Playhouse Merced prepares for season of shows

Preparing for a year’s worth of shows is a nonstop process for the crew at Playhouse Merced, which uses the stage through the summer to prepare young thespians.

Rob Hypes, the artistic director, said this season will also mark the first that Playhouse will collaborate with Merced Theatre, where the two final shows of the season will run.

“I think our season this year hits just about everyone possible who would like to come see theater,” he said. “I think there’s something for everyone, which makes me the happiest.”

There isn’t time for planning between shows during the year, Hypes said, so the crew inside the Playhouse is doing that now. The stage is also buzzing with young people who are part of the Young Artists Conservatory.

The 12- to 18-year-olds of the conservatory are readying for “Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr.,” based on the new Broadway musical that is a high-spirited romp through 1922 New York. Those shows are Friday and Saturday.

Playhouse announced its 2015-16 season lineup of shows that feature music, comedy, holiday themes and even a horror movie adaptation. Each show offers several performances.

Aug. 28, “Evita”: The season opens with the Andrew Lloyd Webber composed musical set to the background of Argentine politics.

Oct. 2, “The Importance of Being Earnest”: Oscar Wilde’s farce is next. It’s perhaps best described by its subtitle, “A Trivial Comedy For Serious People.”

Oct. 23, “Night of the Living Dead”: This live adaptation of the classic horror film features a twist. Hypes said the end of the story replays several times as the characters walk through the consequences of the different decisions they might make.

Nov. 20, “Mary Poppins”: The family-friendly musical is a particularly large show that the Playhouse staff is still working out, Hypes said. After all, the titular character uses an umbrella to fly at will.

Jan. 8, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”: Classic “Peanuts” characters from the Charles Schulz comic strip get the live action treatment for the first show of 2016.

Feb. 5, “Hairspray”: Originally a film from John Waters, a filmmaker known to test the limits, the musical is a sweet adaptation for the whole family. It’s a romantic comedy that takes place during the racially integrating 1960s.

March 4, “Through the Looking Glass”: Playgoers will get to see what happens next to Alice in this sequel to “Alice in Wonderland.” It includes her run-ins with the Walrus and Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

April 8, “Deadwood Dick, or a Game of Gold”: This show is perhaps the most obscure of the run. The main character, for whom the story is named, is something like a Western version of Robin Hood set as a melodrama.

May 6, “Big Fish”: Originally a novel, the story has been told in a Tim Burton film from 2003 and in musical form. The father-and-son yarn revolves around a number of tall tales.

June 3, “To Kill a Mockingbird”: An adaptation of the Harper Lee novel marks the first collaboration of Playhouse and Merced Theatre. The classic is a tale featuring Atticus Finch and Boo Radley and examines racial inequality and other topics.

July 8, “1776”: What else could this be about than the signing of the Declaration of Independence? And, it plays before the patriotic spirit of Independence Day fades.

This story was originally published July 30, 2015 at 1:30 PM with the headline "Playhouse Merced prepares for season of shows."