New season brings new productions to local theaters

As Mother Nature’s curtain finally opens on spring, so too does the curtain open on new stage productions. A few shows are currently running - “Holding On ~ Letting Go” (through April 9) and “Noises Off” (through April 23), both at Spokane Civic Theatre, Liberty Lake Theater’s “The Wizard of Oz” (through April 15) and Lake City Playhouse’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” (through April 23) - and here’s a look at what’s premiering over the next few months.

April 8 - Students from Spokane Civic Theatre’s Academy program present “Murder Mystery Weekend of Doom: A Love Story.” At this murder-mystery weekend, twelve guests are hoping to solve a fake murder to win a “priceless treasure.” But then the guests themselves are murdered one by one. Tickets are $10-$15 and are available at www.spokanecivictheatre.com and from the box office at (509) 325-2507. Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard St.

April 14 - Spokane Children’s Theatre, 2727 N. Madelia St., Suite 5, presents the classic “Bye Bye Birdie,” a musical about a rock star who is going to be inducted into the Army, inspired by Elvis Presley receiving his draft notice. Through April 30. Tickets are $8-$12 and available at www.spokanechildrenstheatre.org.

April 20 - Coeur d’Alene’s Aspire Community Theatre presents the musical “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” at the Kroc Center, 1765 W. Golf Course Road, Coeur d’Alene. Through April 30. $13-$17.

April 21 - Ignite! Community Theatre, 10814 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley, will perform Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” a story of love, mischief and miscommunication, in reading stage format. Through April 23. Tickets are $5 and are available through www.brownpapertickets.com.

April 21 - Stage Left Theater, 108 W. Third Ave., presents “Arcadia,” a play that moves between 1809 and present day at an elegant estate owned by the Coverly family. The portions set in 1809 follow 13-year-old Lady Thomasina and her tutor, and the present-day sections follow competing scholars researching a possible scandal at the estate in 1809 involving Lord Byron. Through May 7. Tickets are $10 and are available at www.spokanestageleft.org.

April 26 - As part of “National Geographic Live!,” photojournalist Charlie Hamilton James will share his experiences photographing and buying a piece of land next to Peru’s Manu National Park, which, unbeknownst to James, included an illegal cocaine factory, and living in Yellowstone for the 2016 centennial of the National Park Service. INB Performing Arts Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Tickets are $19.50-$39.50 and are available through TicketsWest.

April 28 - Civic will present the classic Shakespeare comedy “The Taming of the Shrew.” Bianca has no shortage of suitors, but she can’t get married until her shrewish sister Katharina finds a husband of her own. Enter Petruchio, tasked with taming Katharina. Through May 21. Tickets are $27.

May 5 - Gonzaga University’s Directing II students will present their work, featuring student performers, during the One Act Festival. The work of student costume designers will also be featured. Magnuson Theatre, 502 E. Boone Ave. Free.

May 5 - Elizabeth Elwood’s “Casting for Murder” tells the story of actress Angela Benson, who inherits a fortune after her aunt is murdered. But with that fortune comes a lot of suspicion and a sinister plot, which could spell the end for Benson and her mystery writing husband. Through May 21 at Ignite! Community Theatre. Tickets are $12-$14 and are available at www.brownpapertickets.com.

May 11 - INB welcomes Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved musical “Cinderella” for six performances, including one (May 13, 2 p.m.) that will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Through May 14. Tickets are $32.50-$72.50.

May 12 - For its spring quarter production, Eastern Washington University’s theatre department will present Alan Ayckbourn’s “Bedroom Farce,” a play that follows three already troubled couples after a couple with marital miseries has interfered in their lives. Through May 20. EWU Theatre and Film Department, Theatre Program, RTV 104, Cheney.

May 19 - As it wraps up “The Taming of the Shrew,” Civic will begin its run of “Kiss Me, Kate,” a musical that was inspired by the Shakespeare comedy. When a divorced couple is cast in the lead roles in a production of “The Taming of the Shrew,” drama offstage leads to chaos onstage. Through June 11. Tickets are $24-$32 for adults.

May 19 - Spokane Children’s Theatre will present “The Jungle Book: The Musical,” based on the childhood classic by Rudyard Kipling about the adventures of Mowgli, a boy raised in the jungle and his friends Baloo, the bear, Bagheera, the panther, and Kaa, the python. Through June 11. Season ticket holders reservation beginning Friday, and public sales open April 21 at www.spokanechildrenstheatre.org.

May 19 - Christian Youth Theater puts a spin on “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” with its production of “Snow White and the Prince.” Through May 28. Kroc Community Center, 1765 W. Golf Course Road, Coeur d’Alene. Tickets are $10-$13/advanced; $10-$15/at the door.

May 25 - Spokane Falls Community College will perform Max Frisch’s “The Arsonists,” a darkly funny look at human complacency in the face of terrorism. Through June 4.

May 26 - Lake City Playhouse, 1320 E. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene, presents William Gibson’s “The Miracle Worker,” which tells the story of Annie Sullivan and her work with Helen Keller. Tickets are $21-$27 and are available at www.lakecityplayhouse.org.

June 8 - Eight one-act plays from playwrights from Spokane, Seattle, Boise, Bainbridge Island, Washington and Gig Harbor, Washington will be performed in Spokane Civic Theatre’s Firth J. Chew Studio Theatre. The plays will compete for the Festival Adjudicator Award and an Audience Choice Award. Through June 18. Tickets are $10.

June 9 - Stage Left Theater presents Horton Foote’s “The Trip to Bountiful,” a play about a group of characters from Texas who believe that a house is a fortress and how home is sometimes only an illusion. Through June 25. Tickets are $10 and are available at www.spokanestageleft.org.

June 15 - Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, 4951 N. Building Center Drive. #105, Coeur d’Alene, presents beloved musical “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” Through July 2. Tickets are $27-$49 and are available at www.cdasummertheatre.com.

June 20 - Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre presents a staged reading of Southern classic “Steel Magnolias.” $25. At the Kroc Center. $25.

June 28 - Cameron Mackintosh’s production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic “The Phantom of the Opera” will stop by INB as part of its North American tour. The 2 p.m. performance July 1 will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Through July 9. Tickets are $32.50-$77.50.