March 2–18: Ragtime – the Musical. Winner of 9 Tony Awards, this sweeping musical portrait of early 20th-century America tells the story of three families in pursuit of the American Dream. Fri./Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m., $25+. Center for the Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, 661 Route 308, Rhinebeck, 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org
March 9–April 7: Stick Fly Lydia Diamond’s critically acclaimed play about race, class, sexual tension, and family issues centers around an affluent African-American family gathered on Martha’s Vineyard for the weekend. Long-hidden secrets emerge as friends and family tensions erupt. Fri./Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m., $25 adults, $22 seniors/students. Elmwood Playhouse, 10 Park St, Nyack, 845.353.1313; www.elmwoodplayhouse.com
March 16–April 1: Cabaret As Germany begins to gravitate towards the Nazis in the ’30s, an American writer living in Berlin meets an eccentric dancer at a decadent and seedy cabaret called The Kit Kat Club who has a major impact on his life. Fri./Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m., $22 adults, $17 members, $10 students. The Ghent Playhouse, 6 Town Hall Place, Ghent, 518.392.6264; www.ghentplayhouse.org
March 24–25: The Soul of a Woman The Vibe Dance Studio presents an inspiring tale based on the timeless Mexican story of ™La Loba,∫ a wolf woman and seeker of truth, brought back to life from wolf bones within the desert. A lively stage adaptation blending choreography and artistry into a stirring journey of self-discovery. Sat. 3 p.m., 6:30 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m., $20. Center for the Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, 661 Route 308, Rhinebeck, 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org
