Thursday, December 08, 2005
The New Harmony Theatre announces 2006 season just in time for the holidays!
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The New Harmony Theatre’s 2006 season will open with its first one-woman show, followed by a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, and closing with the music of one of America’s most successful musical theatre composers. Scott LaFeber, artistic director of The New Harmony Theatre, said “It is a season that offers the very best of American writing, with works by multiple Emmy Award-winner Jane Wagner and Pulitzer Prize-winners Frank D. Gilroy and Stephen Sondheim, in our own winning formula of offering a comedy, a drama, and a musical each summer.” Wagner’s “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe” will open the season, running June 9 – 25, 2006. In this Tony Award-winning comedy, one actress plays 12 seemingly unconnected characters. According to LaFeber, the characters “are interwoven and combine arch social commentary with brilliant humor.” The San Francisco Chronicle called “The Search for Signs…” “one of funniest, most visionary, and original works to be produced on Broadway in years.” Noted theatre critic Clive Barnes said, “It is genuinely a comedy about the way we are.” Broadway and New Harmony Theatre veteran Jenn Thompson is slated to perform. The second show of the 2006 season is Gilroy’s “The Subject Was Roses.” The play won the 1965 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It will run July 7 – 23, 2006. Despite its post-World War II setting, LaFeber said “The Subject Was Roses” will resonate with modern audiences. He continued, “It’s about a young man returning home after serving in World War II. He soon finds himself in the middle of his parents' bickering and begins to come to terms with their troubled relationship. I selected this play because I am drawn to the way it shows that family members can both hurt and help each other during times of strain and outside upheaval.” At its Broadway premiere, The New York Times called “The Subject Was Roses” “impressive…an honest and touching work…with simplicity, humor, and integrity.” The final production of the 2006 season will be the musical revue, “Side by Side by Sondheim,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and additional music by Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers, and Jule Styne. It will run July 28 – August 13, 2006. This dazzling revue features some of Sondheim's best-known songs from the popular musicals “West Side Story,” “Gypsy,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Company,” “Follies,” “A Little Night Music,” and “Pacific Overtures,” and “Do I Hear A Waltz?” LaFeber said, “This is Sondheim at his most simple and subtle. I’m thrilled that James Bassi, who worked with NHT on ‘A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine’ in 2003 and ‘As Thousands Cheer’ in 2005, will return as musical director for this production. And Evansville’s Steve Small will join the cast as the narrator, appearing in his nineteenth production at The New Harmony Theatre.” According to Amy Estes, the theatre’s managing and marketing director, subscription prices will remain the same for 2006. She said, “It’s hard to beat the value. You can see three plays for only $55. Subscribers save up to 24 per cent over single ticket buyers.” She continued, “The renewal deadline for 2005 subscribers who wish to keep the same seats they had last year is January 31.” Gift certificates for the 2006 season are also available. According to Estes, she has already received many calls for the certificates. “They are such a great gift, and so convenient. Just give us a call, and we’ll create the certificate for you, charge it to your credit card, and mail it in time for holiday giving.” Orders will be taken through Wednesday, December 21. The New Harmony Theatre is a professional Equity theatre produced by the University of Southern Indiana. All plays are performed at Murphy Auditorium at 419 Tavern Street in historic New Harmony, Indiana. For subscriptions, single tickets, or gift certificates, call The New Harmony Theatre office toll-free at 1-877-NHT-SHOW. For more information, call or visit www.newharmonytheatre.com. |
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