The end of school doesn’t really end the spring fun season.
This comes in a month.
McMurry has already started its summer theater season, although it is not yet summer. Still, we had enough 100-degree days in May to call it summer.
Two more shows are coming up, including Chicago’s regional premiere in late July.
On deck, of course, is the 10th Children’s Art and Literacy Festival, which honors the first female illustrator, Sophie Blackall.
The three-day celebration begins Thursday with the Storybook Parade and the unveiling of the latest sculpture in the Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden. This will be Winnie the Pooh from The Bear Quest.
Unlike most CALF artists, Blackall has been here before. She made a solo exhibition in the fall of 2018 at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, where her works will soon be exhibited.
That same weekend, Abilene Philharmonic ended the 2021-22 season with “Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles.” It starts at 19:30 on June 11 at the Abilene Congress Center.
A week later, it’s time to saddle the horse (or run a gas pickup, although the horse would be cheaper to drive) and head to Albany for the first of two Fandangle weekends. The history of the settlement of Shackle County is scheduled for June 17-18 and 24-25 at the Prairie Theater.
And the same last weekend Paramount Theater presents its summer musical. While two performances of “The Last 5 Years” were performed in June 2021, the theater became big with “Hello, Dolly!”
And instead of just three performances, there will be five: June 24-26 and July 1-2.
McMurray will twice offer the Charlotte Network at the downtown public library on June 21, then return to campus at 11 a.m. for performances June 24-25 at the Ryan Little Theater.
Other events are coming up, including the Woodstock Garageband on July 16th.
So there will be something to do in July after a busy June.
Looking a little further
Some organizations have already set their 2022-23 seasons.
The Abilene Philharmonic, the Hardin-Simmons Theater and the Children’s Performing Arts Series have already announced their seasons.
The Abilene Municipal Theater has a plan, but it has not yet been published on the ACT website.
► CPAS
Three shows have been scheduled for the season “Bright Lights, Big Dream”, starting with “The Pout-Put Fish” on November 6.
The other two performances come in the spring – “The Jason Bishop Show” (February 26), featuring illusion and magic, and “The Jungle Book” by Panto Company (April 16).
► HARDIN-SIMONS THEATER
Traditionally, the season starts with “Pops at the Pond”. The joke may be that mom is also there, but this is a demonstration of singing talent, presented at the water body of the university.
A Divine Kerfuffle (October 6-9), Silent Sky (November 17-20), Starlight Extravaganza Fundraising Dinner (December 3), Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Feb. 16-) are scheduled. 19), Christian University Theater Festival (March 6-8), “The Spitfire Grill” (March 30 – April 2) and “24-Hour Shakespeare”.
► ABILE PHILHARMONIC
The season begins on September 24 with “Concierto de Aranjuez” featuring guitarist Jason Vio. Continues with “Czech Journeys” (October 29), Christmas show “Home for the Holidays” (December 3), “Joyful Beginnings” with violinist Daniel Bae (January 14), “Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles” (February 4) ), Beethoven 5 featuring five guest musicians (March 4) and Broadway a la Carte II (May 6).
Greg Jaklevich is the editor of Abilene Reporter-News and a general columnist. If you appreciate local news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.