The greater Falls Church area becomes like a glittery theater district twice a year as each of the five high schools are blessed with superior drama departments and plenty of students knocking themselves out preparing to please their audiences.
The greater Falls Church area becomes like a glittery theater district twice a year as each of the five high schools are blessed with superior drama departments and plenty of students knocking themselves out preparing to please their audiences.
In fact, Route 7 is looking a little Broadway-ish with marquees plugging two musical classics at the proximate George Mason and George Marshall high schools. Mason is putting on the classic “Les Miserables” and Marshall the equally-memorable Broadway hit musical “Chicago.”
But the regional fare also ranges from Shakespeare to modern edgy psychodrama. At J.E.B. Stuart High, a rousing production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” begins tonight and runs through Nov. 20, while McLean High is doing Phillip C. Klapperich’s “The Terrible Tragedy of Peter Pan,” focused on “the inherent dangers of arrested development.” Oh my!
Finally, Falls Church High School is doing the grim Depression era drama, “The Diviners,” a challenging, gritty work.
The Fall “season” runs for a full month (skipping the Thanksgiving weekend) from Nov. 11 tonight at J.E.B. Stuart through Dec. 11 at Marshall. Here’s the more detailed rundown:
• “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” J.E.B. Stuart High School (3301 Peace Valley Lane, Falls Church), Nov. 11, 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 7 p.m.; Nov. 20, 2:15 p.m. This is one of the great comedy plays by William Shakespeare. The play revolves around the adventures of four young lovers, a group of amateur actors and their interactions with the fairies that inhabit a moonlit forest. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults. www.jeb.kbeasts.com.
• “The Terrible Tragedy of Peter Pan,” McLean High School (1633 Davidson Rd., McLean), Dec. 2 and 3, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 4 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Phillip C. Klapperich’s version of the familiar story of Peter Pan explores deeper into the psychological nature of child and adult minds and explores the inherent dangers of arrested development. You’ll recognize all your favorite characters such as Peter, Tinker Bell, Wendy, Captain Hook and the dreaded crocodile. It has a large cast with plenty of fun-filled visuals. Tickets are $10. www.mcleanhstheatre.org.
• “Chicago,” George C. Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church), Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. Chicago has everything you want in a musical; a classic story of fame, fortune and all that jazz, show stopping musical numbers and great dancing. Chicago is a vaudeville style review based on actual events that took place in 1924 Chicago surrounding the sensationalized trial of a young murderess. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors, $15 for adults. www.theatreatmarshall.org.
• “The Diviners,” Falls Church High School (7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church), Dec. 2-4, 7:30 p.m. A country is torn by financial hardships, struggles with personal identity and great tests of faith. As modern day as these issues may seem, they are also the ties that bind in the fictional town of Zion, Indiana during the Depression-ravaged 1930s as a wayward preacher befriends a doomed adolescent boy in the riveting drama. Tickets are $5 if purchased in advance during student lunches, $6 if purchased in advance through online ticket vendor and $8 at the door. www.fchsdrama.org.
• “Les Miserables,” George Mason High School (7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church), Nov. 18, 19, 20, 7 p.m. Les Miserables focuses on the struggles of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his experience of redemption. It is based upon the novel of Victor Hugo. The timeless musical examines the nature of law and grace, and expounds upon the history of France, politics and moral philosophy. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults. Call 703-248-5500 for more info.
