Deep Dish Theater Unveils 2009-2010 Season, Includes Works From Williams And Mamet

Deep Dish Theater Company announces the lineup for its 2009-2010 season, marking the theater's ninth year at the company's home in Chapel Hill's University Mall.

The season begins with the August 28 opening of the Tennessee Williams' drama Summer and Smoke, directed by Deep Dish Resident Director Tony Lea and featuring Katja Hill as Alma, one of Williams' most celebrated heroines. It will be followed in October by David Mamet's razor-edged comedy Glengarry GLen Ross, and February will bring An Ideal Husband, Oscar Wilde's delightful satire on marriage and politics. A limited-run staged reading in March and the regional premiere of Body Awareness, a comedy about an unconventional family, will conclude the season.

"I'm really thrilled to be able to present a season of plays that explore the human condition so profoundly but in such different ways," notes Deep Dish Artistic Director Paul Frellick. "The lyricism of Williams' would-be lovers, the profane poetry of Mamet's salesmen, the carefully sculpted epigrams of Wilde's sophisticates, and the accidental eloquence of Annie Baker's contemporary family all afford us unique glimpses into the tantalizing and terrifying forces at work in our lives. For both our audience and our theater, I think this will be a special year."

As usual, the four plays will be supplemented by a host of activities. Each production will feature a book club discussion, post-show discussions with artists and scholars, a pre-show talk with our Dramaturg, and plenty of opportunities for audience members to meet the people behind the scenes at Deep Dish.

In March, Deep Dish will present a staged reading of a world premiere script in development. The reading will be presented for only 5 performances; tickets will go on sale in January.

In addition, Deep Dish will also continue its popular Side Dish events. The Short Story readings series will include a celebration of the 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's birth (Oct. 9), readings from the New Stories from the South collection (Jan. 29), and a night of stories about money (April 16). Words to Music, the theater's newest offering, is a series of conversations with and acoustic performances by leading area singer/songwriters: sessions are scheduled for Oct. 2 and Jan. 22.

The Deep Dish Theater Company's 2009-2010 Season at a glance:

SUMMER AND SMOKE
by Tennessee Williams, directed by Tony Lea
August 28 - September 19
Williams' delicate drama of romantic yearning follows a soulful young woman and a haunted, hard-living doctor. A rarely seen masterwork by one of America's most celebrated playwrights.
Book Selection: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

GLENGARRY GLen Ross
by David Mamet, directed by Paul Frellick
October 23 - November 14
Tough economic times and a cut-throat sales contest bring out the worst in a group of unscrupulous real estate salesmen in this Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy.
Book Selection: The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton

AN IDEAL HUSBAND
by Oscar Wilde, directed by Tony Lea
February 12 - March 6
The irrepressible wit of Oscar Wilde is in fine form with this story of a politician being blackmailed by a former lover. A delightful satire by a true comic genius.
Book Selection: Couples by John Updike

BODY AWARENESS
by Annie Baker, directed by Paul Frellick
April 30-May 22
An unconventional family wrestles with a grown son's sexual awakening and an unwanted diagnosis in this gentle comedy. A recent off-Broadway hit by a first-time playwright.

Book Selection: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

Season tickets are available now at a reduced price compared to single tickets: $64 adults, $56 seniors, $48 students. With performances often selling out, early ticket purchases will help patrons ensure they don't miss a show. Season ticket holders will also have the first chance to purchase tickets to the new play reading in March.

Deep Dish is located in Chapel Hill's University Mall, on Estes Drive and US 15-501. Ticket prices and showtimes are: Wednesday and Thursday (7:30 PM Curtain) - $16 adults, $14 seniors, $12 students; and Friday-Sunday (8:00 PM Curtain on Friday and Saturday, 2:00 PM Sunday matinee) - $18 adults, $16 seniors, $14 students. The Deep Dish box office in University Mall is open Wednesday-Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. Tickets can also be ordered by visiting www.deepdishtheater.org or by calling 919/968-1515.

For more information, call (919) 968-1515 or visit the Deep Dish website at www.deepdishtheater.org.

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