WaterTower Theatre announces 2008-2009 season

by PegNews wire

WaterTower Theatre (WTT) and Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin are proud to announce the 2008-2009 season for WTT’s Main Stage and Discover Series as well as the headliner for the 2009 Out of the Loop Fringe Festival. WTT’s twelfth season promises to entertain and engage audiences with rousing musicals, classic dramas, side-splitting comedies and highly anticipated regional premieres. The season will consist of twelve fully-staged productions as well as the highly successful Out of the Loop Fringe Festival.

“I think our patrons will find this to be a year of theatrical events that will delight all audiences,” states Martin. “The Main Stage productions are grounded in a unique blend of significant (but familiar) classics both dramatic and musical, as well as remarkable new plays that will enthrall and inspire. This season truly speaks to the distinctiveness we have built and lived for the last 10 years.”

WTT's 2008-2009 Main Stage season consists of:

Doubt, a Parable by John Patrick Shanley. From October 2 – 26, 2008. Father Flynn, a charismatic young priest, is adored by his students; Sister Aloysius, an unbending principal, is pleased by the fear she invokes in them. When Father Flynn begins to take special interest in a new student, Sister Aloysius begins to think the unthinkable. But when a nun’s suspicion is weighed against the word of a priest, how does one determine the truth? The winner of 24 major awards, including the 2005 Pulitzer Prize, Doubt, a Parable is a gripping exploration of the question, “What do you do when you’re not sure?” AREA PREMIERE.
Violet - Book & Lyrics by Brian Crawley; Music by Jeanine Tesori. From January 15 – February 8, 2009. When Violet was 13 years old, a tragic accident left her scarred for life. Now an adult, she must embark on a cross-country pilgrimage to find a cure for her ailment - a journey that will reconcile the tragic events of her past with the harsh realities of her present. Boasting a score that mixes country, bluegrass and R&B, Violet is the story of one woman's healing journey to discover love, courage, and the meaning of acceptance.
Our Town by Thornton Wilder. From April 2 – 26, 2009. WaterTower Theatre continues to explore the canon of American classics with the Pulitzer Prize-winning Our Town. Set at the turn of the 20th century, the play examines the ordinary lives of the people of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire. A boy and girl meet as teenagers and succumb to adolescent affections before maturing, marrying, and having a child of their own. Unassuming in its simplicity and universality, Our Town is one of the most beloved masterpieces of the American Theatre.
Indoor/Outdoor by Kenny Finkle. From May 21 – June 14, 2009. Samantha is having some serious problems. Her friend Shuman doesn’t always understand her. Her therapist treats her like a stray. And she’s kept from being with her true love by a sliding glass door. It’s definitely not easy being a housecat. Quirky and warm-hearted, Indoor/Outdoor examines the world though the eyes of a frisky housecat to see if the grass is greener on the other side of the pet door. REGIONAL PREMIERE.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying - Music & Lyrics by Frank Loesser; Book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, & Willie Gilbert. From July 16 – August 9, 2009. From the authors of Guys and Dolls comes one of the most delightfully irreverent musicals of all time. Follow the rise of J. Pierpont Finch as he climbs the corporate ladder from lowly window washer to high-powered executive. As Finch climbs to the top, he must tackle the formidable dangers of the office party, backstabbing co-workers, caffeine addiction, and true love. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a ground-breaking satire of American big business.

In addition to the Main Stage season, WaterTower Theatre will also produce the following season extras:

Beautiful Star: An Appalachian Nativity by Preston Lane, with original music by Laurelyn Dossett. From November 28 – December 21, 2008. Reverend Roy Ledbetter and the congregation of the Open Heart Community Fellowship Church bring the Christmas story to life in an Appalachian setting with down-home laughter, toe-tapping music and a tug at the heart. In the tradition of the medieval mystery plays of Old England, Beautiful Star weaves music, humor and wonder together, re-telling great stories from the Bible in a festive gathering of family, friends and faith. REGIONAL PREMIERE.
This Wonderful Life by Steve Murray. From December 3 – 21, 2008. Share the hope and humor of Frank Capra’s adored classic Christmas film It’s a Wonderful Life re-imagined as a one-man tour de force. There’s the family man George Bailey; evil and miserly Mr. Potter; Clarence, the dotty angel-in-waiting; devoted Mary; and Zuzu with her petals. But we can’t forget the image of a man standing alone on a bridge on Christmas Eve...the story of how he got there, and how he found his way back home. Brimming with hope and humor, This Wonderful Life is a must-see event that will provide the perfect start to your family's holiday festivities. REGIONAL PREMIERE.
Out of the Loop Fringe Festival from March 5 – 15, 2009. For the past seven years, WaterTower Theatre’s Out of the Loop Fringe Festival has wowed audiences with an exciting and unmatched artistic lineup. Featuring some of the best acts in theatre, music, dance and art from around the region, OOTL continues to bring all three spaces of the Addison Theatre Centre alive with exciting, contemporary work. WaterTower Theatre is proud to announce the 2009 OOTL Fringe Festival headliner! Charlie Ross will bring his internationally acclaimed One Man Star Wars Trilogy to the Addison Theatre Centre for five electrifying performances.

Expanding upon the success of its inaugural year, WTT will present an expanded Discover Series in the Addison Theatre Centre’s Studio Theatre. The 2008-2009 Discover Series will consist of:

Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn - Music & Lyrics by William Finn; Conceived by Rob Ruggio. From October 30 – November 23, 2008. The composer and lyricist of the musicals Falsettos, A New Brain and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, William Finn has been a staple of the American theatre for 30 years. At once witty, wistful, neurotic and brave, Finn’s music has been revered by audiences and critics alike. Using a quartet of singers and a single piano, Make Me a Song is a musical celebration of one of our musical theatre greats. REGIONAL PREMIERE.
A Feminine Ending by Sarah Treem. From January 29 – February 22, 2009. Amanda Blue has put her music career on hold. It takes a long time to write a symphony; besides, there are other considerations. She has a full-time job. Her boyfriend is about to become famous. Her mother is planning to leave her father. And she’s re-connecting with the one that got away. A new romantic comedy, A Feminine Ending is about dreams deferred, loves lost and learning to trust a woman’s voice in a man’s world. REGIONAL PREMIERE.
Based on a Totally True Story by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. From April 16 – May 3, 2009. Ethan Keene, playwright and comic book writer, is on the verge of having it all – success, money, and a Hollywood movie credit. But getting to that Hollywood Premiere may be more dramatic than the movie. His father is having a marital crisis, his boyfriend is begging for more attention, and his producer is demanding a re-write. Based on a Totally True Story is the story of one wanna-be screenwriter’s attempt to find his own happy ending before the final credits roll. REGIONAL PREMIERE.
The Receptionist by Adam Bock. From June 4 – 28, 2009. At the start of a typical day in the Northeast Office, Beverly deals effortlessly with ringing phones and her colleague's romantic troubles. But the appearance of a charming rep from the Central Office disrupts the friendly routine. And as the true nature of the company's business becomes apparent, Beverly realizes that her life as The Receptionist will never be the same. REGIONAL PREMIERE.

Season tickets for WTT’s 2008-2009 Main Stage season can be purchased by calling the box office at 972-450-6232. Season ticket prices range from $75 to $150. Individual ticket prices range from $22 to $40 per show. Performance times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Season extras are currently available only to season subscribers. Prices and show times for season extras vary. For specific information on season extras, call the WTT box office at 972-450-6232.

Season tickets for WTT’s 2008-2009 Discover Series are $65 each and can be purchased by calling the box office at 972-450-6232. Individual tickets are $20. Performance times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Posted by Shawn