"As the first to arrive at the City Hall space, we'll get most of the bugs ironed out," said Jane Wingard, president of 2nd Star and director of the opener, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
The first show, which runs weekends through September 27, is an evening of three award-winning one-act comedies that, she said, were designed to travel in competitions and have portable, free-standing sets.
Wingard is excited at being first in the renovated space at the Playhouse on November 14, when 2nd Star opens A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. That show runs through December 13.
FOR THE RECORD - An article in Thursday's Anne Arundel section on renovations at the Bowie Playhouse gave an incorrect date for the start of 2nd Star Productions' season-opening performance. That performance was Friday. Also, the article incorrectly stated that A Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was the group's opening play. That play is to be the first staged at the renovated Bowie Playhouse in November.
The Baltimore Sun regrets the errors.
Completing the 2nd Star season will be No Sex Please, We're British, from February 20 to March 14, and Camelot May 29 to June 27.
Bowie Community Theatre president Janice Coffey said she is grateful for Bowie for providing the City Hall space because it allows the group to produce an entire season.
"We look forward to the challenges of working in City Hall and hope the community will come and support all the theater companies," she said.
BCT has scheduled, Oct. 3 to Oct. 18, A Little Murder Never Hurt Anyone, about a man threatening to murder his wife and her determination to stay alive. BCT's winter production, running January 9 to Jan. 24 at Bowie Playhouse, will be Out of Order, a political mystery. Inspecting Carol, which puts a new twist on the old Dickens holiday tale, will close the season. That show is to run March 20 to April 4.
Roy Peterson, president of Prince George's Little Theatre, said the City Hall space presents challenges for their 49th season. But he adds, "It's far better than three years ago when we missed our first show."
PGLT's opening show in the temporary venue is The Art of Murder, a show that won the 2000 Edgar mystery play award. That show runs from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1.
Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor, based on Simon's experiences as a writer on Sid Caesar's television show, is scheduled for Dec. 19 to Dec. 28. This will be followed by what Peterson describes as "a wonderful drama about the widow of an Episcopal minister," The Moving of Lila Barton. It is scheduled for January 30 through February 14.
PGLT will close its season May 1 to 16 with the family classic, Alice in Wonderland.
