Lakewood Theater in Madison. Contributed photo

Lakewood Theater announces its lineup for the 2023 season.

“Final Appearance” will open the season on May 25 at 76 Theater Road in Madison.

Performances are set for 8 p.m. May 25-27 and June 1-3 4 p.m. May 28, and 2 and 7 p.m. May 31.

When actors Anthony and Rebecca discover they are ghosts haunting a summer theater, they learn they died in 1960 and missed opening night of their star vehicle, “Two for Dinner.” This time the show didn’t go on and as a result Tony and Rebecca are trapped backstage, between this world and the next.

Their one hope of passing over to the other side lies with Jerry, a down-on-his-luck director who’s mounting a new production of “Two for Dinner.”

Adding to the mayhem are Reggie, who’s terrified of Tony; Edna Flutterbok, the theater’s executive producer, who’s gambling the new production will revive the theater’s fortunes; and Roger, the neurotic leading man feuding with his co-star Jessica. Tensions rise as cast and director struggle through rehearsals, suffering one mishap after another. Then, minutes before curtain on opening night …

“The Outsider” is set to be staged June 8-17.

Performances are set for 8 p.m. June 8-10 and 15-17, 4 p.m. June 11, and 2 and 7 p.m. June 14

Ned Newley doesn’t even want to be governor. He’s terrified of public speaking; his poll numbers are impressively bad. To his ever-supportive Chief of Staff, Ned seems destined to fail. But political consultant Arthur Vance sees things differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office.

“The Great Kooshok Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby” will be staged June 22 through July 1.

Investment banker James Bell gets stuck in the sleepy town of Kooshog Lake during their annual fishing derby.  It’s a fish out of water story that becomes a quirky and hilarious fish IN the water story complete with romance broken hearts and a shark attack.

“Half-Time” is scheduled for July 6-14.

Performances are set for 8 p.m. July 6-8 and 13-14, 4 p.m. July 9, and 2 and 7 p.m. July 12.

The musical is the true story of 10 determined dreamers who audition to dance at half time for a major basketball team. They have three things in common: they love to dance they have something to prove and they are all over 60 years old.

Only after making the cut do they learn they won’t be dancing tap, salsa or swing — instead they will bring down the house with a style that is new to them: hip-hop.  Along the way through mentorship and friendship they battle self-doubt, stereotypes and even each other for a chance to bust a move at center court in front of 20,000 screaming fans.

“Hope and Gravity” is set for July 20-29 — 8 p.m. July 20-22 and 27-29, 4 p.m. July 23, and 2 and 7 p.m. July 26.

When an elevator falls in a major city, nine lives intersect in surprising ways, both comic and tragic — through love and sex, poetry, and dentistry: in offices, homes, and hotel rooms.

Jill longs for Steve, who’s engaged to Barb, who hooks up with Peter, who’s already having an affair with Nan, who’s married to Marty, who subscribes to Elevator World. Meanwhile, nine stories off the ground, Douglas meets Tanya — who’s hoping to get pregnant with Hal — and a little miracle changes hands.

“Catch Me If You Can” will be staged Aug. 3-12.

Based on the hit film and the incredible true story, “Catch Me If You Can” is the high-flying musical comedy about chasing your dreams and not getting caught.

Seeking fame and fortune, precocious teenager, Frank Abagnale, Jr., runs away from home to begin an unforgettable adventure. With nothing more than his boyish charm, a big imagination and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer – living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams. When Frank’s lies catch the attention of FBI agent, Carl Hanratty, though, Carl pursues Frank across the country to make him pay for his crimes.

“Leading Ladies” is scheduled for Aug. 17-26 at Lakewood Theater, 76 Theater Road in Madison.

Performances are set for 8 p.m. Aug. 17-19 and 24-26, 4 p.m. Aug. 20, and 2 and 7 p.m. Aug. 23.

In this hilarious comedy by the author of “Lend Me A Tenor” and “Moon Over Buffalo,” two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing “Scenes from Shakespeare” on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania.

When they hear that an old lady in York, Pennsylvania is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. The trouble is, when they get to York, they find out that the relatives aren’t nephews, but nieces! Romantic entanglements abound, especially when Leo falls head-over-petticoat in love with the old lady’s vivacious niece, Meg, who’s engaged to the local minister. Meg knows that there’s a wide world out there, but it’s not until she meets “Maxine and Stephanie” that she finally gets a taste of it.

“Anatomies” will be staged Aug. 31 through Sept. 9 at Lakewood Theater, 76 Theater Road in Madison.

Performances are set for 8 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 1 and 7-9, 4 p.m. Sept. 3, and 2 p.m. Sept. 6.

In haunted Edinburgh, in the 1820s, Dr. Robert Knox, of Surgeons Square, needs fresh corpses to dissect in his anatomy demonstrations, and these are scarce, because the law forbids dissection of anyone but an executed criminal. So, the profitable business of Resurrectionism is born: enterprising fellows referred to in local legend as Body Snatchers who sneak into cemeteries late at night and steal corpses to sell to the doctors. Enter the infamous Burke and Hare, who stumble upon a more lucrative business model: since the fresher the corpse, the more money they get, why not murder the residents of their lodging house and haul them off to Dr Knox in a tea chest? The pay is good, and Dr Knox wants the corpses enough to not ask any questions. But when a beautiful young prostitute, the lover of one of Knox’s young assistants, is hauled in, the interns can no longer hide from themselves what’s going on. But to reveal the truth could destroy their careers and ruin their hero, the celebrated and charismatic Dr Knox. Meanwhile, Burke and Hare, and their accomplices, Helen Macdonald, and Mrs. Hare, are murdering more and more people, drinking too much, and getting careless, and Mr. Burke seems to be losing his mind. Laced with eerie and haunting ballads sung by the old street singer McGonigle, this very dark and very funny play raises some grave and troubling questions about the relationship of science to morality, and of free enterprise to murder.

“Lafferty’s Wake” will close out the season at Lakewood Theater, 76 Theater Road in Madison.

Show times are 8 p.m. Sept. 14-16 and 21-23; 4 p.m. Sept. 17; and 2 p.m. Sept. 20.

Our darlin’ wild rover, Charlie Lafferty, is being waked in grand style in his home away from home, the local pub. The audience joins Charlie’s widow, his sweet daughter, bumbling son-in-law, the parish priest, and the savvy innkeeper as they celebrate the life and times of ramblin’, gamblin’ Lafferty.

Two hours of sheer fun replete with jokes, jigs, games, stories and songs including such old favorites as “Molly Malone.” “Whiskey in the Jar” and “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” guarantee a festive, audience pleasing frolic.

Tickets, which are non-refundable, cost $24 in advance, $26 at the door, $40/$45 for cabaret seating, $18/20 for children.

For tickets, or more information, call 207-474-7176, email info@lakewoodtheater.org,  or visit lakewoodtheater.org.

 

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