Sierra Stages Presents FALSETTOS, Now thru 11/22

This fall, Sierra Stages presents the groundbreaking musical "Falsettos" for ten performances only from tonight, November 5 through November 22 at the intimate Off Center Stage in Grass Valley. "Falsettos" is the final production of Sierra Stages' seventh season, and is directed by Sandra Rockman, with dance direction by George Jayne and musical direction by Ken Getz, who conducts the live band.

Part intimate family drama, part neurotic urban comedy, and part keenly observed meditation on a shifting definition of the American family, "Falsettos" is the 1992 Tony Award-winning musical by William Finn (who wrote music and lyrics for "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" presented by Sierra Stages in 2011) and James Lapine (who wrote the book for "Into the Woods" presented by Sierra Stages in 2010).

The story of "Falsettos" focuses on Marvin and his struggles to create a 'tight knit family' out of his eclectic array of core relationships (including his ex-wife, his new boyfriend, his adolescent son, his psychiatrist, and his lesbian next-door neighbors) amidst a series of monumental life changes. During the course of the musical, he is forced to reckon with his own views on love, responsibility, and what it means to be a man.

A musical-theater benchmark for its candid depiction of a gay relationship, "Falsettos" is a pairing of two one-act musicals by Finn and Lapine: "March of the Falsettos" and "Falsettoland", which were produced Off Broadway in 1981 and 1990. The original Broadway production of "Falsettos" opened to positive reviews, and was nominated for seven Tony Awards, winning two, for best original score and best book.

"Falsettos" features an all-local cast of Nevada County actors Jonathan Hansard, Danny McCammon, Ken Miele, Nancy Haffey, Kate Haight, Tinley Ireland and Graham Bennett. The set design is by Pamela Hodges, costume design is by Jill Kelly, and lighting design is by Casey Burke.

Performances of "Falsettos" are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. General Admission tickets are $25. For those audience members who prefer a specific seat location and wish to provide additional financial support for Sierra Stages, Reserved Seating is available for $35. Tickets may be purchased online at www.SierraStages.org with no additional charges of any kind or by calling the Sierra Stages ticket line at 530.346.3210.

The first performance of "Falsettos" on Thursday November 5 at 7 PM is a benefit for the Nevada County chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). All tickets for the benefit performance are $20 (general admission seating) and may be purchased online at www.SierraStages.org or by calling Sierra Stages at 530.346.3210. Founded in 1972 with the simple act of a mother publicly supporting her gay son, PFLAG is the nation's largest family and ally organization. Uniting people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) with families, friends, and allies, PFLAG is committed to advancing equality and full societal affirmation of LGBTQ people through its threefold mission of support, education, and advocacy. PFLAG has over 350 chapters and 200,000 members and supporters crossing multiple generations of American families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas in all 50 states.

Sierra Stages is a tax-exempt not-for-profit community theatre with a goal to enrich the culture of western Nevada County by offering a wide range of quality theatrical experiences. Earlier this season, Sierra Stages presented the Nevada County premieres of the Tony Award winning comedy "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" and Tony Award winning musical "The Producers", both at the Nevada Theatre in Nevada City. This fall, Sierra Stages continues its monthly series of informal play readings, titled "Theater by the Book", co-presented with the Miners Foundry Cultural Center on Wednesday October 21 at 7:30 PM with "Art" by Yasmina Reza, directed by Jeffrey Mason. Also this fall, as part of it educational outreach program, Sierra Stages will present the children's musical "The Quiltmaker's Gift" at a number of local elementary schools. "The Quiltmaker's Gift" will also be presented one-time only for the general public as part of the second annual "Souper Sunday" benefit co-presented with InConcert Sierra on Sunday October 25 at the Miners Foundry.

For more information about "Falsettos", Theater by the Book, Souper Sunday and Sierra Stages, visit www.SierraStages.org.

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