A wealth of talent will be on display as area high school theatre programs begin their fall runs.

Brownwood HS – Newsies – Directed by Shannon Lee

Thursday the 8th, Saturday the 10th and Monday the 12th at 7 p.m., with matinee performances at 2:30 p.m. on the 10th and 11th. Tickets are available online, or at the door, general admission is $7, with students getting in for $5. 

Made famous on the big screen with Christian Bale in an early breakout role, Newsies is “inspired by the true story of the 1899 Newsboys Strike, Newsies is an ebullient, joyful, and entertaining musical capturing the strength that young people have when they join together and stand up against injustice. With a funny, poignant book by Harvey Feirstein and stunning music by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman — including the show-stopping Seize the Day, power ballad “Santa Fe” and lovely new songs like Katherine’s “Watch What Happens — Newsies is a classic with the power to inspire.” (https://stageagent.com/shows/musical/1291/newsies)

Early HS – Almost, Maine – Directed by Amber Jones

Thursday the 8th at 7 p.m. and Saturday the 10th at 7 p.m. Donations are being accepted at the door.

Almost, Maine is described online as a play taking place “on one deeply cold and magical Midwinter Night, the citizens of Almost — not organized enough for a town, too populated for a wilderness — experience the life-altering power of the human heart. Relationships end, begin, or change beyond recognition, as strangers become friends, friends become lovers, and lovers turn into strangers. Propelled by the mystical energy of the aurora borealis and populated with characters who are humorous, plain-spoken, thoughtful, and sincere, Almost, Maine is a series of loosely connected tales about love, each with a compelling couple at its center…” (https://stageagent.com/shows/play/4385/almost-maine)

Bangs HS – Disney’s Tarzan, The Musical – Directed by Billie Harvey

Friday the 16th at 7p.m., Saturday the 17th at 7 p.m. with a dessert theatre on Sunday the 18th at 2:30 p.m. Tickets available online or at the door. Adult general admission is $7.00, student general admission is $5.00 and the Sunday dessert add on is $2.00

With music instantly recognizable from the Phil Collins penned soundtrack, Tarzan starts after “a shipwreck leaves an infant orphaned on the West African shore. The helpless baby is taken under the protection of a gorilla tribe and becomes part of their family. When he eventually encounters his first human – Jane Porter, a curious young explorer – both their worlds are transformed forever.” (https://stageagent.com/shows/musical/1834/tarzan)