Athens, Ga. – University Theatre, under the direction of David Zucker Saltz, head of the University of Georgia Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ department of theatre and film studies, has announced the theatre’s 2011-12 season.
A highlight of the new season is the world premiere of Hidden Man, a southern gothic, coming- of-age story about artist Robert Sherer and his relationship with Reverend Howard Finster. 7 Stages Theatre of Atlanta will co-produce the performances. The season also includes the blockbuster musical Chicago, as well as Arthur Miller’s All My Sons.
The season consists of four main stage productions and three studio series presentations, which offer live theatre in a stripped-down format that focuses on vibrant performances, illumination of play script and inventive staging. All My Sons and Chicago will be presented in the Fine Arts Theatre; and Armitage, by Don Nigro, will be staged at the Seney-Stovall Chapel. All other productions will be presented at the Cellar Theatre in Fine Arts Building.
Tickets for main stage productions are $15 and $12 for UGA students. Studio series tickets are $10 and $7 for UGA students. Subscriptions to the 2010-2011 season currently are on sale through the Performing Arts Center. For tickets and subscriptions, call 706-542-4400, toll free at 888-289-8497, or order online at http://www.drama.uga.edu/.
The 2011-2012 season is as follows.
39 Steps
Sept. 22-24, 27-30 at 8 p.m., Oct. 2 at 2:30 p.m.
Adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Muchan and film by Alfred Hitchcock. Directed by George Contini
A fast-paced whodunit, Broadway’s current longest-running comedy mixes a Hitchcock masterpiece, a juicy spy novel, and adds a dash of Monty Python. “39 Steps brings together film and theatre, which is what our department is all about,” Saltz said. The department will host screenings of the Hitchcock film on Sept. 14 at 3:30 p.m. in the North P/J auditorium and at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building, room 53; a roundtable discussion will be held Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. The screenings and roundtable are free and the public is invited to attend.
Life Is a Dream (studio series)
Oct. 11-14, 16 at 8 p.m., Oct. 16 at 2:30 p.m.
By Pedro Calderon
Directed by Marla Carlson
This new adaptation of the golden age Spanish masterpiece from the 1630s explores the conflict between free will and destiny with an imprisoned prince, rebel armies, violence and forgiveness.
All My Sons
Nov. 3-4, 8-11 at 8 p.m., Nov. 6 & 13 at 2:30 p.m.
By Arthur Miller
Featuring visiting artist Brian Reddy
Directed by Ray Paolino
The critically acclaimed first major play by Arthur Miller presents an examination of the American Dream and relationships between fathers and sons.
Armitage (studio series)
Feb. 7-11 at 8 p.m., Feb. 12 at 2:30 p.m.
By Don Nigro
Directed by Kristin Kundert-Gibbs
A gothic tale, woven back and forth in time and space, of desperate love, suspicious deaths, desire, murder, madness, grief and terror. Having the richness and beauty of a complex gothic novel or a Jacobean nightmare, this remarkable saga builds to a stunning conclusion guaranteed to surprise.
Hidden Man
Feb. 23-25, 29, Mar. 1-3 at 8 p.m., Mar. 4 at 2:30 p.m.
By Pamela Turner with Russell Blackmon
A southern gothic, coming-of-age story, his production is about artist Robert Sherer and his relationship with Reverend Howard Finster, whose Paradise Gardens and Museum are located on three acres in Chattooga County, Georgia. This world premiere is a co-production with 7 Stages Theatre in Atlanta, and a three-week run in Atlanta will follow the stage event in Athens. A collaborative exhibition of Finster’s work will be presented by the Georgia Museum of Art in conjunction with the production.
Dark Ride (studio series)
Mar. 27-Apr.1 at 8 p.m., Apr. 1 at 2:30 p.m.
By Len Jenkin
Directed by Scott Higgs
This interactive performance lab production features a sideshow huckster who travels with a mummy said to be John Wilkes Booth, a sinister publisher, a frenzied translator, a jeweler and a thief, all who wind up at an oculist’s convention in Mexico.
Chicago
Apr. 12-14, 18-21 at 8 p.m., Apr. 22 at 2:30 p.m.
By John Kandar, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse
Directed by John Kundert-Gibbs
A world-famous, award-winning musical, this production portrays two murderesses on death row in 1920s Chicago fighting for fame, fortune and all that jazz.
Apr. 12-14, 18-21 at 8 p.m., Apr. 22 at 2:30 p.m.
“Our new season is an ambitious combination of staged drama and blockbuster musical theatre chosen to showcase the talents of our students and faculty,” Saltz said. “The choice of Chicago was the result of an informal market survey of majors conducted by the department. We decided to stop guessing and find out what show our students were most excited about, and Chicago won by a landslide.”
For more information on UGA’s department of theatre and film studies, see http://www.drama.uga.edu/.
