Unfortunate Update to Previous Post

The farewell production at Garbeau's Dinner Theatre is "There's a Little Bit of Broadway in Everyone." The show will run through May 17, with a special Mothers Day brunch and performance on Sunday, May 10. For reservations, call 916.985.6361. On April 3, Mark, Andrea and the Garbeau's Family announced it would close by May 31. For details, their letter is here. In addition to the Broadway show, some going-away parties near the end of May are in the works. 

Community, Politicians to Garbeau's Rescue; Thank you!

Thank you to the community and to several politicians for their support of Garbeau's Dinner Theatre, which has been in a financial crisis since February. The public stepped up by purchasing tickets, gift cards, etc., and Senators Dave Cox and Darrell Steinberg, Assembly Member Roger Niello and California State Board of Equalization Member Bill Leonard "cut through some red tape." The details are in Garbeau's recent newsletter if you want to read them. The gang at Garbeau's also is alerting everyone that there's been a change in the sequence of this season's lineup. "There's a Little Bit of Broadway" will open in April; look for "Midlife: The Crisis Musical" later in the year. What else? This is the final weekend for "I Love You Because." "Karaoke - Thursday Nights" is a permanent event on the schedule. "Johnny Appleseed" continues Saturday. And, if you'd like to use the dinner theatre facility for group meetings, non-profit events, seminars, etc., please call 916.985.6361. "We thank you again and still look forward to keeping the show going!!" wrote Mark, Andrea and the Entire Garbeau's Family. 

Let them worry about the transportation to Ashland, the hotel, the tickets - and they have!

This year's "Capital Stage Theatre, Wine and Arts Tour," a four-day event hosted by Artistic Director Stephanie Gularte and Managing Director Peter Mohrmann, will be Aug. 27-30 in Ashland. First things first - here's what you'll see at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival: "Much Ado About Nothing" in the Elizabethan Theatre; "The Servant of Two Masters" in The New Theatre; and "Equivocation" in the Bowmer Theatre. Lodging is at the Ashland Plaza Inn & Suites.  Also in the package is a backstage tour, a wine reception, a discussion with an OSF company member about one of the plays, and a trip to historic Jacksonville. And you won't have to drive, or carry your bags. The price per person is $795. 

A Compliment to Chautauqua

For an "easy-to-use, fast-to-load, just-the-facts" local theater Web site, don't you think the Chautauqua Playhouse's is the best? I'm on their e-mail notification list, and just received the e-mail about Enchanted April. There's an image, a blurb about the play, and an "order tickets here" link. And I love it when the e-mails also include a reminder about location and telephone number.  

'Ba-Bang' Opens at Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre

Intellects, political fans and history buffs are who come to mind as being the true aficionados of Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre's "Ba-Bang! or 01/20/09: the end of an error," now on stage in Midtown Sacramento. But I liked it too. A lot! Also, if you've enjoyed the Bush Legacy Project segments of MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show," it's a "must-see" for you too. Thomas M. Kelly's play, directed by Stephen Vargo, is described as a "comedic caricature of 'W.'" In it, Uncle Sam calls on God and a panel of "some of the most noted minds of the past" [including to name a few, Golda Mier, William Shakespeare and Harry S. Truman] to discuss Bush's presidency, even call for a press conference, in helping him in his "quest to create a lasting legacy." (Wait until you see Terry Chunn as Bush, in his Western garb from top to bottom, complete with guns. He's just perfect in his role.) "Ba-Bang" continues through the next three weekends, with Friday and Saturday performances at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Intermission features a fabulous dessert, coffee and tea. All performances cost $20. 

Caricature Political Comedy Opens Jan. 16 at Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre

Coinciding with the beginning of an era, Thomas M. Kelly's "Ba-Bang or 01/20/09: the end of an error!" opens at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at Midtown Sacramento's Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre. On its Web site, it's described as follows: "A caricature comedy starring 'Dubya' and some of the most noted minds of the past to help him in his quest to create a lasting legacy." (There are more details you can read online.) Here's the updated schedule: Opening Night, 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16; 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17; 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18; 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23; 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24; 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25; 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30; and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31. Tickets are $20, with dessert, coffee and tea served during intermission. 

Plays at preview prices

Now that I'm on B St. Theatre's mailing list, I receive postcards announcing their plays. Right away, I noticed the bright yellow graphic with the words, "Special Preview Price $12." I called to see what it was all about, learned that a preview is a dress rehearsal prior to the play's actual opening, and that the preview ticket price was $12. I think we saw B St.'s Rabbit Hole for a preview price, the Rabbit Hole I'd seen during the spring at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Since then, I've tried to take advantage of the previews. You should too. Check their Web site for contact information, or call 916.443.5300 - they're always really nice and helpful. P.S. I just received my postcard for Wit, which is on next as part of the B3 Series. The previews are 7 p.m. Jan. 22 and 7 p.m. Jan. 23. (However, if you don't have a postcard, you wouldn't know this since the information's not online.)