Plum Alley Theatre, Historic State Theater

The 2010–11 season for the Hardin County Playhouse begins with a classic children’s story, lets rip with a comedy, explores the a marriage on the rocks, packs in some Christmas cheer and ends with a rip-snorting Western-themed Broadway musical.

The Hardin County Playhouse begins the season Aug. 13 with Alice in Wonderland, the classic tale penned by Lewis Carroll. Following is Daddy’s Dying -- Who’s Got the Will?, a comedy set in a small Texas town, which runs Oct. 8–17. This year’s fall fundraiser, Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, won the Tony Award for Best Play and won the vote for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The searing play runs Oct. 29–31.

Every year, the Hardin County Playhouse stages a holiday play. This year is no exception: The comedy Tis the Season runs Dec. 3–12.

After a hiatus, the Hardin County Playhouse tackles Leading Ladies, a new comedy by Ken Ludwig which recounts the hilarious cross-dressing attempt of two unemployed actors to obtain a legacy from an addled aunt. The show runs from Feb. 11–20. That’s followed by the riveting drama Agnes of God, which runs April 8–17. Agnes, a mentally fragile novice nun gives birth to a child, who dies; Agnes insists that she, like the Virgin Mary, was visited by the Holy Spirit. Is it a miracle? Or madness? 

Closing the season and running June 3-12 is one of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most popular musicals, Oklahoma! The 1943 Broadway show marked the first collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and the musical proved so popular that it has been revived three times on Broadway.

At a time when tickets to live theater cost two days’ wages, prices at Hardin County Theatre performances are a downright steal! Tickets are $13 for children, senior citizens 55 and older, members of the military and those coming in groups of 10 or more; other adults pay just $2 more. You can buy tickets online or by calling (270) 351–0577. But with productions this fine, why not opt for a season subscription? That comes to just $72 for six shows!

Remember: Elizabethtown is on Eastern time.

You don’t have to just sit there, either! Like community theaters everywhere, the Hardin County Playhouse welcomes members of the public who wish to act or serve as technicians. You can find out details and the dates for auditions here. You’ll be doing a cold reading. No experience is required, and newcomers are welcome.

HelloMetro Tip: At the door, Hardin County Playhouse accepts only cash and checks — no credit cards.

- by Ivonne Rovira, Louisville Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Ivonne Rovira

A graduate of the prestigious Columbia University School of Journalism in New York City, Ivonne Rovira worked as a reporter for the Miami News, The Miami Herald and The Associated Press. She has written articles for The National Catholic Reporter and The Courier-Journal. For more than 15 years, Ivonne wrote and edited articles aimed at middle-school children.