“That was the rite of passage from what we call a man of Morehouse to a Morehouse Man,” said Ekundayo Bandele, founder and CEO of Hattiloo Theatre.

The Metropolitan Opera tenor who stars as Rodolfo believes “La Bohème' serves as an archetype for modern TV sitcoms that also center around six friends. Like “Living Single.”

“Shrek the Musical” and “Legally Blonde” are some of the shows coming to theater stages across Memphis. Plus, a Pulitzer Prize winning comedy-drama makes its regional premiere at Circuit Playhouse.

Thay Floyd, who performed on Broadway in “Waitress” and “A Christmas Story,” got his start in Germantown High School fine arts department. 

For two decades, Ann Perry Wallace collected stories of pluck and moxie about her hero. Stringing them together and performing all herself, she tells the life of Zora Neale Hurston, author of “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” 

The Tony-winning musical “Your Arms Too Short to Box with God” hasn’t been officially produced since 1982 but will return to the stage in Memphis.

Since her last Memphis-area show 18 months ago, the multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter has won a Grammy Award, headlined an international tour and hosted a fundraising concert with Jason Isbell.

Shows include Cyrena Wages, Aaron James, MonoNeon, Talibah Safiya with MadameFraankie, Blvck Hippie and Lukah with Hope Clayburn & The Fire Salamander.

After nearly four decades, Memphis theater producer Mike Detroit found a full brother he never knew existed. It’s a mystery that could be a miniseries. But even Detroit warns: “There are parts you may not believe.”

The month starts with a “Wicked”(ish) witch defying gravity in a musical that’s coming to the big screen this year. Also, fairy-tale friends take a journey “Into The Woods” and “Hamlet” is reimagined in the 1920s.

“If I wanted to have a sophisticated school, I would have ballet,” Principal Louis Padgett said. “I want (the) boys and girls to be more sophisticated than myself. I said I’d never leave this school until it had ballet.” 

Related story:

New Ballet’s new leader brings ‘talent, aspiration, hope’ to young dancers

“No matter what I’m doing, I spend (time) investing in kids and neighborhoods. At New Ballet, I get to do it in a way that’s fresh and exciting.”

Related story:

Giving it a twirl: More Memphis schools offer ballet classes

Playhouse on the Square’s latest season includes family favorites, plays examining social and political issues, musicals and comedies. 

Award-winning Americana, jazz and gospel acts; a local roots favorite; an all-female tap group; a tribute to Tony Bennett; modern dance and a Guinean acrobatic troupe are all part of GPAC’s 30th season. 

The new season features nine shows from July 26, 2024, to June 8, 2025.

The film is a candid look at the challenges and experiences of being a person of color in the United States.

Theater fans can catch ‘Charlie Brown,’ ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,’ Broadway’s hit ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ and other shows on stages in Memphis this March.

In particular, the assistant professor honed in on theater as a way to resist calls for what Fleming describes as “Black patience” or for Black people to suffer and wait patiently to receive equal rights.

“Poetry is one of Memphis’ best kept secrets,” said the director of a local arts organization.

“I think it’s one of the best seasons we’ve ever had,” said Brett Batterson, President and CEO of the Orpheum. “There’s a show for everyone.” 

Theatre Memphis and Dixon Gallery and Gardens are on their fifth year of conducting the partnership event that’s immersive to the public and centered around women’s art.

Pat Halloran’s life was celebrated in grand style Monday. There was music! There was laughter! There were stories about a larger-than-life character who fell in love with Memphis — and then made it a better place. 

Oh those summer nights! The classic musical “Grease” will kick off the 2024-2025 Theatre Memphis season in August.

“He was a doer of doers. And he just got things done, and he did it with an amazing amount of personality,” said Kevin Kane, president and CEO of Memphis Tourism.

Theatergoers will “hear the people sing” this month, as “Les Mis” returns to the Orpheum, two companies perform different Tennessee Williams plays and “The Squirrels” have an existential crisis on stage, in full-length squirrel costumes.