Pear Theatre Announces 2018-19 Season

Pear Theatre is proud to announce its 2018-2019 season, a signature mix of classic works and contemporary pieces, all of which can be considered "true originals."

All performances are held at the Pear Theatre's performance space at 1110 La Avenida St., Mountain View. Each show offers a preview performance on the first Thursday, followed by Opening Night on Friday. For subscriptions and individual tickets the public may visit www.thepear.org or call (650) 254-1148.

"Our goal was to create a season that would stay true to the Pear's mission of cultivating new works, offering classics and continuing to challenge and engage audiences," said Betsy Kruse Craig, Artistic Director. "The 2018-2019 season at the Pear is filled with one-of-a-kind characters and voices! Our season covers Jane Austen, Henrik Ibsen, Noel Coward; online dating, the future of life in outer space, a women's book club out for justice, and an intimate look at old Hollywood and one of its most legendary costumers." This is the first Pear Theatre season assembled under Craig's leadership.

The season opens in August with NORTHANGER ABBEY, adapted by Pear Theatre founder Diane Tasca from the novel by Jane Austen. In classic Austen style, Northanger Abbey follows several young ladies and gentlemen as they negotiate romances, friendships, betrothals, betrayals, and the general realization that life is not like an 18th-century Gothic novel. Tasca's script was last produced at the Pear in 2008, and was called "a delight to the eye" by KQED's Ben Marks. Troy Johnson directs.

Next up is Henrik Ibsen's classic HEDDA GABLER, with Artistic Director Betsy Kruse Craig in the title role, directed by Dale Albright. Stuck in a loveless marriage, bored, pregnant, and facing financial constraints from her new husband, Hedda manipulates the people around her to try to improve her situation, but only brings herself more tragedy. Was Hedda a spoiled woman, toying with lives out of boredom and selfishness? Or a woman desperate for love and freedom, trapped in a society that allowed her neither?

The Pear Theatre tradition of non-traditional holiday fare continues with the world premiere of GIRLS KILL NAZIS by James Kopp (author of GEEKS VS. ZOMBIES and SUPER VILLAIN!!), a fun feminist romp designed to perfectly balance your Thanksgiving dinner. In this new work, in the not too distant future, the American Nazi party has been elected to the highest office in the United States. Nazi law is now American law. But the members of the Book Club of Bisbee, Arizona aren't having any of it. Whether Nazis or white nationalists or simply pig-headed men, they'd better stay out of the way of these "girls."

December brings the Bay Area premiere of A CONVERSATION WITH Edith Head, a one-woman show starring Susan Claassen, written by Susan Claassen and Paddy Calistro - an entertaining look at old Hollywood through the eyes of one of its most legendary costumers. Costume designer Edith Head dressed most of the great stars, from Mae West to Elizabeth Taylor, receiving 35 Academy Award nominations and winning an unprecedented eight Oscars. This story filled with glamour, humor, and behind-the-scenes movie lore was called "a winning production ... a tour de force" by Celebrate Magazine, and "'Head' and shoulders above the rest" by the Chicago Sun-Times.

For Valentine's Day, treat your sweetheart to SPENDING THE END OF THE WORLD ON OK CUPID by Bay Area playwright Jeffrey Lo. A modern day prophet predicts the disappearance of half the world's population, and warns those remaining that they are the next to go as soon as the clock strikes midnight. With twelve hours to live, some spend time with their friends, most spend time with their family, others spend the end of the world on OkCupid. Michael Champlin directs.

Next up is the world premiere of SOJOURN by Evan Kokkila Schumacher, a member of the Pear Playwrights Guild. Set in the later half of this century, SOJOURN follows two astronauts on a life-long mission into the cosmos. Can they even find what they're searching for? Or will the mission itself interfere with their ability to survive in deep space? Caroline Clark, who read the role of Deanna Lillis in a staged reading during the play's development, will direct this premiere production.

Returning each spring, PEAR SLICES offers up a selection of original, short plays from the members of the Pear Playwrights Guild, directed by Troy Johnson and Robyn Ginsburg Braverman. Whether dramatic or comic, adversarial or romantic, or simply defying categorization, these short plays are presented each night by a single cast of highly versatile, local actors. This annual short play showcase has become a favorite among Pear audiences.

The season wraps up with PRESENT LAUGHTER by Noël Coward, directed by Walter Mayes. First produced in 1942 with Coward himself in the leading role, Present Laughter is a frothy comedy about show business, replete with seductions, suspicions, adulteries, blackmail, and everyone doing whatever seems necessary to assure fame and fortune for themselves and their loved ones.

This season also marks the beginning of new changes for the Pear, including holding General Auditions for the first time, in March; the evolution of its New Play Development series from periodic evening and weekend readings through the season to a single weekend devoted to works in development; and the first theatre education program for kids, called Pear Seeds, which begins this summer.

Pear Theatre began as the Pear Avenue Theatre in June 2002, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Tasca, by a group of theatre artists who believe that audiences are eager for plays that challenge as well as delight and move them. Producing intimate theatre by passionate artists, whether classic works or cutting-edge plays, the Pear attracts theatre artists and audiences from all over the Bay Area for its award-winning and high-quality productions.

Pear Theatre moved in 2015 from its original 40-seat warehouse space to a new, state-of-the-art black box theatre close by, with capacity of 75-99 seats depending on the configuration of the production. This exciting move allows The Pear to continue its tradition of intimate theatre while taking on new challenges and opportunities. In 2017, the theatre welcomed its second Artistic Director, Betsy Kruse Craig.

To post a comment, you must register and login.