̨Íåswag

Two fan favorites, a beloved childhood musical, a fun adventure, and a newly written play are slated for the stage during the 2018-19 (GTA) season.

Individuals wishing to buy tickets for one show or more now may do so. All ticket sales for GTA productions started July 1. GTA is a nationally acclaimed collaboration of the University of North Georgia (̨Íåswag), Brenau University, theater professionals, and the northeast Georgia community.

GTA Marketing Manager Beth Kendall said theater lovers need to act quickly to guarantee themselves a seat for the shows.

"For the past two seasons, more than 96 percent of our tickets sold out," she said, adding at least one show is guaranteed to do so. "I know that will happen for the Wizard of Oz."

"The Wizard of Oz" will be the MainStage production in the fall, which is the 79th anniversary of the film version starring Judy Garland as Dorothy.

Jim Hammond, artistic and managing director of GTA, said "The Wizard of Oz" will appeal to old and young audiences. Adults will be transported to a bygone era, while children will be entertained by the colorful characters and visual effects.

"Monkeys and witches will fly," Hammond said, adding it provides a plethora of parts for ̨Íåswag and Brenau students to play. "The audience will love that show and the students will have a blast performing it."

"The Wizard of Oz," however, will not be the first show of the season. Launching the new season will be "Sophie and the Pirates," which will be produced by WonderQuest.

WonderQuest is the young audiences division of GTA. It is the only organization in north Georgia dedicated to offering professionally produced theater shows specifically for children and their families.

Written by WonderQuest director Gay Hammond and lasting about 55 minutes, "Sophie and the Pirates" features a young girl longing for adventure on the high seas. But Sophie gets more than she bargained for when she is scooped up by a gang of wacky pirates.

Family performances of "Sophie and the Pirates" will be at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and 29 and Oct. 5 and 6, and 2:30 p.m. Sept 30. All shows will be in the historic Pearce Auditorium at Brenau University, 202 Boulevard in Gainesville, Georgia. Tickets are $12-$15 for adults and seniors and $8-$10 for students and children.

Kendall said the school matinees are filling up quickly.

Following "Sophie and the Pirates" will be "The Wizard of Oz" in the Hosch Theatre in the John S. Burd Center at Brenau University, 429 Academy St., in Gainesville. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6-10 and Nov. 13-17 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 11 and 17. Tickets will be $28-$30 for adults, $26-$28 for seniors and $18-$20 for students.

Plays scheduled for the February Festival of Theatre are "Noises Off" and "Men on Boats."

Kendall said "Noises Off", produced for sellout audiences by GTA in 1997, was the one of first GTA shows she saw as transplant to Gainesville.

"I thought it was laugh-out-loud funny, and the audience thought so, too," she said.

"Noises Off" showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Feb 12-16 and Feb. 19-23 and 2:30 p.m. Feb 17 and 23 in the Hosch Theatre. Tickets are $24 and $26 for adults, $22-$24 for seniors and $14 and $16 for students.

Running at the same time in the Ed Cabell Theatre at ̨Íåswag's Gainesville Campus will be "Men On Boats," which will have its Georgia premiere.

"We were thrilled to get the rights to it," Jim Hammond said, explaining the drama with a lot of comedy is unique. "It's about the first white male explorers going down the Rio Grande … but it's told with a cast of all women."

"Men On Boats" performances will be 7:30 p.m. Feb 15, 17 and 19-23 and 2:30 p.m. Feb 16 and 23, in the Ed Cabell Theatre at 3820 Mundy Mill Road in Oakwood, Georgia. Tickets are $18 and $20 for adults, $16-$18 for seniors and $12 and $14 for students.

Rounding out the season will be the musical "Cabaret," which is set in the 1920s in a Berlin nightclub. "Cabaret" explores the dark, heady and tumultuous life of Berlin’s natives and expatriates as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. April 9-13 and April 16-20 and 2:30 p.m. April 14 and 20 in the Ed Cabell Theatre. Tickets are $28-$30 for adults, $26-$28 for seniors and $18-20 for students, depending on seat location.

In addition to these five MainStage productions, GTA will produce two more shows through its Discovery Series. These performances are free, with general admission seating on a first-come-first-seated basis. 

In the fall semester, GTA will produce "Waiting for Godot" from Nov 9-12 at the Ed Cabell Theatre. In the spring, "The Kiss" will premiere for the first time April 12-15 at Brenau University’s Theatre on the Square at 301 Main St. SW in Gainesville.

Patrons may receive vouchers beginning at 6:30 p.m. the night of each performance to guarantee their seats. Theater doors will open at 7:10 p.m.

For more information or tickets, call 678-717-3624 or visit the or Box Office in the Continuing Education and Performing Arts building on ̨Íåswag's Gainesville Campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday or 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.