The Last Days of Rockin Rob’s Writer/director Nick Albanese’s latest show, The Last Days of Rockin Rob’s, opens June 15 at Artist’s Exchange. In his hit autobiographical one man show, The Last Sicilian, Albanese explored his Italian upbringing in Providence. Now he is exploring how the changing musical landscape is affecting small businesses in The Last Days of Rockin Rob’s. The cast includes Kathleen Russell (13 Rue de l’amour), Stephen Hug, John Cillino, David Adams Murphy and Ericka Atwell (Everybody Needs Therapy Sometimes). The comedy drama about a failing record shop was inspired by real-life, Albanese explained. “I read an article about a record shop that’s closing in (New York’s) Greenwich Village,” Albanese said. “This (store) was there for years and years. No one’s buying (vinyl) albums anymore.” When writing the play, Albanese added some twists of his own to the story and believes it reflects the ups and downs of life. Sales of record albums have actually increased over the last few years. They are now outselling digital downloads, which Albanese finds interesting. “It’s kind of funny how everything comes around again,” Albanese said. The Last Days of Rockin Rob’s opens June 15 and runs through June 23. Artist’s Exchange. 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston. Tickets available at tickets.vendini.com. An Examination of The Inside of His Severed Head Writer/Director Lenny Schwartz and composer Duncan Pflaster have teamed up for the musical, The Inside of His Severed Head, debuting May 10 at the RISE Playhouse in Woonsocket. Based on the classic Arthur Miller play Death of a Salesman, the story follows the adventures of aging vampire hunter Willy Loman (played by Michael Thurber) who realizes his life is empty and tries to fill it in the last 24 hours of his life. “It’s one of those warm, fuzzy plays,” Schwartz noted. For Schwartz, working on a musical has been a dream come true. Schwartz has written several offbeat plays, including The Social Avenger, Co-Creator, Accidental Incest and Ben Minus Zoe Minus Ben. “I wanted a challenge, I wanted to go out and freaking do it,” Schwartz explained. Schwartz is proud of the cast, which includes Victoria Paradis, Ryan McKenna, Derek Laurendeau, Sarah Reed, Lauren Pace, Alexandra Cipolla, Kevin Hernandez, Mya Lemery, Maureen Noel and Ryan Bedisee. “Everyone is insanely talented,” Schwartz said. “I have so much respect for people who can act and sing. Every night I come in (to rehearsals) so enthusiastic. It’s almost like I have a new lease on life. You should be constantly learning and challenging yourself.” Schwartz is excited about reuniting with Thurber, who has appeared in Schwartz’s previous productions. “I have to say this performance (Thurber) is giving is the best of anything he has ever done,” Schwartz said. Schwartz promises The Inside of His Severed Head will offer something for everyone. “People want to try something new that they haven’t seen before,” Schwartz said. “If you don’t know Death of a Salesman, you’re going to love it. For those who have (seen it), I think they’ll be enthusiastic about what the twists are we took on this classic material.” The Inside of His Severed Head runs May 10-19. The RISE Playhouse, 142 Clinton St, Woonsocket. All shows are at 8pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at Smarttix.com by following this link: smarttix.com/Modules/Sales/SalesMainTabsPage.aspx?SalesEventId=7442 Sometimes The Rain, Sometimes The Sea Sometimes The Rain, Sometimes The Sea is a whimsical fable about love between humans and non- humans. Brown University’s production, written by Julia Izumi and directed by Kate Bergstrom, was inspired by the classic Hans Christian Andersen story The Little Mermaid. Karishma Swarup had an appealing sweetness as the Rain Cloud, who falls in love with Ralmond (Kai Bershack). The only problem is Ralmond is in a relationship with Midi (Marianne Verrone). Anthony DeRita was wonderfully campy as Bessie the cow, a confidante to Rain Cloud who counseled her about the nature of love. Rain Cloud desperately wants to be human, but has to be loved by another before that can take place. Meanwhile, Edvard (Conor Sweeney), a lovesick prince, pursues Ina (Oyindamola Akingbile), who rebuffs his advances. Brendan George shows up as the eccentric and boastful Dolan, who has written the story we are watching, “The Little Raincloud.” Dolan realizes, to his dismay, that his creations have taken on lives of their own. The technical qualities of the production were first-rate. The set design, which featured a huge cloud suspended over the stage like a chandelier, was dazzling. The sound effects of thunder and rain were also convincing. The performances were all excellent. I especially liked the energy of Conor Sweeney’s performance as well as the passion of Maaike Laanstra-Corn as Little One. Bergstrom’s direction was crisp and imaginative, using the catwalks above the stage in the Leeds Theatre for maximum effect. Sometimes The Rain, Sometimes The Sea continues Brown’s theater department’s history of producing offbeat and intelligent stories that reflect on the complexities of human nature. Sometimes The Rain, Sometimes The Sea ran April 5 through 15. Leeds Theatre at Brown University, 83 Waterman St, PVD. The Community Players Present Forever Plaid The Community Players present the “heavenly” musical, Forever Plaid, April 13-22. Singing group “The Plaids,” played by Nick Mercurio, Joe Catanzaro, Dan Thompson and Matt Fagan, recreate the close harmony of their idols: The Four Freshmen, The Hi-Lo’s and The Crew Cuts, and soon start rehearsing their music together. The group’s 1950s songs include “Three Coins in a Fountain,” “Sixteen Tons” and “Catch a Falling Star.” For East Providence native Fagan, working on the show “has been a wonderful opportunity and the material has been a great challenge.” Fagan, 21, has been performing for most of his life. “I first began performing when I was in 4th grade,” Fagan said. “I was in Tolman High School’s production of The Wizard of Oz as a munchkin, Emerald City worker and the flying monkey.” Fagan also appeared in productions of My Fair Lady as Colonel Pickering, Young Frankenstein as The Monster and The Phantom of the Opera as The Phantom. At Rhode Island College he was in Middletown and Leading Ladies. For Catanzaro, who lives in Johnston, being a part of the show “has been a joyous challenge.” “I usually audition for shows that I know will help me grow as an artist and musician,” Catanzaro said. “This is my first time working with a quartet. Learning these harmonies and getting them right has been a lot of work, but definitely worth it.” The 27 year-old played Melchior in Spring Awakening, Angel in RENT and Josh in If/Then. “Nothing on this earth gives me a rush like being on stage,” Catanzaro noted. “It’s also a beautiful thing to take the audience on an emotional ride and take them out of real life for a couple of hours.” Forever Plaid will be a real treat for audiences, the actors promise. “When audiences come to see Forever Plaid they can expect to be entertained while taking a trip down memory lane,” Fagan added. “Despite the fact that our characters are transported from 1964, the show and its comedic wit are timeless.” “Expect to have fun and see what theater is all about,” Catanzaro added. Forever Plaid will be presented April 13-15 and 20-22 at Jenks Auditorium, 350 Division Street, Pawtucket (across from McCoy Stadium). Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, with Sunday matinees at 2pm. Order e-tickets online and print them at home at thecommunityplayers.net or reserve at 401-726-6860. A Chorus Line Arrives at Stadium Theatre A Chorus Line, one of Broadway’s longest-running musicals of all time, will be performed at the Stadium Theatre from March 2 – 4. The show follows 17 chorus dancers and puts them through the final grueling audition run by the director, Zach, for a new Broadway musical. The music is by Marvin Hamlisch with lyrics by Edward Kleban. The songs include “I Hope I Get It,” “At The Ballet,” “One” and “What I Did For Love.” Kristen Arsenault, from Easton, Mass, plays Cassie, a once successful solo dancer down on her luck and a former love of Zach’s. The rehearsal process has been physically demanding, according to Arsenault, who appeared in the National Touring Company of Cats as Rumpleteazer. “It’s a tough show,” Arsenault said. “It’s really an ensemble show, which is different from other shows out there. Every character has either a song, a dance, a monologue or a mixture of all of them. You have to be able to sing, dance and act. “It’s a high being up on stage,” Arsenault continued, adding: “You’re just throwing your life out there and giving it your everything and having the audience take that in and then reciprocate something back. It’s an amazing feeling.” Arsenault said the success of A Chorus Line is due in part to the vulnerability of the characters. Arsenault’s husband, Joe Arsenault, plays Don, another of the aspiring dancers. Joe appeared in the Stadium’s production of American Idiot last summer. He had never seen the show before except for a few video clips, and explained he wanted to bring his own perspective to the character. “I really enjoy the experience the audience gets from watching the show,” Joe said.