‘Once on This Island’
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9-13 and 16-20, and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 14 and 20
Where: Hosch Theatre, Brenau University, 429 Academy St., Gainesville
Cost: $12-24 or $10 for preview
More info: www.gainesvilletheatrealliance.org or 678-717-3624
‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9-12, 14 and 16-20, and 2:30 p.m. Feb 13 and 20
Where: Ed Cabell Theatre, University of North Georgia Gainesville campus, 850 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood
Cost: $12-24 or $10 for preview
More info: www.gainesvilletheatrealliance.org or 678-717-3624
Fear not theater lovers, this winter the Gainesville Theatre Alliance’s February Festival of Theatre has a stacked lineup with two very different productions anyone can enjoy
The seventh annual festival will feature GTA’s production of the Caribbean fairy tale musical, “Once on This Island,” and “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” Both shows will open Feb. 9, but will be performed on different stages.
“Once on This Island” will be performed in Hosch Theatre on the Brenau University campus. “Dracula” will be staged in the Ed Cabell Theatre at the University of North Georgia Gainesville campus.
‘ONCE ON THIS ISLAND’
“Once on This Island” is described as, “a Caribbean fairy tale combining elements of Romeo and Juliet with Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid,” GTA Marketing Manager Beth Kendall said.
In 1995, it won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical and is directed and choreographed for GTA by professional director, David Rossetti.
“I don’t just like working with GTA … I love it!” Rossetti said. “I love that they not only have the most dedicated and talented students and artists, but also some of the best creative teams I’ve ever worked with.”
‘DRACULA’
The classic horror story, “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” will be an interesting change of pace from the lively “Once on This Island,” with an opening night catered by Avocados Restaurant.
Headed by the former Georgia Shakespeare Artistic Director Richard Garner, this “intimate and spooky” production will “put patrons close to the action,” Kendall said.
Garner added the performance will follow the Dracula script adapted by Brenau’s Gay Hammond. Garner was pleased with the results.
“As I read the script, it kept conjuring images of isolated light in a sea of darkness — of isolated people in a sea of humanity,” Garner said. “We really ran with that with the set and the lights and even the costumes.”
“Once on This Island” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9-13 and 16-20, and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 14 and 20 at 429 Academy St. in Gainesville.
“Bram Stoker’s Dracula” will be produced at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9-12, 14 and 16-20, and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 13 and 20, at 3850 Mundy Mill Road in Oakwood. Preview performances are at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8.
Tickets are $12-24 for both shows or $10 for the preview shows. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 678-717-3624 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or visiting www.gainesvilletheatrealliance.org.