Stepping Out

Summer theatricals nearby

Check out the local entertainment lineup

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The summer theater/concert season is in full swing on our local stages and not to be missed. After a day at the beach — or instead of the beach — check out some of the many entertainment offerings nearby.
All are priced right (most are free) and with a wide variety of enjoyable productions — and concerts — to choose from, you’ll find that best of Broadway and great tunes are close by, from classic musicals to musical revues, with some Shakespeare thrown in, of course, and plenty to appeal the kids.
For the remainder of the sunny season, local performance troupes, musicians, and even some big names will be entertaining audiences across Long Island.
It’s an annual ritual to enjoy some outdoor theater — or one of the many concerts offered at local parks — this time of year and Plaza Theatrical Productions leads the way with well-received shows have been a staple of the local summer theater season for years. The Lynbrook-based theater company continues its summertime tradition of presenting free productions at nearby parks, supplemented by performances at its home base in Bellmore, The Showplace at Bellmore Movies.
Guided by founder/artistic director Kevin Harrington (a Molloy College alumnus and East Rockaway resident), Plaza just finished shaking up audiences with the jukebox musical “All Shook Up,” a tribute to Elvis Presley, and will be performing the great musical farce “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” beginning in August.

Plaza is also entertaining all ages throughout the summer with that popular ode to Charles Schulz’s Charlie Brown. Charlie, along with Linus, Lucy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang, will delight audiences in that fast-paced, light-hearted musical “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” centered around the classic comic strip’s lovable characters and their day-to-day antics.
Spend a couple of days in the lives of Charlie Brown and his pint-sized philosopher friends when the comic strip comes to life with the cast that includes many local performers. West Hempstead’s Kristen Greve, a senior at Holy Trinity High School, stars as Lucy; Baldwin High School alumnus Emily Crowe, who has been performing with Plaza since age 11, appears as Sally; Bellmore’s Richie Kormos, another Plaza veteran, is featured as Schroeder; and Christopher Bilello, of Lynbrook, shares the stage as Snoopy.
“We are delighted to once again to travel throughout Long Island bringing the musical to local camps and parks,” says Harrington. “Audiences are enthused and we are greatly appreciated of their support.”
You can find the Peanuts gang at Lynbrook Recreation Center on Friday, July 22, at 7 p.m. Next month it is coming to Westwood Park in Malverne on Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. and East Rockaway’s Memorial Park on Aug. 14, also at 7 p.m., along with performances in other area parks.
Plaza also invites families to visit Agrabah this summer, when it stages “Disney’s Aladdin Jr.” at Long Island Children’s Museum next month, beginning Aug. 13. Performances, which run for one hour and are followed by a meet and greet with the cast.
As always, a summer theater season involves some Shakespeare. If you’re looking to avoid the lines at Central Park for some Shakespeare this summer, the Arena Players offers a Long Island alternative: its annual summer production in the Vanderbilt Museum’s cobblestone courtyard, set against the magnificent backdrop of the historic Vanderbilt Mansion, in Centerport.
Through July 31, Arena will reenact the star-crossed, forbidden love affair of “Romeo and Juliet” It’s followed by the Bard’s classic comedy of love and marriage “Taming of the Shrew,” from which the iconic movie “10 Things I Hate About You” is based. Performances are Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. Theatergoers are encouraged to picnic on the majestic lawns overlooking the Long Island Sound before the show.
The summertime concert scene is always lively, with something for all musical tastes to be found at area parks.
Among the highlights, the Long Island Arts Council at Freeport brings roots rocker Marc Berger to the Nautical Mile Esplanade, in Freeport, as part of its annual Sunset Concert Series. Berger will be joined by guitarist Eric Amble (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts) for his set, next Thursday, July 28 at 7 p.m.
The free concert will feature songs from his recent album “Ride” as well as new material from a new album that he’s been producing with the help of Tony Garnier, Bob Dylan’s bassist.
Berger, who grew up in Philadelphia and New York, spent the summers of his 20s exploring remote destinations out west. The essence of these trips is encapsulated through Berger’s passion for music in “Ride.”
“It’s a collection of songs all having to do with the romance of the American West,” Berger said. “Coming from New York, the size, scale and aesthetic of everything out there just blew my mind.”
And, of course, the concert season at Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in Eisenhower Park always brings out the crowds to enjoy some lively tunes in the great outdoors. There’s plenty going on this weekend, with the Nassau Pops performing Friday, July 22; followed by Fresh 102.7’s annual “Fresh in the Park” concert featuring the Danish pop-soul band Lukas Graham, with their hits “7 Years” and “Mama Said,” and Christian rockers Needtobreathe; a dynamic evening of Elvis and Beatles tunes with Elvis tribute artist Lamar Peters and the Liverpool Shuffle, on Sunday, July 24; and a tribute to Latina icon Selena, with Genessa & the Selena Experience, on Monday, July 25.
Other notable shows include the popular Dr. K’s Motown Revue, on Friday, Aug. 12; a concert with the acclaimed Eagles tribute band Desert Highway, on Friday, Aug. 19; an evening of oldies with the Del Satins and Classics, on Friday, Aug. 26; and the musical revue Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway, on Saturday, Aug. 27. Most concerts begin at 8 p.m.

Where to go...
Plaza Theatrical Productions
, varied locations.
(516) 599-6780 or www.plazatheatrical.com.
Arena Players at Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport.
(516) 293-0674 or www.arenaplayers.org.
Long Island Arts Council at Freeport’s Sunset Concert Series, Nautical Mile Esplanade, Woodcleft Ave., Freeport. For information, visit www.liacfreeport.org.
Eisenhower Park’s Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow. (516) 572-0200 or visit www.nassaucountyny.gov/parks.