COLUMN: Five shows opening in community theaters across Middle Georgia

July is a big month for community theater in Middle Georgia with five different shows opening across Macon-Bibb, Houston and Monroe counties. Here’s a glimpse:

Theatre Macon opens “The SpongeBob Musical” today, the first time a production of the musical has been staged this side of Atlanta.

“It’s a really immersive show for the audience,” said Richard Frazier, Theatre Macon’s artistic director and director of the show. “From the moment people walk in the theater, they’re under the sea and during the show there’s a lot of audience participation and interaction. It’s a high-energy show, for sure.”

Frazier said music is a conglomeration of new songs written especially for the musical by the likes of Taylor Swift, Aerosmith, TI, Yolanda Smith and many more.

“The music is great and provides such a feeling of energy,” he said. “Then our cast of 27 does a fantastic job of bringing it all together. You just have to come see it.”

Frazier said the show is best for adults and kids aged five or more. “It’s a story for all ages, kids and adults, and it’s for people who love SpongeBob and those who don’t. It’s about finding your place in the world, believing in yourself and being content with who you are while bringing your best self to all you do.”

Times, dates, ticketing and other information can be found at www.theatremacon.org.

Warner Robins Little Theatre opens “Broadway Comes to WRLT – A Musical Revue” July 15.

“The show is a collage of 13 Broadway shows we put together with two or three songs from each show,” said its director, Corey Dinkins. “We took shows like ‘Cats,’ ‘A Chorus Line,’ and ‘Hamilton’ with their great songs and other songs like the theme from ‘The Phantom of the Opera,’ and ‘Dream Girls’ and ‘Ease on Down the Road’ from ‘The Wiz’ to make a really fun experience.”

Denkins said he’s directed two musicals and appeared in six plays with WRLT as well as appearing in Macon Little Theatre productions through the years. He said he switched from sports to being a theatre nerd while at Northside High School and got involved with WRLT before graduating. He said the first production he was involved with at Northside was “Broadway Comes to NHS” so, being a lover of musical theater, the WRLT production seemed natural for him.

One particular note about WRLT this season is that they’re celebrating their 60th anniversary of bringing dramas and musicals to the Warner Robins and Middle Georgia communities.

“It’s crazy to think WRLT has been at it that long but it’s true,” Denkins said. “In fact, it’s even more amazing for me that my auntie used to work in the barbeque place that was in the building that’s now our theater on South Pleasant Hill Road. We’re not only celebrating our 60th year but looking forward to the future with new plans and a lot of expectations.”

The show’s specific times, dates, ticketing and other information can be found at www.wrlittletheatre.com.

Macon Little Theatre also begins a production July 15 and if you’re a fan of Reese Witherspoon’s “Legally Blonde” but wish there was more singing and dancing in it then MLT has just the thing: “Legally Blonde the Musical.”

“I love this show and its string of great female characters,” said JP Haynie, MLT’s artistic director. “I don’t think anyone’s done the show around here for 10 years or more so it’s a good time to bring it back.

“The musical takes a lot from the movie but adds a lot of fun musical numbers. It is slightly PG-13 rated because there are moments it’s a bit on the adult side with some language – but really, nothing you wouldn’t see during a regular evening of TV. We’re not prohibiting kids, parents can decide.”

Haynie said Sylvia Haynie is the director of the show, Laura Voss is the musical director and Jenny Morris is handling choreography.

“These three have worked on a big summer musical together for years and are known for how well they turn out,” Haynie said.

Haynie said another highlight of the opening evening is that season tickets go on sale at the performance for the coming 2022-23 season.

Times, dates, ticketing and other information are at www.maconlittletheatre.org.

The Perry Players bring the tried and true musical “1776” to their playhouse stage on Main Street on July 21.

“It opened on Broadway in 1969 and I’ve wanted to do it for a long time,” said director Justin Carr. “It’s the story of the Declaration of Independence and all that led up to its signing and there are a lot of things people don’t realize. Most don’t know that it almost didn’t get signed due to a number of issues but the biggest one was slavery.

“Some, like John Adams, adamantly didn’t want slavery but others obviously did. In many things, there was strong disagreement and often a 50/50 split vote where Alexander Hamilton cast the deciding vote. But the founders needed a unanimous vote to OK the document and that meant painful compromises if they were to go up again King George and the military might of England. There were arguments and physical fights in all the divisiveness at the time – I don’t think people realize that – but they came to agreement, much the same way we need to today.”

You might have noticed Carr is a self-confessed history buff. And, after his discourse, he quickly noted the play is fundamentally a comedy and a good one that takes audiences through many emotions.

Carr, who came to Perry from Atlanta about 15 years ago, has been involved in vocal music and theater for years and was a co-founder of Atlanta’s Peach State Opera, a group that brings condensed versions of famous operas to communities large and small.

Go to www.perryplayers.org for information on ticketing, times, dates and other information.

Forsyth’s Backlot Players presents “Puffs” starting July 22 at their Rose Theatre in downtown Forsyth.

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, this one’s for you. If not, there’s still plenty to it to entertain. “Puffs” is billed as a comedic retelling of the Harry Potter saga from the perspective of the Puffs. “Puffs’” alternate title is “Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic.”

If none of that makes sense to you, read the books, see the play or maybe just ask almost anyone younger than you are.

The New York Times said “Puffs” is a “fast-paced romp” and Backlot officials write that, “for Potterphiliacs who grew up alongside Potter and are eager to revisit that world, ‘Puffs’ exudes a jovial, winking fondness for all things Harry.” And they say there’s at least a laugh a minute in the new look at the familiar, and beloved, Potter series of books and films.

Check out www.thebacklotplayers.org for details, ticketing and more information.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.