Summer Theater Comes Alive

There’s plenty of offerings for Rhode Island theatergoers this summer. Matunuck’s Theatre by the Sea begins its season with The Buddy Holly Story June 1 through 19. The show follows the journey of rock legend Buddy Holly’s rise to the top of the record charts during the golden days of rock ‘n’ roll in this tribute musical. Michael Siktberg stars as Buddy Holly and Albert Jennings plays Richie Valens. Next up is the beloved West Side Story, which runs June 22 through July 16. The Wizard of Oz follows on July 20 through August 13, and the hit musical Sister Act, featuring a chorus of singing nuns, closes out the season from August 17 through September 4.

Warwick’s Ocean State Theater Company is presenting two musicals. Damn Yankees will be performed July 6 through July 24, and the Tony-award winning Avenue Q from August 3 through August 21.

Warren’s 2^nd Story Theater will present Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays With Morrie from June 3 through June 24. The show stars Jeff DeSisto and Jay Burke. Harold and Maude, about the relationship between a 19-year-old man and an elderly woman, will be performed July 1 through July 24. The Sunshine Boys, from playwright Neil Simon, closes out the season from August 5 through August 28.

Pawtucket’s Mixed Magic Theatre will present Free Man of Color June 16 through June 26. The Black Women’s Play Festival will be held at Mixed Magic June 14 through June 29.

The Community Players are performing Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias from July 8 through July 17. The show will be performed at Jenks Auditorium in Pawtucket.

Wakefield-based Contemporary Theater Company performs The Fantasticks, a classic twist on Romeo and Juliet that explores the heartbreak and passion of young love. The music is by Harvey Schmidt, with a book and lyrics from Tom Jones, and the show runs from June 10 through July 2. Neil Simon’s classic farce Rumors follows from July 8 through August 13. Slamming Doors: An Improvised Farce is a full-length improvised play. Performances run from August 19 through September 3. In addition, there will be two outdoor Shakespeare productions at CTC: Comedy of Errors in July and Antony and Cleopatra in August. Comedy of Errors features hilarious mistaken identities that unravel as twins separated at birth are reunited, and Antony and Cleopatra follows the tumultuous love of Mark Antony and Cleopatra through war and tragedy.

Epic Theatre Co. is presenting The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood June 3 through 18. July will feature The Bedroom Plays by Kevin Broccoli. All 10 plays will be set in a bedroom. Broccoli notes each play “gets progressively racier.”

“If you stay for all 10 plays, you win a prize — or just bragging rights,” Broccoli said.

In August, Epic will feature The Boys of St. Matthew’s Present “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” based on the novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclo.

The 11^th Annual One Act Play Festival will be held at Theatre 82 in Cranston from July 22 through August 13. Original and new one act plays of all genres are presented in two 2-week “Waves.”  Wave 1 July 22-30, Wave 2 Aug 5-13. For more information, go to artists-exchange.org/theatre82.

Encore Repertory Company is performing the family musical Seussical, based on the works of Dr. Seuss, at the Stadium Theater in Woonsocket on August 20 and 21.