Tucson: Arizona Theatre Company Announces a Season to Celebrate for 2009-2010

 

From: Arizona Theatre Company [mailto:aztheatreco@aztheatreco.pmailus.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 3:10 PM
Subject: Press Release: Arizona Theatre Company Announces a Season to Celebrate for 2009-2010

 

 

 

For Immediate Release

March 25, 2009

Media Contact: Jennifer Spencer, 602.256.6899 x 6202

ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES A SEASON TO CELEBRATE FOR 2009-2010

Comic legend Elaine May directs her new play GEORGE IS DEAD, [title of show] makes regional premiere after Broadway run, and THE SECOND CITY DOES ARIZONA with a brand new show

Southwest Premiere of the international best-seller THE KITE RUNNER opens season, fizzy AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' brightens the holidays and THE GLASS MENAGERIE marks the third year of America Plays! Celebrating Great American Stories

Arizona Theatre Company joyously announces a season to celebrate in 2009-2010, from the profound truths of a beloved international best-seller; to a rollercoaster ride through Manhattan from one of America’s comic treasures; as well as the poetic imagination of a great American playwright; a foot-stomping visit to the jazz clubs of Harlem; or a side-splitting look at life right here in Arizona and the regional premiere of a hip new Broadway musical. The 2009-2010 Season opens with THE KITE RUNNER, Matthew Spangler’s new adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s international best-selling novel, followed by Elaine May’s hilarious new play GEORGE IS DEAD, starring Emmy-Award-winner Marlo Thomas and the Broadway musical [title of show] making its regional debut at ATC. Tennessee Williams’ classic American play THE GLASS MENAGERIE continues the America Plays! Celebrating Great American Stories initiative and ATC travels back to 1930s Harlem with the exuberant, Tony Award-winning musical AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’. The Season closes when we turn the photo radar on our Grand Canyon state-of-mind by welcoming Chicago’s legendary comedy experts The Second City to the land of prairie dogs and snow birds for THE SECOND CITY DOES ARIZONA, OR CLOSE BUT NO SAGUARO.

"In these challenging times, ATC has made the decision to 'double-down' artistically next season with really high definition comedies, dramas and musicals," said Artistic Director David Ira Goldstein in announcing the coming season. "It's a season that looks outward to our place in the world, inwards towards our personal dreams and reaches out to our imaginations in smart, fresh, wildly entertaining ways. Next season welcomes some old friends while introducing many dazzling voices new to our stages. It will be one of our most utterly enjoyable seasons ever."

The season opens with the Southwest Premiere of the new adaptation of THE KITE RUNNER by Matthew Spangler from the best-selling novel by Khaled Hosseini. “Come see me, Amir, there is a way to be good again…” A cry for help from an old friend in a distant land lies at the heart of this powerful story of friendship, betrayal and redemption. Based on one of the most beloved books of the last decade, THE KITE RUNNER is told through the lives of two boys, Amir and Hassan, growing up in Afghanistan in the same household, but in two starkly different worlds. When the innocence of the boys’ childhood is confronted with the brutality of prejudice and hate, Amir begins a journey of self discovery and enlightenment that will take him far from his home and the demons of his youth. But fate, global politics and historical tragedy threaten his ability to make amends for his past. A bracing look at the modern world, The Kite Runner shows us the human face beneath the headline news. Directed by ATC Artistic Director David Ira Goldstein who recently directed the play’s world premiere, THE KITE RUNNER runs from September 10 through October 3, 2009 in Tucson and October 8 through October 25, 2009 in Phoenix.

The season continues with a madcap new romp from a comic genius, GEORGE IS DEAD. Love, death, politics and classes collide wildly in this boisterous new comedy both written and directed by two-time Academy Award nominee and legend Elaine May. Uptown, George is rich and Doreen is helpless. Downtown, Michael is disillusioned and Carla is the capable one. When a bogus bomb scare in the New York subway starts a fatal series of events in motion, the lives (and deaths) of this unlikely quartet intersect for one night in a one-bedroom walkup in the middle of Manhattan. As worlds collide over a turbulent 24-hours, circumstances teach each of the addled urbanites about their inability to save the world. Starring Emmy Award-winner Marlo Thomas, GEORGE IS DEAD combines whimsical wit with tart social commentary in a story of urban living, sudden death and learning to use the remote control. GEORGE IS DEAD runs from October 17 through November 7, 2009 in Tucson and November 12 through December 6, 2009 in Phoenix.

Bright lights. Glamorous gowns. And finger-snapping, toe-tappin’ music. The joint is jumpin’ and we’re taking misbehavin’ to a whole new level! Travel back to Harlem’s sassy, swinging ‘30s with this riveting, Tony Award-winning musical AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’—exuberantly performed by a quintet of irresistible talents. Spend a joyous evening partying with one of the greatest jazz songwriters of all time, Thomas “Fats” Waller. A composer and pianist with a legendary lust for life, he created jubilant melodies, soulful ballads and gleeful love songs like I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, Honeysuckle Rose, I Can’t Give You Anything but Love and, of course, Ain’t Misbehavin’. This is one show that may just bring the house down! One never knows … do one? Directed by Kent Gash (Five Guys Named Moe), AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ runs from November 28 through December 19, 2009 in Tucson and December 30, 2009 through January 17, 2010 in Phoenix.

Imagine two hyper-talented young songwriters in New York trying to write a new musical about two hyper-talented young songwriters in New York trying to write a new musical…! That’s [title of show], the deliciously smart and tuneful musical that wowed Broadway audiences and critics last fall. It’s a dizzy, unpredictable, and uproarious tongue-in-cheek musical about show business and making one’s dreams come true. Follow Jeff, Hunter, Heidi and Susan as they negotiate a musical theatre obstacle course of finding backers, casting singers, and making it to Broadway. Fresh, funny and playful, [title of show] is a Cinderella tale set to music about the journey from the unemployment line to the Great White Way. The New York Times called [title of show] "Delectable entertainment! Hilarious! A fresh new musical worth cheering." Staged by the same team that brought you the recent smash hit Hair, [title of show] will be directed by David Ira Goldstein with choreography by Patti Wilcox and musical direction by Christopher McGovern. [title of show] runs from January 23 through February 13, 2010 in Tucson and February 18 through March 7, 2010 in Phoenix.

The third installment of ATC’s passionately embraced America Plays! Celebrating Great American Stories initiative is Tennessee Williams’ THE GLASS MENAGERIE. In the 1930s in a small tenement apartment in St. Louis, the Wingfield family awaits your visit. The mother Amanda lives in an illusion of recapturing her faded Southern Belle glory, her daughter Laura lives in a fantasy world of delicate glass figurines, and her son Tom dreams poetically of a world beyond the back stoop. When Tom brings home a Gentleman Caller to meet his sister, THE GLASS MENAGERIE weaves these lives into a heart-stopping dance of hopes pursued and dreams betrayed. Considered by many to be Tennessee Williams’ greatest play, THE GLASS MENAGERIE is an achingly beautiful story of longing and love that has touched generations of theatergoers with its sparkling, delicate radiance. Past America Plays! productions include To Kill A Mockingbird and A Raisin in the Sun. This unique initiative is designed to engage audiences both through the onstage performance and community activities designed to enhance the understanding of this classic play. THE GLASS MENAGERIE runs from February 27 through March 20, 2010 in Tucson and March 25 through April 11, 2010 in Phoenix.

Talk about a stimulus package! ATC’s 2009-2010 Season concludes with the comedic pizzazz of THE SECOND CITY DOES ARIZONA, OR CLOSE BUT NO SAGUARO. From sagebrush to Sheriff Joe, from Green Valley to kokopelli– it’s time to batten down the barrel cactus because we’ve invited The Second City to Arizona to do a no-holds-barred world premiere comedy revue all about us. Famous for their hilarious sketch comedy and for their equally famous alumni (Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Bill Murray, John Belushi, Gilda Radner and a whole slew of others), The Second City is turning their photo radar on the Grand Canyon State, and aiming their tee-shots at the land of prairie dogs and snow birds. We’re joining with this troupe of expert Chicago comedians to create a brand new comedy revue about the special challenges of the high life in the low desert. It’s a guaranteed evening of recession-proof fun and high-mileage laughter. THE SECOND CITY DOES ARIZONA, OR CLOSE BUT NO SAGUARO runs from April 3 through April 24, 2010 in Tucson and April 29 through May 16, 2010 in Phoenix.

Season packages for the 2009-2010 Season are on sale now. All Tucson performances take place at the Temple of Music and Art (330 S. Scott Avenue); call the Box Office at (520) 622-2823. All Phoenix performances take place at the Herberger Theater Center (222 E. Monroe Street); call the Box Office at (602) 256-6995. Visit www.arizonatheatre.org for more information.

The season schedule for Tucson and Phoenix:

THE KITE RUNNER
By Matthew Spangler
From the novel by Khaled Hoisseini
Directed by David Ira Goldstein
Southwest Premiere
TUCSON: September 10 - October 3, 2009
PHOENIX: October 8 - October 25, 2009

GEORGE IS DEAD
Written and Directed by Elaine May
Starring Marlo Thomas
Southwest Premiere
TUCSON: October 17 - November 7, 2009
PHOENIX: November 12 - December 6, 2009

AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'
By Murray Horitz and Richard Maltby, Jr.
Music by Thomas Wright "Fats" Walker
Directed by Keith Gash
TUCSON: November 28 - December 19, 2009
PHOENIX: December 30, 2009 - January 17, 2010

[title of show]
Music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen
Book by Hunter Bell
Directed by David Ira Goldstein
Musical Staging by by Patti Wilcox
Musical Direction by Christopher McGovern
Southwest Premiere
TUCSON: January 23 - February 13, 2010
PHOENIX: February 18 - March 7, 2010

THE GLASS MENAGERIE
By Tennessee Williams
Director TBA
Part of AMERICA PLAYS! Celebrating Great American Stories
TUCSON: February 27 - March 20, 2010
PHOENIX: March 25 - April 11, 2010

THE SECOND CITY DOES ARIZONA, OR CLOSE BUT NO SAGUARO
By The Second City
World Premiere
TUCSON: April 3 - 24, 2010
PHOENIX: April 29 - May 16, 2010

 

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