By Mark Ambrogi
The Belfry Theatre’s 2016-17 season will feature a healthy dose of comedy and popular musicals with a dash of holiday adventure.
The season opens with “Girls of the Garden Club” from Sept. 23 to Oct. 9. It will be directed by Noblesville resident Carla Crandall.
“This is one of the first shows I appeared in (more than) 20 years ago, and one of our Belfry board members (Ginny Burt) appeared in it when I directed this show at another theatre about 15 years ago,” Crandall said. “She suggested I submit it for this season because it is such an inclusive show, well-suited for the experienced character actor as well as the novice. It is funny, well-written and everyone will be able to relate to the characters, a very funny show to start the season.”
Connie Murello-Todd will direct two plays, “Dashing Through the Snow” from Nov. 25 to Dec. 11 and the season’s final show, Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” July 28 to Aug. 6, 2017.
“’Little Mermaid’ is a show I knew the kids from 5 to 13 would love being a part of,” said Murrello-Todd, a Noblesville resident.
The Disney musical will feature the Apprentice Players. In even numbered years, ages 5-13 are featured in the summer and in odd years it’s 13 to 20 years.
Murello-Todd said there are staging challenges to both shows.
“In ‘Dashing Through the Snow’ it needs to snow on stage and with ‘Little Mermaid’ we have to go under the sea and have a ship on stage for Prince Eric to sail on,” Murello-Todd said.
Jeff Bick will direct the musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” Jan 27 to Feb. 12. That will be followed by two comedies, “The Foreigner” (directed by Dana Lash) from March 24 to April 9 and “Perfect Wedding” (directed by Elaine Wagner) June 2 to June 18.
The tickets are $18 for musicals and $15 for other plays. Tickets for children 12 and under are $12. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights, 2 p.m. Saturday matinees and Sunday matinees (Apprentice Players’ shows).
This is the 52nd season for Belfry Theatre, 10690 Greenfield Ave., the longest-running community theater in Hamilton County. For more, visit thebelfrytheatre.com.
