What shows are on your September calendar? That’s right Folks, the 2012-2013 season has just begun, and theater reviewers everywhere have our pencils sharpened and phones set to silent.  There are a lot of exciting shows on the horizon this year!  I will be reviewing three shows this month and am recommending one more which I won’t have a chance to see.

Ragtime

Ragtime: The Musical
Hillbarn Theater
August 30 – September 23

Musicals are what Hillbarn does best and with a great show like Ragtime, how can they go wrong?  This is the one I’m sadly going to miss, but I can without hesitation state that you should try to never miss a Hillbarn musical.

Ragtime is a powerful portrait of life in turn-of-the-century America, but a relevant tale for today. Written by an award-winning team, the musical intertwines the stories of three extraordinary families, as they confront history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in America. The Tony-winning score is just as diverse as the melting pot of America itself. Featured are such show stopping songs as Getting Ready Rag, Your Daddy’s Son, Wheels of a Dream, Till We Reach That Day, Back To Before,and Make Them Hear You. This thrilling musical is sure to inspire actors and audiences alike!

The Death of the Novel

The Death of the Novel
San Jose Repertory Theater
August 30 – September 22

You’re not seriously going to miss this one, right?  “Mad Men”’s own Pete Campbell, Vincent Kartheiser, is starring in this season opener. My friends at the Rep have been buzzing with excitement, and all signs point to an amazing show.

Brilliant young novelist Sebastian Justice claims to be the most well-adjusted, depressed agoraphobic in Manhattan. While he rants about anything from global warming to tennis, his publisher-ordered psychologist (a “writer’s block-whisperer”) tries to get to the bottom of his grief. But when a stunning and mysterious Saudi woman intrudes into his self-contained world his emotional descent takes a sudden turn, for the raving beauty may not be the person she says she is. Will this stranger be the one to help him find his way back, and at what cost? Identities blur in this enthralling and evocative story that takes a look at the modern world through the eyes of a brilliant and tragically wounded artist.

Pearl Fishers

Bizet’s Pearl Fishers
Opera San Jose
September 8 – September 23

Watch out, Opera San Jose, because for this show the Opera Novice will have as my guest an actual Coloratura Soprano, and she’s going to help me understand the nuances of the performance.  Instead of my usual “Oh gosh, it sounded PERFECT! It looked PERFECT! Everything is PERFECT!” I might actually know what’s going on…  But I’m pretty sure Opera San Jose is not going to disappoint.

A forbidden love. A friendship tested. Georges Bizet’s exotic romance, The Pearl Fishers comes to life for the first time on the California Theatre stage. Set on the tropical island of ancient Ceylon, two fishermen vow eternal friendship, but the desire for a mysterious woman from their past ignites a jealous rivalry. A mesmerizing tale of love and sacrifice, Bizet’s musical gem overflows with lush melodies, haunting arias, and the beloved duet, Au fond du temple saint.”

The Little Dog Laughed

The Little Dog Laughed
Dragon Productions Theater Company
September 14 – October 7

I believe this will be my first show by Dragon Productions, but I practically begged for a chance to see it.  It was written by New York playwright Douglas Carter Beane, the screenwriter for “Too Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar”.  The Little Dog Laughed was nominated for several Tonys, incuding Best Play, and I am really excited to be able to review this for you.

Follow the adventures of Mitchell Green, a movie star who could hit it big if it weren’t for one teensy-weensy problem. His agent, Diane, can’t seem to keep him in the closet. Will there be a happy ending as the final credits roll?