Arena Stage Continues Arena Restaged With Part Two Starting September 2009

In preparation for the opening of the theater's renovated complex in Southwest D.C., Arena Stage has undertaken ARENA RESTAGED-a two-year festival of American voices. Part One of ARENA RESTAGED was an ambitious staging of 10 productions ranging from classics such as Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance to the Broadway-bound rock musical Next to Normal. Part Two will continue the remarkable exploration of American work and provide the theater with necessary time to move into the new Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in time for the Fall 2010 opening.

During Arena Restaged Part Two you'll see a trio of the great American art form - the musical and three rich comedies and dramas that fiercely examine our lives during these groundbreaking times.

You'll watch as Arena takes you from 1950s Italy to an abandoned carnival to present-day Martha's Vineyard. You'll meet the fascinating R. Buckminster Fuller, dance to Duke Ellington and sing along to the world's longest-running musical. With virtuoso tap dancing, dazzling multimedia and displays of spirit and fortitude there's something for everyone at Arena Restaged Part Two.

The New York Bound Drama THE QUALITY OF LIFE by Jane Anderson, directed by Lisa Peterson in association with Jonathan Reinis Productions and Stephen Eich. September 11 - November 1, 2009 in Crystal City featuring Academy Award nominee JoBeth Williams.

From Emmy Award-winning writer Jane Anderson (Mad Men, Normal) comes this work filled with compassion, honesty and humor. In the wake of devastating personal tragedies, two cousins meet one weekend in an attempt to forge a friendship out of distant familial bonds. Steady, gentle Dinah (Academy Award nominee JoBeth Williams) and husband Bill, reeling from the loss of their daughter, find comfort in spirituality. Meanwhile, rebellious, energetic Jeanette and her ailing husband Neil mitigate illness and the destruction of their home through alternative practices. Can these couples from widely different political and religious backgrounds join together to confront their physical and emotional challenges of loss and survival? This play harnesses spirit and fortitude while exploring the promise of love, the pride of endurance and the quality of life.

The World's Longest Running Musical, THE FANTASTICKS, book and lyrics by Tom Jones, music by Harvey Schmidt, directed by Amanda Dehnert. November 20, 2009 - January 3, 2010 at the Lincoln Theatre.

"Try to Remember" a time when The Fantasticks wasn't captivating audiences. The memorable score by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt enlivens the heart of this passionate musical that charmed Off-Broadway for a record-breaking 42 years. In a twist on the classic story of boy meets girl, Matt and Luisa are led by El Gallo from the wistfulness of "when life was slow and oh so mellow" to the reality that "without a hurt the heart is hollow." Rising star director Amanda Dehnert re-imagines this timeless fable in an abandoned amusement park, a perfect playground for the story's emotional carnival.

A Witty and Intelligent New Play, STICK FLY, by Lydia R. Diamond and directed by Kenny Leon. January 1 - February 7, 2010 in Crystal City.

Race and privilege intersect in this thought-provoking and lively modern family comedy. One lazy summer weekend, Kent LeVay invites his fiancée, Taylor, to meet his parents at their luxurious Martha's Vineyard summer home. Taylor, under the microscope and unaccustomed to the surrounding wealth, challenges the household dynamic. The family ties rapidly unravel when Kent's womanizing older brother surprises everyone with his white girlfriend. Conflict and dysfunction ensue as the household vigorously airs their long-secret dirty linens along with the drapes. Be a fly on the wall as this exciting new American voice, playwright Lydia Diamond (The Bluest Eye), astutely examines African-American social aristocracy.

The Tony Award-winning Musical THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, book by Craig Lucas and music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, produced by arrangement with Turner Entertainment Co., owner of the original motion picture Light in the Piazza, based on the novel by ElizaBeth Spencer, directed by Molly Smith. March 5 - April 25, 2010 in Crystal City.

One windy day in the Tuscan countryside, Clara loses her hat in a sudden gust, and as if guided by fate, it lands at the feet of the handsome Fabrizio. As their whirlwind courtship unfolds, Clara's mother, Margaret, is unable to conceal the family secret and must reconsider not only her daughter's future but her own as well. Arena's own Molly Smith > directs an intimate, chamber version of this musical that won six Tony Awards (including Best Score) and hearts across the country. Craig Lucas (Prelude to a Kiss) has distilled ElizaBeth Spencer's novella to a poignant tale about the essence of love, aided by the lush music of Adam Guettel (Floyd Collins).

The Swinging Musical Revue Duke Ellington'S SOPHISTICATED LADIES, concept by Donald McKayle, based on the music of Duke Ellington, musical and dance arrangements by Lloyd Mayers, vocal arrangements by Malcolm Dodds and Lloyd Mayers, original music direction by Mercer Ellington, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright. Choreographed by Maurice Hines. April 9 - May 30, 2010 at the Lincoln Theatre.

The Duke comes home to the Lincoln with Sophisticated Ladies, the award-winning musical revue that explores the legacy of our local jazz hero starring Broadway legend Maurice Hines >. This glorious re-creation of the big band sound features some of the most memorable music from the Roaring Twenties to the Swing Era, including such classic songs as "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing," "Take the ‘A' Train," "Satin Doll" and the haunting "In a Sentimental Mood." With one show-stopping number after another, this stylish and brassy retrospective travels through a history of American song and dance, from Charleston to swing to virtuosic tap dancing. It's an abundance of riches from the most sophisticated and sassy jazz king of all.

The One-Man Sensation R. BUCKMINSTER FULLER: THE HISTORY (AND MYSTERY) OF THE UNIVERSE, written and directed by D.W. Jacobs from the life, work and writings of R. Buckminster Fuller. May 28 - July 4, 2010 in Crystal City.

Does humanity have a chance to survive on Spaceship Earth? Explore this question with Renaissance man R. Buckminster Fuller, inventor of the geodesic dome. Join us for an unforgettable journey inside one of the most remarkable minds of the 20th century in a dazzling, virtuoso multimedia performance. A hero of the green movement, Bucky framed many of the great environmental ideas of his time and ours. This is your chance to get to know the man and his world-saving mission. It may not only change your life but the life of our planet as well.

 

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