George Street Playhouse Artistic Director David Saint To Appear On 'State Of The Arts' Tomorrow
By: Stephi Wild Apr. 18, 2019
George Street Playhouse is set to open its 2019-20 season in its new home, the state-of-the-art New Brunswick Performing Center this October, marking a new era in the theater's esteemed history of bringing world-class productions to New Jersey audiences. The theater's longtime Artistic Director David Saint will be this week's special guest on the popular WPKN Radio (89.5 FM) program "State of the Arts" tomorrow (Friday) at 12:10 pm. The show can be heard online at www.wpkn.org.
The five-play season at George Street Playhouse features a new musical directed by Jeff Calhoun, a hilarious one-woman show starring a beloved television personality, a gripping suspense thriller based on a bestselling novel, a world premiere historical drama by George Street Playhouse favorite Joe DiPietro (THE TOXIC AVENGER; I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE; CLEVER LITTLE LIES), and a new musical adaptation of a popular film.
Featuring two state-of-the-art performance spaces, a donor lounge, expanded restroom facilities, an expansive two-story lobby, and elevator access to the lobbies and theatres, the NPBAC boasts modern and comfortable new seats, contemporary heating and cooling systems, and all the amenities for patron comfort, convenience and accessibility. It will also offer expanded theater technology such as a fly loft, an expansive orchestra pit and more. George Street Playhouse will open and close its 2019-20 season with musicals in the Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater, which seats 463, and also produce three plays in The Arthur Laurents Theater, featuring 259 seats.
"Arriving on the advent of my 23rd season at George Street Playhouse, the completion of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center represents a dream fulfilled and a momentous point in our history," said David Saint. "We have built our national reputation upon developing and premiering new works, and we are thrilled to continue that commitment in our new home."
The 2019-20 season will begin in October with LAST DAYS OF SUMMER, the heartwarming new musical based on the popular novel by Steve Kluger. When Joe Margolis is asked by his son to open an old box of letters, he is transported to the summer of 1942 and the time a young Joey and his best friend Craig wrote fan letters to the star third baseman of the New York Giants asking his help to impress and suppress the neighborhood bullies. When they receive a surprising response, an unlikely friendship is formed that will affect both boys for the rest of their lives. With music by Grammy Award-winner Jason Howland (Broadway's LITTLE WOMEN), direction by two-time Tony nominee Jeff Calhoun (NEWSIES, GREASE) and a book by the novel's author, this new musical is a poignant tale of baseball, friendship and the enduring bond between fathers and sons. Performances of LAST DAYS OF SUMMER will begin on October 15 and continue through November 11, 2019 in the Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater. LAST DAYS OF SUMMER is produced in association with Daryl Roth.
Next in the intimate Arthur Laurents Theater is MY LIFE ON A DIET. Called "fascinating. lighthearted & spicy" by The New York Times, this hilarious autobiographical comedy stars Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning writer and actress Renée Taylor, known for her recurring role on television's The Nanny. In her side-splitting one woman show, which she wrote with her husband Joseph Bologna, she looks back on a life full of memorable roles in Hollywood and on Broadway, and just as many fad diets. Featuring juicy anecdotes about screen legends such as Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe and Barbra Streisand, MY LIFE ON A DIET, originally directed by Joseph Bologna, will begin performances on November 19 and will run through December 15, 2019. MY LIFE ON A DIET is produced in association with Julian Schlossberg.
Kicking off 2020 is MIDWIVES, a world premiere thriller based on the book-turned-film of the same name by Chris Bohjalian. Adapted for the stage by the author from his own bestselling novel, an early selection of Oprah's Book Club, this tale of suspense and courtroom drama explores the fallout of an impossible decision made by midwife Sibyl Danforth during a routine at-home birth. This new play, directed by Sheryl Kaller (MOTHERS AND SONS on Broadway; Tony Award nominee for NEXT FALL), is certain to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. MIDWIVES runs January 21 through February, 16, 2020.
Also taking the stage in the Arthur Laurents Theater is Playhouse mainstay Joe DiPietro's CONSCIENCE, a world premiere historical drama set during the American Red Scare. Making a bold stand against party lines, real-world Congresswoman and Senator Margaret Chase Smith becomes one of the first to challenge Senator Joseph McCarthy in this gripping historical tale inspired by real events. Taking the stage under the direction of Artistic Director David Saint, performances begin March 3 and will run through March 29, 2020.
Closing the 2019-20 season in the Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater is Pamela Gray's A WALK ON THE MOON, a new musical with music and lyrics by Paul Scott Goodman, based on the critically acclaimed film of the same title. Longing for more than her life as a mother and housewife, Pearl Kantrowitz catches the eye of a free-spirited traveling salesman while vacationing with her family in the Catskills. As the Woodstock music festival comes to life nearby, their whirlwind romance, set in the summer of 1969-when mankind first stepped on the moon-brings audiences on a musical journey set against the backdrop of an iconic moment in American history. Sheryl Kaller returns to direct A WALK ON THE MOON, which runs April 21 through May 17, 2020. A WALK ON THE MOON is produced by special arrangement with Stephen and Ruth Hendel.
Full creative teams will be announced at a later date.
Full-season subscriptions are on sale. A subscription to George Street Playhouse is the only way to secure the best seats to all five shows and to guarantee priority access to seats in the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, which is conveniently located in downtown New Brunswick with access to an array of parking and dining options.
Subscribers enjoy a discount of 20% off regular ticket prices -- with their savings, subscribers are seeing one play free! Individual tickets and partial-season ticket plans will go on sale at a later date. For more information about the 2019-20 George Street Playhouse season, call the box office at 732-246-7717 or visit www.GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org. Season dates and titles are subject to change.
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