Among the more than 170 events happening during the first HATCH Chatt festival, April 12-22, are a nest full of theatre pieces. Not since, well, early March, when SETC was in town, have you had the chance to see this much theatre in this short a time span. Here are your options, in chronological order (additional performances will be listed with the first date).
Thursday, April 12
HATCH Chatt Scramble
The opening event of the festival presents all kinds of performing art inside the Hunter, including spoken word and music, alongside a presentation of pieces inspired by works in the Hunter collection by the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s teen project, Theatre Quest, and a “Scramble Edition” version of “Whose Bard Is It Anyway?”, a compilation of Shakespeare and improv by Shakespeare Chattanooga.
• 8:15 p.m. Theatre Quest, Depression-era Gallery
• 10 p.m. “Whose Bard Is It Anyway?” Scramble Edition
8 p.m., $20 advance, $25 at door. Hunter Museum, 10 Bluff View. (423) 267-0968, huntermuseum.org.
Friday, April 13
“Mr. and Mrs. M”
Perfect night to open this dark and twisted take on one of Shakespear’s most dark and twisted stories. Conceived and directed by Scott Dunlap.
7 p.m. reception, 8 p.m. show. $30 (April 13 only); other shows $18-25. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Main Stage, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534, theatrecentre.com.
“Beside Yourself”
Comedy by Nick Hall, performed by graduating students of the Chattanooga State Professional Actors Training Program, about four sets of twins played by four actors.
7:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation (Chatt State students free). Other performances 2 p.m. April 14; 6:30 p.m. April 15 ETC at St. Andrews Center, 1918 Union St. (423) 987-5141, ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com.
“No Loitering”
Staged reading of one of the winners in the CTC’s 7th Biennial Festival of New Plays. Playwright Hunter Rodgers asks what happens when only three people are left in the world.
8 p.m. $10. Other performance 8 p.m. April 14. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Circle Stage, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534, theatrecentre.com.
Wednesday, April 18
“The Leopold Project Workshop”
Storyteller Jim Pfitzer workshops his one-man show about conservationist and ecologist Aldo Leopold.
8 p.m. $10. Other performance 8 p.m. April 19. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Circle Stage, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534, theatrecentre.com.
Friday, April 20
“Return to Vaudeville”
“Be a clown, be a clown/All the world/Loves a clown.” Clowning, dancing, singing and more with Over The Counter Production’s take on New Vaudeville.
11 a.m. $5. Salvation Army ReCreate Café, 800 McCallie Ave. (423) 756-1023, ext. 136, csarmy.org.
“These Shining Lives”
Women painting glow-in-the-dark watch faces in factories in the ’20s don’t realize the radium in the paint is killing them. Based on a true story. Performed by graduating students of the Chattanooga State Professional Actors Training Program.
7:30 p.m. $10. suggested donation (Chatt State students free). Other performances 2 p.m. April 21; 6:30 p.m. April 22. ETC at St. Andrews Center, 1918 Union St. (423) 987-5141, ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com.
“Mr. Mundoo”
Second in the series of staged readings of winners in the CTC’s 7th Biennial Festival of New Plays. As envisioned by playwright T.J. Carson, a man walks into a police station—and then confesses to multiple murders.
8 p.m. $10. Other performance 8 p.m. April 21. Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Circle Stage, 400 River St. (423) 267-8534, theatrecentre.com
Sunday, April 22
“Whose Bard Is It Anyway?”
After deciding to create something specifically for HATCH Chatt, Shakespeare Chattanooga combines scenes from Shakespeare, chosen by audience members out of a hat, with “styles” for the scenes, also chosen by audience members.
2:30 p.m. $9.95 adults, $4.95 ages 3-17, includes day’s admission to the Hunter Museum, noon-5 p.m. Hunter Museum, 10 Bluff View. (423) 267-0968, huntermuseum.org.
For more information about all the events happening during HATCH Chatt, visit hatchchatt.org.