Authentically Arlington / Cultural Arts / News
Feb 21, 2017
There’s two something(s) in the air: Springtime and music in Downtown Arlington
In Downtown Arlington, you’ll enjoy a spirited season of musical theatre this spring, courtesy of two of our favorite production companies. Theatre Arlington and the Maverick Theatre Company are bringing three high-energy productions to Downtown that are sure to get the toes tapping of everyone in your family. Don’t miss their productions of School of Rock, West Side Story, and Legally Blonde: The Musical.
School of Rock
Dewey Finn: In the words of AC/DC: We roll tonight... to the guitar bite... and for those about to rock... I salute you.
A New York Times Critics’ Pick that Entertainment Weekly called “an inspiring jolt of energy, joy and mad skillz,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock is based on the 2003 hit film of the same name. The story follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by working as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding rock band with a collective heart of gold. While teaching his prodigies to channel their inner rockers, Dewey falls for the school’s headmistress, helping her rediscover the wild child within. Theatre Arlington’s youth production of School of Rock will ensure that the spirit of rock will be with you long after the curtain call!
West Side Story
Maria: I feel pretty, oh so pretty! I feel pretty, and witty, and gay!
West Side Story has been wowing audiences since the original 1957 Broadway production, which was nominated for six Tony Awards including Best Musical. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, the story is set in the Upper West Side neighborhood of New York City in the mid-1950s. The musical explores the rivalry between two street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. The members of the Sharks, who are from Puerto Rico, are taunted by the Jets, a white gang. Tony, a former member of the Jets and best friend of the gang leader, falls in love with Maria, the sister of the leader of the Sharks. The real-world themes of love and conflict, sophisticated music and compelling dance performances marked a turning point in American musical theatre. The youthful, diverse and talented Maverick Theatre Company production further enhances a story that still rings true today.
Legally Blonde: The Musical
Elle Woods: Just last week I talked Beyonce out of buying a truly heinous cable-knit tube top. Whoever said tangerine was the new pink was seriously disturbed.
Legally Blonde: The Musical is based on a novel by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name. It tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to chase down and win back her ex-boyfriend. She discovers how her previously untapped knowledge of the law can help others, which culminates in her defense of an exercise queen (and sorority sister) in a murder trial. Throughout the story, no one has faith in Elle, but she surprises everyone when she defies expectations while staying true to herself. Theatre Arlington’s buoyant and joyful production is full of heart (including those that dot your i’s).
For tickets and more information
SCHOOL OF ROCK
Theatre Arlington Youth Musical
February 17 - March 5
WEST SIDE STORY
UT Arlington Maverick Theatre Company
March 1-5
LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL
Theatre Arlington
May 12 - June 4
About Theatre Arlington and Maverick Theatre Company
For over forty years, Theatre Arlington has provided an exciting venue for performers and technicians to practice their craft while creating a vital presence in North Texas. The Maverick Theatre Company, a part of the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Texas at Arlington, inspires the next generation of competitive and intelligent artists who carry on a tradition of quality art within the community.
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About Downtown Arlington
An official State of Texas Cultural District, Downtown Arlington, Texas blends a unique mix of activities, sights, tastes and sounds that attract visitors and locals alike. Within its less than a two-mile radius, Downtown is home to a top tier public research university, prolific fine and performing artists and arts institutions, live entertainment, exciting NCAA and professional athletics, one-of-a-kind dining and retail, and a supportive business climate. Downtown Arlington brings together a plethora of cultures and inspirations with a character all its own.