Current Season

OUR 2008-09 SEASON

A Wonderful Season!
The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and School of Theatre Arts 08-09 Season is a pageant of dreams come true; from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to angels getting their wings to winning a golden ticket, 2008-2009 promises to be a wonderful season.

Join Us
All evening shows begin at 7:30pm and matinees at 2:00pm. Please note we have moved all opening nights from Thursday to Friday. Contact the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre business office located at the corner of Division and Library in downtown Grand Rapids by phone, 616-222-6650.

Disney’s High School Musical 2
July 31, August 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 & 9

Book by David Simpatico. Songs by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil,
David N. Lawrence and Faye Greenberg, Randy Peteren and Kevin Quinn, Jamie Houston, Brian Louiselle, Andy Dodd and Adam Watts, Antoniana Armato and Tim James
Music Adapted, Arranged and Produced by Bryan Louiselle
Based on a Disney Channel Original Movie Written by Peter Barsocchini

It’s summer vacation for the Wildcats: the responsibility of jobs versus fun and free time! Troy and Gabrielle hope to have a great summer together, but Sharpay is just as determined to have Troy all to herself, so she pulls strings and tells the manager of her father’s Lava Springs Country Club to hire Troy at all costs. He does, but the cost is hiring half the school along with him, including Gabriella as the pool lifeguard! All your favorite characters plus a few new ones sing and dance in the Lava Springs Talent Show, learning the difficulty and benefits of “all for one and one for all!”

Performances:
Friday, July 31 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, August 1 @ 2pm
Sunday, August 2 @ 7:30pm
Tuesday, August 4 @ 7:30pm
Thursday, August 6 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, August 8 @ 7:30pm
Sunday, August 9 @ 2pm
Sunday, August 9 @ 7:30pm

Sleeping Beauty
August 1, 2, 5, 7, 8

By Charles Way

Once upon a time… ah, not this time. This sleeping beauty, Briar Rose, is an independent, in-your-face kind of princess whose half-witted half-dragon has ‘always got her back’. Enter the Prince, of course, and you’ve got one zany tale to tell. This is a great modern twist on an old family classic.

Performances:
Saturday, August 1 @ 7:30pm
Sunday, August 2 @ 2pm
Wednesday, August 5 @ 7:30pm
Friday, August 7 @ 7:30pm
Saturday, August 8 @ 2pm

2008-09 Completed Productions

1776
September 12-28, 2008

Book by Peter Stone, Music & Lyrics by Sherman Edwards

Our nation blazes into vivid life in a most unconventional way – through music. 1776 is a funny, insightful musical drama that tells the story of what happened at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, leading up to the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. 1776 accurately portrays the serious personal and political issues at stake – frequently in the characters' own words as recorded by these national icons at the time. Watch the birth of our nation from the perspective of our forefathers; proud, frightened, uncertain, irritable, charming, often petty yet ultimately noble figures determined to do the right thing for a fledgling nation.
Click here for photos and bios of our cast.

Bunnicula
October 17-26, 2008

Book and lyrics by Jon Klein
Based on the “Rabbit-Tale of Mystery” novel by Deborah and James Howe

Chester, the cat, and Harold, the dog, have a happy and content life, until one day their family brings home a sweet little bunny. Having found the bunny at the cinema where they were watching a Dracula film, The Monroes dub him Bunnicula. Their cat, Chester, however, is convinced Bunnicula is a vampire and attempts to get Harold to help save the Monroes from the perceived menace. Get ready for a fantastic theatre experience. This tale (or should we say, “tail”) is told from the perspective of the family pets whose wit and charm will leave you begging for bacon and a lint brush.
Click here for photos and bios of our cast.

A Wonderful Life
November 21 – December 20, 2008

Written by Sheldon Harnick, Music by Joe Rapsos
Based on the Frank Capra film, “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Set in Bedford Falls, New York in the late 1920’s through the 1940’s, A Wonderful Life is George Bailey’s story. Bailey is that guy - always putting his ambitions aside to help his fellow man. In doing so, he never achieves his own goals and comes to believe that he is a failure in life. Feeling down on himself when a crisis occurs, he is pushed to the brink. Clarence, angel second-class, comes to his aide, showing him what the world would be like if he were never born. Truly, fine family holiday fare – a holiday treat for adults and children alike.
Click here for photos and bios of our cast.

A Raisin in the Sun
January 23 – February 8, 2009

By Lorraine Hansberry

“What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a rainsin in the sun?” wrote Langston Hughes. Simple, yet, poignant, Hughes captures the struggle of the Younger family’s journey to buy their first home. Sacrifice, trust and love among family guide the audience in an exhilarating triumph over poverty and racism. After its Broadway debut, The New Your Times stated this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play “changed American theater forever.”
Click here for photos and bios of our cast.

The Producers
March 6-29, 2009

Music & Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Book by Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan

The popular award-winning, Mel Brooks musical comes to the Civic stage. Based on the Broadway smash and the Academy Award winning 1968 comedy film, The Producers, tells the story of down-on-his-luck theatrical producer Max Bialystock, former King of Broadway, and Leo Bloom, his mousy, neurotic accountant. Together they hatch the ultimate scam to raise more money than needed for a sure-fire Broadway flop and pocket the difference. To this end, they produce a musical called Springtime for Hitler written by escaped Nazi Franz Liebken. Then they get the insanely flamboyant Roger De Bris to direct. Finally, they hire as a lead actress the loopy Swedish bombshell Ulla (whose last name has over 15 syllables). As opening night draws near, what can go wrong?
Click here for photos and bios of our cast.

GRCT Traveling Troupe present: THE TALES OF MOLLY MALLOY
March 14, 21, and 28, 2009

by Sylvia Ashby

Three light-hearted tales, freely adapted from folklore, center on the clever, feisty young heroine, Molly Malloy. There are two casts who will be bringing live theatre to area elementary schools during the months of March, April and May. Thanks to generous donations from the Rosemary J. and David F. Good Family Foundation, in memory of Claire K. and Edsko Hekman, Target, and Ed and Joan Nahikian, these performances are presented free of charge.

In addition to the tour, there will be three at-home performances on the Meijer Majestic stage on Saturdays at 2:00 pm, March 14, 21 and 28. The doors open at 1:30 pm with open seating and the performance is free. There is also a performance scheduled on the Meijer Majestic stage for Festival 2009, June 6 at 11:00 am. Download The Tales of Molly Malloy study guide.
Click here for photos and bios of our cast.

The Foreigner
April 17 – May 3, 2009

By Larry Shue

Get ready for a classic comedy about mistaken identity. Set in a fishing lodge in rural Georgia, the comedy revolves around two of its guests, Charlie Baker and Englishman Froggy LeSuere. Charlie is so pathologically shy that he is unable to speak. As way of explanation, Froggy claims his companion is the native of an exotic country who does not understand a word of English. Before long, Charlie finds himself privy to assorted secrets and sinister schemes. His discoveries lead to a wildly funny chain of events where everything goes awry.
Click here for photos and bios of our cast.

Willy Wonka
May 29 – June 14, 2009

Adapted for stage from Roald Dahl’s classic film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"

Get out your golden ticket and join the world-famous candy man and his Oompa Loompas as they lead poor Charlie Bucket, the spoiled-rotten Veruca Salt, gluttonous Augustus Gloop, gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde, and television junkie Mike Teevee through a labyrinth of candied delight. A scrumptious musical theatre treat for your entire family! Watch out for Mr. Slugworth.
Click here for photos and bios of our cast.

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