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What to see at the theater this month

John Staton StarNews Staff

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'Senior Moments 2: Betta Daze'

Ella Reischer directs area writer Don Fried's smart, pleasant follow-up to the comedy "Senior Moments," which played as dinner theater at TheatreNOW in January of 2018. "SM2" stars Michelle Reiff, Lupin Byers and Norman Aronovic in a story about a tech-challenged senior citizen who gets a virtual assistant to help assuage her loneliness. An unlikely "friendship" ensues. Details: 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show, Feb. 15-16, with a special Valentine's Day show Feb. 14. $44-$47, includes dinner and show but not beverages or tip. $20-$26 show only. 910-399-3669 or TheatreWilmington.com.

'The Odd Couple'

Thalian Hall Cube Theatre presents Neil Simon's classic, heartfelt comedy about mismatched roommates. Tony Rivenbark plays the finicky Felix Ungar and Jon Stafford is the slovenly Oscar Madison. Details: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14-16, 18 and 21-23, 3 p.m. Feb. 17 and 24 at Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St., Wilmington. $28, plus taxes and fees. 910-632-2285 or ThalianHall.org.

'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'

Thalian Association Community Theatre presents the beloved musical from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber based on the biblical story of Joseph. It follows our hero's roller-coaster-like ride from being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers to becoming an advisor to the Pharoh and reuniting with his family. Details: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15-16, 3 p.m. Feb. 17 at Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St., Wilmington. $32, plus taxes and fees. 910-632-2285 or ThalianHall.org.

Valentine's Murder Mystery

Murder mystery dinner theater returns to the Beau Rivage Resort for Valentine's Day. Presented by Murder Mystery Productions, which has run the show at the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach for more than 17 years, the evening includes an interactive murder to solve plus a full, Valentine's-themed meal from Catering Thyme. Details: 6:15 p.m. Feb. 14 at Beau Rivage Resort, 649 Rivage Promenade, Wilmington. $42.95 includes tea and/or coffee, appetizers, dinner and the show. Cash bar. Call 910-297-2462 for reservations.

'The Vagina Monologues'

Brunswick Little Theatre presents Eve Ensler's award-winning 1996 play “The Vagina Monologue.” Based on interviews with dozens of women, the show, which is intended for mature audiences, celebrates women and their sexuality with humor and emotion. Millie Hart directs. Details: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14-16 at Brunswick Little Theatre, 8068 River Road SE, Southport. $20. Available in advance at Ricky Evans Gallery, 211 N. Howe St. in Southport and at BrunswickLittleTheatre.com.

'Rock of Ages'

It's the Broadway tour of the jukebox rock musical featuring such favorites as Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'." Details: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19-20 at CFCC Wilson Center, 703 N. Third St., Wilmington. $42-$95, plus taxes and fees. 910-362-7999 of CapeFearStage.com.

'Agnes of God'

After having its three-week run last fall cut down to one by Hurricane Florence, Big Dawg Productions returns John Pielmeier’s intense 1979 drama to the stage. It's about a psychiatrist, the chain-smoking Dr. Martha Livingstone (Eleanor Stafford), who’s been charged with assessing the sanity of a novice nun, Agnes (Grace Carlyle Berry), who’s been accused a murdering a child she gave birth to three months earlier. Standing between them is Miriam Ruth (Jemila Ericson), the Mother Superior of Agnes’ convent, who’s determined to protect Agnes from the doctor’s inquiring mind. Under the direction of Katherine Vernon, "Agnes" doesn't lack for compelling moments. Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 20-23 and 28-March 2, 3 p.m. Feb. 24 and March 3. $15-$25. 910-367-5237 or BigDawgProductions.org.

'5 Fish, a Goat Head, and a Bag of Money'

Comedy and theater troupe presents a three encore performances of this sketch show, which was originally staged at Whiskey Tango Foxtrot in November during the Cucalorus Festival. According to a release, it contains "a hodgepodge mixture of costumes and props unearthed from the dilapidated remains of the many shuttered theaters in the Cape Fear region." Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 21-23 at Ronald Sachs Violins, 616-B Castle St. $9. PSLcomedy.com

'Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood'

The University of North Carolina Wilmington's Department of Theatre presents Adam Szymkowicz's comedic, gender-swapping retelling of the 500-year-old old English legend. In this version, Robin Hood is actually Maid Marian, traditionally the damsel in distress, in disguise, while the Merry Men of Sherwood Forest actively question their sexual identities. Along the way, gender roles and the very notion of maleness will be challenged in a production sure to push buttons and inspire discussion. Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 21-23 and 28-March 2, 2 p.m. Feb. 24 and March 3 at the Mainstage Theatre in the Cultural Arts Building, UNCW campus. 910-962-3500 or UNCW.edu/Theatre.

Divine Divas

Thalian Association Community Theatre presents the third-annual Divine Divas concert, a two-night event to benefit She ROCKS (Research Ovarian Cancer Knowledge Support) and TACT. The show features performers from Wilmington’s theater community celebrating songs of radio, stage, and the movies, highlighted by a "Motown Mash-Up" to honor late She ROCKS co-founder Beth Quinn. Details: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22-23 at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Art Center, 120 S. Second St., Wilmington. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at Thalian.org, she-rocks.org or by calling 910-251-1788.

'Wilmington Reconstructed'

Staged reading of a work in progress from Wilmington theater company Mouths of Babes. It centers on the events of 1898, when a group of Wilmington whites took over the city government, burned black newspaper The Daily Record, killed a number of African-Americans and drove others out of town. The play follows New York Times Magazine writer John Jeremiah Sullivan as he gets local 8th graders to help track down lost articles from The Daily Record. Details: 2 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S. 17th St., Wilmington. Free. 910-395-5999 or CameronArtMuseum.org.

Opera House and the Oscars

Watch the Oscars with Opera House Theatre Co. and help the Wilmington group in its theatrical mission with this fundraiser. Enter a raffle to win tickets to see Lady Gaga in Vegas while you're there. Details: 7-10 p.m. Feb. 24 at Tails Piano Bar, 115 S. Front St., Wilmington.

'Always ... Patsy Cline'

Opera House Theatre Co. presents the musical story of country legend Patsy Cline and a fan who became a friend. Two former Wilmington theater standouts return to town for the two-woman show. Annie Tracy Marsh plays Patsy Cline and Barbara Weetman plays Louise, who met Cline at a show in 1961 and corresponded with the star until the singer's untimely death in 1963. The show features numerous Cline hits, including “Crazy”, “I Fall to Pieces” and "Walkin’ after Midnight." Details: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28-March 2 and March 8-9, 3 p.m. March 3 and 9-10 at Thalian Hall, 310 Chestnut St., Wilmington. $20-$27 plus taxes and fees. 910-632-2285 or ThalianHall.org.

'Stones in His Pockets'

This tragicomic play by Marie Jones features two actors playing 15 roles in a story about a Hollywood movie filming in rural Ireland and its impact on the inhabitants there. Details: 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show, Friday and Saturdays March 1-30. $44-$47, includes dinner and show but not beverages or tip. $20-$26 show only. 910-399-3669 or TheatreWilmington.com.

Contact John Staton at 910-343-2343 or John.Staton@StarNewsOnline.com.