The Gilbert Theater kicks off its 21st season on September 19 with Nunsense! The Musical. With book, music and lyrics written by Dan Groggin and directed by Robyne Parrish. Nunsense, created in 1985, is a musical comedy expanded from a line of greeting cards to a cabaret that ran for 38 weeks, becoming the second-longest-running Off-Broadway show in history. Some of the main characters include, Mother Superior Mary Regina, a former circus performer who can not resist the spotlight; her second-in-command Sister Mary Hubert; Sister Robert Anne, a streetwise nun from Brooklyn; Sister Mary Leo, who is determined to be the world’s first ballerina nun; and childlike Sister Mary Amnesia, who lost her memory when a crucifix hit her on the head. The entertainment includes solos, dance routines, and audience participation.

Following the funny nuns is the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, adapted by Christopher Schario, beginning November 28 and running through December 14, 2014. This production tells the story of bitter old man, Ebenezer Scrooge and his change of character after visits from Jacob Marley, his old business partner, and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. It never feels like Christmas unless you see A Christmas Carol at least once or twice during the holiday season.

After the New Year, Gilbert Theater features the production, A Streetcar named Desire, written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Adam Kline. The show dates are January 30 through February 15, 2015. A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1947 play, for which Williams received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948. The setting is downtown New Orleans where Blanche DuBois, a Southern Belle who believes in Southern customs and decorum, inserts herself into her sister’s marital issues, but the situation turns around into what she is hiding in her own life. The character of Blanche is based on Williams’ sister, Rose Williams, who struggled with mental health issues.

Stephen Miles, poet, writer and playwright living in Fayetteville and currently the artist in resident at Gilbert Theater, will introduce his new play, Backstage, on March 27 and concluding on April 12, 2015. According to Miles’ bio on the Gilbert Theater website, his work has been in more than 150 magazines and has received several awards for poetry, fiction and drama. As well as the Sanskrit Award for Outstanding Achievement in Literature, two North Carolina Artist Fellowships (poetry and drama), The Thompson Theatre Playwrights Award, The International Playwrights Festival Prize, The Crucible Award for Poetry and others.

In conclusion of their 2014-2015 season, Gilbert Theater introduces, The Book Club Play, by Karen Zacarias, beginning May 29 and ending June 14, 2015. Based on this play, it is recognized that relationships will come and go but the book club will always be there. It could even turn into your entire life. Ana, the conniving queen of the book club doesn’t want to permit newbies to join. The book club is a safe haven, and it makes you ask yourself why reading and talking about books is so important and shows the strength of human interaction.

Gilbert’s Summer Program, NEXT STAGE, features the Glee show and an evening of one acts, starting the summer of 2015. Some of the local directors to the program include, Robyne Parrish, Adam Kline, Stephen Miles, Jerry Fiebig , to name a few.

Gilbert Theater’s self-proclaimed mission is to produce creative, innovative plays and events to stir its audiences and the students of its conservatory to explore and contemplate the human condition through the talents of local and guest artists. For more information or to buy tickets you may email Gilbert Theater at boxoffice@gilberttheater.com, or call (910)-678-7189, or order tickets online.