Having just closed a charming production of Laurence Carr's "Vaudeville," the Willows Theatre takes on much more serious fare in Henrik Ibsen's tale of a marriage in trouble and a conservative society's limitations on women.

"A Doll's House" opens July 27, and runs through Aug. 18, at the Willows Mainstage in Concord. Director Eric Inman has shifted the story to modern time "to focus specifically on Nora's journey of discovering her true voice. We are departing from the usual presentation ... to concentrate on what it means to be an individual who, through circumstance, never had an opportunity to discover who she truly is."

The Willows production uses Irish playwright Frank McGuinness' translation, which premiered in London in 1996, and opened on Broadway in 1997, winning four Tony Awards.

Lena Hart plays Nora, with Mark Farrell her husband, Torvald. For tickets, call 925-798-1300 or go to www.willowstheatre.org.

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    Butterfield 8 Theatre Company brings back its popular adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" Aug. 1-26, at Cue Productions Live, 1835 Colfax St., in Concord.

    Adapted by local author and performer Donald L. Hardy, the show remains faithful to Austen's unique style while taking into account Butterfield 8's intimate performance space.

    The work, which premiered last August, will again be done in two parts. Audience members

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    can see Part 1 on one night and Part 2 on a subsequent night, or view both on the same day with Part 1 as a matinee and Part 2 an evening performance.

    The cast includes Becky Potter, Edwin Peabody, Alex Murphy, Alan Cameron, Maureen-Theresa Williams and Melynda Kiring.

    For tickets, call 800-838-3006 or go to www.b8company.com.

    In keeping with its unique offerings, Butterfield 8 is offering a "devising" workshop Aug. 12—15, at Cue Productions Live.

    Visiting artist Leo Gene Peters, an award-winning director, designer and artist from New Zealand, will lead the workshop in creating original work using a collaborative group, usually improvisatory, process. The process will challenge individual artists helping them create imaginative theater.

    For tickets, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/258735.

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    Attention performers and voice-over artists. Contra Costa County Superior Court needs warm, friendly and authoritative voices for the county's website. The voice-overs provide information on filling out court forms. The recordings take place in Martinez on either July 26, 27, 30 or 31. Contact Sherna Deamer at 925-957-5785 or sdeam@contracosta.courts.ca.gov.

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    We lost a lovely person and dedicated theater professional with the passing of costumer Barbara Galla. Generations of performers have relied on her trusty needle to create just the right costumes show after show.

    She began her career more than 50 years ago on stage at what is now Lafayette's Town Hall Theatre. Her husband, George, designed sets and her children played at the theater while Barbara rehearsed the revue Laf-Frantics. When she remarked to the director that the costumes were "just awful," she found herself as the costumer.

    Barbara realized she was more comfortable behind the scenes and as her reputation grew, she began working for other theater companies -- at one point, costuming 13 shows in a row.

    I feel very privileged to have worn her creations and enjoy her company. Rest well, dear friend.

    Email sallyhogarty@gmail.com.