2010-2011 Season
somethingwicked's just posted review of Chess reminded me that here we are once again at the beginning of a new theatre season. Here's what I'm looking forward to, this year:
ARENA STAGE - The Edward Albee Festival.
Arena Stage is celebrating 60 years, opening a brand new facility in SE DC, and producing a season of seminal American works. The must see on my list is the Edward Albee Festival, running February through April. Arena Stage will produce fully staged productions of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and At Home at the Zoo (the expansion to The Zoo Story) and then have staged readings of all 30 of Albee's works.
CONSTELLATION THEATRE COMPANY - Women Beware Women by Thomas Middleton.
Constellation is a company that has been on our radar since they began due to the epic vision of artistic director Allison Stockman, and the continued appearance of some of the best non-equity actors in the area. Their opening production is Thomas Middleton's Women Beware Women, running October 14 - November 14. I'm a great lover of all revenge tragedies, so you'll find me in the front row for this one!
SCENA THEATER and WASHINGTON SHAKESPEARE COMPANY - Mary/Maria Stuart.
If you are a reader of the blog, you'll know that I saw Mary Stuart on Broadway last year starring the incredible Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter. I was quite impressed by Peter Oswald's new adaptation of the Schiller classic. So I can't wait to see what Washington Shakespeare Company does with this version when they perform it October 21 - December 12. If that's not enough Schiller for you, word is Scene Theatre will be producing the play next summer, though a different translation. I'm looking forward to comparing and contrasting.
SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY - Candide
Shakespeare Theatre Company has announced a rather interesting, and rather confusing season for next year. Harold Pinter. Oscar Wilde. Leonard Bernstein. Um... okay? Only three plays actually written by Shakespeare on the docket, and interestingly enough, all of them known for being problematic. Alls Well That Ends Well, Cymbeline, and The Merchant of Venice. I'm looking forward to all of those because I prefer the tougher Shakespeare plays. But most of all, I can't wait to see Candide. Because, honestly, how often does one get to see Candide? And directed by Mary Zimmerman to boot!
SIGNATURE THEATRE - Chess and Sunset Boulevard.
Signature takes on two giant musicals that I have never seen before. I have to see them, especially Chess, which is (in)famous in the land of musical theatre for its book troubles and production history.
STUDIO THEATRE - The Walworth Farce.
I know three things and three things only about this play. It's Irish. Ted van Griethuysen. Aubrey Deeker. I don't need to know anything else. I'm there.
TAFFETY PUNK - Julius Caesar
The fall will bring Taffety Punk's third all-female Shakespeare production. This year it's Julius Caesar. I love Shakespeare, I love Julius Caesar, and I love women getting to play great roles.
WOOLLY MAMMOTH and FORUM THEATRE
I always look forward to the work produced by Woolly Mammoth, even though I generally know nothing about it (since they are generally brand new or almost new plays). I will also recommend you make it to see a Forum Theatre production this year. Their Angels in America was the best DC Theatre I saw this past season, so I look forward to seeing what they produce this season.
What are you looking forward to?
ARENA STAGE - The Edward Albee Festival.
Arena Stage is celebrating 60 years, opening a brand new facility in SE DC, and producing a season of seminal American works. The must see on my list is the Edward Albee Festival, running February through April. Arena Stage will produce fully staged productions of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and At Home at the Zoo (the expansion to The Zoo Story) and then have staged readings of all 30 of Albee's works.
CONSTELLATION THEATRE COMPANY - Women Beware Women by Thomas Middleton.
Constellation is a company that has been on our radar since they began due to the epic vision of artistic director Allison Stockman, and the continued appearance of some of the best non-equity actors in the area. Their opening production is Thomas Middleton's Women Beware Women, running October 14 - November 14. I'm a great lover of all revenge tragedies, so you'll find me in the front row for this one!
SCENA THEATER and WASHINGTON SHAKESPEARE COMPANY - Mary/Maria Stuart.
If you are a reader of the blog, you'll know that I saw Mary Stuart on Broadway last year starring the incredible Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter. I was quite impressed by Peter Oswald's new adaptation of the Schiller classic. So I can't wait to see what Washington Shakespeare Company does with this version when they perform it October 21 - December 12. If that's not enough Schiller for you, word is Scene Theatre will be producing the play next summer, though a different translation. I'm looking forward to comparing and contrasting.
SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY - Candide
Shakespeare Theatre Company has announced a rather interesting, and rather confusing season for next year. Harold Pinter. Oscar Wilde. Leonard Bernstein. Um... okay? Only three plays actually written by Shakespeare on the docket, and interestingly enough, all of them known for being problematic. Alls Well That Ends Well, Cymbeline, and The Merchant of Venice. I'm looking forward to all of those because I prefer the tougher Shakespeare plays. But most of all, I can't wait to see Candide. Because, honestly, how often does one get to see Candide? And directed by Mary Zimmerman to boot!
SIGNATURE THEATRE - Chess and Sunset Boulevard.
Signature takes on two giant musicals that I have never seen before. I have to see them, especially Chess, which is (in)famous in the land of musical theatre for its book troubles and production history.
STUDIO THEATRE - The Walworth Farce.
I know three things and three things only about this play. It's Irish. Ted van Griethuysen. Aubrey Deeker. I don't need to know anything else. I'm there.
TAFFETY PUNK - Julius Caesar
The fall will bring Taffety Punk's third all-female Shakespeare production. This year it's Julius Caesar. I love Shakespeare, I love Julius Caesar, and I love women getting to play great roles.
WOOLLY MAMMOTH and FORUM THEATRE
I always look forward to the work produced by Woolly Mammoth, even though I generally know nothing about it (since they are generally brand new or almost new plays). I will also recommend you make it to see a Forum Theatre production this year. Their Angels in America was the best DC Theatre I saw this past season, so I look forward to seeing what they produce this season.
What are you looking forward to?
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