CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 27 On with the show From classical music to jazz, comedy to ballet, area stages will light up their new seasons for your entertainment BY JAMI MCL AUGHLIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY WOOTEN Cape Fear Regional Theatre "We have an incredible season and are so pumped up for it," says Mary Kate Burke, artistic director of Cape Fear Regional eatre. Starting the season is "Buddy: e Buddy Holly Story," a show that was first planned for the 2020 season. "'Buddy' is now three years in the making, and it's an awesome group of actors, including six to eight who are going to play instruments on stage," says Burke, "It's the same creative team as 'Dreamgirls' and just a whole host of people who are so loved in the community." "Buddy" follows a young man from Texas who plays his way from country to R&B and becomes a rock legend. Audiences will hear classic Buddy Holly hits from "Peggy Sue" to "at'll Be the Day." e show runs Sept. 15-Oct. 9. Neil Simon's comedy "e Odd Couple" is the second show of the season and, crazily enough, aer decades of performances on stages worldwide, Fayetteville will be the only place to see the classic in America this year. Burke says that aer a production of the Simon comedy "Plaza Suite," starring Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, played on Broadway, all rights to any of Neil Simon's plays were withheld. Cape Fear's staff really wanted to do "Odd Couple," so they wrote a compelling letter to Simon's widow, who owns the rights, linking the military community to Simon's service as a reservist. It worked, and the show was added to this season. "We are the only theater in the country who have the rights to a Neil Simon play right now," says Burke. Fayetteville favorites Marc de la Concha and Jonathan Judge-Russo will play Felix and Oscar, respectively. Judge-Russo gained a following when he played Drew in "Music City" in 2018. e show will only run a week and a half, Nov. 3-11. Burke advises people to get tickets soon. "I mean, right now," she adds with a smile. For the 31st year, "e Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is back again to keep a holiday tradition alive. With concerts and its popular Symphony on Tap series, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra increases its presence in the community. FEATURE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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