A new year marks the start of new seasons of plays and musicals presented on local stages.
January tends to be a month when fewer shows open, as theater companies prepare for their new seasons.
But there are still several choices for theater lovers in Lancaster County, from a musical murder mystery to Broadway classics.
Here’s a list of shows, theatrical concerts and more happening on local stages in January.
Opening
“MURDER BY TWO”
• Where: Dutch Apple Dinner Theater, 510 Centerville Road, Lancaster.
• When: A mix of afternoon and evening shows, Wednesday to Sunday, January 17 to February 17. 22.
• Details: In this two-actor detective musical, the police officers of a small town are called upon to solve the murder of a novelist. One of the two actors plays 12 different suspects while the other plays the investigator. And both play the piano.
• Admission: $30 to $80 for the show with meals; $22 to $55 for show only. There is a $3 fee per ticket for all orders.
• Tickets and information: dutchapple.com or 717-898-1900.
‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! JR.’
• Where: Smoketown Elementary School, 500 Mount Sidney Road, Lancaster.
• When: 7 p.m. Friday, January 31; 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday February 1; and 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 2.
• Details: Servant Stage Company presents a fun musical comedy for all ages, based on the classic educational television series from the 1970s and ’80s that brought us “Conjunction Junction,” “I’m Just a Bill” and “Interplanet Janet” . The actors are between 10 and 16 years old. The show entertains while teaching grammar, math, history and science.
• Admission: pay what you want; reservations are suggested.
• Tickets and information: servantstage.org.
“ONCE UPON A MATTRESS”
• Where: Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Lancaster Bible College, 901 Eden Road, Lancaster.
• When: 7 p.m. on Fridays, January 31 and February 7, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays, February 1 and 8.
• Details: This musical and comic version of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” tells the story of the hapless Princess Winnifred and the tests she must pass to prove that she is “princess” enough ” to marry Prince Dauntless the Drab. .
• Admission: $10-$15.
• Tickets and information: lbc.edu/events.
Franklin & Marshall College alumnus James Lapine, who wrote the book for Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Into the Woods,” is featured here in a Broadway premiere in December 2014. The Franklin & Marshall College Players present “Into the Woods” this month.
‘IN THE WOODS’
• Where: Roschel Performing Arts Center at Franklin & Marshall College, 602 College Ave., Lancaster.
• When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday January 16, 17 and 18, with a matinee at 2 p.m. on January 18.
• Details: Presented by the F&M Players, this Tony Award-winning musical from Stephen Sondheim and F&M alumnus James Lapine lets audiences see what happens when classic fairy tale characters actually get their wishes . Some choices have disastrous consequences.
• Admission: $5 to $10.
• Tickets and information: fandm.edu/events/box-office.html.
Tribute concerts
“LARGE FIREBALLS!” »
• Where: Fulton Theater, 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster.
• When; 8 p.m. Saturday January 25 and 2 p.m. Sunday January 26.
• Details: Jason Cohen, who played Jerry Lee Lewis in touring productions of the “Million Dollar Quartet,” brings his popular tribute show – and his band of singer-instrumentalists – to the Fulton. The show features stories that show Cohen’s connections to Lewis, as well as Lewis’ music, as well as the artists and genres that inspired the rock ‘n’ roll pioneer: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, singers from gospel and much more.
• Admission: $36 to $46.
• Tickets and information: thefulton.org or 717-397-7425.
”50’S DANCE PARTY’
• Where: American Music Theater, 2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster.
• When: 3 p.m. Saturday, January 11.
• Details: This show is a tribute to the 1959 final tour of early rockers Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, with songs such as “That’ll Be the Day”, “La Bamba” and “Chantilly Lace” .
• Admission: $39. Most balcony seats are still available.
• Tickets and information: amtshows.com or 800-648-4102.
For families
“LAYERING THE WALLS: MID-CENTURY”
• When: 1 p.m. Saturday, January 25.
• Where: Clair Hall at Millersville University’s Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center, 60 W. Cottage Ave., Millersville.
• Details: This Family Fun Fest series event is a vivid story of the many culturally diverse tenants who lived in an apartment in New York City. The show uses shadow and rod puppets, as well as half-masks, to tell the stories of Jewish, Chinese and Puerto Rican families from the 1930s to 1970s.
• Admission: $7 to $12.
• Tickets and information: millersville.edu.
Continue
— “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” brings the story of the popular 1954 film to life on the stage of the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater through Sunday, January 5. dutchapple.com or 717-898-1900.
