BAD JEWS, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER and More Set for Maryland Ensemble Theatre's 2016-17 Season

Maryland Ensemble Theatre is proud to announce its 2016-2017 Mainstage season. For nineteen years, MET has assembled seasons that mix classic, contemporary, and original works with thoughtful themes and challenging ideas that make us laugh, cry, and strengthen the understanding of our community. Every story in our upcoming season gives us an eclectic and compelling perspective on the universal search for self and celebration.

MET's nineteenth Mainstage season will run from September of 2016 through June of 2017 and begins and ends with laughter.

MET Artistic Director Tad Janes is thrilled to share this incredible collection of plays with MET audiences, "Theatre gives voice to the voiceless, presents a magnifying glass on society, and sometimes you just have to yell in the joy of celebration! I'm thrilled to bring a season filled with joy that will make you think and leave the theatre being glad you came."

MET's nineteenth season opens on September 19th with a startling provocative comedy around our culture and religion with Bad Jews by Josh Harmon. The play opened in NYC in October of 2012 at the Roundabout Theatre, was called "The best show of the season!" by NY Times critic Charles Isherwood, and received three Outer Critic and Lucille Lortel award nominations. The artistic team is led by Gené Fouché, MET's Associate Artistic Director, fresh off her success with "Superior Donuts."

Next, join MET in October (10/28/16 to 11/5/16) for the sexy cult classic that will make you shiver with antici...pation The Rocky Horror Show with Music, Lyrics & Book by Richard O'Brien. Goody bag for audience partici...pation will be available at the merchandise table in the lobby. The Rocker Horror Show will be directed by MET Artistic Director Tad Janes.

Following in December (12/2/16 to 12/30/16) is the World Premiere of "Family Holiday" by DC Cathro. This original and fast paced holiday farce directed by Gené Fouché , was presented as a part of the 2015 METLab Reading Series. "Family Holiday" reminds us that going home for the holidays to relax is... well... laughable. Door slamming, secret revealing fun from one of Frederick's favorite local playwrights.

February (2/10/17 to 3/5/17) brings Caryl Churchill's Top Girls, the story of a successful career-driven superwoman in Margaret Thatcher's England, to the MET Mainstage. Filled with history's most famous women who remind us what it took to be a "top girl" in a man's world in the 1980s, the show has remained surprisingly relevant and will be directed by REP Stage co-Artistic Director and MET Trustee Suzanne Beal.

April 14 to May 7, 2017, you will get hooked by the star catching prequel to Peter Pan, Peter and the Starcatcher. Enjoy the 5 Tony Award winning swashbuckling show that The New York Times called "The most exhilarating Broadway Storytelling in decades!" Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, "Peter and the Starcatcher" opened on Broadway in April of 2012, book by Rick Elice with music by Wayne Barker. This adventure will be directed by MET favorite Julie Herber.

And the final show (5/26/17 to 6/18/17) in Maryland Ensemble Theatre's upcoming season brings us to pulitzer prize winning playwright Penelope Skinner's delightfully funny "Fred's Diner." The Guardian calls Fred's Diner "stylish and great fun." Chloe, Melissa, and Heather dream of better lives, however a deadly secret lies beneath their friendly smiles in this dark comedy. Directed by Peter Wray.

All shows will run for sixteen performances over four weeks. Shows run every Thursday through Sunday at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre, located at 31 W Patrick Street in downtown Frederick's historic FSK Hotel. The first Thursday performance of each show will be a "pay-what-you-will" preview.

The Maryland Ensemble Theater's nineteenth Mainstage season is made possible in part through the support of MET's season sponsors including Comcast, Key 103, Eagle 106.9, Ausherman Family Trust, Maryland Oral Surgery Associates, The Frederick News Post, Frederick Magazine and both the Frederick and Maryland Arts Councils.

In addition to the Mainstage season, Maryland Ensemble Theatre's family theatre, The Fun Company, will be producing a full season of theater and exciting new work will continue through its MET-X productions. The Comedy Pigs return as one of the region's best sketch and improv troupes. A Christmas Carol will also be returning to the Weinberg and Carroll County Arts Center for another year in what has become a downtown holiday tradition. For more information on the MET's upcoming season you can visit marylandensemble.org or call 301-694-4744.

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Maryland Ensemble Theatre's 2016-17 Mainstage Productions:

BAD JEWS
By Josh Harmon
Directed by Gené Fouché
September 16 - October 19, 2016

A fierce, biting comedy about family, faith, and what you choose to believe when you're chosen. The night after their grandfather's funeral, three cousins engage in an explosive battle. In one corner is Daphna Feygenbaum, a "Real Jew"-- In the other is her cousin Liam, a secular young man with his shiksa girlfriend in tow. When a claim is staked to their grandfather's chai necklace (one he hid from the Nazi's during the Holocaust), a vicious and hilarious brawl over faith and family legacy ensues.

The Rocky Horror Show
Music, Lyrics & Book by Richard O'Brien
Directed by Tad Janes
October 28 - November 5, 2016

A rock'n'roll musical cult classic featuring squeaky clean Brad and Janet, and a transvestite mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter with a kooky staff of Transylvanians.

Family Holiday
by DC Cathro
Directed by Gené Fouché
December 2 - 30

RJ goes home for the holidays, hoping to have a nice, relaxing time with his family and best friends. Things don't turn out as he expects. Secrets are revealed and RJ is stuck in the middle of this fast-paced holiday farce for modern times.

Top Girls
By Caryl Churchill
Directed by Suzanne Beal
February 10 - March 5, 2017

The story of a successful career-driven superwoman in the early years of the 1980s in Margaret Thatcher's England. Marlene has just earned a big promotion over a male co-worker. She and a restaurant full of history's most famous women celebrate the virtue and bemoan the sacrifices required to be a 'top girl' in a man's world.

Peter and the Starcatcher
By Rick Elice - Music by Wayne Barker
Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Directed by Julie Herber
April 14 - May 7

An apprentice starcatcher and a young orphan boy find themselves on a life-changing adventure when they are charged with protecting magical star- stuff from fearsome pirates. Winner of 5 Tony Awards.

Fred's Diner
By Penelope Skinner
Directed by Peter Wray
May 26 - June 18, 2017

In Fred's American Diner on a busy English motorway, people dream of better lives. Chloe wants to emigrate, Melissa dreams of university, Heather wants to rebuild her life, Sunny wants Heather. And someone is going to kill Fred. You'll find friendly staff and get service with a smile, but not far beneath lies a deadly secret in this dark comedy.

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All performances take place at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 West Patrick Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701 (map), September 2016 - June 2017, Every Thursday through Sunday. Performances: Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm.

Ticket Prices: Season Tickets $110; Individual show tickets: Adults $24, Students/Seniors $20, Thursdays $15 (additional $2 service fee when purchasing online/via credit card.) Pay-what-you-will Preview tickets the first Thursday of each show.

Box Office: 301-694-4744 or marylandensemble.org or at the MET (Tuesday - Thursday 10am - 3pm, Friday 11am - 3pm and 1 hour before each show.)

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