Salem Theatre Company will tackle Joe Orton and its first musical, "Hair," during its seventh season, which will also be its first season under new artistic director John Fogle. Fogle's no stranger to the STC, as a past president of the STC board who has also directed for the company. He'll direct the season's second main stage production, Michael Frayn's "Alphabetical Order," which will also be the company's first out-of-town show. They'll present it in April at Marblehead Little Theatre (where Fogle just directed "Blood Brothers").
The first main stage show of the season, next February, will be Joe Orton's "Loot"; the third will be "Hair" in June 2010. Also on the bill are the company's annual "Chilling Tales" cruise before Halloween and seasonal favorite "A Child's Christmas in Wales." The complete release is after the jump. Tickets for all productions are available at www.salemtheatre.com or (978) 790-8546.
SALEM THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES SEVENTH SEASON,
NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Seventh Season: September 2009 through August 2010
Welcomes New Artistic Director John Fogle
The Salem Theatre Company announces the schedule for its landmark Seventh Season, with nine productions to be staged around the NorthShore, including the group’s first musical.
The STC also welcomes their new Artistic Director, John Fogle. Since 1977, Fogle has staged over 70 productions at a variety of venues in the greater Boston area - including the Gloucester Stage Company, the Charles Playhouse, the Lyric Stage, Quannapowitt Players, Theatre-By-The-Sea, Wharf Rat and the Mugford Street Players, which he also serves as Artistic Director.
“I am thrilled and delighted to return to the STC as the company’s Artistic Director,” said Fogle. “I look forward to taking the group in new and exciting directions, including the revival of our educational offerings for children and adults.”
“Our Seventh Season is full of engaging and stirring theatrical endeavors,” said STC Executive Director Gary LaParl. “We will produce our first musical and take one of our Main Stage plays outside of our traditional Salem location.” The Seventh Season will consist of three Main Stage plays and six Second Stage programs.
Tickets for all productions – both Main Stage and Second Stage – are available at www.salemtheatre.com or by calling the Box Office at (978) 790-8546. Main Stage passes are available for $50 and are good for one adult admission to all three Main Stage performances – a savings of over 15%. Passes can also be purchased at www.salemtheatre.com.
October 2009: Supernatural at sea! The 7th annual offering of Chilling Tales: Eerie Legends of the Supernatural at Sea once again goes aboard the Friendship, Salem’s tall ship docked in Salem Harbor. This year’s stories feature classic tales of maritime macabre by Edgar Allen Poe, in celebration of his 200th birth year. Produced in partnership with the National Park Service. Stories adapted by Dominick and Matteo Pangallo, directed by John Fogle, and managed by Art Hennessey. Weekends in October starting October 9, 5:30-9:30pm, Tickets $15/$10, Friendship atDerby Wharf, Salem.
December 2009: Holiday traditions, classic and comic. The STC stages its 5th annual production of Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales, with musicians, refreshments, and Thomas’ classic radio play in performance, directed by Caroline Watson-Felt.
Adults seeking for some holiday humor can catch the STC’s production of the hysterical and edgy The Eight: Reindeer Monologues by Jeff Goode and directed by Catherine Bertrand.
A Child’s Christmas in Wales, December 4 and 12 at 7pm, and December 6 at 2pm, tickets $15/$10, venue TBA. The Eight, December 5 and 11 at 7pm, and December 13 at 2pm, tickets $15, venue TBA. Adult combination ticket to both plays $25.
February 2010: Masterpiece of black farce… The first Main Stage production of the Seventh Season features Joe Orton’s Loot, directed byPauline Wright. Orton’s classic, darkly comic play has been called a masterpiece of black farce. The script follows the misfortunes of two young thieves, their floundering attempts to throw the law off their trail, the loot they made off with, a nurse with a vicious secret, an innocent man, and one corpse. February 11-28, Tickets $20/$15, venue TBA.
April 2010: All too timely comedy… The STC welcomes spring with its first ever production outside the city of Salem. The second Main Stage of the Seventh Season is Michael Frayn’s Alphabetical Order, directed by John Fogle. This ironically timely comedy relates the final days of a provincial newspaper and the battle between the easy going manager and her fiercely organized new young assistant. April 8-25, Tickets $20/$15, Marblehead Little Theater, 12 School Street, Marblehead.
Also in April. Shakespeare open mic. The STC once again celebrates the Bard’s birthday with their 7th Annual Shakespeare Open Mic Night. April 23rd, 8:00pm, FREE, Gulu-Gulu Café, Salem.
May 2010. STC on stage in Boston. The STC looks forward to returning for the third time to present a one-act as part of the Boston Theater Marathon. This season’s offering is yet to be announced. For those unable to make it into Boston for the performance, the STC will reprise the work for free at the Salem Arts Festival in June. Details about the STC’s entry in the Marathon will be announced in May.
June 2010. Peace, love, and HAIR! For the third and final Main Stage production of the 7th Season, the STC presents its first musical: Hair, written by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, with music by Galt MacDermot, directed by Catherine Bertrand. Hair is the story of a tribe of hippies living and loving in New York City in 1968. The play focuses on the life changing decision faced by one member of the group, to either follow his heart or conform and accept his fate when drafted to go to Vietnam. June 4-20, Tickets $20/$15, venue TBA.
July 2010. Festival of original theater returns! Returning for the third time, the STC presents the wildly popular Moments of Play – the NorthShore’s own festival of original plays by up-and-coming playwrights. This experimental “test kitchen” for new works is always an enjoyable bash of theatrical creativity. New this year is is an expanded offering of programs over the four days of the festival, including symposia with notable playwrights, workshops, and, of course, performances of new, original works. The festival is produced by Caroline Watson-Felt. May 6-9, 2010, Tickets $15/$10 for one program’s admission or $50/$35 for a Festival Pass to all five programs, venue TBA.
August 2010. It’s gonna get funny out here. The STC wraps up the Seventh Season with the fourth annual offering of Improv on the Bricks. The free, family-friendly outdoor improv comedy show coincides with the city of Salem’s Heritage Days festival. August 7 and 8 at 3:30pm, FREE,Derby Square on Front Street, Salem.
Throughout the year. Theater classes. Throughout the year, STC’s theater professionals and instructors will offer community classes for children and adults in acting, directing, and other theater arts. Sign up for the STC email list at www.salemtheatre.com for bulletins about classes.
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