NOW
(insert trumpet fanfare here)The Blogster and the cast of thousands who make this mighty Theatre machine work, are proud to announce next year's 2011/2012 Mainstage Theatre.
SEPTEMBER 2011
Shakespeare’s R & J
Adapted by Joe Calarco • Female cast directed by Kiri Wolmald • Male cast directed by Steven Fried
When a group of students at a repressed Catholic school discover a forbidden copy of Romeo and Juliet, they are transformed from mocking adolescents to soulful re-enactors of Shakespeare’s gripping story. Performed in rotating repertory, Theatre VCU will present two different casts on an alternating schedule. Steven Fried, is a directing faculty member at The New School of Drama and former Resident Assistant Director at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C whose recent work includes All’s Well That Ends Well, The Comedy of Errors, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare Theatre of NJ. Kiri Wolmald is an award-winning director and VCU alumnus whose work has been produced locally with Barksdale Theatre and internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
NOVEMBER 2011
Grease
Written and arranged by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey • Directed by Patti D’Beck
Winner of 7 Tony Awards, and everybody’s favorite movie musical, Grease! is a nostalgic 1950s celebration. Set at Rydell High School, “greasers” and “pink ladies” rock out to classic songs such as “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Greased Lightning” and “You’re the One that I Want.” Join us to watch the romance unfold between Sandy (a nerdy but cute new student) and Danny (the cool greaser king), summer lovebirds from drastically different high school cliques. Under the direction of Patti D’Beck, who served as Associate Choreographer for the original Broadway production with Rosie O’Donnell, Grease! will prove to be an evening of music, dancing, comedy, romance, and fun!
FEBRUARY 2012
Arabian Nights
In collaboration with Barksdale Theatre, performed at the Willow Lawn Theatre
Adapted by Dominic Cooke • Directed by Casey Biggs
Persian rugs, caves of jewels, and sensuous belly dancers: a bold visual feast accentuates the magic of storytelling and its power to transform people in this RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) award-winning script. When King Shahrayar discovers his wife in another man’s arms, he vows to ruthlessly murder every virgin in his kingdom. His brutality is interrupted only by the brave and wise maiden Scheherezade, whose captivating stories just might save her life. This imaginative show of high adventure, low comedy, peril, death, and life lessons is directed by well-known film, television, and stage performer Casey Biggs, artistic director of the Greene Arts Foundation and member of the directing faculty at The New School of Drama in New York City. Audiences may remember his five seasons as the leader of the Dardassion race on “Star Trek Deep Space Nine”.
An Evening of Stand-Up Comedy
Directed by Stephen Rosenfield
Nationally reknowned comedian, writer, coach and Director of the American Comedy Institute, Stephen Rosenfield, will work with Theatre VCU students to develop two weekends of stand-up comedy in the Hodges Theatre. Rosenfield has produced, written and directed comedy shows at Caroline’s on Broadway, Stand-Up New York, The Comic Strip, Don’t Tell Mama and The Improv as well as directed and co-authored the Obie Award-winning musical comedy review, The Present Tense. His students have appeared on The David Letterman Show, The Conan O’Brien Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Last Comic Standing. Both performances will also feature the best comic/Improv talent from central Virginia as guest artists. Comedy Fans circle these dates!
APRIL 2012
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics by William Finn • Directed by Gary C. Hopper
A hilarious tale of six geeky adolescent overachievers vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime, this Tony Award winning musical is both tender and quirky. Simple and sweet, “Spelling Bee” features a wide range of misfits varying from a liberal young girl with
gay dads, to a slightly obnoxious speller who uses his “Magic Foot” to spell out the words, to a girl whose parents never seem to notice her. Directed by former Theatre VCU faculty member and award-winning director, Gary Hopper, this fast-paced production will end our season and capstone the Theatre VCU April Alumni weekend celebration!
WOW!!
The actual dates for these shows will be announced as they become cast in stone. For now, we should all do celebratory dances, because this is going to be one fantastic season - is it not!!??!
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