WHOLE ART ANNOUNCES SEASON
The Whole Art Theatre has announced its 2008-2009 theatre season. Artistic Director Tucker Rafferty says it is a season that “should entice, entertain and maybe even enlighten.”
The Main Stage Season
Bad Dates
By Theresa Rebeck
September 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27
"And then I realize, in this sort of strange, hallucinatory moment, that the bug guy is looking kind of good, and the things he's saying about bugs are really kind of fascinating and it is then that I realized that maybe it has been too long since I've been on a date." So confesses a single mother and self-described restaurant idiot savant in this thoroughly charming and slyly sweet one-woman play by the author of The Butterfly Collection and Spike Heels. This idiosyncratic journey of self-discovery involving the Romanian mob, a Buddhist rainstorm, a teenage daughter, shoes, and a few very bad dates
The Exonerated
By Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen
October 16, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 and November 1
Culled from interviews, letters, transcripts, case files and the public record, THE EXONERATED tells the true stories of six wrongfully convicted survivors of death row in their own words. Winner 2003 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. "The #1 play of the year…intense and deeply affecting…" —NY Times.
The Three Penny Opera
Book and Lyrics by Bertolt Brecht
Music by Kurt Weill
November 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, and December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20
Brecht and Weill turned to John Gay's 18th-century "The Beggar's Opera" to fashion this savage, biting commentary on bourgeois capitalism and modern morality. Set in Victorian London, the bitter tale is told of the predatory outlaw known as Mack the Knife. He secretly marries the daughter of Soho's underworld boss, but is soon betrayed by his sinister in-laws and sent to prison. After being freed by the police chief's daughter, he is again betrayed- this time by a prostitute-and sentenced to death. At the final hour he manages a reprieve from Queen Victoria herself, thus providing a menacing finale of ferocious irony.
Mr. Marmalade
By Noah Haidle
February 20, 21, 27, 28, and March 6, 7
Lucy is a four-year-old girl with a very active imagination. Unfortunately, her imaginary friend Mr. Marmalade doesn’t have much time for her. Not to mention he beats up his personal assistant has a cocaine addiction, and a penchant for pornography and very long dildos. Larry, her only real friend, is the youngest suicide attempt in the history of New Jersey. MR. MARMALADE is a savage black comedy about what it takes to grow up in these difficult times.
Kiss Of The Spiderwoman
Book by Terrence McNally.
Music by John Kander.
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
March 19, 20, 21, 27, 28, and April 3, 4
Winner of the Tony Award for Best Broadway Musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman revamps a harrowing tale of persecution into a dazzling spectacle that juxtaposes gritty realities with liberating fantasies. Cellmates in a Latin American prison, Valentin is a tough revolutionary undergoing torture and Molina is an unabashed homosexual serving eight years for deviant behavior. Molina shares his fantasies about an actress with Valentin. One of her roles is a Spider Woman who kills with a kiss.
Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead
By Bert V. Royal
May 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23
When CB’s dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. But a chance meeting with an artistic kid, the target of this group’s bullying, offers CB a peace of mind and sets in motion a friendship that will push teen angst to the very limits. Drug use, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion and sexual identity collide and careen toward an ending that’s both haunting and hopeful “Good grief! The Peanuts kids have finally come out of their shells.” —Time Ou
Little Dog Laughed
By Douglas Carter Beane
June 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20
THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED follows the adventures of Mitchell Green, a movie star who could hit big if it weren’t for one teensy-weensy problem. His agent, Diane, can’t seem to keep him in the closet. Trying to help him navigate Hollywood’s choppy waters, the devilish Diane is doing all she can to keep Mitchell away from the cute rent boy who’s caught his eye and the rent boy’s girlfriend (wait, the rent boy has a girlfriend?). Will there be a happy ending as the final credits roll? “Theatergoers have cause to rejoice. Devastatingly funny, with dizzy, irresistible writing that brings down the house.” —NY Times
Forbidden Broadway: The Greatest Hits
By Gerard Alessandrini
July 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25
In this long-running hit off-Broadway musical revue, Broadway's greatest musical legends meet Broadway's greatest satirist in this hilarious, loving, and endlessly entertaining tribute to some of the theatre's greatest stars and songwriters.
The Late Night Season:
The Gay American
By Kristian O’Hare
September 12, 13, 19, and 20
On August 12, 2004 James McGreevey committed what many called political suicide. He came out of the closet as a homosexual man, while still governor of New Jersey. Soon after, he resigned when an extramarital affair with a male state employee surfaced. In THE GAY AMERICAN, O’Hare puts his own spin on what happened and how he sees McGreevey’s life and scandal unfolding. Packed with hilarity and takes on one man’s adventure in “the gay lifestyle,” THE GAY AMERICAN is a romp in and out of the governorship of New Jersey.
The Great Pumpkin Massacre
By Trevor Stefanick
October 24, 25, 30, and 31
Back by popular demand, THE GREAT PUMPKIN MASSACRE returns to the Late Night Stage just in time for Halloween! There’s something lurking in the pumpkin patch, and only one kid believes it even exists! Using the well known animated movie as a jumping-off point, THE GREAT PUMPKIN MASSACRE details one boy’s frantic mission to convince people of the malicious Great Pumpkin. Before there’s no one left to warn!
Bite The Dead
By Christine Iaderosa
November 14, 15, 21, and 22
Small town shocked by the death of Bethany Jarvis! That just will not do for her French boyfriend (how’d he get here?) so he requires the help of a Croque Mort (literally Bite The Dead) to revive her. Christine Iaderosa takes you to the world of the dead, and back again, with this tale of the true love, hermit parents, and hearses.
Familiar Faces and Peculiar Places
By John Stahl, Randy Wyatt, Joe Sanders, and Nancy Stefanick
December 5, 6, 12, and 13
These four short plays all contain references to pop culture, but that’s where the similarities end. Join us at the Late Night and discover what happened to Buttercup and Westley, the goings-on in a bathroom at the Oscars, when fanfiction gets loose on The Island among The Others, and when Transformers and Jem find out knowing is half the battle!
End of an Error
By John Thierwechter
January
9, 10, 16, 17, and a special performance on Jan. 20
Rewritten just in time to escort good ole Dubya and Dick out the door, End of an Error is back! Broadcasting live, from a secret bunker 500 feet under the White House, two days before Dick Cheney—Er, President George W. Bush must relinquish power, comes a comedy of politic proportions! If you ever wondered what your next-door neighbor thinks of what happens behind the scenes of power, this will satisfy your curiosity.
Marilyn and Marc
By Steve Feffer
February 13, 14, 20, and 21
A love story-comedy, MARILYN AND MARC details one of those relationships that just doesn’t seem to work out, but you really, really want it to! Well maybe, this time, it just might. On Valentine’s Day come to the Late Night to see that maybe you and your significant other have it just fine.
Miss Macbeth
By Karen Wurl
March 27, 28 and April 3, and 4
All the world’s a stage, and sometimes its hard to get a break. Unless, you “remove” the lead, and just happen to be perfect for the role. But it never ends with just one “removal.” This story of an actress lusting after the big Lady M, shows us the consequences of “o’rleaping” ambition.
Five Times Over
By Randy Wyatt
April 24, 25, and May 1, and 2
You like coming to theatre? Ever wonder how many people it takes to make it happen? Real theatre is more than meets the eye. Theatre doesn’t just happen onstage, but also backstage, in the dressing rooms, in front of house, and up in the booth! Randy Wyatt’s piece shows gives you a glimpse into the true theatre experience!
The New Play Series
Dates yet to be determined.
I’m Here
By Arnold Johnston
The Sins Of Kalamazoo
By Christine Iaderosa
Fighting Fires
By Von Washington
Whatever Happened To Gloomy Gus Of The Chicago Bears
By Steve Feffer
The New Play Series will also feature a new play by critically acclaimed and nationally renowned playwright OyamO.
Educational Opportunities
Generation: Next
A Theatre For Young Audiences Project:
The goal of this project will be to co- create plays with high school student writers that deal with issues and values that are important to the Next Generation of community advocates. The plays will focus on issues of identity, sexuality, violence and the student’s vital role in our changing society. Whole Art will work with high school counselors and the Gay Straight Alliances at local high schools to ensure a safe and supportive environment.
For up to the minute Whole Art Theatre news, tune in to WKZO–AM 590 Thursday afternoons at 5:55pm for the Whole Art Minute.
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