The 2006/2007 Flea Theater season hsa been announced. World premieres, New York premieres, the return of old favorites in new fangled variations and the welcome addition of new collaborators will mark the 10th Anniversary Season of The Flea.
Beginning October 10, Jim Simpson will direct the World Premiere of
Post Mortem by
A.R. Gurney. "Gurney brings his most political and most wicked works to The Flea and
Post Mortem marks his fourth collaboration with Simpson at The Flea, following
O Jerusalem, Mrs. Farnsworth and
Screen Play. Set in the not too distant future,
Post Mortem tackles the validity of theater as a potent social force in a society rankled by political conservatism and the evangelical leanings of the right," state press notes. Performances run through December 9.
Beginning November 19, Downstairs @ The Flea will house the New York premiere of Mac Wellman's
Two September, directed by Loy Arcenas. "Two September is set in Vietnam post World War II when Ho Chi Minh had visions of a free country and a newly formed House UnAmerican Affairs Committee black listed a young, female American writer who believed in truth, justice and a humane social order." It will run through December 16. With Simpson, Wellman co-founded Flea Theatre.
The Flea will collaborate with The Chelsea Art Museum for the holidays to create
Twas the Night Before. "This spirited new work feature ten minutes plays inspired by the famous holiday poem by an outstanding group of playwrights - Mac Wellman,
Christopher Durang, Len Jenkin, Roger Rosenblatt and
Elizabeth Swados- and starring The Bats, the resident company of The Flea."
Twas the Night Before… will open at The Chelsea Art Museum before returning to The Flea for a limited holiday engagement running December 13 - 23.
In January 2007, The Flea will welcome Music-Theatre Group for a five-week residency in the theater, bringing
Golden Motors, book and lyrics by Wendy S. Walters, music by Derek Bermel, directed by Kelly Robinson and The Rose Project, conceived and directed by Sonoko Kawahara, with music by Deirdre Murray and text by Susan Wheeler to workshop for a limited engagement. "This venerated organization that commissions, develops and produces new music-theatre brings together the creative fusion of dramatic writing, music, dance and the visual arts." MTG's productions include:
Juan Darien; The Garden of Earthly Delights; Vienna: Lusthaus; The Hunger Artist; Marco Polo, among many others.
From March 8 - April 28, Simpson will direct the New York Premiere of
Limonade Tous Les Jours by Charles Mee (
Hotel Cassopeia, True Love). "Set in Paris against the backdrop of the beautiful Tuileries, an older man and a younger woman, both wounded by past loves, embark on an affair they know is doomed to end but destined to begin."
"And Downstairs @ The Flea, the annual Playwrighting Festival will bring four young playwrights and four new directors together with The Bats to produce four months of irreverent and relevant theater." Wellman curates the series this season.
The Flea will also feature numerous dance and music acts during the 2006-2007 season, including works by LAVA, Winthrop and Company, Jody Oberfelder Dance Projects, Kathleen Supové and Exploding Piano,
Michael Wolff and the New York Art Ensemble.
The Flea Theater is located at 41 White Street (between Broadway & Church Streets - accessible from the A, C, E, N, R, Q, W, 6, J, M, Z to Canal Street or 1 to Franklin Street). Tickets are available online at
www.Theatermania.com or by telephoning 212-352-3101. Flea shows frequently sell out but a Flea Membership insures seating to all Flea events. Call The Flea at 212-226-0051 or visit us online at
www.theflea.org.
