Sierra Stages: An imaginative 2016 season

FOUR CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED PLAYS and musicals — “The Cripple of Inishmaan” by Martin McDonagh, “The Last Five Years” by Jason Robert Brown, “Little Shop of Horrors” by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, and “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” by Sarah Ruhl— make up Sierra Stages’ eighth season.

The 2016 Season opens with an enchanting, dark comedy, “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” playing from March 3-19 at the Nevada Theatre in Nevada City. It’s 1934 and the impoverished island community of Inishmaan, off the coast of Ireland, is dazzled by the “glitz and glamour” of Hollywood when a movie director visits to cast his upcoming film.

“Cripple Billy,” who would like nothing more than to leave the cliffs of Ireland and his tedious life behind for the hills of Hollywood, hitches a ride and auditions, not knowing how this journey would affect his life and the lives of everyone around him.

“The Cripple of Inishmaan” is directed by Sharon Winegar and features local actors Alice Beloved, Chase Coney, Kim Ewing, Lois Ewing, John Gardiner, Ben Hedenland, Damiian Mario Lang, Ariana Rampy and Robert Rossman.

The second show of the season is a small musical, “The Last Five Years,” playing from April 28 through May 8 at the Off Center Stage in Grass Valley. From first date to final goodbye, “The Last Five Years” chronicles the highs and lows of modern marriage in an intimate, honest and richly moving musical portrait.

From July 14 through August 6 at the Nevada Theatre, Sierra Stages presents the devilishly delicious and ever-popular smash-hit musical “Little Shop of Horrors.” Laced with dark humor and irresistible music, “Little Shop of Horrors” is one of the longest-running off-Broadway shows of all time.

The final show of 2016 is the beguiling comedy, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” playing at the Off Center Stage in Grass Valley from September 28 through October 16.

Affordable season pass
Sierra Stages is proud to offer an affordable season pass. Priced at $80, the 2016 season pass allows theater goers to select any performance. The season pass may be purchased now through March 6 at SierraStages.org or by calling Sierra Stages at 530-346-3210.

(Photo: Imago/ZUMAPRESS.com)