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3 Musicals! 2 Comedies! 1 Fantastic Drama!
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The Sound of MusicSeptember 26 – October 12, 2003 Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics
by Oscar Hammerstein II The beloved musical about a postulant who proves to be too high spirited for the religious life and is sent to serve as a governess for the seven children of a widowed Naval Captain. Her growing rapport with the youngsters, coupled with her generosity of spirit gradually captures the heart of the stern Captain and they marry. When Austria is invaded by the Nazis, the family’s narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland provides a thrilling and inspirational finale. RumorsNovember 21 – December 7, 2003 By Neil Simon Directed by Bill Gregg Four couples are at the town house of a deputy New York City mayor and his wife to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. The party never begins because the host has shot himself in the head (only a flesh wound) and his wife is missing. His lawyer’s cover-up gets progressively more difficult to sustain as the other guests arrive and nobody can remember who has been told what about whom. Walking Across EgyptFebruary 6 – 22, 2004 A play by John Justice from the
novel by Clyde Edgerton Clyde Edgerton's Walking Across Egypt is the heartwarming story of Mattie Rigsby whose unconventional path crosses that of Wesley Benfield, a 17 year old orphaned teenager who has been confined to a detention center. Mattie believes in helping the "lesser of these thy brethren." Their relationship soon begins to fulfill an overwhelming and profound need in both of them. On the opposite ends of the cultural and generational spectrum, they prove "needing to be needed" knows no age or cultural barriers. Radio GalsApril 16 – May 2, 2004 By Mike Craver and Mark Hardwick Originally directed by Pem Price- Medlin , remounted by Bill Gregg, musical direction by DeWitt Tipton – produced in partnership with Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre Radio Gals has been a smash hit with SART audiences – and we’re thrilled to bring it to ACT’s stage. A musical set in the late 1920’s in Cedar Ridge Arkansas, Radio Gals is the story of Hazel Hunt. When Hazel retires, she is given a Western Electric 500 watt radio transmitter and begins broadcasting as radio station “WGAL”. What comes out over the local airwaves is a small town diary, calendar, and stream of consciousness with generous dollops of singing and playing by Hazel’s “all-girl” orchestra, “the Hazelnuts” and that lovesick flapper Gladys Fritts. However, due to Hazel’s habit of “channel wandering”, her broadcasts are not always so local, as listeners as far away as Montreal and Manhattan could testify. Enter a Federal Radio Inspector, intent on rescuing the airwaves from gypsies like Hazel. DeathtrapJune 4– 20, 2004 By Ira Levin Directed by Susan Dillard One of the great popular successes of recent Broadway history, this ingeniously constructed play offers a rare and skillful blending of two priceless theatrical ingredients – gasp producing thrills and spontaneous laughter. Deathtrap deals with the devious machinations of a writer of thrillers whose recent offerings have been flops, and who is prepared to go to any lengths to improve his fortunes. The Importance of Being EarnestAugust 6 – 22, 2004 By Oscar Wilde Directed by Angie Flynn-McIver A trivial comedy for serious people - delightful satirical comedy of wit. The Importance of Being Earnest is jam packed with witty jabs and jousts that pleasantly tickle the mind. The play is a comic, silly, and delightful critique of class, egos, social mannerisms, and gender roles using the devices of mistaken identities, unknown parentage, and sexual warfare.
Another view from 35below
Backyard Fruit*NC Premiere* September 4 – 20, 2003 By Andy Corren Directed by Andy Corren An examination of life in the Deep South from a gay perspective, Backyard Fruit is a sweetly wicked tour through the cultural, political and comical depths of gay North Carolina. Part autobiographical, part fictional, and all funny, the five characters include Dibby, the overweight housewife who finds physical and sexual rebirth through Christian aerobics, Cleopatra, a wife whose husband “mistakenly” gets arrested in gay bars, porn shops, and adult bookstores, and Andy, who shares the story of his first crush – on his next door neighbor, who just happens to be a perfectly friendly male stripper. Written by North Carolina playwright Andy Corren. Santaland DiariesNovember 28 – December 13, 2003 By David Sedaris, adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello Directed by Andrew Gall We’re bringing out our thoroughbred for another run – Jesse Benz and Andrew Gall will re-team to continue a 35below holiday tradition. A sardonic comedy, The Santaland Diaries follows a Macy's department store elf throughout the duration of the Christmas season. Full of dry insights, Sedaris comments on the best and the worst of people and culture during the holiday season. The Gimmick* NC Premiere* February 26 – March 13, 2004 By Dael Orlandersmith Directed by Susan Dillard Written as a spoken word poetic monologue, The Gimmick is the story of Alexis and Jimmy, two outsiders living in Harlem who form a bond through their shared passion for art. Theirs is a love more powerful than ghetto gimmicks that devastate much of the Harlem of their youth. When one falls, the friendship that has kept them whole threatens to destroy them both. Developed in part at the Sundance Theatre Festival Lab by Orlandersmith, an OBIE award winner and finalist for the 2002 Pulitzer Prize. The Food ChainMay 6 – 22, 2004 By Nicky Silver Directed by Bernie Hauserman Who survives in the romantic food chain? Nicky Silver gives us his take on who can get what in this sharp, smart comedy about five narcissistic, selfish, and shallow city dwellers whose lives converge over 24 hours as they shout, preen, smooch, beg, and wave guns, and all pursue their unrequited love with the single-mindedness that prompted the creation of the restraining order. The darker side of zany, The Food Chain is a chaotic twist on our society’s obsession with physical beauty. Subscriptions for the 2003-04 season go on sale July 17 th at the opening of Crossing Delancey .
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