BLOOMSBURG - The 2011-2012 season of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble promises to be an exciting lineup showcasing the ensemble's versatility in a variety of plays from a classic masterpiece to contemporary comedy, according to Richard Cannaday, ensemble director.
Augmenting the usual four plays of the main stage of the Alvina Krause Theatre, the ensemble is producing three bonus shows in Bloomsburg and around the region.
The Guys
The first bonus show is "The Guys," which will run four performances from Sept. 8 to 11. Anne Nelson's emotional two-character drama tells the story of a New York City writer assisting a fire captain in celebrating the ordinary men of his company who made the ultimate sacrifice at the World Trade Center. Ensemble member Daniel Roth directs "The Guys," which will feature ensemble members Laurie McCants and Gerard Stropnicky.
Doubt
On the main stage from Sept. 29 to Oct. 16 will be John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt, A Parable." The office of a Catholic school in the Bronx, 1964, transforms into a field of battle when sister principal, played by ensemble member Elizabeth Dowd, confronts the parish priest, played by Roth, about his relationship with an eighth grader.
James Goode directs, and the cast is rounded out by Cassandra Pisieczko and guest artist Lydia St. Claire.
Holiday Memories
In November, BTE will present the stage version of Truman Capote's childhood reminiscences, "Holiday Memories," adapted by Russell Vandenbroucke.
Set in the Depression-era deep south, these tender, joyful and funny episodes over Thanksgiving and Christmas will be directed by Stropnicky and in the cast will be ensemble members Roth, McCants, Cassandra Pisieczko and Andrew Hubatsek. Holiday Memories runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 30 on the main stage.
The Santaland Diaries
Running concurrently with "Holiday Memories" is the ensemble's second bonus offering "The Santaland Diaries," adapted by Joe Mantello from David Sedaris's hilarious memoirs of the ultimate Christmas job: working as an elf at Macy's Department Store. Directed by Dowd, and featuring Cannaday, "The Santaland Diaries" will run Dec. 8 to 11 at The Moose Exchange.
Julius Caesar
In January, William Shakespeare's powerful "Julius Caesar" will be the next bonus show. Directed by Goode in an original streamlined version, it will have only two performances, Jan. 27 and 28, in preparation for touring to regional high schools.
Shakespeare's popular drama chronicles a Republic in crisis, threatened by a man of power who must be stopped by a man of honor. This production is supported by the prestigious Shakespeare in American Communities grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. BTE's acting interns will join the ensemble in this production at the Alvina Krause Theatre.
Murder at the Howard Johnson's
March brings something completely different: belly laughs galore with "Murder at the Howard Johnson's," by Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick. Set in the classiest of eras, the late 70s, spoiled used-to-be ingénue Arlene, played by Dowd, and her lover, the air-headed dentist Mitchell, played by Goode, check into a cheap motel and plot to kill Arlene's unsuspecting nebbish husband, Paul, played by Stropnicky. Cannaday directs the farce, which runs from March 2 to 25.
In the Next Room
The main stage season closes with "In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play" by Sarah Ruhl. At the dawn of the age of electricity, Dr. Givings performs experimental treatments in his home office on Victorian women suffering from hysteria. Intrigued by what's going on in the next room, Dr. Givings' wife, Catherine, discovers the "shocking" side-effects (or unexpected benefits) of her husband's revolutionary gadget.
"In the Next Room" is a comedy about adult topics, so parental discretion is advised.
Tickets
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