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From William Shakespeare’s epic adventure “Pericles” to Tanya Barfield’s exploration of cultural heritage in “Blue Door,” PlayMakers Repertory Company will present a variety of offerings in 2008-2009.

Also during its 2008-2009 season, the professional theater company at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will perform Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece, “The Glass Menagerie.” The play will run in rotating repertory with “Well” by Lisa Kron. Rounding out the theater’s main-stage season will be Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” adapted by Jon Jory.

By popular demand, PlayMakers also will reprise its hit production from last December, “The Little Prince.” Adapted for the stage by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar, the play, based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry will be a special holiday event.

All main-stage performances will be in the Paul Green Theatre in UNC’s Center for Dramatic Art on Country Club Road. PlayMakers also will present the PRC2 series on its second stage in the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre, also in the center.

The three PRC2 shows will be “In the Continuum” by Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter, “The Young Ladies Of …” by Taylor Mac and “9 Parts of Desire” by Heather Raffo.

A variety of 2008-2009 subscription packages are now available, with discounts for students, seniors and youth. Visit http://www.playmakersrep.org or call (919) 962-PLAY (7529) for information.

Dates and descriptions of the 2008-2009 main-stage plays are:

“Pericles” by William Shakespeare: Sept. 24 to Oct. 12
One of the most popular of Shakespeare’s plays during his lifetime, “Pericles” is an epic adventure reminiscent of Homer’s “Odyssey.” Spanning oceans and generations, travels and travails, it’s chock full of riddles, princesses, pirates, assassins, exotic locales, a bawdy house and multiple shipwrecks. As The New York Times said of a modern revival, “‘Pericles’ has it all!” PlayMakers’ “Pericles” will feature original music and songs written especially for the production by Jack Herrick of Chapel Hill’s storied Red Clay Ramblers. PlayMakers’ producing artistic director Joseph Haj will direct.

“Blue Door” by Tanya Barfield: Oct. 22 to Nov. 9
“Blue Door” is the story of a 50-year-old black university professor whose wife leaves him because of his reluctance to embrace his identity. Their break culminates, actually and symbolically, with his refusal to participate in the Million Man March. Over the course of a sleepless night, he is visited in Dickensian fashion by a series of spirits, including those of his grandfather, brother and several male ancestors. In hearing their life stories, he may be able to reclaim his own identity and find his way back to his authentic self. Through text and song, “Blue Door” is a beautiful exploration of what it costs to disconnect from our past and our cultural heritage. PlayMakers’ production will be the play’s regional premiere.
 
“The Little Prince” by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar, based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: Nov. 26 to Dec. 14
PlayMakers’ production of the magical classic by Saint-Exupéry returns from last season as must-see holiday entertainment for the whole family. When an aviator crashes in the Sahara, an ethereal Little Prince from another planet helps him see his world through the wonder of a child’s eyes. 

PlayMakers 2008-2009 season subscriptions are on sale. Subscribers will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets to “The Little Prince,” by adding it to their packages. PlayMakers’ December 2007 presentation sold out rapidly.

PlayMakers’ fourth and fifth mainstage shows, “The Glass Menagerie” and “Well,” will run in rotating repertory performances. Both plays are ground-breaking works written more than 60 years apart. However, both explore mother-daughter relationships, contend with illness and disability, and wrestle with theatrical form in extraordinary ways.

 “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams: Jan. 25 to Feb. 28, 2009
(in rotating repertory with “Well”)
The play that put Tennessee Williams on the map, “The Glass Menagerie” is acknowledged as a modern classic by one of America’s preeminent playwrights. The story of faded Southern belle Amanda Wingfield; her shy, damaged daughter and sensitive son; and the gentleman caller who intrudes on their delicately constructed world contains some of the most moving moments in theatre. Although usually staged as naturalistic drama with realistic sets, in Williams’ own production notes he described his concept of the play as a break from “realistic conventions.” PlayMakers will bring audiences a fresh look at this seminal work, realized with Williams’ original intentions in mind.
 
“Well” by Lisa Kron: Jan. 24 to March 1, 2009
(in rotating repertory with “The Glass Menagerie”)
“Well” is the recent Broadway sensation written by Lisa Kron, who in January 2008 performed her OBIE Award-winning show “2.5 Minute Ride” on PlayMakers’ second stage. “Well” is a hilarious comedy and an inventive look at another mother-daughter relationship. Kron valiantly attempts to tell stories from her childhood as characters break free from the script and take over the stage, particularly Kron’s own force-of-nature mother. The Tony-nominated production was hailed by critics. The Boston Globe said “‘Well’ “has moments goofy enough to make your sides ache – and other moments intelligent enough to rearrange your understanding of the world.”
   
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, adapted by Jon Jory: April 1-19, 2009
This sparkling adaptation brings the beloved Austen novel from page to stage as a glorious evening of sheer enjoyment. Along with swooning romance, the story deals with its accompanying obstacles — family baggage, social class and money matters — with delicious wit and clear-eyed observations. The five Bennet sisters in pursuit of romance, heart-throb Mr. Darcy, duplicitous Mr. Wickham and the imperious Lady Catherine de Bourgh all will grace PlayMakers’ stage in this main-stage finale.

Dates and descriptions of the PRC2  second stage series are:  

“In the Continuum” by Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter: Sept. 10-14
Garnering national and international acclaim, “In the Continuum” is the powerful story of two black women – one in South Central Los Angeles and one in Harare, Zimbabwe – whose contemporaneous HIV diagnoses bring the international AIDS epidemic down to personal and human terms. The New York Times called the play “moving, smart, spirited and powerfully funny,” and one of the 10 best plays seen off-Broadway in 2005.

“The Young Ladies Of …” by Taylor Mac: Jan. 7-11, 2009
Audaciously talented actor/playwright Taylor Mac performs for PlayMakers his New York production of “The Young Ladies Of…” the autobiographical story of a man (Mac) whose father died quite young, and the man’s desire to learn who his father was so as to better understand himself. His father came from a macho family in which men drank heavily, owned guns and served in the military. That world is far different than the one chosen by the son, a New York City, downtown performance artist, who performs the show in drag while playing a ukulele and singing songs from “Carousel.” The New York Press wrote: “Taylor Mac’s deeply inspiring ‘The Young Ladies Of …’ is a beautiful play. (He is) one of the best performers the city has to offer.”

“9 Parts of Desire” by Heather Raffo: April 22-26, 2009
The New Yorker called “9 Parts of Desire”: “A triumph! Thrilling! An example of how art can remake the world!” Based on a decade of interviews by Iraqi-American playwright Heather Raffo, portraits of nine distinctly different Iraqi women are woven into a riveting presentation. Humor and horror are experienced together in this moving portrayal that lifts the veil on women’s lives in a culture vastly different than our own.

Based in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences, PlayMakers is the Carolinas’ premiere resident professional theater company. New York’s Drama League named PlayMakers one of the “best regional theatres in America.” The North Carolina Theatre Conference gave PlayMakers its Professional Theatre of the Year Award for 2007.

Web site: http://www.playmakersrep.org

Joseph Haj
Photo of Joseph Haj, PlayMakers’ producing artistic director

PlayMakers contact: Connie Mahan, (919) 428-1744, cmahan@email.unc.edu
College of Arts and Sciences contact: Kim Spurr (919) 962-4093, spurrk@email.unc.edu

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