2009 - 2010 Arden Theatre Company Season Brochure

“The Arden doesn’t just restore your faith in theatre, it restores your faith in life.”

– Philadelphia Weekly

2009/10 ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY

“Arden Theatre has become a landmark of theatrical creativity.” – Lesley Valdes, WRTI My Name Is Asher Lev (2009)

THE HISTORY BOYS

By Alan Bennett Directed by Terrence J. Nolen

RABBIT HOLE

By David Lindsay-Abaire Directed by James J. Christy

BLUE DOOR

By Tanya BarďŹ eld Directed by Walter Dallas

ROMEO AND JULIET

By William Shakespeare Directed by Matt Pfeiffer

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by James Lapine Directed by Terrence J. Nolen

My Name Is Asher Lev (2009)

Proof (2004)

2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning

rabbit hole

By David Lindsay-Abaire Directed by James J. Christy

Featuring Grace Gonglewski

October 22 – December 20 Arcadia Stage

As improbably funny as it is heartbreaking, this story of a family in crisis won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Becca and Howie had the perfect life–a great marriage, a beautiful house and a lovely son. But after a tragic accident, the couple faces the challenges of surviving great loss and making a life with the family that remains. Director James J. Christy and Philadelphia actress Grace Gonglewski return to bring this modern masterpiece to life.

Sun

Tue

25

27

Nov 1

3

8

10

15

17

22

2p

7p

2p* 2p

]

28

[

7p

Fri

8p

8p

29

30

8p

29

31

6

2p^

7p

15

8p

2&8p

2&7p

2&8p

7

13

11

12

13 8p

14

2&8p

20

7p

18

2&6:30p

19

20 8p

21

2&8p

24

25

26

27

28

2&6:30p* 8p

6:30p

8p

6

Sun

24

8p

7p

5

8p

Sat

8p*

7p

4

Thu

Oct 22 23

6:30p

2*&7p 7p 2&7p

Wed

8p

2&8p

2p

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Dec 1

2

3

4

7p

8

7p

Sat

5

2&6:30p

8p

8p

2&8p^

9

10

11

12

16

17

18

19

2&6:30p 6:30p

2&7p

8p

8p

8p

8p

2&8p

2&8p

[previews] opening night (SOLD OUT) *post-show discussion ^Captioned and Audio Described

Mature in content

The Piano Lesson (2008)

By Tanya Barfield Directed by Walter Dallas

Featuring Johnnie Hobbs Jr. Sun

Tue

Wed

January 14 – March 21 Arcadia Stage Director Walter Dallas returns to the Arden after helming the celebrated production The Piano Lesson. Johnnie Hobbs Jr. stars as Lewis, a successful professor whose wife has just left him. So begins a sleepless night where a series of his ancestors appear, revealing their hardships and victories. Lyrical, funny and poignant, Lewis’ thought-provoking journey is a window into the soul of one African American man grappling at the intersection of his own identity and cultural history.

]

17

19

24

26

31

Feb 2

2p

7p

2*&7p 7p 2&7p

7

7p

7p

27

Fri

8p

8p

21

22

8p

8p

6:30p

8p*

28

29

3

4

5

8p

Sat

Sun

16

28

23

7

30

14

6

21

8p

2&8p

2&8p

2&6:30p*

8p

8p

2&8p

2p*

7p

2&6:30p

10

11

12

13

14

16

17

18

19

20

21

23

24

25

26

27

2p

2p^

9

20

[

Thu

Jan 14- 15

8p

7p 10a*&6:30p 8p

10a*

6:30p

8p

8p

8p

8p

2&8p

2&7p 2p 2p 2p

Tue

Wed

Mar 2

3

4

10

11

12 13

17

18

19 20

7p

9

2&6:30p 8p

10a*&7p 6:30p

16 7p

Thu Fri

8p

2&6:30p 8p

5

8p 8p

8p

Sat

6

2&8p 2&8p 2&8p

[previews] opening night (SOLD OUT) *post-show discussion ^Captioned and Audio Described

2&8p^

2&8p

Recommended for 9th grade students and older

Our Town (2008)

Directed by Matt Pfeiffer Sun

Tue

Wed

February 25 – April 4 F. Otto Haas Stage Remember what it feels like to love with abandon and surrender to raw elation? We give you an unadulterated Romeo and Juliet. Come experience Shakespeare’s masterpiece, without pretense or gimmick, and tap into the heart of this timeless love story.

28 2p

7

7p

9

2*&7p

10a*

14

16

]

2p

9:30a*&7p

21

23

2p*

9:30a*

28

30

2p^ Recommended for 8th grade students and older

Mar 2

4

2p

7p

Thu

[ Feb 25 8p

3

4

Fri

Sat

26

27

5

6

8p

8p

7p

10a*

8p

10

11

12

13

17

18

19

20

24

25

26

27

31

Apr 1

2

3

9:30a*&6:30p 8p* 6:30p* 9:30a*&8p 2&6:30p 2&6:30p

[previews] opening night (SOLD OUT)

8p 8p

8p

8p 8p

2&8p

2&8p

2&8p

2&8p^ 2&8p

*post-show discussion ^Captioned and Audio Described

“The Arden has been the leading producer of my work in Philadelphia and no one knows better than I their passion and commitment to daring musical theatre.”

– Stephen Sondheim

Featuring Jeffrey Coon and Kristine Fraelich

Candide (2008)

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by James Lapine Directed by Terrence J. Nolen

May 27 – July 4

Sun

Tue

Wed

Recommended for 9th grade students and older

30

June 1

6

8

13

15

20

22

27

29

2p

7p

]

2&7p 2p* 2p^

4

2p

7p

7p 7p

2

7p

9

2*&7p 7p

Fri

Sat

28

29

8p

4

8p

5

[ May8p 27

F. Otto Haas Stage

Sondheim’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical was inspired

by Georges Seurat’s stunning masterpiece, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Brimming with beauty and light, Sunday in the Park celebrates the power of creation. Jeffrey Coon and Kristine Fraelich star in this passionate production featuring Sondheim’s full orchestrations and a world of “color and light”.

Hold on to your hat!

Thu

3

8p

8p

2&8p

6:30p

8p*

10

11

12

16

17

18

19

23

24

25

26

30

July 1

2

3

2&6:30p* 2&6:30p 2&6:30p

8p

8p

8p

8p 8p

[previews] ^Captioned and Audio Described

8p 8p

2&8p

2&8p 2&8p^ 2&8p

opening night (SOLD OUT) *post-show discussion

Previews (performances prior to the show’s opening when minor adjustments are still being made)

5-show

3-show

Thurs 8pm

$110

$75

Fri 8pm

$130

$96

Sat 8pm

$160

$108

Sun 2pm

$155

$96

Tues 7pm

$110

$75

Regular Run

YOU’RE PART OF THE FAMILY AT ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY. We want your experience to be special each and every time you visit us. Come early and have dinner at one of our extraordinary dining partners. Or bring a bottle of wine and pre-purchase a light meal to eat in our lobby overlooking historic Old City. Enjoy free WiFi access and a cup of coffee if that’s more your speed. Our space is your space and you are most welcome.

��

5-show

3-show

Tues 7pm

$130

$81

Wed 2pm

$130

$81

Wed 6:30pm

$130

$81

Thurs 8pm

$160

$105

Fri 8pm

$160

$105

Sat 2pm

$140

$96

Sat 8pm

$200

$135

Sun 2pm

$175

$114

Sun 7pm

$130

$81

215.922.1122 ardentheatre.org

Arden Theatre Company is fully accessible to all persons with disabilities. Open captioning, a service for patrons who are hearing impaired, displays the text of the performance on a screen that can be read by members of the audience. Audio description, a service for patrons who are blind or low vision, provides a visual description of the action of the play as it is happening through a personal receiver.

Calculate your subscription price

Name

Please sign me up for:

Address

❐

five-show subscriptions at $

=

$

❐

three-show subscriptions at $

=

$

City

State

Phone

Zip

Calculate:

Senior or student discount

Email

($5 off 5-show sub; $3 off 3-show sub)

I am ❐ a new subscriber ❐ a renewing subscriber ❐ renewing under a different name

Subtotal = Handling =

Choose your subscription series Select your desired day of the week and time from the chart at the left.

Day:

Time:

❐ 3-show ❐ 5-show

Choose your shows and dates (3-show subscribers pick three) ❐ My first choice of dates (pending availability) are filled in below. ❐ Please select the dates with best availability for me. ❐ THE HISTORY BOYS ❐ BLUE DOOR

❐ R AND J

$

TOTAL ENCLOSED =

$

Payment. Thank you!

❐ I’ve enclosed my check payable to Arden Theatre Company. ❐ Please charge my ❐ VISA ❐ AmEx ❐ Mastercard ❐ Discover Exp. Date:

Name as it appears on the card: ❐ SUNDAY

Please consider supporting the Arden Supporting the Arts, especially in these difficult economic times, is more crucial than ever. The Arts fuel the economy by creating jobs, bringing business to local shops and restaurants, and raising the quality of life in our city. Ticket sales only pay for about half of the Arden’s expenses. Please consider a donation when you purchase your subscription. We value all levels of contributions and are grateful for your help.

Why become a subscriber?

$ $ + 4.50

Tax-deductible donation =

Account Number:

❐ RABBIT HOLE

= - $

Alert us of any special needs

❐ Wheelchair seating

❐ Post-show discussions

❐ Seat me with: ❐ Other: We make every effort to accommodate seating accessibility requests.

All sales are final. No refunds. Program and schedule subject to change.

Questions? Call the box office at 215.922.1122.

Fax form to 215.922.7011 or mail to Arden Theatre Company, Attn: Subscriptions, 40 N. 2nd St., Phila., PA 19106. Order online at ardentheatre.org.

Please fill in your contact information

.

Subscribers enjoy significant ticket discounts, easy and convenient ticket exchange privileges, the best choice of seats, parking and dining discounts, and savings on additional tickets.

“The Arden is fanning the new hotbed of American Theatre.”

– Chicago Tribune 40 N. 2nd Street Philadelphia, PA 19106

215.922.1122 • ardentheatre.org P.S. SHARE THE THEATRE YOU LOVE WITH THE CHILDREN YOU LOVE. Arden Children’s Theatre

will present two productions for children ages five and older during the 2009/10 season.

Arden Drama School

offers theatre classes and camps for kids in Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Season media partner: All photos by Mark Garvin. Cover: Liz Filios in Candide; P.2: Karl Miller, Gabra Zackman, and Adam Heller in My Name Is Asher Lev; P.5: Karl Miller in My Name Is Asher Lev; P.7: Geoff Sobelle and Alexandra Geis in Proof; P.8: Julian Rozzell, Jr., Kes Khemnu, Harum Ulmer, Jr., and Yaegel T. Welch in The Piano Lesson; P.10: Rebecca Blumhagen in Our Town; P.12: Ben Dibble and Liz Filios in Candide; Back Cover: Scott Greer and Ian Merrill Peakes in Something Intangible.