James Vasquez to Helm RICH GIRL and Jessica Stone to Direct ARMS AND THE MAN at The Old Globe in 2014-15

The Old Globe today announced that James Vásquez (Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show) will direct the final show of its 2014-2015 Season, the West Coast premiere of an exciting new American play, Rich Girl, by acclaimed playwright Victoria Stewart. Rich Girl will play May 23 - June 21, 2015.

Celebrated director Jessica Stone, who recently made her Globe debut with Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, will direct George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man. Utterly romantic and one of the wittiest and most charming plays of the English stage, Arms and the Man mixes smarts and silliness in a wonderfully entertaining tale of love and war beginning May 9.

Rich Girl will play in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre and Arms and the Man on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, all part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

Tickets to the Globe's 2014-2015 Season subscription prices range from $99 to $615, and packages may be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office.

Claudine's mother has it all: she's wealthy, successful, and famous. Claudine is awkward, shy, and forever living in her mother's shadow. When a dashing artist sweeps Claudine off her feet, her mother is convinced that all he's after is her money. A modern retelling of the Henry James novel Washington Square, which became the stage and screen classic The Heiress, Rich Girl is a moving and funny new play about mothers and daughters, love and money, and whether they can ever coexist. The News-Herald called it "beautifully written - a thoroughly delightful entertainment!" Prolific playwright Victoria Stewart received the Francesca Primus Award, a McKnight Advancement Grant, the Helen Merrill Award, the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize (finalist), and the Jerome Fellowship, as well as residencies at the Sundance Institute Playwright's Retreat at Ucross Foundation, Hedgebrook, Tofte Lake Center, and Donmar Warehouse.

The beautiful Raina Petkoff is about to marry the heroic soldier Sergius. But the battlefield sweeps into her boudoir when an enemy soldier takes refuge under her bed. Soon she will have to decide between her romantic ideals and the surprising sensations of new love. Arms and the Man, one of the wittiest and most charming plays of the English stage, mixes smarts and silliness in a wonderfully entertaining tale of love and war.

The Globe is delighted to welcome one of the true geniuses of the American theatre, Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman, who makes her long-awaited San Diego directing debut beginning March 21 with an enchanting theatrical spectacle, The White Snake. Jonathan Tolins's "totally fictional" Off Broadway hit, Buyer & Cellar, will have you rolling in the aisles. Directed by Ron Lagomarsino, performances begin April 4.

With The Twenty-seventh Man, Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein returns to the play he premiered in New York by award-winning novelist Nathan Englander and reimagines it for the Globe's intimate in-the-round space, bringing us larger-than-life personalities and an unforgettable reminder of the transcendent power of storytelling. It makes its West Coast Premiere February 14.

Globe veteran Scott Schwartz returns January 24 to direct Kellen Blair and Joe Kinosian's Off Broadway hit, Murder for Two, a vaudevillian mystery musical with an energetic two-man cast.

The 2014-2015 Season will also include the 17th annual production of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, beginning performances November 15 and running through December 27 only.

"The Old Globe's 2014-2015 Season offers some of everything that makes this theatre one of America's greatest, and I am thrilled to announce it," said Edelstein. "From a world premiere musical by two of our country's entertainment giants to a classic by Shaw; from an historical drama by an eminent novelist to a wacky musical whodunit; and from a visually splendid take on a classic fable to a wry and riotous look at contemporary celebrity -- the range and variety of the season is enormous."

Edelstein continued, "As always, in this season the Globe welcomes our country's most visionary theatre artists to San Diego, and they are a spectacularly talented group. Their work -- and especially the abundance of laughter and light it brings -- marks the Globe's happy contribution to our city's celebration of Balboa Park's centennial. I'm proud to note too that these productions will be surrounded by our full spectrum of humanities, outreach, education, and community efforts. All in all the season is a rich and wonderful program befitting the flagship arts institution of our region, and a season that demonstrates what a 21st-century American theatre can be."

The 2014-2015 Season began September 13 with the World Premiere of Bright Star, a new American musical with music by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, lyrics by Edie Brickell, book by Steve Martin, based on an original story by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie made his Globe debut directing with this entertaining musical of enduring love, family ties, and the light of forgiveness that shines from a bright star. Bright Star ran through November 2.

Boxing's "breakthrough saga for a new generation" (LA Times), Marco Ramirez's wildly theatrical new play The Royale, directed by two-time Obie Award-winning and Drama Desk Award-nominated Rachel Chavkin, brought to explosive life the sights and sounds of the early 20th century boxing circuit. Performances ran October 4 - November 2. Founding Artistic Director of New York's the TEAM, Chavkin won accolades for Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (The New York Times, Time Out New York, and New York Post Critics's Picks, Top Ten 2012 & 2013).

The 2014-15 Continues:

- The World Premiere of Bright Star, a new American musical -- Music by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Lyrics by Brickell, Book by Martin, Based on an original story by Martin and Brickell, Directed by Walter Bobbie (Sept. 13 - Nov. 2, 2014) Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, Old Globe Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
From award-winning screenwriter and playwright Steve Martin (Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Roxanne) and chart-topping singer-songwriter Edie Brickell comes a world premiere American musical inspired by their Grammy Award-winning collaboration "Love Has Come For You." Bright Star features 20 new songs and tells a beguiling tale that unfolds in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina between 1923 and 1945. Billy Cane, a young soldier just home from World War II, meets Alice Murphy, the brilliant editor of a southern literary journal. Together they discover a powerful secret that alters their lives. Tony Award-winning director Walter Bobbie (Broadway's Chicago) made his Globe debut with this entertaining musical of enduring love, family ties, and the light of forgiveness that shines from a bright star.

- The Royale by Marco Ramirez, Directed by Rachel Chavkin (Oct. 4 - Nov. 2, 2014) Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
Jay "The Sport" Jackson dreams of being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. But it's 1905, and in the segregated world of boxing, his chances are as good as knocked out. When a crooked boxing promoter hatches a plan for "the fight of the century," The Sport just might land a place in the ring with the reigning white heavyweight champion. Loosely based on real events, Marco Ramirez's ("Orange is the New Black") wildly theatrical new play brings to explosive life the sights and sounds of the early 20th century boxing circuit, and the ultimate fight for a place in history. The Los Angeles Times declared, "The Royale reanimates this breakthrough saga for a new generation!"

- Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - Book and Lyrics by Timothy Mason, Music by Mel Marvin, Original Production Conceived and Directed by Jack O'Brien, Original Choreography by John DeLuca, Directed by James Vásquez (Nov. 15 - Dec. 27, 2014) Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, Old Globe Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
Everyone's favorite green meanie will return for his 17th consecutive year in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, the heartwarming musical based on the classic book and animated film. James Vásquez returns to direct this beloved San Diego holiday tradition.

- Murder for Two -- Book and Music by Joe Kinosian, Book and Lyrics by Kellen Blair, Directed by Scott Schwartz (Jan. 24 - Mar. 1, 2015) Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, Old Globe Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
Multi-millionaire Arthur Whitney has been murdered at his own birthday party, and his killer could be any one of the guests. But this is no ordinary murder mystery. The entire world of this hilarious musical is brought to life by two incredible performers: one plays the detective, the other plays all 10 suspects, and both play the piano! Murder for Two is an irrepressibly wacky tour-de-force musical that NewYork1 dubbed "a must-see 90-minute jolt of caffeinated creativity!"

- The Twenty-seventh Man by Nathan Englander, Directed by Barry Edelstein (Feb. 14 - Mar. 15, 2015) Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
In a Soviet prison in 1952, Stalin's secret police have rounded up 26 writers, the giants of Yiddish literature in Russia. As judgment looms, a 27th suddenly appears: a teenager, unpublished and unknown. Baffled by his arrest, he and his cellmates wonder at what has brought them together and wrestle with what it means to write in troubled times. Time Out New York called The Twenty-seventh Man "exquisite -- as chilling and haunted as a ghost story." Artistic Director Barry Edelstein returns to the play he premiered in New York by award-winning novelist Nathan Englander and reimagines it for the Globe's intimate in-the-round space, bringing us larger-than-life personalities and an unforgettable reminder of the transcendent power of storytelling.

- The White Snake -- Written and Directed by Mary Zimmerman (March 21 - April 26, 2015) Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, Old Globe Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
One of the true geniuses of the American theatre makes her long-awaited San Diego debut with The White Snake! Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman creates an enchanting theatrical spectacle with live music and sumptuous visuals. In this visionary staging of a classic Chinese fable, a gentle serpent transforms into a beautiful woman. She falls in love with a dashing young man and decides to stay human forever, until a wicked monk discovers her true identity and vows to destroy her. The White Snake is an unforgettable theatrical event for all ages that NPR called "strikingly beautiful." The New York Times proclaimed that Zimmerman "creates richly imagistic works - her eye refines and refinishes, drawing ever-sharper pictures from the texts she theatricalizes."

- Buyer & Cellar by Jonathan Tolins, Directed by Ron Lagomarsino (April 4 - May 3, 2015) Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
What's a renowned diva to do with decades of memories that light the corners of her mind? And where to put the acres of memorabilia bursting the seams of her Malibu estate? If you're Barbra Streisand, you enshrine them in a mini-mall in your basement where you can pretend to go shopping! Out-of-work actor Alex More can't pass up the oddest of odd jobs -- an offer to play shopkeeper for one tough customer who doesn't let anyone rain on her parade. Soon it begins to take a toll on his patience, his love life, and his view of people (who need people). Jonathan Tolins's "totally fictional" Off Broadway hit will have you rolling in the aisles and realizing why The New York Times called it "seriously funny -- a remarkably sustained slice of absurdist whimsy," and the New York Daily News declared, "This play deserves a hearty 'Hello, gorgeous!' "

- Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw, Directed by Jessica Stone (May 9 - June 14, 2015) Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, Old Globe Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
George Bernard Shaw's most romantic comedy! The beautiful Raina Petkoff is about to marry the heroic soldier Sergius. But the battlefield sweeps into her boudoir when an enemy soldier takes refuge under her bed. Soon she will have to decide between her romantic ideals and the surprising sensations of new love. Arms and the Man, one of the wittiest and most charming plays of the English stage, mixes smarts and silliness in a wonderfully entertaining tale of love and war.

- Rich Girl by Victoria Stewart, Directed by James Vásquez (May 23 - June 21, 2015) Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
Claudine's mother has it all: she's wealthy, successful, and famous. Claudine is awkward, shy and forever living in her mother's shadow. When a dashing artist sweeps Claudine off her feet, her mother is convinced that all he's after is her money. A modern retelling of the Henry James novel Washington Square, which became the stage and screen classic The Heiress, Rich Girl is a moving and funny new play about mothers and daughters, love and money, and whether they can ever coexist. The News-Herald called it "beautifully written - a thoroughly delightful entertainment!"

SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS offer substantial savings with special subscriber benefits. Subscriptions can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE [234-5623] or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Subscriptions to the Globe's 2014-2015 Season range from $99 to $615. Eight-play packages range from $187 to $615. Four-play packages range from $99 to $387. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 29 years of age and younger, seniors and groups of 10 or more.

Additional events taking place during the run of most shows include Free Insights Seminars, Post-Show Forums and Subject Matters, exploring ideas and issues raised by each production with company members and local experts.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country's leading professional regional theatres and has stood as San Diego's flagship arts institution for over 75 years. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Managing Director Michael G. Murphy, The Old Globe produces a year-round season of 14 productions of classic, contemporary, and new works on its three Balboa Park stages: the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the 600-seat Old Globe Theatre and the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, both part of The Old Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, and the 605-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, home of its internationally renowned Shakespeare Festival. More than 250,000 people attend Globe productions annually and participate in the theatre's education and community programs. Numerous world premieres such as 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, A Catered Affair, and the annual holiday musical Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! have been developed at The Old Globe and have gone on to enjoy highly successful runs on Broadway and at regional theatres across the country.

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