Fall Arts Preview 2016: Theatre Three, Gateway Playhouse

As the weather cools down, thoughts turn to indoor entertainments. Theatre Three in Port Jefferson and the Gateway Playhouse in Bellport have your tickets for fall fun for the
whole family.

Theatre Three’s season has begun, with Legally Blonde: The Musical running through October 29. Based on the film favorite, this music and dance spectacular stars Brittany Lacey as Elle Woods, the plucky blonde who undergoes a transformation from bubble-headed sorority girl to legal scholar after her unlikely admission to Harvard Law. With a book by Heather Hach and songs by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde is a family-friendly, hilarious romp of a show. This much fun shouldn’t be legal! Children under 5 not permitted.

The next show in Theatre Three’s lineup is their 33rd annual production of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. Adapted for the stage by Jeffrey E. Sanzel, it’s the familiar, yet timeless, tale of the miserly curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge and his terrifying experience one Christmas Eve. It’s probably not spoiling anything to reveal that Scrooge is transformed by his ordeal into a generous soul, becoming the savior of Tiny Tim and leaving not a dry eye in the house. Is there a better way to get into the holiday spirit?

On Saturdays in October, Theatre Three will present Pumpkin Patch Magic, a one-hour musical perfect for kids. As your little ones are gearing up for Halloween, why not take them to hear the story of a nervous gnome, a no-nonsense witch and a mixed-up ghost who unite to save the Magic Pumpkin Patch? Tickets are $10 each, and the shows start at 11 a.m.

Gateway Performing Arts Center is bringing the excitement and stagecraft of Las Vegas’s Sunset Strip right to Bellport with Legends in Concert, running from November 16 to November 27 at the Gateway Playhouse. Featuring tributes to David Bowie, Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, Adele, Justin Timberlake and ABBA, this is the world’s premier rock and pop tribute show, celebrating over 33 years of shows. Each legendary performer not only looks like the star they portray, but use their own voices to pay homage to their iconic music counterpart. Legends in Concert live tribute shows are known for their elaborate theatrical sets, magnificent costumes and full array of incredible special effects, including three-dimensional, multimedia and multimillion-dollar, state-of-the art lighting, laser and sound systems. An outstanding cast of accomplished tribute artists, talented singers and dancers, and a live orchestra comprised of some the top musicians in the industry, support each Legends in Concert production. This should be a phenomenal experience!

Then, if the presidential election isn’t scaring you enough, you’re going to want to check out Gateway’s annual Haunted Playhouse. It’s already underway and and runs through Halloween, Gateway transforms their entire property into a haunted labyrinth that’s been rated one of America’s Best Haunted Attractions by Hauntworld Magazine. Populated by a huge cast of ghouls, zombies, and blood-splattered clowns—in other words, just about anything that’s bound to give you goose bumps—Gateway’s Haunted Playhouse has been a crowd favorite for years. And, while you wait to enter, you can enjoy their beer garden, take a coffin ride, or shoot some zombies in their latest midway attraction.

For more on Theatre Three’s upcoming shows and other offerings, go to theaterthree.com.
For more info on Gateway events this fall, visit thegateway.org.