January Theatre Highlights

“BODY OF WAR,” a new Iraq War documentary by PHIL DONAHUE and ELLEN SPIRO, at Tinker Street Cinema, Woodstock—Both Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro, co-producers and directors of BODY OF WAR, will be in attendance for this Woodstock Film Festival sponsored event, which will then have a Q&A with them following the screening. BODY OF WAR is the story of U.S. soldier Tomas Young, 25, paralyzed from a bullet to the spine after serving in Iraq for less than a week. As he returns to his home life and deals with his disability and its ramifications, he evolves into a passionate and articulate voice against the war. Woodstock filmmaker DeeDee Halleck acted as the film’s consultant, and there are two original songs by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. A special reception with the filmmakers will follow at Oriole 9 (17 Tinker St). Please visit www.woodstockfilmfestival.com/fundraising/bodyofwar.php for ticket info. Tinker St. Cinema, 132 Tinker St., Woodstock, www.woodstockfilmfestival.com, 845.810.0131. Sa 1/12, 2 PM

“SWEENEY TODD” and “THE CRUCIBLE” at Center for Performing Arts, Rhinebeck—January seems to be the month of SWEENEY TODD, with a Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movie version in cinemas everywhere. Undaunted, CPA brings the full version of the Stephen Sondheim/Hugo Wheeler macabre musical comedy to the Hudson Valley, featuring several musical selections that were cut from the Broadway production. Like all great musicals, SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET is generally best experienced live, and the capable CPA cast (stage directed by Laurie Sepe Marder, music direction by Paul and Joanne Schubert) should deliver the goods. Arthur Miller’s THE CRUCIBLE, a drama centered on the Salem witch trial period, is a timely allegory of McCarthy-ism and the Red Scare of the ‘50s, and finds a resonance in the present-day drumbeat to war in Iraq/Iran. Center for Performing Arts, 661 Rte. 308, Rhinebeck, www.centerforperformingarts.org, 845.876.3080. SWEENEY TODD: Fr-Su 1/11 through 27. Fr/Sa 8 PM, Su 3 PM. THE CRUCIBLE: Fr-Su 2/1 through 17. Fr/Sa 8 PM, Su 3 PM

“TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE” and “A CELEBRATION OF SHAKESPEARE’S SONNETS” at Unison Arts Center, New Paltz—Mohonk Mountain Stage Company presents this enormously popular adaptation of sports-columnist Mitch Albom’s best seller “Tuesdays With Morrie,” (script by Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher), a true story about the author’s experience visiting a beloved and ailing former professor, and learning to appreciate the little things that give life meaning. Later, in early February, MMSC’s Don Wildy performs a rare treat for the poetry fan and romantic: a two-performance reading of all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets. When Wildy performed this at Unison back in 1998, it was a sell-out, with some audience members even bringing their own copies to “read along.” A nice prelude to Valentine’s Day. Unison Arts Center, Mountain Rest Rd., New Paltz, www.unisonarts.org, 845.255.1559. TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE: Sa/Su 1/25-26, 8 PM; A CELEBRATION OF SHAKESPEARE’S SONNETS: Fr/Sa 2/8-9, 8 PM