If It's Summer It Must Be Summer Theater Season

enters its third season this weekend with not one but two productions in repertory, Kenneth Lonergan's psychological drama "The Lobby Hero," and the more farcical "Kitchen Witches," by Caroline Smith.

The plays will be performed at 's Andrews Hall on weekend nights for the next several weeks, starting tonight (June 28) with "The Lobby Hero."

concerns an apartment doorman in his late twenties - a "modern day Hamlet," according to the program notes -- his strict supervisor, an overbearing cop and his rookie female partner. Directed by Laureen E. Smith, the play is set in a foyer of a middle-income Manhattan apartment building in the middle of the night. Lonergan is the award-winning writer of "Analyze This" and "You Can Count On Me."  

Tomorrow night, June 29, is the first performance of which sounds like a cross between "Car Talk" and "In the Kitchen with Julia Child." Two cable access kitchen show hostesses, who have hated each other for years, are put together on a TV cooking show. Directed by Nancy Vandegrift, who has performed with Sonoma Readers Theater and as a soloist with Music in the Vineyards.

The local Sonoma Stage Works, founded in 2010 by and Todd Evans, will present the two plays in repertory to kick off their 2012 Summer Theater Festival season. Sonoma Stage Works is a member of the Sonoma Theater Alliance, which includes Silver Moon Theatre, Caps Productions, and Star eQuality as well.

For direct ticket links and exact schedules of these two plays in repertory, visit the Community Center box office page. Tickets are $22 ($24 online) and just $18 for Thrifty Thursdays.

Other shows coming up this season include  Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None", Michael Bennett's "A Chorus Line" and "The Foreigner" by Larry Shue. See attached program PDF for more information or visit the Sonoma Valley Box Office. Season tickets still available: $100 for 5 shows, includes reserved seating and one complimentary drink.