Arden Theatre Company 2008/09 Season

ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY

2008/09 SEASON You’re part of the story

Winesburg, Ohio (2005)

CANDIDE

The Royal National Theatre Version Music by Leonard Bernstein Book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler In a new version by John Caird Lyrics by Richard Wilbur Additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein Directed by Terrence J. Nolen

GEE’S BEND

By Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder Directed by Eleanor Holdridge

MY NAME IS ASHER LEV

By Aaron Posner, adapted from the novel by Chaim Potok Directed by Aaron Posner

SOMETHING INTANGIBLE

By Bruce Graham Directed by Terrence J. Nolen

THE SEAFARER

By Conor McPherson Directed by David O’Conor

Assassins (2007)

The Royal National Theatre Version Music by Leonard Bernstein Book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler In a new version by John Caird Lyrics by Richard Wilbur Additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John Latouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein Directed by Terrence J. Nolen

CANDIDE September 11 – October 12 F. Otto Haas Stage

[

A bold and brand new version of Voltaire’s wicked satire, this sexy, funny musical cuts to the core and will rock, shock and thrill you! Leonard Bernstein’s legendary score is brought to vivid life by three of Philadelphia’s finest: Ben Dibble as Candide, Scott Greer as Dr. Pangloss and Mary Martello as the Old Woman with one buttock.

Expect the unexpected.

]

[ Mature in content, recommended for 10th grade and older

]

Caroline, Or Change (2007)

Gee’s Bend

By Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder Directed by Eleanor Holdridge

October 9 – November 30 Arcadia Stage

[

Gee’s Bend is a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit. The Pettway women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama are strong African Americans. Through segregation, family turmoil and the Civil Rights Movement, the women turn to quilting to provide comfort and context to their lives. These quilts, a labor of love and necessity, turn out to be valuable works of art. Featuring three strong women and interwoven with gospel music, Gee’s Bend is a deeply personal story of family, self-discovery and artistic expression.

]

This Philadelphia premiere will coincide with the exhibition of Gee’s Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art from September 11 – December 14.

Recommended for 8th/9th grade and older

[

]

The Chosen (1999)

By A aron Posn adap er, ted f rom the n

by C ov haim Potok el Direc ted b y A

My Name is January 8 – March 15 Arcadia Stage

aron

World Premiere

]

Asher Lev is a young Hassidic artist torn between his observant Jewish community and his need to create. His artistic genius threatens his relationship with his parents and community and weighs heavily on his conscience.

In 1999, the Arden presented Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok’s co-adaptation of Potok’s classic novel The Chosen to critical and audience acclaim.

Posner, in consultation with Adena Potok, now introduces this world premiere based on Potok’s novel, My Name is Asher Lev.

Recommended for 8th/9th grade and older

[

]

[

Posn

er

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (2003)

By Bruce Graham Directed by Terrence J. Nolen

April 9 – May 31 Arcadia Stage

Intangible

World Premiere

[ ]

It’s Hollywood, 1940. Two brothers – Tony, an extravagant visionary, and Dale, a plain-speaking numbers man – run a studio on the brink of major movie innovation. As Tony labors to create his latest and greatest work of art, Dale struggles to deliver the ever-escalating funds to realize Tony’s vision. It’s all for one, and one for all - but will they kill each other in the process?

Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham has done it again.

He’s created a play that crackles with comedy, hums with humanity and stars Philly faves Ian Merrill Peakes and Scott Greer. Don’t miss it, babe.

Recommended for 11th grade and older

[

]

Winesburgh, Ohio (2005)

The Seafarer

By Conor McPherson Directed by David O’Conor

May 14 – June 14 F. Otto Haas Stage

[

Broadway’s recent smash hit features a collection of misfits on Christmas Eve in Ireland. A group of men, tied loosely together by their affiliation with misfortune, spend a boozy night playing poker. As the evening progresses, the game playing takes a sinister turn and the stakes rise higher than anyone could have expected.

Don’t miss this expert comedy and chilling ghost story that ups the ante on anyone running from their past.

]

[ Recommended for 11th grade and older

]

Arden Children’s Theatre

James and the Giant Peach

by David Wood from the novel by Roald Dahl On the F. Otto Haas stage

December 10, 2008 – January 25, 2009

A Year with Frog and Toad Music by Robert Reale Book and Lyrics by Willie Reale Based on the books by Arnold Lobel On the F. Otto Haas stage

March 4 – April 12, 2009 A revival of the 2005 musical smash hit starring Jeffrey Coon and Ben Dibble!

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“What has distinguished the Arden all along has been its respect for theatre’s roots in the telling of stories.” The Philadelphia Inquirer

All photos by Mark Garvin. Cover: Stephanie Berry and Ernest Perry, Jr. in Fences; P.2: Dawn Falato in Winesburg, Ohio; P.4: James Sugg, Jim Poulos, Mary Martello, Christopher Patrick Mullen, Jeffrey Coon, Erin Brueggemann, Scott Greer and Timothy Hill in Assassins; P.6: Elyse McKay Taylor, Nicholas Blake Trawick and Malik Burrell in Caroline, or Change; P.8: Mitch Greenberg and Sam Henderson in The Chosen; P.10: Scott Greer and Ian Merrill Peakes in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead; P.12: Andrew White in Winesburg, Ohio; P.14: Jeffrey Coon and Ben Dibble in A Year with Frog and Toad; Back Cover: Grace Gonglewski and Suzanne O’Donnell in Dancing at Lughnasa

40 N. 2nd Street Philadelphia, PA 19106