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Let the Plays Begin
The Humana Festival of New American Plays is here — February 21 through March 28 — and all Friends of Lou are invited to the “Opening Party” this Thursday, February 25.
The “Opening Party” will host food from surprise local restaurants — and by surprise we mean we know which ones, but you’ll have to come to the party to find out — and will run from 7:00 p.m. ‘til whenever.
If you want to hang out with the movers and shakers at this reception, click here to find out how you can attend.
The Festival Goes Local
Why all the celebrating? Because 2010 is the first time Actors Theatre is offering Louisvillians (and Southern Indianans) a special, all-access weekend of their own — The Humana Festival Locals Weekend.
As Oaks Day is to the Derby, the Locals Weekend is to the Humana Festival. You’ll see the plays first — before thousands of visitors from around the world! And get this: locals can attend as many plays as they want the entire weekend of March 5 for just $40.
Also, make sure you get the back of your pass stamped for each play you go to, and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win something. It could be a closing-night Actors party, it could be a complimentary night at 21c, it could be a handshake and a pat on the back. But considering you saw four never-seen-before plays for about $10 a pop, you’re already a winner.
For more details and to order your Locals Weekend pass, call the Actors Theatre box office at 502-584-1205, or click here.
Where’s the Best Place Place to See a Play in Louisville?
How about you tell the world (or at least other Friends of Lou) where you think the best place in Louisville is to experience a play? Here’s a list of the choices:
Loading ...Don’t see your favorite place on this list? Add it in the comment section below.
Did You Know…
Now in its 46th season, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the State Theatre of Kentucky, is internationally acclaimed as one of America’s most consistently innovative non-profit professional theatre companies. Founded in 1964 it’s won a host of coveted awards and worldwide recognition for excellence. These include three Pulitzer Prize winners, Pultizer Prize nominees, and the prestigious Margo Jones Award, Shubert Foundation’s James N. Vaughan Memorial Award, and the 1980 Tony Award for Distinguished Achievement. Click here to learn more about what makes Actors Theatre a great example of what’s possible here.
I like the intimacy of being at Actors, but Brown feels like mini Broadway.
What about Iroquois Amphitheater?
I love WhoDunnit plays, they are an interactive murder mystery theatre where you not only get to enjoy the show but also a three course meal from Masterson’s. http://www.whodunnitky.com/
I’m a little confused that the Bomhard is on here (twice, since it’s where Stage One performs), but not the MeX in the same building, where I’ve probably seen more plays in the last 20 years than any other venue on this list. Not to mention the Rudyard Kipling, of course, which while not built to be a performance space certainly is used quite a bit as one. Those two venues house the majority of Louisville’s independent theater. If anything, Louisville is lacking in performance spaces, and it seems strange to leave out two of the most utilized.
I’ll assume that Derby Dinner Playhouse, Clarksville Little Theatre and Little Colonel were left out because they’re not in Louisville proper. But they’re awfully close and Louisville residents sure bring them a lot of business.
I’ll assume that Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, the only outdoor theatrical experience remaining in Louisville now that Iroquois Amphitheater is empty, was left out because it’s only up in summer.
Or I’ll assume this list was hastily composed. Because it only takes in about half of what I tell visitors about when they ask me about seeing a play in Louisville.
The best place to see a play is not on your list. It’s the Alley Theater/Art Sanctuary at the Pointe in Butchertown, a new venue. They broke attendance records with their first production, “Evil Dead, the Musical” back in November. They’ve since featured many other shows on their stage – “Coma”, “Vampire Lesbians of Sodam” and “Fight Girl Battle World” to name a few. Plus burlesque shows, improv showcases, movie releases and festivals and more!
Center Stage was not on your list and they consistently produce professional and entertaining plays at a reasonable price.
G – I know, right? It feels really half-hearted. You mentioned that the Bomhard is mentioned twice because Stage One performs there. In that same vein, I really like the space the Bunbury performs in, but there’s no mention of Pandora Productions, which shares it with them. I like both companies and feel Pandora got slighted.
But are we not really rating the physical spaces? I think we are, and if so then they left out some great ones, which thankfully other people have mentioned. However, there are so many more. The Frazier, U of L’s many spaces, The Clifton Center, and on and on and on. It’s ridiculous (in a good way) how much opportunity there is to experience the performing arts in this city. Possibility city indeed. This town rocks art.