A Raisin in Sun, Importance of being earnest, world premieres & more

PROVIDENCE, RI: Trinity Rep is proud to announce its 2008-2009 Season will begin and end with world premiere plays: Antigone Anew, written by artistic director Curt Columbus and Shapeshifter by Laura Schellhardt, who is playwright-in-residence at Trinity as part of an NEA/TCG fellowship. The season continues with the dark comedy The Receptionist by Brown MFA playwriting graduate Adam Bock (December-January), the beloved American classic A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (January–March), David Hare's family drama The Secret Rapture (February–March) and Oscar Wilde’s best-loved comedy of manners, The Importance of Being Earnest (April–May).

New this season is a unified curtain time of 7:30 PM for all performances (except for 2PM matinees) and A Christmas Carol, which has a separate schedule.

When planning the season, Curt Columbus and Associate Artistic Director Craig Watson were drawn to the theme of personal change. Watson states "We wanted to look at plays that spoke about hope, and all the possibilities hope can bring. One of the plays that we chose immediately was A Raisin in the Sun." Hansberry's classic drama will be the centerpiece of the season and the focus of the theater's Project Discovery Plus program. "These themes of race and class really resonate with students who live in our cities," says Watson, "They’re dealing with these issues on a daily basis." Project Discovery Plus will present matinees of the show to local students, as well as in-school workshops taught by cast members from the production.

Columbus states, "My third season at Trinity Repertory Company promises to be the most challenging, enlightening and entertaining yet. The stage is set for exciting new work, boldly re-envisioned classics, and some of the finest actors anywhere on the American stage. Time and again, Trinity Repertory Company provides the kind of remarkable, one-of-a-kind theater experiences that you can only find here in Rhode Island."

08 -09 Season | September 2008 - June 2009

Antigone Anew by Curt Columbus
September 19 – October 26 in the Dowling Theater
In the hands of artistic director Curt Columbus, a classic play becomes one of the newest and most relevant. This ancient parable of power, corruption and despair is retold as a story of courage and faith in society’s ability to change. Inspired by Sophocles' classic and adapted for our resident acting company, Antigone Anew reframes questions about personal and social responsibility in our times. A world premiere.

The Receptionist by Adam Bock
directed by Curt Columbus
December 5 – January 11 in the Dowling Theater
“Can I put you into his voicemail?” Product lines, client meetings, protocol: it’s business-as-usual in the Northeast Office. To pass the time, there’s pastry, personal calls, and romantic advice for the zany co-worker. When that cute guy from the Central Office drops by, he’s happy to chat till the boss gets back. Then, in the blink of an eye, this familiar daydream becomes a nightmare you don’t see coming. Simple and hilarious, The Receptionist gets under your skin until its chilling revelation is utterly inevitable.

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
directed by Brian McEleney
January 30 – March 8 in the Chace Theater
“What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up, like a raisin in the sun? Or does it explode?” From their tenement apartment, the Younger family believes an insurance windfall is about to change their lives – but poverty and prejudice conspire against them. When all seems lost, they must choose: accept injustice, or stand tall. The first Broadway play written by, directed by, and acted by African Americans, it embraces the humanity of every family. In 2008, its voice is fresh, its ideas are inspiring, and its family – and their dreams – cannot be denied.

The Secret Rapture by David Hare
directed by Curt Columbus
February 20 – March 29 in the Dowling Theater
Dad’s dead and buried, and Isobel and Marion must settle not only the estate, but their life-long differences in values and loyalties as well. What will they do about Dad's young, unstable widow? Which sister will sacrifice her career and personal life – and who can predict the cost? The Secret Rapture places political and moral issues within the intimate frame of one family’s crisis. With all the corruption that surrounds us, how can we be true to ourselves?

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
directed by Beth Milles
April 10 – May 17 in the Chace Theater
Gwendolen loves Ernest, and so does Cecily. But wait, Cecily’s intended is actually Algernon. And Gwendolen’s fiancé is really Jack. So who is Ernest? (They made him up!) Lady Bracknell cannot permit decent society be defamed in this way. All seems lost for the pairs of lovers in Oscar Wilde’s best-loved comedy of manners, but a familiar leather handbag and a military reference book somehow save the day. Hilarity ensues -- honesty is the best policy -- true love conquers all.

Shapeshifter by Laura Schellhardt
directed by Laura Kepley
May 1– June 7 in the Dowling Theater
After a terrible storm, as they wait for the fishermen’s return, Midge and her grandfather tell each other a story. “Long ago, a shapeshifter lived -- a woman, sometimes, and sometimes something else. A man gave her his heart, and she gave him a child -- but he couldn’t hold her for long…” As they spin their tale in the days that follow, it feels almost real. Tom has married the beautiful, silent woman he pulled from the waves; and is it a swan that Douglas keeps locked in his shed? Legend and language star in this lyrical play about our hunger to change the ones we love, and to change ourselves for them. A world premiere.

Titles and dates are subject to change.

Trinity Rep Conservatory graduate Liesl Tommy will direct Trinity Rep’s 32nd annual all-new production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, running November 21- December 31, 2008.

Season subscriptions are available by calling (401) 351-4242. Packages include the full season, the Pick Four and special discounts for seniors, youth and educators. Subscribers receive tickets at a considerable discount from single-ticket prices, as well as flexible service for ticket exchanges, restaurant and parking discounts, early access to tickets for A Christmas Carol, and invitations to special performances and events. The Trinity Rep box office is located at 201 Washington Street, Providence, RI, 02903, at (401) 351-4242.

TRINITY REPERTORY COMPANY
Since its founding in 1964, Trinity Repertory Company has been one of the most respected regional theaters in the country. Featuring the last long standing permanent resident acting company in America, Trinity Rep presents a balance of world premiere, contemporary, and classic works for an estimated annual audience of nearly 160,000. In its 44-year history, the theater has produced 54 world premieres, mounted national and international tours, and, through its graduate-level theater arts conservatory, trained hundreds of new actors and directors. This season marks the 42nd year of Project Discovery, Trinity Rep's pioneering educational outreach program. Launched in 1966, the program introduces over 20,000 Rhode Island and Massachusetts students a year to live theater. The Brown University/Trinity Rep Consortium offers professional training for actors and directors in a three-year MFA program. Since 1973, Trinity Rep's home has been the Lederer Theater Center, a historic landmark built as the Majestic Theatre in 1917. With an annual budget of $8.1 million, the theater employs 120 artistic and administrative staff and annually generates more than $24 million in economic activity. For more information, call the box office at (401) 351-4242 or visit Trinity Rep’s website at www.trinityrep.com.