The Williamsburg Players are offering a delightful romp with “Peter and the Starcatcher,” running Friday through June 16 in the Hubbard Street theater.
Written by comic author and columnist Dave Barry and suspense writer Ridley Pearson, the multi-Tony winning play-musical is a version of the familiar Peter Pan story, with references that helped set the story and characters in J.M. Barrie’s “Peter and Wendy.” Essentially, it’s a look at characters that inspired creation of the characters from childhood.
The story focuses on an orphan and his playmates who are being shipped from Victorian England to a far-away island ruled by a not nice evil king. While on the ship, they discover a curious, even mysterious, trunk hidden in the captain’s cabin, which connects to the boys being discovered by a young Molly, who is training to be a starcatcher and figures out the trunk contains starstuff — a celestial substance so powerful that it can never end up in evil hands. Of course, the ship is captured by the evil Black Stache and pirates and all forms of havoc ensue.
It’s designed for adventurous twists and turns and lots of humor.
Former Players President Neil Hollands directs. For a full schedule of performances and dates and prices, visit williamsburgplayers.org. Generally, the shows are Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 757-229-0431.
Williamsburg Contemporary Arts Center
The Williamsburg Contemporary Arts Center is offering its first exclusive Members’ Photography Show in which member photographers can display a larger body of work than usual to give visitors a more in-depth look at personal styles and capabilities. The show will be open from June 5 through July 19.
According to Apryl Altman, artistic director and program chair, “… although we’ve held short, immersive ‘photography extravaganzas’ in the past, this show will be larger and different,” with entrants displaying up to four photographs that express individual approaches to photography. “All have different styles and levels of expertise, and we are really looking forward to focusing exclusively on this medium in our Main Gallery,” Altman said.
Concurrently running in the Fireside Gallery will be “Myths and Legends,” a thematic showcase of two- and three-dimensional interpretive artwork by members. The Artisan Corner is also open and includes jewelry, sculptures, pottery, fiber art and other three-dimensional artworks. All artwork is for sale. WCAC is located in the blue building at 110 Westover Ave. Hours are 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, go to visitwcac.org or call 757-229-4949.
Sounds of Summer concert series
Yorktown’s Sounds of Summer concert series begins June 6 at Riverwalk Landing in Historic Yorktown. The free Thursday night concerts are from 6:30-9 p.m. through Aug. 15 (except July 4).
The Uptown Band kicks off the event on June 6, followed by a lineup that includes rock-n-roll, R&B, pop, beach and country music.
Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and small coolers. Free parking is available in designated lots. The Yorktown Trolley runs until 9:30 p.m. during every concert. For more information, visit visityorktown.org.
Opera in Williamsburg and Met HD broadcasts
If you were among the many who attended Opera in Williamsburg’s recent and quite excellent sold-out productions of “The Tales of Hoffmann” that offered dynamite singing by a superb cast — several with Met Opera credentials — and yearn for more, more is on the way via the Met.
The Movie Tavern on High Street will continue its much-appreciated support of the Metropolitan Opera’s “Live in HD” broadcasts with four summer special re-broadcasts. The performances start at 1 p.m. and advance tickets are now available. Go to metopera.org/Season/In-Cinemas/Theater-Finder and enter “Williamsburg, VA.”
On tap will be Puccini’s “La Boheme” (from 2018) on July 24 and Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” (from 2014) on July 31; Puccini’s “Turandot” (from 2016) Aug. 7 and the Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess” (from 2020) Aug. 14.
This is a chance to see and study close-up expressions of the singers, which adds dimension to the moment. These are great experiences that find audience members cheering arias and curtain bows.
Opera in Williamsburg’s founder and artistic and general director Naama Zahavi-Ely deserves credit for bring opera to town while providing the stimulus to expanded operatic joy via the Met HD broadcasts.
Have information about the arts in the Historic Triangle? Contact John Shulson at johnshulson@gmail.com.
