Citadel Theatre Announces 2018-19 Season

Citadel Theatre Company, an Equity-affiliated professional company performing in Lake Forest, IL, has announced its 16thseason. The four-show subscription season will include the Lillian Hellman classic THE LITTLE FOXES, a holiday production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, a contemporary American comedy-drama to be announced, and the world premiere of Ross Lehman's SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, a one-man musical remembrance about his parents and their WWII era romance.

THE LITTLE FOXES first premiered on Broadway in 1939 and has been a classic ever since. This drama by Lillian Hellman - arguably the most influential female American playwright of the 20th Century - explores a power struggle between members of a wealthy Alabama family in 1900, where the men have all the power and influence. Or at least they think they do - the men of the Hubbard family may have met their match in the brilliantly ruthless matriarch Regina Hubbard Giddens.

The character of Regina is one of the great roles of American theatre and has been played by such iconic actress as Tallulah Bankhead, Bette Davis and Elizabeth Taylor. Kristina McCloskey (pictured above) will direct Citadel's production, to open on Friday, September 28.

Citadel's holiday musical will be Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's ever-popular JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, which tells the Old Testament story of Joseph and his brothers through contemporary eyes with songs like "Any Dream Will Do" and "Close Every Door." Robert D. Estrin, a frequent Citadel collaborator, who directed Citadel's A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL in 2016 and THE EXPLORERS CLUB this past spring, will direct.

His cast will include an ensemble of local youth alongside the adult professionals in principal roles. JOSEPH will play throughout the holiday season, opening Friday November 16 and running through Sunday, December 23rd.

Performance rights have been obtained for an exciting new American play that will take the winter slot in Citadel's subscription season from Friday, February 1 through Sunday March 3. The title will be announced in September, but Citadel promises an entertaining and thought-provoking contemporary play in the spirit of its previous productions of the contemporary plays SEX WITH STRANGERS and UPRIGHT GRAND. The play will be directed by Beth Wolf, Founding Artistic Director of Midsommer Flight.

Citadel will close the season with the world premiere of a "musical remembrance" written and performed by one of Chicago's best-loved actors, Ross Lehman. SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY - a one-man performance piece - is the story of Lehman's parents. It weaves the romantic history of their courtship, marriage and life together, set against the backdrop of WWII when he was an Air Force bombardier held prisoner by the Germans and she was a sophisticated career woman who waited for his return.

This world premiere includes popular music of the period, such as "We'll Meet Again," "Don't Fence Me In," and the title song "Sentimental Journey." The production will open on Friday, April 26 and play through Sunday, May 26. It will be directed by Mark Lococo, Director of Theatre at Loyola University Chicago. Most recently at Citadel, he directed VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE. In addition to directing many shows at Loyola, he has also helmed productions at theatres across Chicagoland, including Marriott Theatre (A CHORUS LINE), Porchlight (THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND), Northlight (THE MISER) and Citadel (OTHER DESERT CITIES, EDUCATING RITA).

Season subscriptions are available for the full season at $120.00 or as flex passes that can be used for the patron's choice of two shows for $65.00 or three shows for $95.00. Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale at www.citadeltheatre.org.

CITADEL'S THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCE LAUNCHES

The company will also launch a new Theatre for Young Audiences program in the fall. Its inaugural production will be ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE'S "WE ARE IN A PLAY!," which will be performed at the Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Rd. Lake Forest. The musical is based on Mo Willems' beloved and award-winning best-selling children's books, with book and lyrics by Willems and music by Deborah Wicks La Puma. Favorite characters Gerald and Piggie will take to the stage in a rollicking adventure that is perfect for young audiences. There will be eight performances over two weekends - Saturdayand Sunday, September 29 and 30; and Saturday and Sunday October 6 and 7, with performances at 11 am and 1 pm each day.

ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE'S "WE ARE IN A PLAY!" will be directed by Joe Lehman, who has directed recently at Williams Street Repertory Theatre (SYLVIA, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE), Metropolis (BOEING BOEING), and Greenbrier Valley Theatre (Co-director OLIVER!).

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