Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Now that Theatre of Dare has its own space and a rapidly growing audience, the local community theater is about to embark on something it has never done in its 34 years of existence: putting on two productions during the Outer Banks’ busy summer season.

“It’s a bit of an experiment on our part,” said TOD board president Stuart Parks II. “First, we’ll find out if our local talent has enough time in the summer to rehearse and participate in these productions, and second, we’ll find out if people will come see them.”

For its first foray into the summer entertainment business, Theatre of Dare chose two small-cast, family-friendly, laugh-out-loud comedies to take the stage on Wednesday nights in July and August.

The first, which TOD is billing as a “Christmas in July” celebration, is Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!), in which three actors take a rapid-fire comedic tour of holiday stories and traditions, from Scrooge to the Grinch to the Icelandic Jólakötturinn (Yule Cat).

Then, the theater will trade its jingle bells for Elizabethan tights for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), in which another group of actors try to tackle all 37 of the Bard’s plays in 97 minutes. As you can imagine, pranks and pratfalls ensue.

“These are two hilarious tried-and-true shows that people from 7 to 97 can enjoy together,” said business manager Kelsey Thompson. “We think that our visitors and locals will be ready for some air conditioned, lighthearted entertainment this summer, and we’re looking forward to providing it.”

In fact, it’s an idea 34 years in the making.

“Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)” will take the stage July 10, 17, 24 and 31, and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” will follow on August 7, 14, 21 and 28. For tickets and more information, go to theatreofdareobx.com/2024-summer-season.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS HERE.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE COASTLAND TIMES TODAY!