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The Wiz Revival Bows at La Jolla This Fall; Zhivago and Sorkin Play Also Part of Line-Up
By: BWW News Desk Jan. 12, 2006
The Wiz marks the fourth of MacAnuff-directed shows to begin at the theatre before moving to Broadway--the others were Dracula, The Musical, 700 Sundays and the current hit Jersey Boys; MacAnuff is also the artistic director of La Jolla.
According to the director, The Wiz will be updated. Written in 1975 (with a score by Charlie Smalls and a book by William F. Brown), the revival will take its look and sound into the 21st century. The revival of The Wiz has been in development for some years, with the first news of a Broadway production announcing that the show would open in spring of 2004. A retelling of The Wizard of Oz with a black cast, an urban sensibility and a funk-pop score, The Wiz won the 1975 Tony Award for Best Musical. The new production will run at the Mandell Weiss Theatre from September to November, with the exact dates to be announced.
Based on Boris Pasternak's 1958 Nobel Prize-winning novel, Zhivago tales the tell of a surgeon/poet's love for the beautiful Laura as the two experience the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. With a book by Michael Weller (Moonchildren), music by Lucy Simon (The Secret Garden) and lyrics by Michael Korie (the upcoming Grey Gardens), the show was also developed at La Jolla last season. The show will be seen at the Mandell Weiss Theatre from May 9th through June 25th.
The Farnsworth Invention by Sorkin ("The West Wing," A Few Good Men) concerns the struggle for a patent that ensues after the invention of television. Presented in collaboration with Ireland's acclaimed Abbey Theatre, it will be staged by MacAnuff. It will run in 2007, with dates to be announced.
In addition, the season will include a production of Brecht's Mother Courage (directed by Lisa Peterson and running from June 20th through July 23rd at the Mandell Weiss Forum), Geoff Sobelle and Trey Lyford's all wear bowlers (running from August 1st through September 3rd at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre) and the world premiere of Zorro in Hell, a co-production of Zorro Productions, Inc. and Berkeley Repertory Theatre (directed by Tony Taccone, running from September 30th through October 29th at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre). Lee Blessing's Great Falls will no longer be presented as part of the season line-up.
The La Jolla Playhouse is located on the corner of La Jolla Village Drive and Torrey Pines Road in La Jolla, CA. Subscriptions for the 2006-07 season are currently available; for more information on the company, visit www.lajollaplayhouse.com.
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