Bristol Riverside Theatre announces its mainstage 2013-2014 season including two comedies, two adaptations and a one-man show. The new season features the Philadelphia area premiere of Steve Solomon in My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm STILL in Therapy, Pride and Prejudice by Jon Jory, Tuesdays with Morrie by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom, Laughter on the 23rd Floor by Neil Simon, and Little Shop of Horrors by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.
The season kicks off on September 17-October 6 with the return of comedian Steve Solomon in his one man tour de force My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish & I'm STILL in Therapy, the next hilarious installment in Solomon's quest to defend himself against those people whose sole purpose in life is to add chaos to his. In this riotous prequel, Solomon goes back to his baby years with his twin sister right up to the present, re-visiting Uncle Willie, Stuttering Cousin Bob, Demented Cousin Kenny, Steve's new therapist, Cousin Sal (and Sal's parole officer) and a myriad of astounding characters that all families know, love and tolerate. Solomon brings each one to life on stage using his gift for creating voices, dialects and wacky sound effects that only add to the hilarity of each story.In celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Jane Austin's classic novel Pride and Prejudice, BRT presents Pride and Prejudice by Jon Jory on October 29-Novembr 24. Finding a husband is hardly Elizabeth Bennet's most urgent priority. But with four sisters, a neurotic match-making mother, and a string of unsuitable suitors, it's difficult to escape the subject. When the independent Elizabeth meets the handsome but proud Mr. Darcy, she is determined not to let her feelings triumph over her own good sense - but the truth turns out to be slipperier than it seems.
BRT begins the new year with Tuesday with Morrie by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom on January 28-February 16. Most teachers develop the students' minds. Good teachers touch their hearts. But great teachers change their lives forever. For Mitch Albom, Morrie Schwartz was such a teacher. Adapted from the New York Times best-selling novel, this is the story of an old mentor's undying need to teach life's most important lesson: spend your time with care and spend your life with meaning.
Next up is Neil Simon's comedy Laughter on the 23rd Floor on March 18-April 13. Inspired by Simon's real life experience on the Sid Caesar show, this side-splitting comedy follows the writing, fighting, and wacky antics in the writers' room of a weekly variety show. While chaos reigns backstage, star Max Prince battles with NBC executives who fear his humor is too sophisticated for Middle America. With characters based on his co-writers, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Sid Caesar and Jackie Gleason, Simon perfectly showcases the hilarious jokes and banter of the original kings of comedy.
The season concludes on May 6-June 8 with the darkly charming musical Little Shop of Horrors with music by Alan Menken and lyrics and book by Howard Ashman. With its nerdy floral shop worker, the girl he loves, and a giant man eating plant, Little Shop of Horrors is everyone's favorite boy-meets-girl, plant-eats-world love story. A night of pure bloody, fun, this popular cult classic is filled with such memorable hit songs as "Somewhere That's Green," "Skid Row (Downtown)," "Suddenly, Seymour," "I'm A Dentist" and the famous title song.
BRT continues to enhance the theater experience with a series of add-on events during the run of each show including: post show discussions (first Tuesday and Wednesday of each run), Opening Night post-performance party (first Thursday of each run), Friday Festival, (first Friday of each run) featuring guest speakers providing background information on the production; Wine-Down Wednesday (second Wednesday of each run) featuring complimentary pre-show wine, crudité, and dessert; Cold Springs Beverages' Thirsty Thursday (third Thursday of each run) featuring unique beer selections from Cold Spring Beverages; and Theatre Theology (third Sunday of each performing) featuring a little nosh and a post-show discussion of the Jewish themes and issues in the production.
Subscriptions for the 2013-2014 Season are currently available starting at only $107 by visiting brtstage.org or calling the Box Office at 215-785-0100. Bristol Riverside Theatre is located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, PA. Since 1986, BRT has brought consistently acclaimed professional theatre to Bucks County and maintained a long-term commitment to finding and developing new plays. The theatre is the recipient of over 66 Barrymore Award nominations for Excellence in Theatre, given annually by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. In addition to its mainstage productions, the theatre serves as a cultural hub for the community, with such programs as children's theatre, community concerts and exhibitions of local visual arts. Currently under the direction of Artistic Director Keith Baker, Founding Director Susan D. Atkinson, and Managing Director, Amy Kaissar, BRT enters its 27th season.BRISTOL RIVERSIDE THEATRE 2013-2014 SEASON:
MY MOTHER'S ITALIAN, MY FATHER'S JEWISH & I'M STILL IN THERAPY
Written and Performed by Steve Solomon
September 17-October 6, 2013
Opening Night - September 19
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
By Jon Jory
October 29-November 24, 2013
Opening Night - October 31
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE
By Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom
January 28-February 16, 2014
Opening Night - January 30
LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR
By Neil Simon
March 18-April 13, 2014
Opening Night -March 20
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Music by Alan Menken; Book and lyrics by Howard Ashman
May 6-June 8, 2014
Opening Night - May 8
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