Theatrical Outfit Announces 40th Anniversary Season

Theatrical Outfit continues its vision of creating compassion - one story at a time - by starting the conversations that matter. From Tony-winning musical, to enlightening one-man show, to a family-friendly alternative to the usual holiday fare, to a zany trip into the self-help cosmos, to a musical tribute to an icon, to a world premiere magical puppet extravaganza with music by our industry's hottest songwriter, to four unexpected play readings, our 2016-2017 Season of Hope truly offers something for everyone!

Why "Hope"? "Hope is tough to achieve and even tougher to sustain. We all want it. We all need it. It's impossible to have it or to keep it on our own. Hope for our world begins with the human longing for connection. When we gather in a theater to hear the story of our neighbor, of the stranger, of our lover, of our friend or of our enemy, and, in the end, understand better who we really are; then, that hope begins within us that can create a global community. Be part of a better future. Be part of what's great. Join us for our Season of Hope." - Tom Key, Artistic Director

IN THE HEIGHTS

at the Rialto Center for the Arts

September 8 - 18, 2016

Co-production with Aurora Theatre

Book by Quiara Alegria Hudes

Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Conceived by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Directed by Justin Anderson

Musical Direction by Ann-Carol Pence

Choreography by Ricardo Aponte

Before Hamilton reinvented musical theatre, its creator, superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda, wowed Broadway with In the Heights, a universal story celebrating New York's Washington Heights, where the corner bodega coffee is sweet, neighbors' windows stay open, and the air pulsates with salsa, soul and hip-hop. A charismatic storeowner, full of hope, dreams and a gift for storytelling, guides us through the lives of three generations who must choose between tradition and their future. Best Musical Tony Award winner!

"In the Heights is the West Side Story for a new generation!" - Time Magazine

THURGOOD

at the Balzer Theater at Herren's

September 29 - October 16, 2016

By George Stevens, Jr.

Directed by Eric Little

Based on the life and career of the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, this riveting narrative charts Thurgood Marshall's evolution from back-alley Baltimore, to Howard University law school, to his fight for equality in the South, all the way to a seat on the highest court in the land in 1967. In addition to his victorious challenge of segregation in Brown vs. Board of Education, humorous and inspiring milestones of Marshall's journey reveal the remarkable brilliance, perseverance and hope of one of the greatest American heroes of all time.

"If the curriculum in the schools were presented with half as much personality, the gaps in our knowledge wouldn't be so pronounced." - The L.A. Times

BIG FISH

at The Balzer Theater at Herren's

November 17 - December 18, 2016

Book by John August

Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa (A Little Princess, The Addams Family)

Based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the Columbia Motion Picture

Directed by Tom Key

Choreography by Ricardo Aponte

Inspired by the novel and hit Tim Burton film, Big Fish spotlights Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman whose biggest hope is to live life to its fullest. Edward's tall-tales thrill everyone in earshot except his questioning son Will, about to be a father himself, who demands to know the truth behind Dad's epic stories of giants, fortune-telling witches and mermaids. Full of heart, humor and inventive stagecraft, Big Fish offers an experience only theatre can - one that's richer, funnier and bigger than life itself.

"Remarkable! A show for everyone who loves musicals. Don't dare miss this!" - Variety

LOST IN THE COSMOS: THE LAST SELF-HELP SEMINAR

at The Balzer Theater at Herren's

February 9-26, 2017

By National Book Award winner, Walker Percy

Adapted for the stage by Tom Key

If Earthlings zoomed to a planet with intelligent life, would they let us land or label us a threat to a more-evolved universe? Walker Percy pondered such existential "what ifs" in Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self Help Book. The Outfit's Artistic Director, Tom Key, deftly re-imagines Percy's opus as a soul-searching seminar where cheeky group leaders hilariously suggest alternatives to our everyday behavior. A wry and hopeful meditation on our obsessions with reality TV and politics, horoscopes and how-to guides, Lost in the Cosmos engages the mind, soul and funny bone.

"Its sly humor shows us strategies for solidifying and shoring up our tenuous selves." - NPR

SIMPLY SIMONE: THE MUSIC OF NINA SIMONE

at The Balzer Theater at Herren's

March 23 - April 15, 2017

By Robert Neblett and David Grapes
Musical Arrangements by Vince diMura

Directed and Choreographed by Patdro Harris

Prodigy. Superstar. Activist. Exile. One of the true divas of the 20th century, vocal powerhouse Nina Simone defied classification and defined a generation. This musical revue lays bare the rich legacy of an American icon whose work spans genres from jazz to gospel to blues to Broadway to rock and roll and features such definitive classics as "I Loves You Porgy," "The Look of Love," "My Baby Just Cares for Me," and "Here Comes the Sun." Heart-melting and hopeful, Simone's spellbinding voice comes alive via four actresses in this incredibly soulful theatrical journey.

"An intriguing glimpse into the life of one of our most fascinating talents." - Buffalo News

THE DANCING HANDKERCHIEF

at The Balzer Theater at Herren's

June 1 - June 18, 2017

Co-production with Flying Carpet Theatre Company

Starring Theatrical Outfit Artistic Director, Tom Key

Story by Geoff Sobelle (The Object Lesson) and Adam Koplan

Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez (Avenue Q, Frozen, The Book of Mormon)
Directed by Adam Koplan

Part magic act, part musical, part puppet show, this world premiere with early songs by Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony-winner Robert Lopez, tells the story of Mysterioso the Magician and his curious child Bastienne who, through an epic separation and reunion, learn to see each other in a truer, hope-filled light. A Balladeer sings delightful tunes that paint a comic and fantastical world inhabited by a beckoning handkerchief, an otherworldly suitcase, magical creatures and one gigantic, ravenous rabbit. A unique hybrid theatrical extravaganza, The Dancing Handkerchief will mesmerize patrons small and tall.

THE UNEXPECTED PLAY READING FESTIVAL

at The Balzer Theater at Herren's

January 21-22, 2017

Welcome to our first festival of play readings. Witness top notch talent bring characters and plots to vivid life as four new or newish scripts not only stir the soul but maybe even unsettle it. Think of it as T.O. Stage 2 - unpredictable and exciting fare that stretches The Outfit aesthetic in either content or form. Preview tomorrow's hit play, and engage with the artists and staff at our Playwriting Panel and reception. Buckle up. Titles to be announced in the summer of 2016.

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