By Marybelle Tuten
Ruston Community Theatre has announced the 2023-34 production season.
After months of reading scripts, planning to develop a season, and keeping its audience in mind at all times, the season will open Oct. 12 with “Anne of Green Gables,” directed by Mary Watkins and sponsored by the Children’s Shoppe.
“Anne of Green Gables” is a story of the Cuthberts, Marilla and her brother Matthew, who hope to adopt a boy to work on their farm. Imagine their surprise when a precocious, freckled, red-headed girl arrives instead. Show dates are Oct. 12-15.
The Christmas production “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” will be performed Nov. 30 through Dec. 3. Tami Alexander will direct this show, which is sponsored by Century Next Bank. The story centers on six misfit children who volunteer to star in their town’s Sunday school Christmas pageant and end up teaching the town the true meaning of Christmas.
The spring show, originally developed in Natchitoches, is “Steel Magnolias” and will be performed April 18-21. Directed by Mary Watkins and sponsored by Green Qube, this comedy/drama tells the story about the bond a group of southern women share and how they cope with the death of one of their own.
The summer Chumley Musical will feature the Broadway production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” directed by Dee Alexander. The performance dates are July 18-21. The story centers around a milkman in the village of Anatevka who attempts to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences encroach upon his family’s lives.
All regular season productions are performed at the Dixie Center for the Arts.
In addition, Ruston Community Theatre will offer special performances of the “Sanders Family Christmas” at the Meeting and Rehearsal Center of RCT (the MARC) on East Georgia Nov. 9-12. On Christmas Eve in 1941, the Sanders family returns to say a bittersweet goodbye to their only son who is shipping out with the Marine Corps. However, before he leaves, the Sanders are headed to a Christmas celebration at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. It is a rousing, hilarious, gospel sing-along directed by Dee Alexander and sponsored by Argent Financial Group.
Two youth productions will be featured this season. The first, “Descendants,” will be performed Feb. 22-25. “Descendants” is a musical fantasy showcasing the teenage children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Jafar and Cruella de Vil. The show will be directed by Tami Alexander and is sponsored by Origin Bank.
The summer youth musical, “Annie,” is sponsored by a Pledge 10 Grant from Jonesboro State Bank and is directed by Steele Moegle. Annie has lived a “hard knock life” until this spunky red-headed orphan is taken in by a rich eccentric. This Broadway musical follows the adventures of Annie.
For more information, visit rctruston.org or by call 318-595-0872.
