Announcing our 2007-2008 Season Austin Playhouse is proud to announce our 2007 - 2008 Main Stage season and our 2007-2008 Larry L. King Theatre season. This season we're expanding our theatrical offerings to two full seasons in our two beautiful theatres. The five-play Main Stage season is filled with the best dramas, comedies, and musicals of modern theatre. Our four-play Larry L. King Theatre season will bring even more excitement and variety, with cutting-edge comedies and dramas and showcase pieces for Austin's premiere professional acting company. Season Tickets are on sale now for both seasons. 2007-2008 Main Stage Season Inherit The Wind by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee September 28 - November 4, 2007 Austin Playhouse proudly opens our 2007-2008 Main Stage Season with Inherit the Wind. The American classic had its genesis in the events of the famous Scopes "Monkey" Trial of 1925. The trial saw Darwinist evolution clash with fundamentalist Christianity with each side advocated by a political titan of the age. The play inspired by these events has been studied for half a century as one of the greatest American dramas. A recent hit Broadway revival renewed interest in this powerful and still highly relevant play. The ensemble is led by Austin Playhouse Acting Company members David Stahl as Drummond (modeled on Clarence Darrow) and Michael Stuart as Brady (modeled on William Jennings Bryan). The cast also features Austin Playhouse Acting Company members Margaret Hoard, Janet Hurley Kimlicko, Molly Karrasch, Barry Miller, Tom Parker, David Stokey, and Zach Thompson, as well as Jon Boatwright, David Christopher, Maria Collins, Ryan Crowder, Rachel Dendy, Kate Gibson, Helen Heston, Christopher Loveless, Ian Manners, Sean Neely, Rommel Sulit, and Chris Sykes. Inherit the Wind is directed by Don Toner. Historical Background In 1925 the conflict in America between the new intellectual modernism and its counterpoint, a wave of revivalism aimed at preserving traditional values, found its battlefield in Dayton, Tennessee. There a jury was deciding the fate of John Scopes, a high school biology teacher charged with illegally teaching the theory of evolution. The trial quickly evolved beyond determining Scopes' guilt or innocence, or even the constitutionality of Tennessee's anti-evolution statute, into an epic battle for the cultural future of the country. A carnival atmosphere soon took over Dayton as the opening of the trial approached in July of 1925. Opening statements positioned the trial as a struggle between good and evil or truth and ignorance. Bryan claimed that "if evolution wins, Christianity goes." Darrow argued, "Scopes isn't on trial; civilization is on trial." The New York Times described the seventh day of the trial as "the most amazing court scene in Anglo-Saxon history." William Jennings Bryan was called to the stand as an expert on the Bible. Darrow's subsequent interrogation of Bryan forms the dramatic climax of Inherit the Wind. Who: Austin Playhouse What: Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee When: September 28 - November 4, 2007 Performances: Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm Prices: Tickets are $24 Thurs, Fri, Sun, and $28 Saturday. $3 discount for subscriber guests. All student tickets are half-price. Reservations: Call (512) 476-0084 for reservations. Don't Dress For Dinner by Marc Camoletti, adapted by Robin Hawdon November 16 - December 23, 2007 In the classic tradition of mistaken identities, fast-paced dialogue, and more than a little scandalous spice, we proudly continue our 2007-2008 Season with the fun-filled farce, Don't Dress for Dinner. To spend a weekend with his chic French mistress, Bernard packs his wife off to her mother's, invites his best friend to provide an alibi, and hires a gourmet chef to add culinary spice in this fast-paced farce. Chaos and confusion quickly take over as Bernard juggles his mistress, his wife, her lover, the cook and the cook's husband! This popular English adaptation of the French farce, Pyjamas Pour Six, ran for six years on the West End. We're thrilled to bring this delightful treat to Austin audiences looking for some pure fun during the holiday season. Our production features an all-star cast of Austin Playhouse Acting Company members including Huck Huckaby, Janet Hurley Kimlicko, Andrea Osborn, David Stahl, Lara Toner, and Ben Wolfe. The production is directed by Don Toner with costumes by Diana Huckaby, lighting design by Don Day and sound design by Jimy Gunn. Who: Austin Playhouse, Main Stage What: Don't Dress for Dinner by Marc Camoletti, adapted by Robin Hawdon When: November 16 - December 23, 2007 Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm Special Saturday matinee at 2pm on December 15. Please note that there will not be a performance on Thanksgiving, November 22. Where: Austin Playhouse at Penn Field, 3601 S. Congress Bldg. C How Much: $24 Thursday, Friday, Sunday, $28 Saturday. All student tickets are half-price. Tickets/Information: (512) 476-0084 Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Christopher Hampton January 18 - February 24, 2008 Austin Playhouse's Main Stage heats up with the cool calculations of one of the most infamous duos in drama. Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons), Christopher Hampton's stage adaptation of the French novel by Choderlos De Laclos, offers audiences an irresistible glance into the decadent world of French aristocracy just before the revolution. In a high stakes chess game of love and revenge, the beautiful Merteuil and her rakish partner-in-crime Valmont deftly maneuver those around them including each other as they scheme to seduce a virginal young bride-to-be and a devout married woman. The plot that unfolds leads to revelations about the human heart that are both devastating and inspiring. Austin Playhouse's production features Acting Company members Babs George as Merteuil, Gray G. Haddock as Valmont, Janet Hurley Kimlicko as Tourvel, Mary Agen Cox as Rosemonde, Amber Dupuy as Volanges, Ben Wolfe as Azolan, Lara Toner as Emile, with David Gallagher as Danceny, and Jessie Tilton as Cecile. Les Liaisons Dangereuses is co-directed by Don Toner and Lara Toner. For the Opening Weekend performances, including a special preview on Thursday, January 17, internationally acclaimed harpsichordist Dr. John Paul will provide live accompaniment to the production. A recording of Dr. Paul's work will be used throughout the remainder of the run. Who: Austin Playhouse What: Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Christopher Hampton When: January 17 - February 24, 2008 Times: Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm Where: Austin Playhouse at Penn Field, 3601 S. Congress, Bldg. C How Much: $24 Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, $28 Saturday Discounts: $3 discount for Subscriber guests. All student tickets are half-price. Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward March 28 - May 4, 2008 Austin Playhouse proudly continues their 2007-2008 main stage season with Noel Coward's classic comedy, Blithe Spirit. Renowned novelist, Charles Condomine, and his wife Ruth are conducting a small seance led by the eccentric medium, Madame Arcati. The seance is to serve merely as research for Charles' latest novel. Unfortunately, their simple foray into the spirit world has unlikely and very funny results - including a return visit by the ghost of Charles' first wife, Elvira! Charles and Ruth soon discover that this willful spirit won't rest until she uses all her supernatural wiles to win back her man. Austin Playhouse's production features Acting Company members David Stahl as Charles, Lara Toner as Ruth, Bernadette Nason as Madame Arcati, Janet Hurley Kimlicko as Elvira, Tom Parker as Dr. Bradman, Mary Agen Cox as Mrs. Bradman, with Rachel Dendy as Edith. Blithe Spirit is directed by Don Toner, with costumes by Buffy Manners, lights by Don Day, and sound by Jimy Gunn. Upcoming Austin Playhouse productions include David Mamet's Speed the Plow running April 18 - May 11 in the Larry L. King theatre and starring Ben Wolfe, Ken Bradley, and Hallie Martin and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, running May 23 - June 29 on our main stage. Who: Austin Playhouse What: Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward When: March 28 - May 4, 2008 Times: Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm Where: Austin Playhouse at Penn Field, 3601 S. Congress, Bldg. C How Much: $24 Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, $28 Saturday Discounts: All student tickets are half-price. Tickets: (512) 476-0084 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim May 23 - June 29, 2008 Tragedy tomorrow, Comedy tonight! Broadway's greatest farce is fast-paced, witty, irreverent and one of the funniest musicals ever written!   All titles are subject to availability. 2007-2008 Larry L. King Theatre Season Women Who Steal by Carter W. Lewis August 31 - September 30, 2007 Guns, booze, fast-cars, and loose women.... Austin Playhouse proudly presents Women Who Steal, the first play of our 2007-2008 Larry L. King Theatre Season. Women Who Steal is a delightfully adult comedy by award-winning playwright Carter W. Lewis. Women Who Steal starts out as Peggy, a 50 year old housewife who "married-up," confronts Karen about a possible affair with Peggy's husband. This confrontation sends the two women on a lightning-paced romp through relationships, heartache, and the healing power of tequila. Women Who Steal stars Austin Playhouse Acting Company members Mary Agen Cox as Peggy, Babs George as Karen, and Huck Huckaby as the men. The production is directed by Lara Toner with lighting design by Don Day, sound design by the Gunn Bros., and costume design by Diana Huckaby. The play was originally developed in 1999 during Lewis' stint as Playwright-In-Residence at the Geva Theatre in Rochester, New York. It won the State Theatre Company Harvest Festival New Play Award and subsequently received an acclaimed production at the State Theatre. We look forward to introducing new audiences to this fantastic comedy by one of our favorite playwrights. Women Who Steal contains lots of adult language. Yelled out by women. While drinking tequila. Our 2007-2008 Larry L. King Theatre Season continues with productions of Athol Fugard's acclaimed new play, Exits and Entrances; Marie Jones' Olivier Award-winning comedy, Stones in His Pockets; and a TBA slot for the best new play we can get our hands on! Who: Austin Playhouse What: Women Who Steal by Carter W. Lewis When: August 31 - September 30, 2007 Where: Austin Playhouse, Larry L. King Theatre, 3601 S. Congress Bldg. C Performances: Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm Tickets: $20, $2 discount for seniors, all students are half-price. Exits and Entrances by Athol Fugard October 19 - November 11, 2007 Austin Playhouse is thrilled to announce the second production of our 2007-2008 Larry L. King Theatre Season is Athol Fugard's acclaimed new play, Exits and Entrances. Exits and Entrances is Fugard's semi-autobiographical story of a young actor on the threshold of his career as a playwright and an aging actor who has reached the end of his career on the stage. The young man's optimism and hope balance the disillusionment and broken dreams of the older actor. This beautiful and moving new play is an intensely human celebration of theatre and its lasting significance in our lives. Athol Fugard is the acclaimed South African playwright whose works include My Children! My Africa! and Master Harold and the Boys. Exits and Entrances was first produced at Los Angeles' Fountain Theatre in 2004 and received its New York premiere this past Spring. Our production stars Rick Roemer, the Chair and Artistic Director of the Department of Theatre at Southwestern University who appeared in our production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Benjamin Summers who recently appeared in our production of The Threepenny Opera, and is directed by Dave Florek. Mr. Florek is based in Los Angeles where he has appeared in many television and film projects. He has also acted and directed for Los Angeles' award-winning Interact Theatre Company. He last appeared as an actor in Austin in the State Theatre Company production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Who: Austin Playhouse, Larry L. King Theatre What: Exits and Entrances by Athol Fugard When: October 19 - November 11, 2007 Performances: Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm Prices: $20, all student tickets half-price Reservations: (512) 476-0084 Starring Rick Roemer, directed by Dave Florek. Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones February 15 - March 9, 2008 A comic tour-de-force for two actors who portray over fifteen characters in this marvelous Irish play. Winner of the 2001 Olivier Award. Speed the Plow by David Mamet Larry L. King Theatre March 28 - May 11, 2008 Austin Playhouse is proud to close out our first full second stage season in the Larry L. King Theatre with David Mamet's biting comedy, Speed the Plow. David Mamet's fast-paced comedy that takes on Hollywood executives with the same perceptive, dark humor the playwright employed in his modern classics Glengarry Glen Ross and American Buffalo. In Speed the Plow, two movie executives are faced with a choice; produce a sure-fire hit that has no artistic value or an "Eastern writer's" meaningful, but commercially challenged book about the end of the world. The easy choice for these two executives is complicated by the arrival of a beautiful new secretary with a persuasive opinion of her own. This extremely funny look at the morals that fuel the Hollywood machine stars Austin Playhouse Acting Company member Ben Wolfe (Don't Dress for Dinner), along with veteran Austin actor Ken Bradley (recently seen in Hyde Park Theatre's production of The Pillowman), and Hallie Martin (Austin Playhouse's Travesties). Speed the Plow is co-directed by Michael Stuart and Lara Toner, with lighting design by Don Day, and sound design by Jimy Gunn. Who: Austin Playhouse What: Speed the Plow by David Mamet Where: Austin Playhouse, Larry L. King Theatre When: April 18 - May 11, 2008 Times: Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm How Much: $20 Discounts: All student tickets are half-price, $3 discount for Main Stage subscribers. Tickets: (512) 476-0084 All titles are subject to availability.