The Drama Workshop is thrilled to announce its 2016-2017 season. Featuring a selection of classic comedies, musicals, and dramatic fare, theater-goers will be sure to enjoy themselves at TDW’s intimate, 96-seat performance venue.
Leading off the season in August, 2016, will be Michael Frayn’s farcical classic, NOISES OFF. Frayn takes the ‘play-within-a-play’ concept, and turns it on its ear, as we follow the hapless efforts of a British touring company trying to stage the comedy, “Nothing’s On”. With a lead actress who can’t remember her lines, a dim-witted leading man, a gorgeous ingénue who can’t keep up with the insanity around her, and a director who’s trying to keep calm and carry on, nothing is going right. Widely known for featuring both sides of the set, which changes between acts, this audience favorite will be directed by Dennis Murphy and will run August 12 through August 28, 2016.
Following next will be the dramatic comedy, THE LION IN WINTER, by James Goldman. At Christmas in 1183, an aging and conniving King Henry II plans a reunion where he hopes to name his successor. He summons his scheming but imprisoned wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine; his mistress, Princess Alais, whom he wishes to marry; his three sons, all of whom desire the throne; and the young but crafty King Philip of France. With the fate of Henry’s empire at stake, everybody engages in their own brand of deception and treachery to stake their claim. TDW welcomes Francis Boyle to their stage to direct this Tony-award winning play, running from October 7 through October 23, 2016.
In December, the cast of TDW’s award-winning 2013 production of NUNSENSE will return to perform a holiday variety show in NUNCRACKERS, by Dan Goggin. NUNCRACKERS is the first TV special taped in the Cable Access Studio built by Reverend Mother in the convent basement. Featuring all new songs including Twelve Days Prior to Christmas, Santa Ain’t Comin’ to Our House, We Three Kings of Orient Are Us and It’s Better to Give than to Receive, this show is filled with typical NUNSENSE humor, some of your favorite carols, and a “Secret Santa” audience participation. We’re certain this NUNSENSE Christmas Show will make you laugh, and maybe tug at your heartstrings. It’s the perfect way to insure that your holiday season is merry and bright! NUNCRACKERS will be directed by Lizanne Ingram, and runs December 2 through December 18, 2016.
The first show of 2017 will be the Neil Simon classic comedy THE ODD COUPLE. Oscar Madison has the perfect life – nobody tells him what to do, whether it’s to clean his house or empty his refrigerator of months-old leftovers. But when his obsessively neat friend Felix Unger shows up on his doorstep, having been thrown out of his apartment by his wife, Oscar takes him in – with predictable results. Can two friends live together without driving each other crazy? We all know and love the classic movie and television series. The Drama Workshop’s version of this memorable classic will be directed by Ray Persing, and runs from February 24 through March 12, 2017.
TDW’s 2016-2017 season will close with the heartfelt tribute, ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE. Written by Ted Swindley, ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE has enjoyed great success all over the United States, including a successful run off-Broadway. More than a tribute to the legendary country singer who died tragically at age 30 in a plane crash in 1963, the show is based on a true story about Cline’s friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in l961, and continued a correspondence with Cline until her death. The musical play, complete with down home country humor and even some audience participation, includes many of Patsy’ unforgettable hits such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams and Walking After Midnight…27 songs in all. The show’s title was inspired by Cline’s letters to Seger, which were consistently signed “Love ALWAYS… Patsy Cline.” Directed by Robert Weidle, ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE runs from April 28 through May 14, 2017.
Tickets for TDW’s 2016-2017 season will be available beginning in February 2016.