Theater season at UT Arlington features Tony and Pulitzer-winning playwrights

by PegNews wire

ARLINGTON—Authors ranging from the classic playwrights Thornton Wilder and William Shakespeare, to contemporary dramatists Wendy Wasserstein and Neil Simon, to a musical theater production featuring the writing of Studs Terkel and the music of James Taylor and Stephen Schwartz are in the production line-up for the 2007-08 season at The University of Texas at Arlington. Department of Theatre Arts Chair Kim LaFontaine says the production selections offer audiences a well-rounded theater experience, combining thought-provoking drama, humor and music.

The season’s first offering is “The Matchmaker” by three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Thornton Wilder. The amiable farce about two store clerks having the time of their lives in Victorian New York includes a series of slapstick situations involving mistaken identities, secret rendezvous, separated lovers and a trip to night court before everyone is paired with the perfect partner, thanks to matchmaker Dolly Levi. Directed by Associate Professor and Dramaturg Dennis Maher, the show runs at 8 p.m.Oct 10, 11, 12 and 13 at and at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 13 and 14 in Mainstage Theatre in the Fine Arts Building, 502 S. Cooper St.

Next is “The Heidi Chronicles,” a witty play by Wendy Wasserstein tracing the coming- of-age of Professor Heidi Holland and her baby boomer friends as they struggle to reconcile their feminist ideals with the realities of careers, lovers and motherhood. The plot follows Heidi from high school in the 1960s to her career as a successful art historian 20 years later. Winner of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize, the play is directed by UT Arlington Lecturer Anne Healy. It runs at 8 p.m. Nov. 14, 15, 16 and 17 and at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18 in the Studio Theatre in the Fine Arts Building.

Shakespeare meets the “Big Easy” in the production of “The Tempest,” set in the post-Katrina New Orleans' French Quarter. This play explores political intrigue, romance and redemption. Conjure-man Prospero seeks to exact revenge on his backstabbing brother with aid from the supernatural. Directed by Visiting Assistant Professor Natalie Gaupp, the production runs at 8 p.m. Feb. 27, 28, 29 and March 1 and also at 2:30 p.m. March 1 and 2 in the Mainstage Theatre.

The spring musical is a partnership between the Department of Theatre Arts and Theatre Arlington, one of the country’s premier community theaters. The two will join to co-produce the musical based on Stud Terkel’s best-selling book, “Working,” containing actual interviews exploring the hopes, dreams, joys and concerns of average working Americans. A celebration of extraordinary people the world so often takes for granted, the score includes songs by popular musical artists James Taylor and Stephen Schwartz. Directed by UT Arlington Theatre Arts Lecturer and Theatre Arlington Artistic Director B.J. Cleveland, the performances will be held at Theatre Arlington, 305 W. Main St. Production dates are March 28 through April 27, with 7:30 p.m. performances on Thursdays, 8 p.m. performances on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees.

The season will end with the annual “THEATREFEST,” a selection of five one-act plays directed by theatre arts majors. Plays are "The Jerry Herman Center" by Natalie Gaupp, "The Philadelphia" by David Ives, "Last Tango in Little Grimley" by David Tristram, "Sorry Wrong Number" by Lucille Fletcher, and a darkly comedic "Medea" by Christopher Durang and Wendy Wasserstein, to be presented in rotation with Neil Simon’s comedy, “45 Seconds from Broadway,” directed by Professor Andrew C. Gaupp. The one-act plays will be presented at 8 p.m. April 16 and 18 and 2:30 p.m. April 19. “45 Seconds from Broadway” will be presented at 8 p.m. April 17 and 19 and at 2:30 p.m. April 20 in the Studio Theatre.

For information on season ticket subscriptions, single tickets, group rates or reservations, contact the Theatre Arts Box Office, (817) 272-2669. “Working” is not included in the season ticket subscription. For ticket information, contact Theatre Arlington, (817) 275-7661. For more information regarding the season productions, contact Natalie Gaupp at ngaupp@uta.edu or (817) 272-5722.

Source: UTA