Strong direction and an excellent cast, headed by Will Ragland’s “Oscar Madison” and Todd A. Janssen’s “Felix Unger,” kept the audience both laughing and anticipating the next laugh. They were not disappointed.

The plot seems simple enough, and is best described in the final lyrics of the theme song of the television version of “The Odd Couple:” “Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?”

Photo: Escobar Photography

“We sent out a survey to our patrons, and this was an overwhelming pick,” said Ragland. “That's what convinced me. I actually had chosen something to do something different in this slot, and then when that survey came in, I thought, 'Okay, this is what the people want.' So we're going to give them what they want.” Photo Courtesy of Escobar Photography

Anderson’s Market Theatre is offering a taste of King’s music in the one-weekend only: “A Natural Woman: A Carol King Tribute Concert.”

The vibe of the show is as mellow and cool as King’s music, led by the lead performance of Ashley Wettlin, who pays homage to the great singer without giving into the temptation to impersonate King, offering her own vocal talents as a tribute to the songs.

Singer/songwriter/ producer Ashley Wettlin, will help audiences feel the earth move with a concert featuring the music of Carol King who has sold more than 75 million records worldwide with 118 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1955 and 1999 including: “Jazzman,” “So Far Away,” “I Feel the Earth Move,” “It's Too Late,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”

Tickets available here: Readers can use code OBSERVER at checkout for $5 off each ticket at tickets.markettheatre.org

Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. at: AndersonEvents.com or  UpchurchMerch.com

A limited presale is available starting at 10 AM on Thursday at 10 a.m. using the passcode: CIVIL

It’s easy to see that “Tick, Tick, Boom” was originally conceived as a one-man show. Instead, it was rewritten for Broadway as a work for three performers, who often flash notebook covers to remind the audience of character changes.

The musical jukebox, featuring songs stamped forever in many of our memories, pays tribute to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Bobby Darin, Nat King Cole and others, had an almost-full house at opening night smiling, bobbing their heads and even a few snapping their fingers for the tribute.

As part of the annual Youth Art Month activities, the Anderson Arts Center hosted the student art exhibit show on Sunday. More than 400 entries from Anderson County schools and home school students were on display.

The first big fight of the 2025 legislative session in South Carolina is splitting Republicans and Democrats as well as attorneys, businesses and insurers as the Senate looks to change how the state handles some civil lawsuits.

A bill that supporters said is far from a finished product is making its way to the Senate floor this week.

If you are a fan of Agatha Christie or any of the BBC detective shows, you are not likely to find a more enjoyable and satisfying production than MTP’s “And Then There Were None.”

Shows continue through March 2. Tickets here.

In the end, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is a recollection on the socioeconomic and psychological legacies of racism against African Americans which are at the root of so much of the generational self-destruction still evident today.

Market Theatre’s presentation is not to be missed and runs through Feb. 24. Tickets here.

As executive director, she hopes to expand the center’s involvement in public art with both the City of Anderson and Anderson County.

Her work as a painter, mixed media artist and photographer has been included in more than 200 exhibitions around the world, and retirement will not mean an end to her creative efforts.

The production is an enthusiastic deep-fried tribute to cornbread Christmas, and a throwback to the energy of “The Arthur Smith Show,” which was televised nationwide from 1951-1982 or “The Porter Wagoner Show.” The only thing missing was Speck Roads, although Mill Town Players founder Will Ragland brings a fried chicken breath performance, complete with Whispering Bill Anderson wig.

The Market Theatre kicked off a Halloween offering this weekend, with “The Rocky Horror Show,” a mixture of horror, science-fiction and sexual coming of age story intended exclusively for an adult audience. This one is not for the kids.

The show is based on the movie of the same name which debuted in London in 1973 as a sendup of corny sci-fi films from the 1950s, the same fare “Mystery Science Theater” later tackled on cable television (which did not feature a transvestite host).

There are too many surprises for me to say any more other than this one is among the most entertaining local plays I’ve seen, with engaging performances, fine directing and the perfect set.

Photo credit: Escobar Photography 

In this stage version of the cult classic movie, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Along the way they meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock music, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named “Rocky.” 

The stage play includes extra songs and verses not in the movie, and there are a few other changes, but the spirit of the story and audience interaction remain the same.

The aging Nettles sisters are determined to escape spinsterhood. Willie Mae plans to head out to Salt Lake and finding a good Mormon husband. Faye is ready to hop on a spaceship when the "space people" return for another visit (She witnessed the first landing 25 years earlier in her daddy’s sugarcane field. Her daddy claims to have seen dead people walking through Sugar Bean).

The Market Theatre, in cooperation with the City of Anderson, will present the family-friendly musical “James and The Giant Peach” Aug. 22-26 in Carolina Wren Park.

The production is free, and those who attend are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket, and picnic baskets and coolers are welcomed (though no glass or outside alcohol is allowed), but pets are not allowed in the park for the show.