   watertowertheatre.org

Something Clean
The regional premiere of Selina Fillinger’s play tells the story of a wife and mother struggling to keep her home and family together.

Where:   Circle Theatre, Fort Worth
When:   Thurs. April 23 – Sat. May 16
Web:   circletheatre.com