The Highwood Theatre Announces 2018-2019 Season, Betrayal: The Truth Revealed
By: Stephi Wild Sep. 25, 2018
The Highwood Theatre has announced Betrayal: The Truth Revealed, their 16th Season of innovative, inclusive productions in downtown Silver Spring. At a time where facts are continually brought into question and the search for truth has grown more pressing, this season's selection of shows furthers this conversation of 'truth' and how we view ourselves in relation to others.
Highwood's upcoming season will see a jaw-dropping 13 productions take shape - including a full season of student productions for grades 2-12 along with professional productions, studio events, and our 2018-2019 Concert Series. Spanning from a contemporary, gender-blind take on Shakespeare to a British musical comedy of love and murder, this season of shows fully complements Highwood's mission - building community through theatre and involving the community in the creation of high-quality theatre.
"Each season Highwood's offerings grow bigger and bolder, and this year is no exception. It is a privilege to produce such a wide range of works - classic and contemporary, musicals and plays, that raise equally important questions about our relationship to truth and our inexplicable need to find answers," says Matthew Nicola, Highwood's Artistic Director.
Among the season's many highlights are a production of Ken Ludwig's riotously funny Lend Me a Tenor, reimagined in October with an extraordinarily talented cast of 5th - 8th graders, and a December production of Peter and the Starcatcher, adding a touch of magic to the season with two casts (2nd-7th grade; 8th - 12th grade) performing the popular prequel to Peter Pan. Premiering in January will be 2014 Tony Award Winner of Best Musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, the traditional British musical comedy about one man, 8 successors and - you guessed it, plenty of murder. Come February audiences can enjoy a production of Noises Off featuring a mixed professional and student cast, before Maury Yeston's Titanic sails into Highwood next March for a sensational musical experience. In April, Highwood will produce David Javerbaum's An Act of God as its 6th Annual Open Source Theatre Project. Seeking to redefine a traditional night at the theatre, this all new production will feature guest actors each performance and allow audiences to choose who plays God and his loyal archangels! Shakespeare's classic tale of ruthless political ambition will be brought into the 21st century next May in a contemporary, gender-blind production of Macbeth.
Highwood's Executive Director, Kevin Kearney says: "Higwood continues to offer students the opportunity to perform in shows that they want and deserve to be a part of, challenging them to grow and push themselves in a supportive environment. This season is filled with difficult roles and stories, and we are so excited to see them brought to life by some of the area's up-and-coming talents."
The Glass Menagerie
September 28 - October 7
Tennessee Williams' groundbreaking memory play introduces us to the Wingfield family: a matriarch that lives in the past, her homebound daughter, and a son left to fill the void left by their father. This semi-autobiographical drama sheds light on the complexity of what it means to be family, and the search for happiness that we all seek.
Lend Me a Tenor
By Ken Ludwig
October 12 - 21
Ken Ludwig's Lend Me a Tenor brings us all the way to Cleveland - where audiences are anxiously awaiting the arrival of world famous opera singer Tito Mirelli. What's supposed to be the biggest night in the Opera Company's history turns into a night of unforgettable mayhem. Alas, the show must go on!
Peter and the Starcatcher
By Rick Elice | Music by Wayne Barker
December 7 - 16
Ever wonder how the Boy Who Never Grew Up came to be? This swashbuckling Tony Award Winning play provides the origin story for Peter Pan. Featuring mermaids, singing pirates, and a touching story of friendship and loyalty, the show inspires us all to never grow up!
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
Based on the book by Robert L. Freedman | Lyrics by Robert L. Freedman & Steven Lutvak | Music by Steven Lutvak
January 18 - 27
Above all, a gentleman must always enjoy a sophisticated musical comedy making its Maryland premiere at Highwood! The outrageously funny 2014 Tony Award Winner of Best Musical follows Lord Montague ("Monty") Navarro, who learns that he is Ninth Earl of Highhurst and heir to the aristocratic D'Ysquith fortune. Monty sets out on an ambitious quest to take the throne - and take out the eight other successors along the way!
Noises Off
By Michael Frayan
February 15 - March 3
Often hailed as the finest farce in the American theatre, the raucous NOISES OFF makes its Highwood premiere with an audience transitioning between the stage and backstage and we join the terribly inept team behind NOISES ON for fights, door slams, collapsing sets, and one heck of a laugh!
TITANIC
Music & Lyrics by Maury Yeston | Book by Peter Stone
March 15 - 24
Maury Yeston's breathtaking musical sails into Highwood for a spectacular 4-D musical experience unlike any other. Relive the tragic story of the "unsinkable" ship and the hope, dreams, and ambitions of the passengers onboard.
An Act of God
By David Javerbaum | 6th Annual Open Source Theatre Project
April 5 - 28
Hallelujah! God makes an unforgettable return to earth to answer the burning questions of mankind. Experience the unearthly funny new play by David Javerbaum with a new cast each performance: YOU decide who will play God and his loyal archangels at each performance! Highwood's 2019 Open Source Theatre Project hilarious comedy will feature a different cast every night - made up on combinations of Highwood students, Highwood staff, local professional actors, and even some special guests. Each night, the audience will get to vote on which actor plays role in the production.
Macbeth
May 17 - 19
Politics, war, and Shakespeare - but with a backdrop of the 21st century. Join us for a uniquely modern, gender-blind take on Shakespeare's Scottish play: the tragedy of one man blinded by his ruthless political ambition.
Footloose
Music by Tom Snow | Lyrics by Dean Pitchford
May 31 - June 9
Imagine for a second: what would the world be like without music? Based on the classic film of the same name, this high-energy dance musical tells the inspiring story of Ren McCormack, an ordinary teenager determined to upend a law banning dancing in his hometown.
The Wedding Singer
Based on the book by Chad Beguelin & Tim Herlihy | Lyrics by Chad Beguelin | Music by Matthew Sklar
July 19 - 21
Wannabe rockstar Robbie is a wedding singer that's just been dumped at the altar. Little does he know that a new woman is about to enter his life and shake things up! This feel-good, rollicking musical comedy led by Highwood's 2019 Musical Theatre Intensive Company will leave you wanting more!
Sweeney Todd
Lyrics & Music by Stephen Sondheim
July 26 - August 3
Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd! Set in Victorian London, experience Sondheim's gloriously bloody tale of a barber on the path of vengeance against those who've wronged him.
And Then There Were None
August 2 - 4
Eight strangers have been summoned to an island for an undisclosed purpose. One by one they disappear in the order of the "Ten Little Soldiers" nursery rhyme: how do they stop the cycle before it's too late? Get ready to experience this chilling Agatha Christie murder mystery in an intimate new production by Highwood's 2019 Acting Intensive Company.
The Highwood Theatre is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the community together through theatre. Now in its 16th Season, Highwood's guiding principle is "anyone can do theatre." Highwood was founded in 2004 and began executing its mission through seasons of professional quality theatre featuring all-student casts, design teams, and production staff. In 2013, in conjunction with its relocation to the heart of downtown Silver Spring, The Highwood Theatre expanded to carry out its mission more fully and develop innovative, engaging programming for artists of all ages through professional and student productions, classes, and programs in schools and for home schooled students.
Comments
Videos