Announcing our 2008-2009 Season Austin Playhouse is proud to announce our 2008 - 2009 Main Stage season and our 2008-2009 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. 2008-2009 Main Stage Season Amadeus by Peter Shaffer September 12 - October 19, 2008 Who: Austin Playhouse What: Amadeus by Peter Shaffer When: September 12 – October 19, 2008 Where: Austin Playhouse at Penn Field, 3601 S. Congress, Bldg. C Performance Times: Thursday – Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm Prices: $26 Thursday and Friday, $30 Saturday and Sunday Discounts: All student tickets are half-price. Info/Reservations: (512) 476-0084 Austin Live Theatre Review Austin Playhouse proudly opens their 2008-2009 Main Stage Season with Peter Shaffer’s award-winning masterpiece, Amadeus; the powerfully moving story of the man who destroyed Mozart. Set in 18th century Vienna at the court of Emperor Joseph II, Amadeus is told from the point of view of Antonio Salieri, the court’s composer, who presents for the audience his final composition, entitled "The Death of Mozart; or, Did I Do It?" Over the course of the play the audience is caught up in Salieri’s memories of Mozart as well as other powerful figures of the age. Amadeus' powerhouse cast is led by Rick Roemer (Exits and Entrances, The Mystery of Edwin Drood) as Salieri, David Gallagher (Les Liaisons Dangereuses, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) as Mozart, and Brian Coughlin (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, A Man for All Seasons) as Emperor Joseph II, with Tom Parker, Barry Miller, Ian Manners, Huck Huckaby, Christopher Loveless, and Kimberly Barrow as Constanze. Amadeus is directed by Austin Playhouse Artistic Director, Don Toner, with costume design by Diana Huckaby and Buffy Manners, lighting design by Don Day, and sound design by Jimy Gunn. Sylvia by A.R. Gurney November 21 – December 28, 2008 Who: Austin Playhouse What: Sylvia by A.R. Gurney When: November 21 – December 28, 2008 Where: Austin Playhouse, Larry L. King Theatre Address: 3601 S. Congress, Bldg. C Performances: Thursday – Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm No Performances on Thanksgiving and Christmas Tickets: $26 Thursday, Friday, $30 Saturday, Sunday All student tickets are half-price. Box office/information: (512) 476-0084 Austin Playhouse’s main stage season continues with this heartwarming comedy where an unlikely romantic triangle forms between a man, his wife, and a mutt named Sylvia. Greg and Kate have moved to Manhattan after raising their children in the Connecticut countryside. Their comfortable lives are thrown into chaos when Greg brings home a street-smart dog. Kate fears the dog will disturb their urban bliss. Greg however, is instantly enamored with the pooch and refuses to give her up. The resulting conflict will test their marriage and determine which bonds, marital or to man’s best friend, are really stronger! Sylvia is directed by Michael Stuart and stars an all star cast of Austin Playhouse Acting Company members including David Stahl, Bernadette Nason, Zach Thompson, and Andrea Osborn as Sylvia. Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel January 23 – March 1, 2009 Who: Austin Playhouse What: Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel When: January 23 – March 1, 2009 Where: Austin Playhouse, Larry L. King Theatre Address: 3601 S. Congress, Bldg. C Performances: Thursday – Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm No Performances on Thanksgiving and Christmas Tickets: $26: Thursday, Friday, $28 Saturday, Sunday. All student tickets are half-price. Box office/information: (512) 476-0084 Austin Playhouse proudly presents Brian Friel’s masterpiece, Dancing at Lughnasa. The lives, loves, struggles, and desires of the five unmarried Mundy sisters in rural 1930’s Ireland are brought to life and set to the music of a fickle Marconi radio in this poignant tribute to the human spirit. Dancing at Lughnasa is a memory play that relates the events of the summer of 1936 when Michael, the illegitimate son of the youngest Mundy sister, was seven. As narrator, the adult Michael leads us through this bittersweet time during the harvest festival of Lughnasa, just before winter returns to the small Donegal County town of Ballybeg. Don Toner directs an outstanding cast including Brian Coughlin, Babs George, Huck Huckaby, Margaret Hoard, Rebecca Robinson, Steve Shearer, Lara Toner, and Cyndi Williams in this beautiful, life-affirming play. The design team includes Don Day (lighting designer), Buffy Manners (costume designer), and The Gunn Brothers (sound designers). Local musicians Sean Orr and Wayne Duncan (Pubcrawler, The Sean Orr Band) are recording traditional Irish and African tribal music for the production. Dancing at Lughnasa originated at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Don Toner directed the U.S. regional theatre premiere of Dancing at Lughnasa in 1993 at Live Oak Theatre, Austin. The Live Oak cast included two members of the Austin Playhouse cast: Babs George and Steve Shearer. Dancing at Lughnasa has won numerous best play awards including the Tony Award, Evening Standard Award, Laurence Olivier Award and New York Drama Critics’ Circle. Listen to the cast interview for Dancing at Lughnasa featured on KUT's Arts Eclectic. A Flea in Her Ear by Georges Feydeau March 27 - May 3, 2009 Who: Austin Playhouse What: A Flea in Her Ear by Georges Feydeau When: March 27 - May 3, 2009 Where: Austin Playhouse, 3601 S. Congress, Bldg. C Performances: Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm How Much: $26 Thursday, Friday, $30 Saturday, Sunday Discounts: All student tickets are half-price. Tickets: (512) 476-0084 Austin Playhouse proudly presents a sumptuous production of Georges Feydeau's masterpiece, A Flea in Her Ear. Filled with tons of laughs, this gorgeous production transports audiences to turn-of-the-century Paris for an evening of incredible entertainment. In Feydeau's classic Belle Epoque comedy a young Parisian housewife, Raymonde, suspects her husband, Victor Emmanuel, of infidelity and she turns to her best friend, Lucienne, to help her gain proof. They concoct a play-based on a perfumed letter-to trap him at the Hotel Coq d'Or in Montretout. In true farcical fashion the plan misfires; the plot is complicated by confused identities, revolving beds, a great many doors and the fact that the stupid hotel porter, Poche, is the exact double of Victor Emmanuel. Austin Playhouse's production features a cast full of Austin's finest actors including David Stokey as Victor Emmanuel, Andrea Osborn as Raymonde, and Boni Hester as Lucienne, as well as Ben Wolfe, Rommel Sulit, Douglas Taylor, Hans Venable, Steve Shearer, Mary Agen Cox, Tom Parker, Gwendolyn Kelso, Aaron M. Clay, and Kate Eminger. A Flea in Her Ear is directed by Don Toner with costume design by Buffy Manners, set design by Jessica Colley-Mitchell, lighting design by Don Day, and sound design by The Gunn Brothers. Tickets are available by calling (512) 476-0084 or online at www.austinplayhouse.com. The Fantasticks music by Harvey Schmidt, book and lyrics by Tom Jones May 22 - June 28, 2009 Who: Austin Playhouse What: The Fantasticks, music by Harvey Schmidt, book and lyrics by Tom Jones When: May 22 – June 28, 2009 Where: Austin Playhouse at Penn Field, 3601 S. Congress, Bldg. C Performance Times: Thursday – Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm Prices: $28 Thursday and Friday, $30 Saturday and Sunday, $35 Opening Night, Friday May 22nd Discounts: All student tickets are half-price. Info/Reservations: (512) 476-0084 Website: www.austinplayhouse.com The World’s longest running musical is back! The Fantasticks has enchanted audiences for almost fifty years with its timeless story, memorable music, and delightful characters. Songs like “Try to Remember,” “Much More,” and “Soon it’s Gonna Rain” frame the simple fable of a boy and a girl who find the path to true love (and learn that it never does run smooth). Matt and Luisa have lived next door to each other their whole lives. Their fathers, Hucklebee and Bellomy, know that children only want what’s forbidden, so they build a wall between the two houses and pretend to feud. Matt and Luisa instantly fall in love. To seal the deal and end the fake feud the fathers employ the mysterious El Gallo to “kidnap” Luisa so Matt can rescue her and they can have a “Happy Ending.” But the young lovers must discover the real world for themselves and face true disappointments and heartbreaks before they can live happily ever after. The Fantasticks stars Brian Coughlin as El Gallo, Tom Parker as Bellomy, Huck Huckaby as Hucklebee, David Stahl as Henry, Michael Stuart as Mortimer, Jacob Trussell as Matt, Steffanie Ngo-Hatchie as Luisa, and Kasey Eggleston as the Mute. The Fantasticks is directed by Don Toner with musical direction by Michael McKelvey, costume design by Diana Huckaby, and lighting design by Don Day. Austin Playhouse produced a successful production of The Fantasticks in 2001. The Fantasticks opened in New York on May 3, 1960 and played 17,162 performances before closing January 13, 2002. A new revival is currently running at the Snapple Theater Center in New York City.   All titles are subject to availability. 2008-2009 Larry L. King Theatre Dug Up by Cyndi Williams October 10 - November 2, 2008 Held Over through November 8th, 2008! Who: Austin Playhouse What: Dug Up by Cyndi Williams When: October 10 - November 2, 2008 Held Over through November 8th, 2008! Where: Austin Playhouse, Larry L. King Theatre Address: 3601 S. Congress, Bldg. C Performances: Thursday -S Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm Tickets: $20, all student tickets are half-price. Box office/information: (512) 476-0084 Austin Playhouse proudly opens their Larry L. King Theatre Season with the world premiere production of Cyndi Williams' new play, Dug Up. Read a review of Dug Up here! There's no place like alone, when all you have is bones... Audiences looking for a slightly spooky treat this season will enjoy the latest offering from award-winning local playwright, Cyndi Williams. Her other recently produced works include Where are They Now?, A Name for a Ghost to Mutter, and American Arcana. Austin Playhouse produced a reading of Dug Up last fall. We're honored by the opportunity to bring the first full production of her newest play to Austin. Inspired by love, loss, and Tennessee Williams, the play creates an off-kilter world deep in Louisiana's bayou country. In the middle of this nowhere land a once great old house has been converted into "a unique and romantic escape for couples seeking solitude in nature." The inn is run by Dewitt and his aunt, the last living members of the Rutherford clan. As the play opens, Dewitt has taken to living like an animal in the courtyard, a sexy and mysterious guest who may have just killed her husband has checked in, and the bones Dewitt has carefully buried may be washing away. Also, his dead twin sister is coming home. Dug Up is directed by King Theatre Artistic Director, Lara Toner (Women Who Steal, Moonlight and Magnolias) and features Jude Hickey, Jessie Tilton, and Liz Fisher. Dug Up contains adult language, mature content, copious consumption of hurricanes, and real animal bones. Season tickets are available for the four-play King Season for only $64! Call (512) 476-0084 to order. It's a Wonderful Life: A live radio play by Joe Landry December 5 - 21, 2008 The second play in our King Theatre Season is inspired by the classic American film, It's a Wonderful Life. It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play is performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast in front of a studio audience. Six actors perform the dozens of characters in the radio play as well as produce the sound effects! It’s a Wonderful Life is family friendly fun for the holiday season. With only eleven performances we expect most shows will fill up, call today to make your reservations! It’s a Wonderful Life is directed by Lara Toner and stars Rachel Dendy, Molly Karrasch, Michael Stuart, Benjamin Summers, Dirk van Allen, and Ben Wolfe. Performances are Thursday - Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 5pm. Tickets are $20 each, $3 discount for subscribers and their guests. All students are half-price. Children 5 and up are welcome! Heroes by Tom Stoppard February 13 - March 15, 2009 Winner of the 2006 Olivier Award for Best Comedy. Three World War I veterans in a retirement home reflect on their lives and plot their escape. Starring David Stahl, Michael Stuart, and Don Toner Performances: Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm. Tickets are $20 each, all student tickets are half-price. Age of Arousal by Linda Griffiths directed by Lara Toner April 10 - May 10, 2009 Who: Austin Playhouse What: Age of Arousal by Linda Griffiths When: April 10 - May 10, 2009 Performances: Thursday – Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm Where: Austin Playhouse, Larry L. King Theatre Tickets: $20, All student tickets are half-price. $3 discount for subscribers and their guests. Half-Price Opening Weekend Special! Help us get the word out about this fantastic new play! Be one of the first in Austin to see Age of Arousal and get tickets for only $10! Mention the Opening Weekend Special when you make your reservations for this weekend, April 10th, 11th, or 12th and receive half-price tickets to Age of Arousal! Call in your reservations to (512) 476-0084 to receive the discount (not available with online ticketing). Opening Weekend Half-Price Special only available April 10th, 11th, or 12th. No other discounts apply. Austin Playhouse proudly presents Linda Griffiths’ witty, wild, and stunning new play, Age of Arousal. It's 1885 in Victorian England and a population imbalance of half a million more women than men has paved the way for ladies to enter the forbidden world of the male workplace. But economic freedom is tangled with erotical freedom and soon the New Ideas of social equality are challenged by the consequences of unleashing forbidden Victorian desires. The powerhouse cast includes Babs George as Mary Barfoot, an ex-militant suffragette who now runs a business school for women. She is aided by her assistant and lover, Rhoda Nunn (Jenny Larson). Their world is thrown into chaos by the entrance of three sisters (Cyndi Williams, Jenny Gravenstein, and Kimberly Barrow) and Mary’s cousin (Brian Coughlin), a rogue who is fascinated by the “new women” in general and Rhoda in particular. Age of Arousal is directed by Lara Toner (Heroes, Dug Up, Women Who Steal), with costumes designed by Diana Huckaby (Amadeus) and lighting designed by Don Day. “Age of Arousal…deliciously tosses the conventional wisdom of repressed and chaste Victorian women right out the boudoir window…this script plunges deep into the secret longings of ladies…intelligently revealed through sophisticated writing.” -UWishunu, Philadelphia Rated R for sexual content and scandalous thoughts. ...this is not your grandmother’s Victorian drama... “Griffiths inspires greatness… the play tells a story that reaches far beyond its late 19th-century trappings and the accompanying confusion over women's rights, to tap into current slippery notions on love, marriage and sex.” - Calgary Herald All titles are subject to availability.