Gloucester Stage Announces 2018 Season

Gloucester Stage Company Artistic Director Robert Walsh and Managing Director Jeff Zinn, recently announced the six-play lineup for Gloucester Stage's 39th Season of professional theater in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

"We are very excited about the line-up of plays for our 39th season!", says Walsh, "We're thrilled to include two world premieres, two New England premieres, to honor the late Sam Shepard, and celebrate the indomitable spirit of the Mundy sisters in Dancing at Lughnasa."

According to Managing Director Zinn, "Choosing our 39th season challenged us to uphold and deepen our mission at Gloucester Stage. "Revolutionary Women" emerges as a central motif: Madame Defarge, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Agitators, all feature strong women challenging the world around them. That same fighting spirit continues with the irrepressible Cyrano, a battle between brothers in True West, and one man's last stand against corporate greed in My Station in Life. We're so proud of the powerful company of artists we've assembled to bring these stories to life; welcoming back Lindsay Crouse, and Jacqueline Parker, and bringing Wendy Kesselman, Brenda Withers, and Ellie Heyman into the Gloucester Stage family."

The Gloucester Stage 2018 season performance days and times for all productions are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. Single Ticket prices are $35 to $45 with discounts available for Cape Ann Night, Preview Performances, Senior Citizens, Veterans, and Patrons 18 years old and under. Gloucester Stage Flex Passes for the 2018 Season are also on sale now. For information about Gloucester Stage, or to purchase single tickets or Flex Passes, call the Box Office at 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.com.

GLOUCESTER STAGE 39TH SEASON:

May 11 - June 2
A WORLD PREMIERE
Madame Defarge by Wendy Kesselman
Directed by Ellie Heyman

A passionate re-imagining of Charles Dickens' infamous Madame Defarge illuminates this new musical by Wendy Kesselman (The Diary of Anne Frank, My Sister in This House, The Black Monk). Set against the turmoil of the French Revolution, as Sydney Carton ("It's a far far better thing...") sacrifices all for his love Lucie Manette, and Doctor Manette is "recalled to life" after eighteen years in the Bastille, Therese Defarge battles oppression with longings for love, freedom, justice, and revenge. Ellie Heyman makes her Gloucester Stage debut directing this fresh musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic A Tale of Two Cities. The world premiere of Wendy Kesselman's Madame Defarge runs May 11 through June 2. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

June 8 - July 7
A TONY AWARD WINNER
Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel
Directed by Benny Sato Ambush
Featuring Lindsay Crouse

Set in County Donegal in 1936 during the Celtic harvest festival, Dancing at Lughnasa, chronicles the five Mundy sisters and their brother Jack, who has returned home from the missions after 25 years away. Brian Friel's award winning Irish masterpiece reunites veteran director Benny Sato Ambush with Academy Award nominee and Gloucester resident actress Lindsay Crouse. The pair collaborated on Gloucester Stage's critically acclaimed productions of Driving Miss Daisy in 2014 and Lettice and Lovage in 2016. Dancing at Lughnasa runs from June 8 through July 7. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

July 13 - August 11
A NEW ENGLAND PREMIERE
Cyrano by Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers
Directed by Robert Walsh

Gloucester Stage Artistic Director Robert Walsh directs Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers' fantastic 21st century retelling of Rostand's 1897 classic. A cast of five plays a multitude of roles in this imaginative retelling of the story of Cyrano and his love for Roxane. Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers' Cyrano, runs from July 13 through August 11. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

August 17 - September 8
True West by Sam Shepard
Directed by Joe Short

Sam Shepard's American classic, True West, explores the explosive conflict between two brothers: Austin, the successful family man; and Lee, the nomadic drifter and petty thief. Directed by Joe Short, Sam Shepard's True West runs from August 17 through September 8. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

September 14 - October 6
A NEW ENGLAND PREMIERE
The Agitators by Mat Smart
Directed by Jacqueline Parker

The Agitators tells of the enduring but tempestuous friendship of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Directed by Boston's award-winning Jacqueline Parker, this powerful story follows their 45-year friendship from its beginnings in New York, through a Civil War, and to the highest halls of government as they agitated the nation and each other. The New England premiere of The Agitators runs from September 14 through October 6. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

October 12 - October 21
A WORLD PREMIERE
My Station in Life by Ken Riaf
Directed by Robert Walsh
Featuring Ken Baltin as Simon Geller

From the rubble of his studio dungeon, Simon Geller, the last standing single-handed radio operator in the country, broadcasts commercial free classical music from Gloucester - the town that loves and endures his peculiar presence. In Ken Riaf's world premiere, this local legend comes to life portrayed by Ken Baltin, with direction by Gloucester Stage Artistic Director Robert Walsh. Building on the standing-room-only response to Gloucester Stage's 2017 NeverDark event, My Station in Life will be presented for a limited run of two weeks. My Station in Life runs October 12 through 21 at Gloucester Stage. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm.

Single Ticket prices are $35 to $45 with discounts available for Preview Performances, Senior Citizens, Veterans, and Patrons 18 years old and under. For detailed ticket information visit www.gloucesterstage.com

Flex Pass packages start at $158 for 5 tickets to use for any show and include early access to seating. This year also offers subscribers the ability to reserve their seats for the entire season with a reserved membership. Subscriptions can be purchased or renewed by calling the Box Office at 978.281.4433 or by visiting gloucesterstage.com/subscribe

Gloucester Stage is committed to inclusion and diversity, including socio-economic status. Pay What You Wish performances are the first Saturday Matinee (2pm) of each production, allowing access to the arts for all. Tickets are available at the door and donations can be made before or after the show.

Enriching our local community is key to our mission impact. Residents of Cape Ann can purchase $25 tickets on the first Friday of each production. Limit of 2 (two) per household. Discounted tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office 978.281.4433, must have a valid address.

For further information, call the Gloucester Stage Box Office at 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.com

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