Artists Rep Switches RACE and NEXT TO NORMAL in Schedule

The last two shows of Artists Rep's 2011/12 season, Race by David Mamet and Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey, music by Tom Kitt, will switch start dates. This change will allow Associate Artistic Director Jon Kretzu to direct the Broadway-bound It Shoulda Been You by Brian Hargrove, music by Barbara Anselmi, at the Village Theatre near Seattle, where it has its final production before its Broadway premiere this Fall. The show was produced at the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey last Fall and was directed by David Hyde Pierce.

"This is a huge opportunity for Jon," said Allen Nause, Artists Rep's Producing Artistic Director. "We wanted to make every effort support him in his work nationally."

"I am thrilled to be working with writers, cast and production team honing the piece before it starts its Broadway rehearsals - it really gives me a chance to work on a new show in a very different and exciting fashion," said Kretzu. "And being able to follow it with the extraordinary Next To Normal makes for a truly wonderful Spring of musicals for me," Kretzu continues. "I am touched and honored that Artists Rep has made it possible for me to do both projects by switching the order of our last two shows this season."

 

RUN DATES 

 

Race - by David Mamet

March 6 – April 8

Directed by Tamara Fisch

When it comes to race, is justice blind? Rapid-fire dialogue, gripping plot and blunt language rife with provocative humor stab into a minefield of deep divisions, resentments and bigotry. Northwest Premiere. 

 

Next to Normal – Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey, Music by Tom Kitt

April 24-June 3

Directed by Jon Kretzu

What's "crazy" anyway? A brave, powerfully emotional rock musical swells the heart with a searing dissection of a mother's mental illness and how her suburban family holds it together with raw energy and grace. Starring Susannah Mars. 2010 Pulitzer Prize-Winner, three 2009 Tony Awards.

Village Theatre presents

It Shoulda Been You – Book and Lyrics by Brian Hargrove, Music by Barbara Anselmi

March 14 - May 20
A New Musical. Wedding bells aren't ringing, they're clanging at the union of this Jewish bride and Catholic groom!http://villagetheatre.org/ItShouldaBeenYou_tickets_showtimes.php 

 

About Jon Kretzu

Jon Kretzu is in his 19th season as Associate Artistic Director at Artists Repertory Theatre, where he has directed over 40 productions for the company including the world premieres of Tracy Letts' Three Sisters, Marc Acito and C.S Whitcomb'sHolidazed, Joseph Fisher's The Seagull, The New House,(I Am Still) The Duchess of Malfi, Richard Kramer's adaptation of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, Jon Longenbaugh's Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol, as well as The Lieutenant of Inishmore, A Streetcar Named Desire, The History Boys, Othello, Design For Living, All My Sons, Speech and Debate, Orson's Shadow, The Retreat from Moscow, Mr. Marmalade, Assassins, Humble Boy, Death of a Salesman, Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge, The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, The Laramie Project, Dinner with Friends, Master Class, Present Laughter, A Question of Mercy, Indiscretions, Keely and Du, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Breaking the Code, Chaps!, The Sea,The Normal Heart, The Destiny of Me, Buried Child, The Artificial Jungle, Three Tall Women (USIA International Tour) and co-directed House and Garden with Allen Nause. Other Portland directing credits include Cloud 9 for Theatre Vertigo, Dracula for Northwest Classical Theatre Company; The Carpetbagger's Children for Profile Theatre; Guys and Dolls for The Musical Theatre Company; Romeo and Juliet, A Winter's Tale, Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It for Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company; Waiting for Vern, Jeffrey, Bent and The Sum of Us for triangle! productions; Broadway Bound and Hay Fever for Portland Repertory Theater; The Importance of Being Earnest for New Rose Theatre; The Mystery of Irma Vep for Storefront Theatre; and Down the Road for the Oregon One-Act Festival. Jon has also directed numerous productions in Seattle, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles, including Abduction from the Seraglio, Lips Together, Teeth Apart;Sweeney Todd, Wonderful Town, Inventing Van Gogh, The Taming of the Shrew; A Doll's House; Cloud 9; The Outsiders; Terra Nova; Reckless; Streamers;

Private Lives; Arms and The Man; 84 Charing Cross Road, and Frankenstein. Jon was the dramaturg.

for Portland Repertory Theatre, has served as a guest director and professor at a number of West Coast and Midwest universities, and has worked as an acting coach in Los Angeles, Seattle and Portland. He has also served as the London and New York theater and classical music correspondent for a variety of Northwest newspapers and magazines. 

 

Artists Repertory Theatre

The 2011/12 Artists Repertory Theatre season is presented by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. The 2011 print media sponsor is The Oregonian, the season radio sponsor is KINK.FM. Season hotel sponsors are Mark Spencer Hotel and Hotel deLuxe.  Other support comes from All Classical, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Oregon Arts Commission, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, Work for Art and Maletis Beverage.

With this 29^th season, Artists Repertory Theatre is the longest-running professional theater company in Portland.  Artists Rep strives to challenge artists and audiences with plays of depth and vibrancy in an intimate setting.  Artists Rep explores the strengths, frailties, and diversity of the human condition primarily through regional premieres, commissioned works and selected classics appropriate to contemporary issues.

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