Central Kentucky's oldest community theatre is back for its 57th season starting this September with Agatha Christie's mystery "The Unexpected Guest." A tried-and-true balance of comedy, holiday fodder and thrillers round out the rest of the productions, which have been performed for the past 40 years at the Carriage House on Bell Court.
All shows are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday night, as well as opening night, and 2 p.m. for the Sunday matinees. Tickets for each production are available at the Downtown Arts Center box office by calling (859) 225-0370 or by visiting www.lexarts.tix.com. Season tickets are also available.
The Unexpected Guest
Sept. 10 -
27
A thriller, as well as a puzzler, set in a foggy estate in Wales, this mystery reveals a Pandora's box of loves and hates, suspicions and intrigues, and mistaken identities - in true Agatha Christie fashion. The production requires a "dead" guest with no speaking parts during the first scene, and Studio Players are trying to find a local celebrity to fill the role (hint, hint Coach Calipari). Directed by Gary McCormick.
Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol
Nov. 19 -
Dec. 6
The award-winning play by Tom Mula claims to be the real story behind Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" - the story of Jacob Marley's heroic behind-the-scenes efforts to save old Scrooge's soul (and in the process, save his own). This irreverent, funny and ultimately deeply moving story retells Dicken's classic with warmth and infectious zeal. Directed by Carly Preston.
True West
Jan. 21, 2010 -
Feb. 7, 2010
Austin is a stable, successful Hollywood screenwriter. Lee is his menacing, vagabond brother. The story of their tragicomic quest to change identities is funny and terrifying, realistic and surrealistic, and ultimately mesmerizing. Written by Sam Shepard; directed by Eric Ryan Seale.
Wait Until Dark
March 18 - April 4
Suzy Hendrix, a blind housewife, becomes the target of a sinister conman and two ex-cons searching for a mysterious doll they have traced to the Greenwich Village apartment of Suzy and her husband, Sam. As the stakes are raised and the tensions mount, Suzy realizes the only way to play fair is by her rules. Written by Frederick Knott; directed by Bob Singleton.
Run for Your Wife
May 20 - June 6
In Ray Cooney's superb example of British farce, a taxi driver gets away with having two wives in different areas of London because of his irregular working schedule. Complication is piled upon complication as the cabby tries to keep his double life from exploding.