Hillbarn Theatre's 75th Anniversary Season to Feature 'FIDDLER,' 'FORUM,' THE LAST 5 YEARS & More

Following a record-breaking 2014-15 season, Hillbarn Theatre, the Peninsula's premier community theatre company, announced last night the six productions that will comprise the lineup for its 75th Anniversary season, "Dare to Dream." Productions include Stephen Sondheim's classic A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, Neil Simon's award-winning comedy THE ODD COUPLE, the 9-time Tony Award-winning crowd-pleaser FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Jason Robert Brown's powerful and intimate musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS, the classic American adaptation of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, and Cy Coleman's Tony Award-Winning musical SWEET CHARITY. All performances will be held at Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 East Hillsdale Blvd. Foster City, CA. Subscriptions ($72 - $192) are on sale now at hillbarntheatre.org or by calling 650.349.6411.

"The theme of this season embraces the ideology of the past, present and future of Hillbarn Theatre - dreams brought to life," said Executive Artistic Director Dan Demers. "I feel I have chosen a season that will create success both artistically and operationally with the 2015-2016 show selection highlighting the diversity of our community and the collective human desire to make dreams a reality no matter gender, race, religion or ethnicity."

In keeping with Hillbarn Theatre's mission statement - "To create theatre with the community, for the community, striving always for excellence in production and education" - the 75th Anniversary season will present new opportunities and performances to showcase its artistic vision throughout the Peninsula and the Bay Area. In addition, the 2015-2016 season welcomes Hillbarn Theatre's state-of-the-art renovations including new restrooms, offices, and a beautifully expanded lobby.

2015-16 SEASON

Stephen Sondheim's
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
August 27 - September 20, 2015

Hillbarn Theatre kicks off its 2015-2016 season with Broadway's greatest farce-a light, fast-paced, witty, and irreverent performance that is one of the funniest musicals ever written. A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum takes comedy back to its roots, combining situations from time-tested, 2000 year old comedies of Roman playwright Plautus with the infectious energy of classic vaudeville. Stephen Sondheim's classic and comedic musical is a non-stop laugh-fest in which Pseudolus, a crafty slave, struggles to win the hand of a beautiful but slow-witted courtesan named Philia, for his young master, Hero, in exchange for freedom. The plot twists and turns with cases of mistaken identity, slamming doors, and a showgirl or two. Press night for A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum will be Friday, August 28, 2015

Neil Simon's
THE ODD COUPLE
October 15 - November 1, 2015

In the fall, Hillbarn Theatre will feature Neil Simon's award-winning comedy The Odd Couple. This classic comedy opens as a group of guys are assembled for cards in the apartment of divorced Oscar Madison. And if the mess is any indication, it's no wonder that his wife left him. Late to arrive is Felix Unger who has just separated from his wife and is fastidious, depressed and none too tense. Felix seems suicidal, but as the action unfolds, Oscar becomes the one with murder on his mind when the neat-freak and the slob ultimately decide to room together with hilarious results as this truly odd couple is born. Press night for The Odd Couple will be Friday, October 16, 2015.

Nine-time Tony Award winning musical
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
December 3 - 20, 2015

Hillbarn Theatre closes out 2015 with the Tony-Award winning crowd-pleaser, Fiddler On The Roof. This musical sensation is the brainchild of Broadway legends Jerome Robbins, Harold Prince, songwriters Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, and bookwriter Joseph Stein. Touching audiences worldwide with its humor, warmth and honesty, this universal show is a staple of the musical theatre canon.

Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor dairyman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Rich in historical and ethnic detail, Fiddler On The Roof's universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness. Press Night for Fiddler On The Roof will be Friday, December 4, 2015.

Jason Robert Brown's
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
January 21 - February 7, 2016

Hillbarn Theatre continues its theme of "Dare to Dream" with Jason Robert Brown's intimate musical The Last Five Years. Directed by Dennis Lickteig, this Drama Desk Award winner and timeless story has been translated into many different languages, and has been named one of Time magazine's "10 Best Shows" in 2001. A film adaptation starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan is currently in theatres.

An emotionally powerful and intimate musical tells the story of two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. The show's unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show. Press night for The Last Five Years will be Friday, January 22, 2016.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
March 10 - March 27, 2016

Hillbarn Theatre brings an American classic to the stage with a graceful adaption of Harper Lee's triumphant Pulitzer Prize winning story, To Kill A Mockingbird. Set in Depression-era Maycomb, Alabama in 1935, this incredible tale follows young Scout Finch who lives with her father, Atticus Finch, an attorney, and her older brother Jem. When Tom Robinson, a black man, is accused of raping a white woman, Mayella, Atticus is asked to represent him and accepts, knowing that that decision will likely make him and his family unpopular in a town suffering from the vivid realities of the Jim Crow South. The story further evolves with Scout, Jem and another friend forging a bond over one of the neighborhood legends - Boo Radley. Jem and Scout have never seen Boo, though they have heard that he is held captive in a house down the street.

As the trial moves ahead, the town's emotions run high, mobs gather and relationships are strained. Over the course of the trial, it becomes clear that Tom could not have raped Mayella. However, a jury made up completely with southern, white males convicts Tom. With the conviction comes more heartache for the town as innocents are sacrificed and children learn about the harsh realities of this world. Directed by Dawn Troupe, this acclaimed adaptation brings to life the compassion and humanity of Harper Lee's acclaimed novel. Press night for To Kill A Mockingbird will be Friday, March 11, 2016.

SWEET CHARITY
May 5 - May 29, 2016

To close out its 2015-2016 season, Erica Abrahamson directs a live-band production of the Tony Award-winning hit musical, Sweet Charity. Charity-the girl who wants to be loved so much that she has lost sight of who she is-sings , dances, laughs and cries her way through romances with the "animal magnetism" hero, the "ultra-chic continental" hero, and the "impossible-to believe-but-he's-better than nothing" type hero. Her world is the all too real world of Times Square, and the people who pass through her world are as deceptively charming a group as ever swept across any stage.

This is a bright, sophisticated, and comedic show in every sense of the words. Cy Coleman has captured the rhythms and sounds, and Dorothy Fields the vernacular and fun of New York. It's a dancing show with incredible dramatic movement and style. Wonderful musical numbers include "Big Spender," "If My Friends Could See Me Now," "Too Many Tomorrows," "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This," "I'm a Brass Band" and "Baby, Dream Your Dream." Press night for Sweet Charity will be Friday, May 6, 2015.

To post a comment, you must register and login.