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Molloy College’s Madison Theatre this Saturday kicks off its Signature Series, featuring a slew of musical theater favorites and fresh stories throughout the rest of spring and summer.
Six shows are set for the coming months: “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel: A Concert,” “In the Heights,” “Squirrel Screams and Other Dating Sounds,” “Xanadu,” “All Shook Up,” and “Ella: First Lady of Song.”
Tickets for all productions are priced between $40-$65 and can be purchased online at madisontheatreny.org. The theatre is located at 1000 Hempstead Ave. in Rockville Centre.
Here is a round-up of the shows, their summaries and performance dates.
‘Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel: A Concert‘
This Rodgers & Hammerstein American classic tells the story of carnival barker Billy Bigelow and a mill worker, Julie Jordan. The two meet and fall in love, but at a price.
Their marriage costs them both their jobs, and their lives begin to go downhill.
Directed by Aaron Gandy, choreographed by Lori Leshner and featuring the South Shore Symphony, the concert version of the musical includes such iconic songs as “If I Loved You,” “Mister Snow,” “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over,” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
The showings of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel: A Concert” are on May 21 at 2 and 8 p.m. and on May 22 at 3 p.m.
‘In the Heights’
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” is set in a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood, as it sits on the brink of transformation.
The audience meets a variety of residents and follows each individual’s personal struggles, as well as how these same characters come together as a community during their triumphs and losses.
The musical combines Latin rhythm and dance with hip-hop lyrics to tell the story of chasing one’s dreams while celebrating tradition and where one comes from. Directed by Stephanie Klemons and with musical direction by Daniel Sefik, “In the Heights” opens at the Madison Theatre on June 3 and runs until June 12.
Dates and their corresponding showtimes can be viewed here.
‘Squirrel Screams and Other Dating Sounds’
Online dating can be a drag sometimes, especially in a metropolis like New York City.
This play may be one to see for those who want a good laugh about social media dating and finding companionship in the new millennium.
“Squirrel Screams and Other Dating Sounds” by Lindsey Timmington is a comedy that follows loud, hard-edged Bridgie and quirky, buttoned-up Kate as they navigate the New York City dating landscape in an attempt to find someone in the spectacle of 10 guys that pass through their midtown bar.
The play is directed by Joe Ricci and stars Kaitlyn Black of TV’s “Hart of Dixie” and Josephine Rose Roberts from Broadway’s “Rock of Ages.”
The Madison Theatre presents this new work at the Lucille S. Hays Theatre at Molloy College from June 16 through July 9.
Find more information here.
‘Xanadu’
The Madison Theatre calls this Tony Award-nominated musical “hilarity on wheels for adults, children and anyone who has ever wanted to feel inspired.”
The funny, roller-skating musical is based on the book by Douglas Carter Beane and inspired by the 1980 musical fantasy film starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly.
Kira, a beautiful, Greek muse, descends from the heavens of Mount Olympus to Venice Beach, California, in 1980 in hopes of inspiring a struggling artist named Sonny to create the first roller disco.
She falls into forbidden love with mortal Sonny, and chaos ensues when her jealous sisters find out.
The iconic, upbeat tunes will have the audience dancing in their seats.
“Xanadu” runs from June 24 to July 3. Find showtimes here.
‘All Shook Up’
Inspired by the songs from Elvisl, “All Shook Up” transports the audience to 1955 in a “square little town in a square little state” where a guitar-playing young man changes everything and impacts everyone he meets.
The story is loosely based on the Shakespeare play “Twelfth Night” and jam-packed with Elvis classics, such as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”
Based on the book by Joe DiPietro, the show runs from July 15 through July 31.
‘Ella, First Lady of Song’
Starring Freda Payne as Ella Fitzgerald and written and directed by Lee Summers, “Ella, First Lady of Song” is about the remarkable story of the most popular female jazz singer in the United States and her journey from homelessness to stardom.
Payne, a soul and R&B singer, grew up listening to such jazz singers as Fitzgerald and is most known for her hit 1970 single, “Band of Gold.”
Freda is also the older sister of Scherrie Payne, a former singer in The Supremes.
“Ella, First Lady of Song” begins Aug. 18 and runs until Sept. 11.
Top: Freda Payne performing. (Facebook)
