Curtain Call: A look at what’s happening on the local theater circuit

‘Kiss Me, Kate’ auditions

Stowe Theatre Guild will hold auditions for Cole Porter’s musical, “Kiss Me, Kate,” on Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. at the Town Hall Theatre on the second floor of the Akeley Soldiers Memorial Building, 67 Main St., Stowe. Callbacks, if required, will be held on Sunday, March 16, at 2 p.m. at the Town Hall Theater.

The show within a show involves the production of a musical version of Shakespeare’s comedy, “The Taming of the Shrew,” and the conflict on and off stage between Fred Graham, the show’s director, producer and star, and his leading lady, his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi. The second romance involves Lois Lane, the actress playing Bianca, and her boyfriend, Bill, a gambler who is being chased by two gangsters trying to collect the money he owes.

The show provides a wonderful backdrop for athletic Broadway jazz song and dance numbers. Actors should come prepared to dance and sing selections from the show score, as well as read parts from the book.

Show dates are Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 25 to Oct. 12. Additional audition information is available at stowetheatre.com. Contact the director and choreographer, Taryn Noelle, to sign up for an audition time slot: sweetlorraine218@gmail.com.

Michael Sommers

Lost Nation Theater loves to tell Vermont stories and support Vermont artists. Coming up on Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22, at 7:30 p.m. is Michael Sommers’ one-man show, “Hick in the ’Hood — A Vermont Boy in West Oakland.” Sommers is from Middlebury and left Vermont to pursue his theater and film career in California. He plays 33 characters to tell how his Vermont ways helped him survive — and even thrive — after buying a house in one of the toughest, poorest neighborhoods in West Oakland.

Kathleen Keenan calls this “An amazing solo performance by Michael Sommers — a great show to lighten our mood during mud season.”

The theater is in the Montpelier City Arts Center, 39 Main St. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 for students and seniors 65 and over. The show is not recommended for children.

Tickets: 229-0492, lostnationtheater.org.

‘Urinetown’ at UVM

The UVM Department of Theatre concludes its season with “Urinetown: The Musical,” Thursday through Saturday, March 13 to 15 and 20 to 22, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, March 15, and Sunday, March 23, at 2 p.m. at the Royall Tyler Theatre, 116 University Place, Burlington.

Winner of three Tony Awards, three Outer Critic’s Circle Awards and two Obie Awards, the comedy pays witty homage to the great American musical theater tradition and is rich with commentary about capitalism, social responsibility and environmental sustainability.

There will be a post-show discussion following the March 20, performance using the situations depicted in the show to create awareness and discussion about water usage and issues. Patrons who attend that evening’s performance are welcome to remain for this discussion.

Tickets: 656-2094, uvmtheatre.org. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and two hours prior to the start of each performance.

Submission guidelines

All entries are due in writing by 5 p.m. on the Friday before publication. Be sure to include: calendar category, event title, location, starting and ending dates, start and end time, brief description, cost, and your name, e-mail, and telephone number.

When possible, please send photos that can increase the visibility of your event listing. Photos must be at least 300 dots per inch at 4 inches wide.

For print listing: community@stowereporter.com. For early online listing: Go to StoweToday.com and submit your event. Or, mail to P.O. Box 489, Stowe 05672.