Southern Rapture

By Eric Coble

September 16 - October 11, 2009

Marjorie is a respected theatrical artistic director in a growing Southern city that has almost achieved "world class" status, that might host the upcoming Olympics...and that values tradition above all else. When Marjorie decides to produce an acclaimed but controversial new play, she sparks an increasingly outrageous culture war that divides the community and finally draws national attention--just not the good kind! Based on the true story of Charlotte Repertory Theatre's now infamous production of Angels in America, Eric Coble's latest work is a wickedly funny look at the intersection between artists and audiences, and the delicate contract theatres have with their communities.

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EARLY STAGES

Panto Sleeping Beauty

(An Outrageous Family Musical)

Book and Lyrics By Kenn McLaughlin and Music by David Nehls

World Premiere!

November 18, 2009 - January 3, 2010

Following on the glass heels of last season's wildly successful Panto Cinderella, this hilarious holiday romp finds Sleeping Beauty happily at home in Houston...except there's a nasty curse on her head, her father is busy running a gigantic oil company, her nanny is a former nun seeking glory on the stage, and the love of her life just left town. Will she find a happy ending or slumber forever? Packed with sharp wit, wild fun and original music, this unusual twist on a magnificent classic is spectacular fun for grownups and kids alike!

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PICASSO

By Jeffrey Hatcher

Regional Premiere

January 27 - February 21, 2010

It's 1941, the Nazis have rolled into Paris, and Pablo Picasso has been ushered into a storage vault to authenticate three works of art the Germans have recently "acquired". The father of cubism, a virtuoso who poured his soul out onto the canvas, faces off with an enigmatic young female officer and suddenly finds himself forced to choose between art and politics, creativity and survival.

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SPEECH AND DEBATE

By Stephen Karam

Regional Premiere

March 17 - April 11, 2010
 

Teen misfits Solomon, Diwata and Howie discover each other online and build a tentative alliance in the form of their high school's first speech and debate team. Now they just have to decide which of their pressing personal issues will make for the best performance: teen pregnancy, online predators, gay/straight school programs...or who should be the lead in the school play! This winning, fiercely funny dark comedy is part Breakfast Club, part Arthur Miller, and was hailed in its 2007 Off-Broadway run as a brilliant look at the modern teenager.

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MAN FROM NEBRASKA

By Tracy Letts

Regional Premiere

March 17 - April 11, 2010
 

Ken Carpenter is a good husband and father who awakens who night to realize that he no longer believes in God. As his family grapples with this shock to their orderly lives, Ken follows his pastor's advice and strikes out on a quest for his faith that leads him through the wild world of London counterculture and ultimately to a new beginning. A masterpiece of subtlety and grace by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Letts (August, Osage County), this moving, funny play reveals yearning and deep emotion beneath the surface of seemingly tranquil lives.

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EARLY STAGES

Ferdinand the Bull

Adaptation and Lyrics By Kareen Zacarias

Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma

Based on the book The Story of Ferdinand

By Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson

May 10 - 22, 2010

In this delightful musical adaptation of the classic story of Ferdinand the Bull, a young duke must choose between the wishes of his father and his budding friendship with peaceful "Ferdy". Duquito Danilo finds the courage to be himself in this play for children celebrating the culture, the colores, and the music of Spain. Audiences of all ages will be transported along with the characters as they dance and sing with live guitarists to the traditional Paso Doble and Flamenco.

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The Complete History of America (abridged)

By Adam Long, Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor

Regional Premiere

June 2 - 27, 2010
 

600 years of history in 6000 seconds! From Washington to Watergate, yea verily from the Bering Strait to Baghdad, from New World to New World Order, three clownish cultural guerillas will take you on a rollercoaster ride through the glorious quagmire that is American History. We'll tackle such controversial questions as: Who really discovered America? How many Democrats does it take to screw in a light bulb? And what the hell is the difference between North and South Dakota anyway? They say history is written by the winners... now it's our turn.

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STAGES REPERTORY THEATRE

www.stagestheatre.com
 2009 – 2010 SEASON

 Stages Repertory Theatre
3201 Allen Parkway, Houston Texas
(one block west of Waugh Dr.)
Main entrance on Rosine St., Parking on D'Amico

THE THEATRE
 

Now celebrating its 31st anniversary season, Stages is one of only a few Equity theatres in Houston. Formed in 1978 in the basement of a brewery, Stages was created to introduce innovative contemporary plays to a region often considered old-fashioned in its theatrical tastes. Rob Bundy was named artistic director in 1996, and under his guidance Stages has moved to the forefront of American theatre and attained a new level of artistic quality. Kenn McLaughlin became Stages' managing director in the summer of 2001. McLaughlin's leadership has galvanized the administration of the theatre, and resulted in a new strategic plan designed to ensure another quarter-century of success.

In addition to the MainStage season, Stages offers productions for students and families through its EarlyStages program, which features plays and musicals dedicated to providing children and their families with intelligent, high-quality theatre that educates, entertains, and inspires. Stages maintains collaborative relationships with several theatre companies in Houston, including Grupo de Teatro "Somos Todos" and Unhinged Productions, and has partnered with Young Audiences of Houston to increase EarlyStages' impact in Houston and surrounding areas. In October 2002, Houston's City Council recognized Stages for its outstanding service to the Houston community.

Stages is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit theatres. The theater operates under an agreement with Actor's Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

 

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