Alan Menken's 'THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ,' THE GRADUATE & More Set for Segal Centre's 2014-15 Season

Lisa Rubin, Artistic and Executive Director, and Paul Flicker, Artistic Producer, today announced the Segal Centre for Performing Arts' 2014-2015 Theatre Season, an ambitious seven-play offering brimming with incredible talent that will dazzle with new takes on beloved stories and premiere musicals.

"Our 47th Season really responds to what our audiences have come to expect from us: rich and entertaining new interpretations of classic stories, and, as always, the best talent from Montreal and beyond. We are thrilled that world-class artists Alan Menken, René Richard Cyr, Jacob Tierney, and Damien Atkins have trusted our audiences to be the first to respond to their works--works that we trust will surprise you, and make your imagination soar," says Lisa Rubin.

The 2014-2015 Season will open with Terry Johnson's sizzling stage adaptation of The Graduate, directed by Andrew Shaver (Sherlock Holmes), starring Luke Humphrey as Benjamin Braddock, and Shaw Festival favourite Brigitte Robinson as Mrs. Robinson. This fresh spin on a 60s classic will also feature live music by Juno Award-winning folk artist Matthew Barber, composer of the cult favourite Montreal musical Haunted Hillbilly.

The story that forever changed Quebec's theatrical landscape: now a brand-new musical! The Segal Centre has teamed up with Copa de Oro Productions to present the World English Premiere of Belles Soeurs: The Musical in October 2014. Preeminent theatre-maker René Richard Cyr (Book, Lyrics, Direction) and Quebec rock star Daniel Bélanger (music) join forces with award-winning Canadian writers Neil Bartram and Brian Hill to adapt this enormous 2010 francophone musical hit for English audiences.

Michel Tremblay's iconic 1968 tragicomedy takes on a whole new dimension in this outrageously fun musical celebration featuring a stellar all-female cast from Montreal and Toronto. Lili Connor, Élise Cormier, Lisa Horner, Geneviève Leclerc, Anik Marten, Geneviève St. Louis, Stephanie McNamara, Marcia Tratt, Astrid Van Wieren, Paula Wolfson, and Jocelyne Zucco have been cast as the heartbreaking and hilarious women of Belles Soeurs: The Musical.

The classic pop hits of the 1950s in Pitch Perfect Harmony After presenting Ain't Misbehavin' and The Mahalia Jackson Musical to sold-out houses, Copa de Oro will be remounting the popular Off-Broadway musical revue Forever Plaid as part of the Segal's 2014-2015 Season. This deliciously goofy musical romp featuring the classic pop hits of the 1950s is sure to capture the hearts of musical theatre lovers of all ages.

A Playwright becomes obsessed, provoked, populated Keeping in its tradition of fostering national collaborations, the Segal Centre is proud to partner with Toronto's Crow's Theatre for the creation of a new one-man show written and performed by award-winning actor Damien Atkins (past Segal credits include Mozart in Amadeus and the Emcee in Cabaret). We Are Not Alone, co-directed by Crow's Artistic Director Chris Abraham and Christian Barry (2b Theatre), follows a playwright's obsessive search for the truth behind UFO phenomena.

A Brilliant filmmaker meets brilliant dialogue: Tierney takes on Stoppard Award-winning Montreal filmmaker Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky, Good Neighbours) will turn to the stage to direct Tom Stoppard's Tony Award-winning play Travesties, which recounts an achingly funny meeting of the minds between James Joyce, Vladimir Lenin and Dadaist poet Tristan Tzara in 1917 Switzerland. In resonance with the 100th Anniversary of World War I, the play uses wit and humor to examine the role and importance of the artist and the thinker during a time of conflict.

Montreal meets Broadway: The 2014-2015 English Season will close with a bang with the world premiere of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz: The Musical, with music by Alan Menken, eight-time Academy Award-winning composer of Disney hits Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, which just premiered on Broadway. This new musical adaptation of Mordecai Richler's landmark novel combines the extraordinary talents of David Spencer (book & lyrics) and director Austin Pendleton. An American film, television and stage actor and director, Pendleton has been seen in A Beautiful Mind, My Cousin Vinny and the HBO television series Oz and is currently an ensemble member of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre.

Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre brings back a classic Yiddish drama and honours its founder For its 2014-2015 Season, the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre (DWYT) will revisit their critically-acclaimed Yiddish production The Dybbuk, directed by Bryna Wasserman and Rachelle Glait. Written by S. Ansky, this seminal gothic tale of Jewish theatre celebrates its 100 years in 2014.

The I ? Yiddish Series continues to celebrate Yiddish Language and culture year-round with a diverse lineup of play readings, sing-a-longs and film screenings leading up to the DWYT's main stage production. A Gala marking the 10th anniversary of the passing of the theatre's founder, Dora Wasserman, CM, CQ, is planned for May 14, 2015.

Guest Theatre & Dance
Black Theatre Workshop (BTW) and Youtheatre will once again make the Segal Studio their home for the 2014- 2015 Season. BTW will present the Montreal premiere of Donna-Michelle St. Bernard's Gas Girls and Youtheatre will bring Simon & The Egg and Oxymorons to young audiences. Other guest productions include Quintette pour cordes sensibles, a new French creation by emerging playwright Sophie Gemme, which earned its spot by bringing home the Segal Centre's Most Promising Ensemble Prize at the 2013 Montreal Fringe Festival, and Bunny Bunny: Gilda Radner - A Sort of Love Story, a new solo show presented by Red Body Productions about writer Alan Zweibel's friendship with SNL Star Gilda Radner.

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