You’ve just finished up an intense hour-long, but friendly, group discussion with a Furman professor on the situation of poverty in Greenville. You grab a beer, join some friends, and sit down to watch a show. No, no — you didn’t just get out of your poverty studies class on a Friday at Furman; you’re actually downtown participating in the Warehouse Theatre’s Forum Series. The show you’re about to watch is the Warehouse’s upcoming production of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” and, yes, the drinks are allowed in the theater.
The Warehouse Theatre, located in the West End Historic District, is one of three local professional theaters in downtown Greenville, each with its own specific mission and focus. Compared with other theaters downtown, the Warehouse’s programming can be a bit edgy but includes Shakespearean classics. Director of Development Katie Leckenbush said the Warehouse aims to “choose pieces that create conversation and raise the public’s awareness of theater.”
Through its Forum Series, the theater holds a discussion before the first performance of each production, applying the show’s major themes to life in Greenville. Many of the discussions have been led by Furman professors, such as English professor Nick Radel and philosophy professor Carmela Epright, and parallel issues raised in Furman’s classrooms. Interested in seeing a show that leaves you thinking? The Warehouse Theatre’s next production is Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” directed by Robert Richmond and showing Oct. 18-20, 24-27, 31, and Nov. 1-2. Following “The Tempest,” the Warehouse’s season includes: “Avenue Q,” “August Osage County,” “4000 Miles,” and “Angels in America: Parts 1 & 2.”
Centre Stage, located at 501 River St., is another of Greenville’s professional local theaters. In the words of the theater’s mission statement, the theater hopes “to create an atmosphere that excites, energizes, and elevates each person with whom it comes in contact.” At Centre Stage, there are two venues — the Main Stage, which caters to the theater’s large audience base by presenting a well-rounded selection of popular shows, and the Tuesday Night Fringe Series, which, according to Market Director Allen Evans, appeals “to a younger people who want to see edgier stuff.” Fringe Series productions often touch on heavier themes and have minimal set pieces.
Between Fringe and Main Stage offerings, audiences have a nice choice between popular favorites and a more alternative program. This year’s Main Stage season includes comedies “Lend Me a Tenor” and “Unnecessary Farce,” running in rotation Sept. 19 through Nov. 16, followed by “A Christmas Carol,” “Rock’n Roll Gold,” “The Producers,” “A Few Good Men,” and “Shout! The Mod Musical.” The Fringe Series includes “Freud’s Last Session,” running Oct. 15, 22, and 29, followed by “Irena’s Vow,” “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” “Smudge,” and “Phoenix.”
Greenville Little Theatre, located at 444 College St., is Greenville’s oldest local professional theater, which has also given it the largest audience base. According to Artistic Director Allen McCalla, Greenville Little Theatre strives to “produce the highest quality theater which engages the people of the Greenville area.” Because it caters to the largest audience, Greenville Little Theatre’s programming centers around plays that will draw a large audience while simultaneously interesting a talented pool of actors. Like Centre Stage, Greenville Little Theatre has an alternative Studio Series for those interested in something more off-beat, although with significantly less performances. The upcoming main season includes “Walking Across Egypt,” running Oct. 25, 26, 27, and Nov. 1-3 and 7-10, followed by “Spider’s Web,” “Don’t Dress for Dinner,” and “Les Miserables.”