Theatregoers are in for a big season this semester as local performing arts venues offer everything from Shakespearian classics to swearing puppets.

Statesboro offers three places for students to experience various types of theatre. Two of them are conveniently located on Georgia Southern University campus are the Performing Arts Center (PAC) and the Center for Arts and Theatre (CAT). The other is located in historical downtown Statesboro, which is The Averitt Center for the Arts.

“Live theatre, as opposed to a movie theater or TV, forces you to pay attention. These performers are less than 100 feet away from you, pouring their heart and soul out onto the stage,” Stacie McDaniel, the house manager at the PAC, said. “It’s not passive, like watching a movie or TV. It’s active, and it makes you think, which is what all great art should aim to do.”

The PAC is offering five shows this semester.

“Flipside: the Patti Page Story” (Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m.) is a musical journey that follows Patti Page on her rise to stardom. The show won 18 National Awards at the Kennedy Center Honors.

“An Evening with Groucho” (Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.) features a comedy-filled night in which playwright Frank Ferrante recreates his portrayal of comedian Groucho Marx. For those who do not know who Groucho is, he made the iconic glasses, big nose and mustache look famous.

Moscow Festival Ballet presents “Cinderella” (Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m.) will be a vivid presentation of a classic fairy tale. The show features the world-renowned Moscow Festival Ballet.

“Liza and Judy: Together Again!” (March 6 at 7:30 p.m.) is a must-see for anyone who is a fan of “Cabaret” or “The Wizard of Oz,” The show recreates the famous mother-daughter duo in a concert.

“Hot on Broadway” (April 11 at 7:30 p.m.) is a Broadway revue featuring an array of musical show-stoppers. The show features actors and actresses from the latest Broadway shows including the “Book of Mormon” and “Wicked.”

The Averitt Center is located in downtown Statesboro and is home to many theatrical performances year-round. This semester is no exception.

“The Comedy of Errors” (Jan.  17 at 7:30 p.m.) is a play by William Shakespeare that centers around two identical twins separated at birth, who both have servants who are identical twins also separated at birth, in the same town on the same day. Chaos ensues as situations of misidentification unfold.

“Heartbreaks and Hallelujahs” (Feb. 13, 14, 15 at 7:30 p.m.) is a delight for anyone who needs plans for Valentine’s Day. The show follows a couple through a year as they go through the struggles of love.

“The Music Man” (April 10-12 at 7:30 p.m. and April 13 at 2:00 p.m.) is a classic musical about a sleazy man whose plan is to scam a town by pretending to train a boys’ marching band. His plans are complicated when he finds himself falling in love with the town’s librarian. The show features classic musical numbers like “Till There Was You.”

Last but not least, students can catch a show at the Center for Arts and Theatre. The CAT is unique in that it is a black box theatre; there are no sets or curtains, just actors on the stage.

“Fuddy Meers” (February 26 – March 3) is a dark comedy that features a mysterious masked man with a lisp, kidnapping, foul-mouthed puppets and bacon.

“Hamlet” (April 2 – 9) is the classic tale written by William Shakespeare. This production, however, will take place in modern-day and use film and live theatre to tell this famous tragedy in a new way.