Filed under: Daddy Long Legs, Ghost-Writer, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Mrs. Whitney, The Persian Quarter, The Voice Of The Turtle, This Verse Business | Tags: Charles Towers, Daddy Long Legs, Ghost-Writer, Merrimack Rep, Mrs. Whitney, Reduced Shakespeare Company, The Persian Quarter, The Voice of the Turtle, This Verse Business
ANNOUNCING THE 2011-2012 SEASON Artistic Director Charles Towers
Opening the 2011-2012 Season is The Persian Quarter by Kathleen Cahill, an invigorating drama about the power words have to overcome cultural differences. Next up is the touching portrayal of the great American poet Robert Frost, This Verse Business by A.M. Dolan. For the holiday season, the Reduced Shakespeare Company® returns with their newest creation, a yet to be titled Christmas show. 2012 opens with the moving 1943 romantic comedy, The Voice of the Turtle by John Van Druten. In February, MRT mounts its first musical in four seasons with Daddy Long Legs, book by Tony Award winner John Caird, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, based on the novel by Jean Webster. Following Daddy Long Legs will be the witty and insightful comedy Mrs. Whitney by John Kolvenbach, about a 60-year old woman with a unique sense of romance. Concluding the season will be Ghost-Writer by Michael Hollinger.
Artistic Director Charles Towers, now entering his 11th season at Merrimack Rep, stated, “There can be no doubt that our country is living through turbulent times, both at home and abroad. Perhaps it has always been thus. But I felt very strongly this year that now was the time to hear a variety of American voices along the American journey. There is no political position here. But we have been a nation of thinkers and dreamers; a nation of writers willing to explore our unique character, in all of its manifestations. These plays inspire hope, even as they remind us of our shared past. This season is like every other at MRT: unique unto itself, and as universal as the human heart; another contribution to an ongoing journey of understanding ourselves and others.”
Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s 2011-2012 Season is sponsored by Lowell Cooperative Bank. Merrimack Repertory Theatre is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
MERRIMACK REPERTORY THEATER 2011-2012 SEASON
Voices along the American Journey…”
THE PERSIAN QUARTER
by Kathleen Cahill
September 15 – October 9, 2011
In a land rich with history, two women are thrown together by a diplomatic crisis. Thirty years later, a chance encounter by their daughters leads to revelations of a shared past. An invigorating drama about the power words have to reveal truths as well as hide them, and ultimately to bridge a cultural divide.
“’The Persian Quarter’ weaves history and culture with Persian magic” – The Salt Lake Tribune
THIS VERSE BUSINESS
by A. M. Dolan
October 20 – November 13, 2011
An illuminating portrait of the great American poet Robert Frost, looking back on his life’s work and the changes America underwent in the first half of the 20th century. Told in Frost’s folksy yet penetrating style, this one-man play is full of poetry, wit and “promises to keep.”
“Charming” – Nashua Telegraph
The Reduced Shakespeare Company ® in
A Yet To Be Titled Christmas Show (abridged)
by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor
November 25 – December 18, 2011
Having reduced the history of America, the Bible, the world of sports and more, the three fruitcakes of the Reduced Shakespeare Company return to MRT to take you on an irreverent but heartwarming trip through the holidays and Christmas will never quite be the same.
“Inspired! Smart, timely satire.” — Washington Post
THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE
by John Van Druten
January 5 – January 29, 2012
In this lovely, fresh and surprisingly-modern 1943 romantic comedy about single life and sexual yearning in wartime Manhattan, a serviceman on leave finds himself without a date or a place to stay, only to accidently arrive at the apartment of a wide-eyed young actress.
“Fresh, warm and funny” – Talkin’ Broadway
DADDY LONG LEGS
Book by John Caird
Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon
Based on the novel by Jean Webster
February 9 – March 4, 2012
A beautiful new musical from the co-director of Les Miserables and the creators of Jane Eyre. In this coming-of-age story set in 1912 New England, a young woman is given the opportunity to escape the orphanage she grew up in when an anonymous benefactor spots her potential and pays her way to attend university, as long as his identity remains a secret.
“Like a breath of spring” – NY Times
MRS. WHITNEY
by John Kolvenbach
March 15 – April 8, 2012
A candid portrait of a 60-year old woman with an idiosyncratic sense of romance. Mrs. Whitney seeks a cure for loneliness by tracking down her ne’er-do-well ex-husband, an irresponsible mess she kicked out over 20 years ago, sending her on an odyssey of surprising and sharply-funny encounters.
“’Mrs. Whitney’ engages the audience to laugh at the foibles of love in the real world while it dangles you dangerously above the jaws of heartbreak.” – StarkSilverCreek.com
GHOST-WRITER
by Michael Hollinger
April 19 – May 13, 2012
When a famous novelist dies before finishing his masterwork, his devoted secretary completes the story on her own. Is she perpetrating a fraud, or does her insistent claim that she continues to receive his dictation after his passing hold some truth?
“A lovely and stirring drama about the written word and the emotions it can provoke.” –Talkin’ Broadway
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Don’t miss a single show! On sale now, MRT offers subscription packages to fit every lifestyle and budget. With season subscription packages ranging from $46-$273, all subscriptions offer deep discounts off the single ticket prices as well as exclusive subscriber-only benefits, including free parking, restaurant and theatre discounts, lost ticket insurance and free, unlimited ticket exchanges. Individual ticket sales for the 2011-2012 Season begin August 9, 2011. For season or subscription information, call 978.654.4MRT (4678), or visit www.merrimackrep.org.
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