George Street Playhouse Features RED, 39 STEPS, et al. in 2011-2012 Season

George Street Playhouse Artistic Director David Saint announced the slate of productions for the fall and winter of the New Brunswick theatre's 2011-2012 season - its 38th. Keeping true to its mission of producing new work, the season will begin with two world premieres - both musicals -followed by a New Jersey premiere of a recent Tony Award-winning play and a recent Broadway comedy in the spring of 2012. An additional play for the spring is yet to be announced. 

The fall/winter season begins with the world premiere of a new musical, It Shoulda Been You, with a book and lyrics by Brian Hargrove and music by Barbara Anselmi. Just in time for the holidays comes The Nutcracker and I, a spoof of the holiday classic - complete with Tchaikovsky's score - with a book and lyrics by two masters of musical parody: Emmy Award-winning writer Peter Brash, and Gerard Alessandrini author of Forbidden Broadway. The New Jersey premiere of the critically-acclaimed and Tony Award-winning play Red begins 2012. The Broadway hit comedy The 39 Steps closes the season.

George Street Playhouse's 2011-2012 Season will be dedicated to the memory of playwright, director and long-time friend Arthur Laurents who passed away on May 5, 2011 at the age of 93.

"The theatre has lost an extraordinary talent and George Street Playhouse has lost a great friend," said Artistic Director David Saint. "Arthur was so passionate about new work and so very committed to George Street, I think he would be pleased that we are dedicating this season - which will begin with the world premieres of two musicals - to his memory.

"It is a pleasure to welcome my two great friends, Tyne Daly and David Hyde Pierce, to open our season with the charmingly funny It Shoulda Been You," said Mr. Saint. "And then for the holiday season, to premiere a brand new comedic send-up of The Nutcracker story."

A select block of tickets for It Shoulda Been You as well as five-play, three-play and flexible admission packages and tickets for groups of ten or more are currently on sale. All other tickets will be available at the Box Office beginning September 6. George Street Playhouse is located at 9 Livingston Avenue, in the heart of New Brunswick's dining and entertainment district. For tickets and information, patrons may contact the Box Office directly at 732-246-7717 or may purchase online at GSPonline.org. Groups of ten or more are entitled to discounted tickets contact the Group Sales office at 732-846-2895, ext. 134 or 155 for further information.

FALL/WINTER 2011/2012:

IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU
Book and Lyrics by Brian Hargrove
Music by Barbara Anselmi
Based on a concept by Barbara Anselmi
Directed by David Hyde Pierce
Produced in association with Scott Landis, Michael Hanel and Daryl Roth

A musical comedy for anyone with parents. The bride is Jewish. The groom is Catholic. Her mother is a force of nature, his mother is a tempest in a cocktail shaker. And when the bride's ex-boyfriend shows up, the perfect wedding starts to unravel faster than you can whistle "Here Comes the Bride!" Plots are hatched, pacts are made, secrets exposed - and the sister of the bride is left to turn a tangled mess into happily ever after!

We are thrilled to welcome Tony Award and four-time Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce (from TV's Fraiser) to direct this exciting new musical comedy - starring Tony Award and six-time Emmy Award winner Tyne Daly (from TV's Cagney and Lacey and Judging Amy) as the mother of the bride and Tony Award winner Harriet Harris (Broadway's Throughly Modern Millie and TV's Desperate Housewives) as the mother of the groom. Star of stage and screen Edward Hibbert joins the marital mishegas as Albert the wedding planner.

It Shoulda Been You is slated to begin performances October 4, 2011 and run through, November 6. Opening night is set for Friday October 14, 2011.

THE NUTCRACKER and I
A New Musical Comedy

Conceived and written by Gerard Alessandrini and Peter Brash
Book by Peter Brash
Music by Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky
Lyrics by Gerard Alessandrini
Directed by David Saint

All Talking! All Singing! No Dancing!

A new holiday comedy for the family from the theatre - and director -- that brought you Inspecting Carol! Young and old will enjoy this nutty send up of The Nutcracker story featuring Tchaikovsky's glorious music with a hysterical new story and lyrics by the award-winning masters of musical parody Emmy Award winner Peter Brash and Gerard Alessandrini, author of the long-running hit Forbidden Broadway.

At a chaotic dress rehearsal for the local dance company's annual production of The Nutcracker ballet, the lead dancer has an unfortunate accident with a prop Christmas Tree -- bringing new meaning to the old adage "Break-A-Leg!" When the pain killers kick in and visions of sugar plums begin to dance in her head, we're off for a wild adventure in Snow Globe City with a life sized Nutcracker (of course) and the Sugar Rush Fairy in hot pursuit. A wacky, wonderful holiday comedy -- complete with magic nuts and mistletoe!

The Nutcracker and I begins the holiday festivities November 29, 2011 and runs through December 31, 2011. Opening night is set for December 2, 2011.

RED
By Academy Award nominee John Logan
Directed by Anders Cato

In 1958, abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko had just landed the biggest commission in the history of modern art -- a series of murals for New York's famed Four Seasons Restaurant. In the two fascinating years that followed, Rothko worked feverishly with his young assistant, Ken, in his studio on the Bowery. But when the assistant gains the confidence to challenge the master, Rothko must face the agonizing possibility that his crowning achievement could also become his undoing.

A huge hit both in London and on Broadway, this provocative play won six Tony Awards, including Best Play.

Red begins performances in New Brunswick on January 31, 2012 and runs through February 26. Opening night is set for February 3, 2012.

To Be Announced

One production is yet to be announced, with performance dates set for March 13 through April 8, and opening night set for March 16, 2012.

THE 39 STEPS

The Tony Award Winning Comedy Thriller
Adapted by Patrick Barlow
From the novel by John Buchan
From the movie of Alfred Hitchcock

Hysterical, Hitchcock, High jinks

What ARE the 39 Steps!?! Who was the beautiful and mysterious Annabella Schmidt and why has she turned up murdered, clutching a map of Scotland?!? On the run from the authorities, Richard Hannay must prove his innocence, find the man with the missing finger, romance the beautiful blonde...and solve the mystery of magnificent proportions!

A treat for ages 9 to 90, this fast-paced comedy and Tony Award-winning whirlwind of a play is sure to delight both fans of the classic Hitchcock film and those who have never seen it.

The 39 Steps begins performances on April 24, 2012 and runs through May 20, 2012. Opening night is set for April 27, 2012.

Prices and Information

SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES
There are several different Season Subscription Packages to choose from, designed to fit every budget, need, and schedule to assure audiences the most convenient theatergoing experience:

The Five-Play Subscription: Fantastic seats for all five plays, plus GSP's full list of subscriber benefits. Choose from three seating areas. $120 - $265.

Choose Three Subscription: Perfect for the busy theatergoer! Choose any three plays in the season and the night of the week you wish to attend. $72 - 171

Student Subscription: Students with valid full-time ID see all five plays for $75. (Not valid Friday or Saturday nights or Sunday matinees. Recommended for high school students and older.)

Senior Citizen Discounts: (ages 65 and older) Seniors save when subscribing to the full five-play season. Please include proof of age with order. $120 - $255

Flex Passes: An extra flexible subscribing alternative! Patrons can purchase four, five or six admissions to GSP that can be redeemed for any performance (as long as there is availability) according to convenience. One couple can see 3 plays, one person can see all five, or in any other desired combination. $160 - $240

Sunday Symposiums: (3rd Sunday at 2 pm) This special series brings respected experts to the stage for a lively, in-depth post-performance discussion of the themes of the play. $120 - $230

Audio-Described Series: (3rd Thursday at 8 pm) Patrons who are blind or visually impaired will hear a live, unobtrusive and objective description of the stage action and other visual elements of the play over a headset. $75 for all 5 plays.

Open-Captioned Series: (4th Saturday at 2 pm) Patrons who are deaf or hearing-impaired can follow the dialogue of the play on a digital screen as the action occurs on stage. $100 for all 5 plays.

Monroe Township Bus Package (select Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8 pm, and Thursday matinees) Tickets for all five plays at designated bus package performances plus round-trip bus transportation from centrally-located meeting places are provided for one nominal charge. For further information call (732) 846-2895 x134, or email mbergamo@georgestplayhouse.org.

Season Subscriptions for the mainstage can be ordered by calling the Box Office at (732) 246-7717 or purchased online at www.GSPonline.org.

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS
Individual Tickets are priced at $29.50 and up based on performance and time and seating section (includes a $1.50 facility fee). A select block of tickets for It Shoulda Been You are now on sale. All other individual tickets go on sale beginning September 6. Discounts are available for senior citizens with proof of age. Student discount are available for all full-time students with valid ID.

Information and tickets can be obtained through the Box Office at 732-246-7717 or at the GSP website www.GSPonline.org.

GROUP DISCOUNTS:
Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. For information contact:
Michelle Bergamo at (732) 846-2895 x134/mbergamo@georgestplayhouse.org

Under the leadership of Artistic Director David Saint, George Street Playhouse has become a nationally recognized theatre, presenting an acclaimed mainstage season while providing an artistic home for established and emerging theatre artists. Founded in 1974, the Playhouse has been well represented by numerous productions both on and off-Broadway - recent productions include the Outer Critics' Circle Best Musical Award-winner The Toxic Avenger, the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Drama League nominated production of The Spitfire Grill and the recent Broadway hit and Tony® and Pulitzer Prize winning play Proof by David Auburn, which was developed at GSP during the 1999 Next Stage Series of new plays. In addition to its mainstage season, GSP's Touring Theatre features four issue-oriented productions that are seen by more than 70,000 students annually. George Street Playhouse programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by its lead season sponsor, Johnson & Johnson. United Airlines is the official airline of George Street Playhouse.

All programs and artists are subject to change.

 

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