Pandora Productions Announces 2011-12 Season Lineup

Pandora Productions has announced the lineup for its upcoming 2011-2012 theatrical season, a new season that promises to be timely, compelling, surprising...everything and then some from the theatre company that is proud to be the source for one-of-a-kind LGBTQ productions in Kentuckiana.

The new season premiers with A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, a tender and beautifully woven tale of love, friendship and coming to terms with one's identity. Winner of the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and the second work by the Tony Award winners of RAGTIME. Music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and book by Terrence McNally. This compelling musical drama will be presented at the Victor Jory Theatre at Actors Theatre, 316 W. Main St., Downtown Louisville, September 8 - 18, 2011.

Joy to the world! Pandora's back with a homo-holiday original, GAYS IN TOYLAND, from an idea by Michael J. Drury and written by Jim Hesselman. Consider it our Gay & Glittery Gift to you for the Holidays! Gays in Toyland will help you remember the magical feeling from childhood when dreams of something wonderful beneath the tree were all you could think about for months before that special day. This fun-filled musical comedy with a sentimental streak will be presented at the Victor Jory Theatre at Actors Theatre, 316 W. Main St., Downtown Louisville, December 1-11, 2011.

THE TEMPERAMENTALS is a riveting new play by Jon Marans and Winner of the 2010 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performances. An eye opening story of forgotten gay political history from the pre-Stonewall 1950s, this powerful drama will captivate you immediately and provoke emotions, and human rights discussions, for days afterwards. Presented at the MeX Theatre at The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, Main St. & 5 Riverfront Plaza, Downtown Louisville, March 22 - April 1, 2012.

BARE, a rock opera reminiscent of Rent and Spring Awakening, is a youthquake for the 21st Century that's all about issues of social acceptance, sexual identity, questioning of religion and adults, experimentation with illegal substances, and - what else? - raging hormones. Book by Jon Hartmere, Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo, lyrics by Hartmere and music by Intrabartolo. Presented at the Bingham Theatre at Actors Theatre of Louisville, May 10 - 20, 2012.

Closing out the regular 2011-12 season with loads of laughter is MY BIG GAY ITALIAN WEDDING, the tale of hopeless romantic Anthony and his dream bf Andrew, both caught up in one of the rowdiest gatherings of New Yawk friends, relatives and extended families you'll ever witness. It's a bigger-than-life, bawdy, big-haired romp, Brooklyn-style! Know what I'm sayinnnn'? Story by Anthony Wilkinson. Presented at the Victor Jory Theatre at Actors Theatre of Louisville, June 14 - 24, 2012.

Affirming our commitment to, and celebration of, cutting edge experimental live theatre, for the second consecutive year Pandora is delighted to present two very special added attractions as part of its 2011-2012 theatrical season.

First up is THE NEW PLAY PROJECT. Phase 2 of a three phase process, the Pandora New Play Project began its metamorphosis three years ago. In Phase 1, Pandora put out a national call for new original plays on new GLBTQ themes and received 99 submissions, resulting in the four finalists audiences will see in Phase 2. The audience will see staged reading excerpts from the four finalists and at the conclusion of the evening will choose which one should receive full production attention and become part of our 2012-2013 Season lineup (Phase 3). Excerpts from the four finalists will be presented in a series of evenings commencing October 2, 2011, and continuing November 6, 2011, January 8, 2012, concluding April 15, 2012, all at The Bard's Town, located at the corner of Bardstown Road and Speed Avenue in The Highlands. This production is free to 2011-12 Season Subscribers as well as the general public. Please note, seating is extremely limited at this location.

Next we have, drumroll please, the one, the only...THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW! Dammit Janet...now it's a Pandora Tradition!! This year marks our third consecutive year to present ROCKY and the latest production rocks and rolls with new sets and choreography, plus a fab new venue, The Connection, so get ready to do your 2011 interpretation of "The Time Warp"! It's the ultimate non-stop, action-packed tale of twisted romance, thrills and chills, and 16 sensational songs. Book, music and lyrics by Richard O'Brien. Presented at the Connection Theatre, 120 So. Floyd St., Downtown Louisville, October 20-31, 2011. This Pandora season extra is $17 for season subscribers, $18 in advance for non-subscribers, $20 day of show.

Running time for each show is approximately two hours with intermission. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., matinees at 2:00 p.m. Purchase the entire five shows seasonal subscription package for $75, a 21% average discount off regular prIce Tickets, by visiting http://PandoraProds.org or calling 502.216.5502. Seniors and student subscriptions are available for $60. Additionally, tickets for individual productions will be available in advance and day of show, with prices ranging from $16 to $20 each. Follow Pandora on Facebook at http://facebook.com/pandoraproductions and hear us tweet on Twitter by clicking http://twitter.com/pandoraprods.

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