ABUNDANCE, HEDDA GABLER, et al. Included in Hartford Stage's 2012-13 Season

By: Mar. 16, 2012
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The Tony Award®-winning Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director, and Michael Stotts, Managing Director, proudly announces the lineup of programming for the theater's 2012-13 season, the first chosen under Darko Tresnjak's artistic leadership.

The season commences with the Hartford Stage debut of Dora Award-winning Canadian director Jennifer Tarver helming Ibsen's masterpiece, Hedda Gabler. Hartford Stage's new musical initiative brings Tony Award-winner Jefferson Mays starring in the world premiere musical comedy, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, directed by Darko Tresnjak. Brimming with spirituals and opera, the new year heralds the return of Obie Award-winner Daniel Beaty to Hartford Stage with his world premiere play, Breath & Imagination-The Story of Roland Hayes, directed by Darko Tresnjak. Beaty's play was commissioned by Hartford Stage, and presented in 2008 as part of Hartford Stage's Brand: New Festival. From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Crimes of the Heart, Beth Henley, comes a rare revival of her wickedly funny 1990 comedy, Abundance, directed by Co-Artistic Director of The Actors Company Theatre, Jenn Thompson. The enchanting Kate MacCluggage (Hartford Stage's Bell, Book and Candle) stars in Shakespeare's most perfect comedy, Twelfth Night, directed by Darko Tresnjak. The season will also include an exciting new play to be announced.

"I look forward to a year of extraordinary artists who will bring these wildly eclectic and boldly theatrical pieces to life at Hartford Stage, in a season brimming with song and dance, sorrows and rejoicing, profound insight and sheer delight," said Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak.

Hartford Stage subscription packages range from $120-$390. For more information, contact the Hartford Stage Box Office at 860-527-5151, or visit www.hartfordstage.org. Single tickets go on sale this summer.

In addition, Hartford Stage will present the 15th Anniversary Production of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas (November 23 – December 29) its annual family and community production during the holiday season.

Hartford Stage is supported by the Greater Hartford Arts Council and The Department of Economic and Community Development Connecticut Office of the Arts.

Here's Hartford Stage's 2012-2013 season at a glance:

HEDDA GABLER
By Henrik Ibsen
Directed by Jennifer Tarver
August 30 - September 23, 2012

The role of Hedda Gabler is considered the Hamlet of women's roles. The character has been referred to as the original desperate housewife. Ibsen's ellusive, sardonic, and self-destructive heroine has captivated generations of theatregoers. A victim? A villain? Both? Renowned Canadian director Jennifer Tarver helms the revival of this Ibsen masterpiece.

A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER
Book by Robert L. Freedman
Music by Steven Lutvak
Lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak
Based on the novel "Israel Rank" by Roy Horniman
Directed by Darko Tresnjak
October 11 - November 4, 2012

Join us for a delightful evening of music, merriment…and murder. Set in the elegant Edwardian era, A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder traces the brilliant trajectory of Monty Navarro-a charmer, seducer and avenger-on his quest for recognition and family fortune. Tony Award-winner Jefferson Mays stars in this world premiere musical comedy.

BREATH & IMAGINATION-The Story of Roland Hayes
By Daniel Beaty
Directed by Darko Tresnjak
January 10 - February 3, 2013

Before Marian Anderson and Paul Robeson, there was Roland Hayes-the first world-renowned African-American classical vocalist. Born the son of a slave, Roland discovered his voice as a young boy singing spirituals in church. This play chronicles his amazing journey from the plantation the plantation in Georgia, to singing before kings and queens in Europe. Breath and Imagination explores the life of an American pioneer through words, movement, spirituals and classical music. Principal Sponsor of Breath & Imagination is Travelers and Production Sponsor: Robinson & Cole LLP.

ABUNDANCE
By Beth Henley
Directed by Jenn Thompson
April 4 – 28, 2013

From the singular, uniquely American voice of Beth Henley, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Crimes of the Heart, comes Abundance. This wickedly funny and deeply touching tall tale follows the fortunes and misfortunes of Bess and Macon, two mail-order brides, on their twenty-five year journey across the American frontier. An epic tale about bygone America, both strange and strangely familiar.

TWELFTH NIGHT
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Darko Tresnjak
May 16 - June 16, 2013

The Bard's finest comedy is a paean to the restorative power of love. Viola, the shipwrecked heroine, lands on the shore of Illyria, and disguised as a page, Cesario, searches for her lost brother. Countess Olivia mourns the loss of her own brother. When the lovely Countess meets the handsome young page, desire banishes grief in this intoxicating comedy. Elliot Norton Award-winner Kate MacCluggage (Hartford Stage's Bell, Book and Candle) stars. Assisting Production Sponsor of Twelfth Night is Federman, Lally & Remis LLC.

An exciting new title to be announced soon,

Hartford Stage, since its founding in 1963, has been known for innovative revivals of classics and the development of important new works, including 65 World or American premieres. Recent work includes Horton Foote's The Orphans' Home Cycle which had a celebrated run at the Signature Theatre in New York during the 2009-2010 season; a landmark production of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird; the premieres of Michael Kramer's Divine Rivalry; Quiara Alegria Hudes' Water by the Spoonful; and Daniel Beaty's Resurrection (later retitled Through the Night, which had a successful run off-Broadway during the 2010-11 season). In 1998 the theatre launched an unprecedented ten-year retrospective of Tennessee Williams, which included the premiere of three plays. Other new work includes the premieres of Eve Ensler's Necessary Targets, Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo, Matthew Barber's Enchanted April (which transferred to Broadway), Matthew Lombardo's Tea at Five, and many others. The theatre has earned numerous distinguished honors, including a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, the Margo Jones Award, OBIE awards, New York Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards. In 2005 Hartford Stage was awarded The Hartford Courant's Tapestry Award recognizing its outstanding work in diversity, and in 2008 it was awarded the Bank of America Neighborhood Builder's Award recognizing its excellence in building community in Greater Hartford. Hartford Stage is currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts.



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