chittychitty.jpg

Caractacus Potts with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from the musical.

You may have set off all of your July fireworks already (along with everyone else in my neighborhood) but this week there's plenty more crackling good fun in store on Washtenaw stages.



This week we welcome back to West Park The Penny Seats, whose production of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" opened last weekend. The recently renovated amphitheater area in front of the band shell is the perfect place to lay out your blanket, relax and enjoy some hilarious summer theater fun with "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)"!

Show: "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, through July 19

Company: Chelsea Area Players

Type of Company: Community

Venue/location: Chelsea High School, 740 N. Freer (between E. Old US-12 & Washington St.), Chelsea

Description: Take a fantastic musical adventure with an amazing car that flies through the air and sails the seven seas! Based on the beloved 1968 film version, and featuring an unforgettable score by the Sherman Brothers, who also created Mary Poppins... "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" is one family-friendly blockbuster that audiences will find "Truly Scrumptious!"

Fun fact: The screenplay of the original movie "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" was written by Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes, and was based on the children's book by Ian Fleming, creator of the James Bond series.

For tickets and information: chelseaareaplayers.org

Show:

"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield, through July 25th.

Company:

The Penny Seats Theatre Company

Type of Company:

Professional Non-Equity

Venue/location:

West Park band shell, West Park, Ann Arbor

Recommended ages:

13 +

Description:

In this show, originally written for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1987 and later performed at the Criterion Theatre in London, three actors state their intent to perform--or at least mention--every single Shakespearean work in just 90 minutes. It's an incredible feat of pure energy and uproarious comedy starring Matt Cameron, Artun Kircali, and Leanne Young.

Fun fact:

In this show, the actors use their real names and play themselves rather than characters. The fourth wall is nonexistent, with the actors speaking directly to the audience during much of the play. Some scenes involve audience participation.

For tickets and information:

www.pennyseats.org, 734-926-5346

Show:

"The Truth about Teeth" by Jess Rowland, through July 26

Company:

Dreamland Theatre

Type of Company:

Puppet Theater

Venue/location:

Dreamland Theater, 26 N. Washington St., Ypsilanti

Recommended ages:

8+

Description:

The popular Dreamland Puppet Troupe presents a new marionette show by NYC-based artist Jess Rowland, who is in attendance for the opening weekend. The action, billed as a "psychic teeth cleaning," addresses our primal dental fears and insecurities to explore what teeth mean to us, and why we devote so much energy to them.

Fun fact:

"The Truth about Teeth" features a site-specific musical score based around an electric organ re-tuned to scales used in Chinese Opera.

For tickets and information: http://www.dreamlandtheater.com/, 734-657-2337

Show:

"2AZ" by Brian Michael Ogden, through July 26

Company:

Purple Rose Theatre Company

Type of Company:

Professional Equity

Venue/location:

Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St., Chelsea

Recommended Ages:

16+

Description:

Local playwright Brian Michael Ogden's thriller set during the course of a long war that leaves people without basic conveniences such as grocery stores and movie theaters and basic comforts such as warm water and toilet paper.

Fun Fact:

The AD (Anno Domini) calendar era is based on the traditionally reckoned year of the conception or birth of Jesus of Nazareth, with AD counting years from the start of this epoch, and BC denoting years before the start of the era. There is no year zero in this scheme, so the year AD 1 immediately follows the year 1 BC. The title of Ogden's script is derived from a new calendar era, which has commenced prior to the beginning of the play.

For tickets and information:

purplerosetheatre.org, 734-433-7673