And this season will be like seasons of yore, as plays will run in repertory all season long. And once again we can glory in the classics at the Hill Theatre and taste some tantalizing new plays at the Touchstone. Here is a brief outline of what lies ahead amongst the trees and prairie, cicadas and swallows, and summer breezes and moon light…and here’s the link to the APTs web information.
At the Hill:
By Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Directed by Aaron Posner
June 11 – September 17
Lydia Languish is bound and determined to marry only for love, a situation that she expects (and hopes) will land her in the poor house. This causes a conundrum for the wealthy Jack Absolute, who is in love with Lydia, but doesn’t meet the requirements of being destitute. So to woo her, Jack takes on the persona of Ensign Beverly, a poor enlisted man. But Lydia’s aunt, Mrs. Malaprop (a literary icon) can never allow such a love connection, setting the couple and their cohort off in a hilarious comedy of manners that APT hits right in the sweet spot.
Jane Austen’s
Adapted by Jessica Swale
Directed by Marti Lyons
June 17 – October 9
When the well-off Henry Dashwood passes away, his estate, by law, goes to his eldest son, John, leaving Henry’s second wife and three daughters – young Margaret, tempestuous Marianne and reserved Elinor – with no home, and little income. Those are high stakes for women in the early 1800s, and the ladies are forced to rely on the kindness of the good-hearted (and gossipy) Middletons. Though times are hard, the sisters meet many new friends along the way, and soon Marianne and Elinor find that, while love is easy enough to fall into, it can be a hard emotion to negotiate when your family and future are on the line. A charming romance from Jane Austen. Originally slated for the 2020 season.
By William Shakespeare
Directed by James DeVita
June 24 – October 8
Returning home from school after the death of his father and rapid remarriage of his mother to his uncle, Hamlet is pondering his options. Did his uncle, Claudius, murder his father? How much does his mother, Gertrude, know about the perceived crime? How far will the young prince go while investigating, and who will pay the price for what he finds? Family bonds balance on the head of a pin, as the collective father-son relationship pulses through every word; a play that revels in contradictions and defies categorization, last seen at APT in 2013.
By Lorraine Hansberry
Directed by Tasia A. Jones
August 5 – October 7
On the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s, the Youngers have lost their patriarch. But with this tragedy comes a rare financial gain for the family – a $10,000 insurance payment that could change their lives and fulfill dreams long postponed. As the family dynamics spin, it soon becomes clear that everyone has different ideas about how the money should be used, causing divisions, dishonesty and mistrust. A stunning classic that examines the ways racism suppresses the lives and aspirations of Black families.
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Brenda DeVita
August 12 – October 2
An early Shakespeare comedy returns to our stage for the first time in two decades. The King of Navarre and his three companions, Berowne, Dumaine and Longaville, commit themselves to three years of hard study with no distractions. To firm up his resolve, the King declares that no woman will be allowed within a mile of the court. When a French Princess arrives with her attendants, Rosaline, Maria and Katherine, the men immediately regret their oath in this fun and satisfying summer Shakespeare. Originally slated for the 2020 season.
In the Touchstone:
By Marisela Treviño Orta
Directed by Robert Ramirez
June 17 – September 30
Helena’s feelings about her sister Belmira’s wedding to Duarte are complicated, much like her relationships with both Belmira and Duarte themselves. But Helena’s thoughts are redirected when her father literally fishes a mysterious man out of the Amazonian river, sending everyone’s plans into upheaval in this riveting fable about the complexities of love. Originally slated for the 2020 season.
By Tarell Alvin McCraney
Directed by Gavin Lawrence
June 28 – October 8
In the Louisiana bayou, Ogun Size is the hardworking and steady brother to the younger Oshoosi. Ogun worries constantly about his brother, who’s fresh out of jail, restless and aimless. When Elegba, Oshoosi’s old prison-mate arrives with a gift, their relationship is thrown out of balance. Influenced by the rich culture of the Yoruba people of West Africa, this contemporary tale begins in ritual and evolves into a tough and tender drama of what it means to brother and be brothered. Combining flights of poetry, music and dance, The Brothers Size explores the tenuousness of freedom and the need to belong. Originally slated for the 2020 season.
By Jen Silverman
Directed by Keira Fromm
August 13 – October 9
A young governess arrives at a remote manor after exchanging semi-romantic correspondence with one mysterious Mr. Branwell. But when the door opens, the only residents of the house seem to be Branwell’s two sisters, a maid (or maybe two maids?) and a lovelorn mastiff. And no man to be found, or child to be cared for. An inspired, whimsical satire that both embraces and sends up the gothic musings of the Brontë sisters; a play the New York Times called “…the reason we go to theater.”
By Marie Jones
Directed by Tim Ocel
October 27 – November 20
Two down-on-their-luck men in a down-on-its-luck Irish town are given what they hope is a chance at the good life. Jake and Charlie have been cast as extras in a Hollywood movie – a shaft of light through the clouds of their dreary rural existence. Like most sets, this one is rife with drama on stage and off – some hilarious and some heartbreaking – as the American cast and crew try to immerse themselves in Jake and Charlie’s culture, and vice-versa. A two-hander with each actor playing multiple characters in this unique and enthralling tragicomedy. Originally slated for the 2020 season.
Tickets on sale to returning patrons March 21.
On sale to the general public May 2.
AND: most of the other amenities we have grown to appreciate will be returning this season as well: picnic offerings, play talks, tours, art in the woods, and more! Information on opportunities to enhance your play attendance and opportunities to enjoy the other APT events!
This is going to be an exciting and challenging season to experience…and I am so looking forward to it!