GTA Blog

(SEP 19, 2024—GAINESVILLE, GA) Gainesville Theatre Alliance is thrilled to present The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, a musical adaptation of the popular children’s story, as part of its 2024-25 Monster of a Season, and its annual Theatre for Young Audiences offering. The show runs October 5-12 at Brenau University’s Pearce Auditorium.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs brings a fresh perspective to the classic tale. When the Big, Bad Wolf takes the stand in Piggsylvania’s Trial of the Century, he finally gets his say. But whether he’ll get a fair trial in a corrupt piggy court is anyone’s guess. Will the pigs’ splashy puppet show make a puppet out of justice, or is the wolf’s catchy song and dance about a sneeze gone wrong all razzle-dazzle? Enter the jury box and decide the wolf’s fate in this musical adaptation of the hit children’s book. The show is recommended for all ages.

Director Kimberly Staples, who recently retired as the Theatre Director for Buford County Schools and now teaches Theatre Education at the University of North Georgia is excited to bring this retelling to life. “One of my mentors has repeatedly said to me that perception is reality. And that is true for this retelling of this childhood favorite,” Staples said. “Which perception is the truth? The pigs? The wolf? You, the audience, get to decide.”

GTA Artistic Director Zechariah Pierce is hoping the Gainesville families will enjoy the show. “It’s been quite some time since our Theatre for Young Audiences offering has produced a musical (perhaps the first ever of this particular kind of musical), so we chose one that is a well-known adaptation of a popular children’s book,” Pierce said.

Audiences are invited to attend the free Ice Cream Social catered by Puzzle Piece Pastries, which takes place after the October 6th 2:30 pm performance. Characters from the show will be in attendance and will be available for pictures.

Tickets for the show range from $8 to $16 and are available for purchase at GainesvilleTheatreAlliance.org or by calling the GTA Box Office at 678-717-3624.

(SEP 5, 2024—GAINESVILLE, GA) Gainesville Theatre Alliance proudly announces its 2024-25 season, themed “A Monster of a Season.” This season promises to captivate audiences with four thrilling productions. “We try to showcase, both to our audiences and our students, a wide range of genre, story-telling techniques, cultural foci, historical periods, and technological challenges in producing,” said Artistic Director Zechariah Pierce. “We sold out 3 of the 4 shows of our season last year, so we’re hoping people get their tickets early, so they don’t miss out this time!”

• The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, book & lyrics by Robert Kauzlaric, music by Paul Gilvary & William Rush, based on the book by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith
  October 5-12, 2024 at Brenau University’s Pearce Auditorium
  Recommended for all ages
  When the Big, Bad Wolf takes the stand in Piggsylvania’s Trial of the Century, he finally gets his say. But whether he’ll get a fair trial in a corrupt piggy court is anyone’s guess. Will the pigs’ splashy puppet show make a puppet out of justice, or is the wolf’s catchy song and dance about a sneeze gone wrong all razzle-dazzle? Enter the jury box and decide the wolf’s fate in this musical adaptation of the hit children’s book.
• A Monster Calls, based on the novel by Patrick Ness and inspired by an original idea by Siobhan Dowd, devised by Sally Cookson, Adam Peck and the Company
  November 8-16, 2024 at University of North Georgia-Gainesville’s Ed Cabell Theatre
  Recommended for ages 13+ for intense emotional themes
  Conor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother fell ill and started treatments that don’t seem to be working. But tonight, there’s a visitor at his window, and it wants the most dangerous thing of all: the truth. This powerful theatrical adaptation, brought to life through inventive staging, explores the complexities of loss and the strength found in confronting the truth.
• Macbeth by William Shakespeare
  February 14-22, 2025 at Brenau University’s Hosch Theatre
  Recommended for ages 13+ for violence and dark psychological themes
  Valiant Scottish general Macbeth meets three witches who predict he will become Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland, igniting in him a desire for power. As Macbeth and his wife seize power through a series of bloody deeds, they are led down a path of murder, madness, and eventual ruin. Shakespeare’s timeless and compelling tragedy dramatizes the effects of political ambition on those who seek power.
• Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, music and lyrics by Mel Brooks
  April 11-19, 2025 at University of North Georgia-Gainesville’s Ed Cabell Theatre
  Recommended for ages 15+ for sexual innuendo and mild language
  From the creators of Broadway sensation, The Producers, comes this monster musical comedy, adapted from the legendary film. Grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick and a leggy lab assistant, Frederick brings his own monster to life. Scientifically proven, monstrously good entertainment!

Tickets for all performances are on sale now and patrons are encouraged to take advantage of GTA’s season packages, which offer up to 20% off based on the number of shows purchased on the season. Tickets and season packages can be purchased online at GainesvilleTheatreAlliance.org or by contacting the box office at 678-717-3624.

(MAR 12, 2024—GAINESVILLE, GA) Get ready for an uproarious journey into the quirky world of adolescence as Gainesville Theatre Alliance brings The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to life. The musical comedy, directed by GTA alumna Kari Twyman, promises to be an unforgettable experience. The show runs April 12-20, 2024, at University of North Georgia-Gainesville’s Ed Cabell Theatre, located inside the UNG Performing Arts building. Recommended for ages 15 and over.

Kari Twyman, a 2018 graduate of Brenau University with a BFA in Musical Theatre, takes the helm as Director/Choreographer. Twyman is a working actor and choreographer in the Atlanta area and is excited to bring her unique perspective to the production. “In a heightened time of consuming media that is heavily influencing the clothes we buy, the phrases we use, or even how big or small our bodies should be, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee leads the audience back to the basis of being an individually unique kid,” Twyman says. “This show is the ultimate connection between actors and audience, experiencing hilariously relatable situations.”

Adding to the creative mix is Musical Director Dale Grogan, well-known to GTA audiences from past productions including Mary Poppins and Once Upon This Island, and Drama Desk Award-winning Lighting Designer Christian DeAngelis, who is an Assistant Professor of Lighting at the University of Georgia.

Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Set against the backdrop of a middle school spelling bee, the show introduces a delightful ensemble of characters, each with their own eccentricities and endearing qualities. As the contestants navigate the challenges of spelling seemingly impossible words, the audience is treated to a hilarious exploration of puberty, identity, and the universal desire to fit in.

Tickets for the production range from $18 to $30 and are available for purchase at GainesvilleTheatreAlliance.org or by calling the GTA Box Office at 678-717-3624.

(JAN 22, 2024—GAINESVILLE, GA) Gainesville Theatre Alliance proudly announces its upcoming production of The Crucible by Arthur Miller, directed by Gainesville Theatre Alliance Associate Artistic Director Greg Geffrard. The play will run from February 16-24, 2024, at Brenau University’s Hosch Theatre, located inside the John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts.

Greg Geffrard, an Associate Professor of Theatre at Brenau University, brings a wealth of experience to the director’s chair. Recently nominated for the Kennedy Center Merit Award for Intimacy Direction for his exceptional work on the 2023 production of Silent Sky at the University of Georgia, Geffrard’s directorial vision promises to deliver a thought-provoking and impactful rendition of this classic play.

The Crucible, recipient of the 1953 Tony Award for Best Play, unfolds as a gripping historical drama while also serving as a poignant parable for contemporary society. “In this production, I am choosing to highlight two particular things: what makes an outsider and how mass hysteria is born of not necessarily misinformation but from a lack of complete information,” states Geffrard. “This play is essentially a game of telephone gone horribly awry.”

Steeped in historical significance, The Crucible delves into the Puritan purge of witchcraft in colonial Salem, Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693, while simultaneously serving as an allegory for the McCarthy era in the 1950s. Arthur Miller’s narrative draws striking parallels between the historical events, emphasizing the perils of persecution and the repercussions of societal fear.

Tickets for the production range from $16 to $24 and are available for purchase at GainesvilleTheatreAlliance.org or by calling the GTA Box Office at 678-717-3624.

(JAN 17, 2024—GAINESVILLE, GA) In an exciting development for the arts community, Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GTA) proudly announces a significant sponsorship commitment from the Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation. This marks the beginning of a ten-year partnership that will bolster GTA’s mission of delivering exceptional theatrical performances to enrich the cultural landscape of Gainesville and Hall County.

GTA, a collaborative ensemble uniting the theatre departments of the University of North Georgia and Brenau University, has consistently set the standard for theatrical excellence in the north Georgia region. This year’s donation designates the Ivester Foundation as a sponsor for GTA’s April 2024 production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The foundation’s generous sponsorship will continue to support one mainstage show each season over the next decade.

The Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation, dedicated to enhancing the lives of the people in Gainesville and Hall County, has a rich history of supporting education, scholarship, visual arts, performing arts, parks, and gardens. Their diverse range of contributions includes efforts such as the Ivester Amphitheater, sponsorship of various performances around town, and support for educational institutions.

“The Foundation Directors believe that theatre is an important contributor to the wellbeing of any community. The Foundation is delighted with this new partnership with GTA,” stated Doug Ivester, former CEO of Coca-Cola. “The goals of the MDI/VKI Foundation are long term. The desire of the Foundation is to be a perpetual contributor to Gainesville & Hall County, sponsoring organizations, programs, and people who simply make life in Gainesville special and better.”

“The support of the MDI/VKI Foundation is an immense blessing to our program and a crucial showcase of how the support of our community is what drives our ability to bring what is good, true, and beautiful to our stages,” responded GTA Artistic Director Zechariah Pierce. “We look forward to fostering this relationship in ways that will make this unique university alliance program one that stands out regionally.”

“The Foundation Board hopes that our support will result in bringing theatre to a larger and more diverse audience than has existed before. We hope to work with the management of GTA to achieve that goal,” added Brian Rochester, an Ivester Foundation Board member.

Gainesville Theatre Alliance expresses its gratitude for the foundation’s commitment to the arts, emphasizing the long-term impact this partnership will have on the community’s cultural vibrancy.