2018-2019 season features comedy, music, and more!
Olathe Civic Theatre Association (OCTA) is excited about its 2018-19 season five-show lineup.
OCTA is proud to offer two musicals, an adaptation of a classic novel, a contemporary drama by a local playwright, and a landmark farce. “It’s our goal every season to select productions that are dynamic, entertaining, and exciting for both our audiences and talent,” says Ted Collins, OCTA Board President. He continues, “After considering the incredible options that the many potential directors submitted to us this season, we feel we’ve successfully achieved this mix.”
If you are a season ticket holder, we recommend making your reservations early to ensure your seats are reserved (email tickets@olathetheatre.org or call our reservation hotline at 913-782-2990 with preferred date and seats). Accessible seating and assistance is available. See seating chart for options.
2018-2019 Regular Season Shows
Adults $18
Seniors (55+)/ Students/Military $16
Children (12 and under) $14
Groups (8 or more) $14 must be prepaid
Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8:00 pm
Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 pm
The 2018-19 season lineup is:
The Drowsy Chaperone
Sept 7 – Sept 23, 2018 – Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm | Sundays at 2 pm
Music & Lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison
Book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar
Directed by Julie Ewing | Music Direction by Kevin Bogan
An epic “musical within a comedy”, this brilliantly funny Tony Award-winner is a celebration of the American musical that harkens back to the jazz age of the 1920s. When a loyal fan shares a rare recording of his favorite musical, the characters come to life in an exciting tale of love and delight that leaves audiences breathless. A wedding, gangsters disguised as pastry chefs, and a drunk chaperone are just a few of the ingredients in this delicious farcical treat that is fun for the whole family.
“The Perfect Broadway Musical.” —New York Magazine
Sense and Sensibility
Nov 2 – Nov 18, 2018 – Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm | Sundays at 2 pm
Adapted by Jon Jory
From the novel by Jane Austen
Directed by Jessica Franz
Tickets are on sale now!
In this witty comedy of manners, two sisters who are alike only in their pursuit of happiness find themselves financially destitute and socially vulnerable after their father’s sudden death. Will Elinor’s common sense or Marianne’s impulsive passion offer up the key to living “happily ever after”? Expect the unexpected as this spirited tale of flirtation and folly bounds onto the OCTA stage in this boisterous adaptation of one of Austen’s beloved stories.
“[Has] a freshness, speed, and … contemporary energy that is downright irresistible.” — Chicago Sun-Times
“…a quick-moving and sprightly comedy.” — Time Out Chicago
Sunday in the Park with George
Feb 8 – Feb 24, 2019 – Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm | Sundays at 2 pm
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim | Book by James Lapine
Directed by Tiffany Schweigert
A blank page or canvas. So many possibilities. A moving study of the enigmatic artist Georges Seurat and his famous painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, this stunning musical merges past and present into beautiful and poignant truths about life, love, and the creation of art. Winner of the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for drama and nominated for an astounding ten Tony Awards, this masterpiece by the legendary team of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine will inspire you long after you leave the theatre.
“…one of Mr. Sondheim’s richest and most intricately composed scores.” — New York Times
Pass Over
Apr 5 – Apr 21, 2019 – Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm | Sundays at 2 pm
By Kansas City playwright Michelle Tyrene Johnson*
Directed by Teresa Leggard
The Washingtons, an African-American family, have lived next door to the Levy family in a Philadelphia neighborhood for a few generations. In the wake of the death of the Washington family matriarch, a brother and sister come together to bury their beloved grandmother. The finding of old stock, by the Washington family, in the Levy family business, triggers the revelation of secrets, tensions, and reckonings.
*Michelle Tyrene Johnson, author of Pass Over, was the winner of Olathe Civic Theatre Association’s inaugural New Works Playwright Competition for her play The Green Book Wine Club Train Trip in 2017!
A Flea in Her Ear
May 31 – June 16, 2019 – Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm | Sundays at 2 pm
A new version of Georges Feydeau’s farce
By David Ives
Directed by David Martin
As Raymonde suspects her suddenly uninterested husband is having an affair, she cooks up a trap to catch him in the act. Hilarity ensues as everything inevitably goes horribly wrong triggering laughs galore. Touted as the “greatest of French farces”, this dazzling comedy, and winner of the 2006 Jefferson Award for best adaptation, David Ives’ version of Georges Feydeau’s masterpiece achieves levels of glorious ridiculousness only an absurdist of Ives’ caliber can bring.
“…a hilarious evening of classic comedy.” — Chicago Critic
2018-2019 OCTA Special Events:
Adults $10
Season Ticket Holders $5
Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8:00 pm
OCTA is Home for the Holidays
December 7-15 – Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm
Written by Shelly Stewart Banks and Peter Leondedis
In loving memory of The Jan Conner Christmas Show
Directed by Shelly Stewart Banks
Join Peter Leondedis and Shelly Stewart Banks plus an ever-changing cast of talented Olatheans as they come together to wait for the Spirit of Christmas to arrive and bring a little holiday magic to OCTA! Each night will include something new and different and you won’t want to miss a thing.
New Works Playwright Competition (NWPC)
March 1 & 2 – 8 pm
The New Works Playwright Competition is a unique opportunity for local playwrights to get their names out in the community and have a chance to workshop their production on the OCTA stage.
Which of the five finalists of OCTA’s New Works Playwright Competition will get a full length workshop for their script? You’ll see short teasers of each script, then vote for the winner. Make your voice count and support the local playwriting community at the same time!
About Olathe Civic Theatre Association
Olathe Civic Theatre Association is a 501c3 organization producing theatre in Olathe since 1974. Performing in the Buddy Rogers Family Playhouse, OCTA produces five high-quality, engaging, and thought-provoking theatre productions a year.
Through the generosity of volunteers, season ticket holders, donors, and the City of Olathe, OCTA has grown into one of the most progressive community theaters in the Kansas City metropolitan area.