New Stage offering SchoolFest Matinee performances
JACKSON – New Stage Theatre recently announced its 2022-2023 SchoolFest Matinee performances for a season aimed to entertain audiences of all ages.
The matinee performances are part of New Stage’s Arts in Education program and part of their celebration of Season 57.
Artistic Director Francine Thomas Reynolds said Season 57 at New Stage is comprised of remarkable storytelling.
“We’re offering a season of classic and contemporary literature, which will appeal to all generations,” Reynolds said.
New Stage will offer SchoolFest Matinee performances for Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie on October 26, 28, November 1, and 3, at 10 a.m. The play tells the story of Amanda Wingfield in her cramped St. Louis apartment as she dreams of her days as a Southern debutante while worrying about the future of her aimless son and unmarried daughter. With their father absent and the Great Depression in motion, the siblings find comfort in their foibles, which only heightens Amanda’s anxiety. When a man caller arrives for dinner, the Wingfields are flooded with hope. The show is recommended for ages 12 and up due to its complex themes.
The matinee performances also include The Sound of Music on December 7, 8, 13, 14, 16, and 20, at 10 a.m. This story focuses on when a postulant proves too high-spirited for the religious life. She is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval Captain. Her growing rapport with the youngsters gradually captures the heart of the Captain and they marry. When they return from their honeymoon, they discover that the Nazis, who demand the Captain’s immediate service in their navy, have invaded Austria. The family’s narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland on the eve of World War II provides a thrilling and inspirational finale. The play is recommended for ages 8 and up.
Another play includes The August Wilson classic, Fences, which will have 10 a.m. performances on April 19, 21, 25, and 27, 2023. This play is set against the backdrop of 1950s Pittsburgh. August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama tells the story of Troy Maxson, a one-time star of the Negro baseball leagues who now works as a garbage man, holding court and expounding on life from the chair in his backyard. Troy was denied his shot at the big league due to his race, so when his son Cory wants his own chance to play ball, a question arises if Troy’s bitterness and resentment will threaten to tear their relationship apart. Fences explores the walls people build around themselves and their loved ones, while also illuminating one family’s struggles in a racist society. The show is recommended for people ages 14 and older due to its adult themes, subjects, and language.
Students can attend these SchoolFest Matinee performances for the low-ticket price of $8. They can also attend a post-performance question and answer session with the production’s casts. Attendees will receive a comprehensive study guide before the show that will include a synopsis of the play, information about the playwright, character summaries, and suggestions for classroom activities.
For reservations, call 601-948-3533, ext. 245, or email Shannon Frost at sfrost@newstagetheatre.com.