Culture
Politics, Horror and Fun Come to the Peoples Bank Theatre in October
< < Back to politics-horror-and-fun-come-to-the-peoples-bank-theatre-in-octoberThe historic Peoples Bank Theatre in downtown Marietta, Ohio, (located 222 Putnam Street in historic downtown Marietta) has a dozen events on its calendar for October, including concerts, theatrical performances, political satire, a trio of Halloween classic films and a special theatre Ghost Hunt with Hidden Marietta.
A theatrical performance of Driving Miss Daisy leads off the month on Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play is brought to life on the stage of Peoples Bank Theatre by television stars Clarence Gilyard and Charlene Tilton. Gilyard’s credits include Walker, Texas Ranger and Matlock, as well as appearances in hit movies including Die Hard and Top Gun. Tilton is a veteran actress on screen, television and on stage, but she’s probably best known for playing J.R. Ewing’s spitfire daughter Lucy Ewing for 11 seasons on the television series Dallas. Tilton’s appearance as Miss Daisy at Peoples Bank Theatre marks her stage debut in the role.
The following Saturday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m., Peoples Bank Theatre will host the movie premiere of Khange tha Game, a feature-length action-thriller by local director and writer Rich Rule.
On Sunday, Oct. 9 at 3 p.m., the Marietta College Esbenshade Series presents the first of its concerts to be held at the newly-restored theatre, featuring husband and wife banjo virtuosos Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn. Fleck has been nominated in more categories than any other musician in the history of the Grammy Awards, having been nominated for 36 awards since 1986 and winning 14. All tickets for this free concert have already been reserved, with the show filling up within days of its announcement.
On Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m., off-Broadway’s “Best Family Show of 2014” comes ashore in Marietta. The Greatest Pirate Story Never Told is an improvised, interactive musical pirate adventure geared toward the young and the young-at-heart. The show has been described as “Pirates of the Carribean” meets “Whose Line is it Anyway?”
Flung into the future by a musical-loving Sea Witch, a crew of misfit pirates-turned-actors must perform the greatest pirate epic ever seen on stage. But when their script is partially obscured by a tragic squid ink accident, the crew must turn to the audience to fill in the missing bits of the plot. Cast members improvise their musical adventure, seamlessly weaving the audience suggestions into scenes, songs and more.
The cast will also be treating Marietta High School theatre students to an improvisation workshop Friday afternoon.
The following night, Saturday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. The Capitol Steps step into the spotlight for a night of political comedy that is likely to provide some much needed comic relief just three weeks before the November general election. With roots that go back to the Reagan administration, The Capitol Steps have recorded over 35 albums, including their latest, What to Expect When You’re Electing. They’ve been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS, and can be heard twice a year on National Public Radio stations nationwide during their Politics Takes a Holiday radio specials.
The Capitol Steps were born in December, 1981 when some staffers for Senator Charles Percy were planning entertainment for a Christmas party. Although not all of the current members of the Steps are former Capitol Hill staffers, taken together the performers have worked in a total of eighteen Congressional offices and represent 62 years of collective House and Senate staff experience.
On Oct. 20, Peoples Bank Theatre will start gearing up for Halloween, with a screening of the 1981 cult classic horror film An American Werewolf in London. David Naughton, Griffin Dunne and Jenny Agutter star in this contemporary story of the macabre which takes viewers from the Welsh moors to Picadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and the grounds of Windsor Castle.
On Friday, Oct. 21, V-M Charities presents a special benefit concert for Washington County foster parents and children, featuring country music star Tanya Tucker. One of the most admired and respected female vocalists in country music, Tucker’s career includes 23 Top 40 albums, a string of 56 Top 40 singles, of which 10 reached Number 1 on the Billboard charts. This August, Tucker was honored by the Academy of Country Music with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award during the 10th Annual ACM Honors. Local country music duo Steve & Beverly Pottmeyer will open for this special benefit concert.
After the lights go down, on Saturday, Oct. 22, Hidden Marietta Tour Company will lead a late-night ghost hunt beginning at 9 p.m. and limited to the first 25 people to purchase tickets. This paranormal investigation will trace the steps of some of the spookier legends of the theatre’s past in a unique tour experience.
The Halloween theme continues on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m., with a showing of the 1970s classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Audience members are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite characters and ready to do the Time Warp. Details about this participatory screening and what to bring (and not to bring) are available on the event listing at peoplesbanktheatre.com.
Friday, Oct. 28, the Peoples Bank Theatre Spotlight Series continues with a concert by songwriter and Mountain Stage Radio Show host Larry Groce, his wife Sandra Groce, and Mid-Ohio Valley singer-songwriter Todd Burge. Both the Groces and Burge are marking the release of new albums with the concert.
Grammy Nominee & Mountain Stage host Larry Groce and his wife Sandra Groce, violist with the West Virginia Symphony, have made a new studio recording called “Live Forever.” It includes three of Larry’s original songs and eight covers, mostly songs connected to Mountain Stage over the years. The recording is Groce’s first album in over two decades.
Burge’s new album, Live from Mountain Stage 2006-2015 includes 17 tracks of original material. Groce has called Burge “West Virginia’s premier songwriter”.
The following evening, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m., the River Cities Symphony Orchestra will open its new season with a Halloween Concert at Peoples Bank Theatre.
Maestro Robert Turizziani has stirred up a program of seasonally-themed music, starting with the Danse Macabre, by Camille Saint-Saëns, and including The Noon Witch, Op. 108, by Antonin Dvorak, Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished) by Franz Schubert, and Violin Concerto No. 1 by Max Bruch. The RCSO will also feature the talents of Christina Bouey as a violin soloist.
The month of October concludes with a Sunday matinee showing, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m., of the Disney and Tim Burton movie The Nightmare Before Christmas (rated PG). The stop-motion animated film follows pumpkin king Jack Skellington, bored of the usual Halloween routine, who saunters off into the woods with his dog Zero after Halloween night. Upon the break of dawn, he discovers a clearing of trees with different doors representing various holidays. The Christmas Tree door attracts his attention, and upon entrance into the world of Christmas, Jack is fascinated with this new idea of Christmas that he must absolutely share with the citizens of Halloweentown. But his merry mission puts Santa in jeopardy and creates a nightmare for good little boys and girls everywhere.
Full event details and ticket information are available online at peoplesbanktheatre.com or by calling the box office at 304-371-5152. Walk-up hours at the box office are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Friday and two hours prior to most performances.