Theatre at the Center Announces 2010-11 Season

Coming off of a streak of some of the most successful seasons to date, Theatre at the Center Artistic Director William Pullinsi, announces their 2011 season. Trickery and deceit take over in Anthony Shaffer's Sleuth, which kicks off the season beginning February 17 and runs through March 20, 2011 with a press performance on February 20, 2011 at 7 p.m. Nunset Boulevard is the newest addition to the NUNSENSE line up. This Nunsense Hollywood Bowl musical is a Chicago Area Premiere and is described as "Hilarious, wacky and unpredictable" by ABC Television, and will run April 28 through May 29, 2011 with the press performance on May 1, 2011 at 7 p.m. Seven-time Tony Award Winner and Broadway smash hit The Wiz will blow audiences away July 7 through August 7, 2011. This fresh take on the American classic has a press opening July 10, 2011 at 7 p.m. Guys and Dolls, the Tony Award-winning romantic comedy masterpiece, will run September 15 through October 16, 2011 with a press performance on September 18, 2011 at 7 p.m. From the writers of MARRIED ALIVE! comes Another Night Before Christmas, a family musical comedy about a jolly old elf, a less jolly young woman and an old holiday wish finally coming true. This holiday treat is a Chicago Area Premiere and runs November 17 through December 18, 2011 with a press performance on November 20, 2011 at 7 p.m.

The season opens with one of the greatest stage thrillers, the masterpiece of suspense, Sleuth. The play, written by AnDrew Shaffer, won the Tony Award for Best Play and inspired two film versions. When an aging mystery writer lures his wife's lover to his mansion, the younger man becomes unwittingly drawn into a tangled web of intrigue and gamesmanship, where nothing is quite as it seems. This edge-of-your-seat mystery filled with cunning plot twists is not only an exciting "whodunit" but a fascinating "whodunwhat." The New York Times says Sleuth is "Clever, intricate...good, neat, clean and bloody fun and I most cordially recommend it." Sleuth will be directed by Theatre at the Center Artistic Director William Pullinsi and will run February 17 through March 20, 2011.

Directed and choreographed by Stacey Flaster, Theatre at the Center presents the Chicago Area Premiere of the newest addition to Dan Goggin's hilarious NUNSENSE line-up: Nunset Boulevard running April 28 through May 29, 2011. The Little Sisters of Hoboken have been invited to sing at the Hollywood Bowl. They are thrilled at the prospect until they arrive and realize that they are booked into the Hollywood Bowl-A-Rama, a bowling alley with a cabaret lounge; having to contend with announcements from the bowling alley public address system as well as the activity on the lanes. The light at the end of the tunnel comes when word arises that a famous movie producer is auditioning across the street roles for his new movie musical, "NUNSET BOULEVARD: A Song from the Hart," about the life of Dolores Hart, the famous movie star who became a nun. The Sisters, who think they are obvious naturals for parts, race off to audition. NBC Television News raves, "Talk about a happy habit. The "nuns" have done it again. Sinfully funny laughs for the entire two hours."

The Tony Award-winning musical, The Wiz, plays Theatre at the Center July 7 through August 7, 2011. The R&B musical adaptation of the book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum first opened on Broadway in 1975. After celebrating the demise of the Wicked Witch of the East with the Munchkins, Dorothy is given the silver shoes of the Wicked Witch of the East and departs for the Emerald City down the yellow brick road. Along the way she encounters a hip Scarecrow, an uptight Tin Man and a mama's-boy Lion. Together they seek help from the powerful Wizard, who turns out to be a phony. Dorothy's adventures in the Land of Oz have been set in a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel and soul music. Its Broadway run, for four years and over 1600 performances, was historic as a large-scale big-budget musical featuring an all-African American cast. The production features the music and lyrics of Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown. It won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical and was later produced in the 1978 Motown/Universal motion picture adaptation starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Lena Horne, and Richard Pryor. Time Magazine says The Wiz is "a carnival of fun... a wickedly amusing show." Stacey Flaster will direct and choreograph the production.

Based on "The Idyll of Sarah Brown" by Damon Runyon, Guys and Dolls is an exhilarating Tony Award-winning romantic comedy packed with gamblers, gangsters, missionaries, showgirls, and lively fun. Theatre at the Center Artistic Director William Pullinsi will direct the production running September 15 - October 16, 2011. Guys and Dolls is the story of a group of gamblers in New York and the ladies in their lives. Sky has been bet that he can't make the next lady that he sees fall in love with him, and when that next lady happens to be the prim and proper neighborhood missionary Sarah Brown, the stage is set for an evening of high-spirited entertainment. Frank Loesser's toe-tapping score includes "Luck Be A Lady," "Sit Down You're Rocking The Boat" and "If I Were a Bell." Guys and Dolls premiered on Broadway on November 24, 1950 and ran for 1,200 performances, winning five 1951 Tony Awards. In London it ran for 555 performances. In 1955 the acclaimed film version was released, starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons and Vivian Blaine.
From the writers of MARRIED ALIVE! and A DOG'S LIFE Sean Grennan and Leah Okimoto, comes Another Night Before Christmas, bringing holiday cheer to Theatre at the Center November 17 through December 18, 2011. Another Night Before Christmas tells the story of burnt-out social worker Karol Elliot, who is having a crisis of Christmas spirit. While heading home on a lonely Christmas Eve, she shares her groceries with a homeless man who decides to show his thanks and rekindle her holiday cheer by breaking into her apartment later that night insisting that he's Santa Claus. Instead of stealing her belongings, he brings in a bag of goodies and transforms her downtown apartment into a blinking, red and green wonderland. Before long Karol begins to wonder, is this bearded stranger more than what he seems? Another Night Before Christmas is a delight for the whole family. This witty and tuneful holiday favorite, Directed by William Pullinsi, is a Chicago Area Premiere and is sure to win laughs from anyone who's ever lost - or found - the holiday spirit.

Founded in 1991, Theatre at the Center is a year-round professional theater at its home, The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Theatre at the Center is conveniently located off I-80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago.

Performances for the 2011 season are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.; and select Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. Season subscriptions to all of these timeless classics are available for $150. Complete your night out at the theatre by adding one of our Season Subscription Series Events to your subscription. The first of these events, the Wine & Theatre Series, will allow guests to enjoy delectable wines from all over the world right here in The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, while chatting with members of the TATC artistic team. An assortment of hors d'oeuvres will be served to complement the wines you are experiencing. You may conveniently add on the Wine & Theatre Series for only $75.00. The second, the Opening Night Series, guarantees subscribers the best seats for opening nights. Each show will be followed with a post-show reception with the cast and crew. This Opening Night Series can be added to the subscription for only $75. Finally, in the Dinner & Theatre Series, guests may enjoy pre-show special dinners conveniently located in The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, right across from the theatre lobby. This total night out includes a sumptuous dinner with lots of surprises and may be added to any subscription for only $105.25. Individual ticket prices for 2011 range from $36 - $40 and will be available for purchase on December 14, 2010. To purchase season tickets and/or individual tickets call the Box Office at 219.836.3255 or Tickets.com at 800.511.1552. Group discounts are available for groups of 11 or more and gift certificates, perfect for all special occasions, are also available by calling the Box Office at 219.836.3255. For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit TheatreAtTheCenter.com.

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