Drama, Comedy and Music

New Theater and Dance Season Announced

August 18, 2009

From “Miss Saigon” to “Romeo and Juliet” — the upcoming theater and dance season at Cal State Fullerton offers comedy, music and classics to meet the needs of all attendees.

Kicking off the season in October is the Neil Simon comedy “Rumors.” The play, which premiered in 1988, portrays four couples gathered for the 10th anniversary of the deputy mayor of New York and his wife and the efforts to avoid scandal when the deputy mayor shoots himself through the earlobe and his wife disappears.
“Rumors” is directed by Kevin Slay and will be performed Oct. 2-18 in the Young Theatre.

Running Oct. 9 through Nov. 1 is Anton Chekhov’s first full-length play, “Ivanov,” the story of a troubled but brilliant young man, married to a sickly woman estranged from her Jewish parents, who becomes involved with another woman. Maria Cominis directs the production performed in the Hallberg Theatre.

Next up Oct. 23 through Nov. 8 is the Tony Award-winning “Miss Saigon” from the book by Claude-Michel Schonberg and featuring music by Schonberg and lyrics by Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby. The production, a modern adaption of “Madame Butterfly” set before the fall of Saigon in 1975, tells the story of a young woman separated from her American GI by the chaos of war. Jon Lawrence Rivera directs the production in the Little Theatre with musical direction by Mitchell Hanlon and choreography by William F. Lett.

Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” will be performed in the Young Theatre Nov. 13 through Dec. 6. The Pulitzer Award-winning production tells the story of the once grand, now broke Blanche DuBois who brings secretes with her when she stays with her sister Stella and brother-in-law, the brooding Stanley. Kari Hayter directs the Cal State Fullerton production.

Finishing up the fall offerings will be the Fall Dance Theatre featuring faculty and student works under the coordination of Gladys Kares. The show runs Nov. 19 through Dec. 6 in the Little Theatre.

The madcap “Anton in Show Business” by Jane Martin opens the spring shows offered on campus. The comedy follows the antics of three actresses determined to live their dream of performing in Anton Chekhov’s “Three Sisters.” Premiered in 2000, the play won the American Theatre Critics Award. Joseph Arnold directs the production Feb. 26 through March 21 in the Hallberg Theatre.

Opening March 12 and running through the month is “Bat Boy: The Musical” from the book by Keythe Farley and Brian Fleming about a tabloid story of a young man raised by bats. A musical at turns bitingly funny and strangely poignant. Eve Himmelheber directs the production with musical direction by Mitchell Hanlon and choreography by William F. Lett. Performances in the Young Theatre through March 28.

April features “The Elixir of Love” by Gaetano Donizetti and libretto by Felice Romani. The story of a timid young farmer in love who uses, among other things, a love potion, to woo the woman of his heart runs April 16-25 in the Little Theatre under the direction of Dean Hess. Kim Furumoto conducts; Janet Smith and Mark Salter serve as music directors.

Running April 23 through May 9 will be William Shakespeare’s tale of doomed lovers “Romeo and Juliet.” Kari Hayter directs the production in the Young Theatre.

Concluding the season will be the Spring Dance Theatre May 6-16 under the coordination of Gladys Kares in the Little Theatre.

Season subscriptions are now available with single tickets available about two weeks before the opening of each show. For more information or tickets, call 657-278-3371, email pacboxoffice@fullerton.edu or stop by the Performing Arts Box Office, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Tickets also are available on the Internet at www.fullerton.edu/arts/events.