By Mike Cook
Las Cruces Community Theatre’s (LCCT) 60th season promises to be a great one, with four outstanding musicals, a classic stage play that became a popular movie and the much-loved One Act Play Festival in the lineup. Four of the shows are LCCT revivals.
Here is LCCT’s 2022-23 season:
- “Nunsense,” book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin, Aug. 5-21, directed by New Mexico State University Theatre Department Head Wil Kilroy. This production marks the return of “Nunsense” to LCCT, where it was one of the most popular productions of all-time. The story follows the Little Sisters of Hoboken as they stage a fundraiser to pay for the burial of the last four nuns (currently in cold storage) of their order who died of botulism in an unfortunate convent cooking accident. The show opened off-Broadway in 1985 and ran for 3,672 performances. “Nunsense” was first performed at LCCT during its 1992-93 season, with a number of sequels following.
- “Steel Magnolias,” by Robert Harling, Sept. 30-Oct. 16, directed by Greg Thompson, a freelance writer, director, actor and instructor who made his directorial debut in Las Cruces with LCCT’s 2019 production of “God of Carnage.” The action is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done. The play, based on the real-life experiences of the playwright, opened off-Broadway in 1987, became a major motion picture in 1989 and opened on Broadway in 2005. This is another LCCT revival, as “Steel Magnolias” was performed at LCCT during its 1991-92 and 2012-13 seasons.
- “Elf, the Musical,” Dec. 1-18, directed by LCCT Board president and veteran actor/director Janet Beatty-Payne. Buddy is a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of toys and is transported to the North Pole where he is raised as an elf. With Santa’s permission, Buddy travels to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. With music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Bequelin and book by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan, the musical opened on Broadway in 2010. It is based on the 2003 movie.
- “Matilda, the Musical,” Feb. 10-26, 2023, directed by long-time Las Cruces director and actor Michael Wise, who is production stage manager for the NMSU Theatre Department. The daughter of abusive parents who also suffers at school at the hands of a cruel headmistress, Matilda finds refuge in library books, from which she creates her own stories. The musical is based on the 1988 children’s novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. The stage version was adapted by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. It opened on Broadway in 2013 and received a Tony award for best book of a musical.
- One Act Play Festival, March 17-26, 2023. The festival will feature original plays by local playwrights. There is no charge to attend any performance, but donations will be accepted.
- “Gypsy,” June 2-18, 2023, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents, directed by Las Cruces actor/director Constance Hasapopoulos. “Gypsy” is Gypsy is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of burlesque entertainer and stripper Gypsy Rose Lee (1911-70), and focuses on her classic stage mother, Rose. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1959, with revivals in 1974, 1989, 2003 and 2008. It was made into a film in 1962. “Gypsy” was nominated for eight Tony awards in 1960. It won Tonys for best lead actress in 1974; best revival and lead actress in 1989; and lead actress, featured actor and featured actress in 2008. “Gypsy” won Grammys for best musical theatre album in 1960, 1991 and 2008. This is another LCCT revival; it was previously performed during LCCT’s 2003-04 and 1973-74 seasons.
Season passes are $68 for adults and $56 for seniors, students and military if purchased before Aug. 1 (a 20 percent discount), and $76 for adults and $63 for seniors, students and military if purchased Aug. 1-5 (a 10 percent discount).
For individual shows, tickets are $17 for adults; $14 for seniors, students and military; $10 for children ages 12 and under; $5 for student rush tickets; 10 percent discount with the purchase of six or more tickets; 20 percent discount for the purchase of 10 or more tickets for a single performance.
To purchase season passes and show tickets online and for more information, visit www.lcctnm.org.
LCCT is located at 313 N. Main St. Downtown.
Call 575-523-1200.
