UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Centre Stage will produce six shows during its 2017-18 mainstage season, with tickets on sale beginning Monday, July 17.
“This season offers something for everyone and theatrical riches for all,” said William J. Doan, newly appointed director of the School of Theatre and artistic director of Penn State Centre Stage. “Preparing, educating, and training our students for a life in the arts is at the heart of our season selection process. Please join us as we continue to find new and compelling ways to entertain, engage, and offer experiences that allow audiences to share directly in our students’ growth and development.”
The schedule begins with a fall opening night celebration and a new play, "Your Blues Ain’t Sweet Like Mine," by Tony Award-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson, directed by Steve Broadnax III, Sept. 6-13, in the Penn State Downtown Theatre. This production brings humor and poignancy to one of the most potent conversations in American life.
Next it’s an all-time favorite, "Sweet Charity," Oct. 3-8, at the Playhouse Theatre, with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and book by Neil Simon. Directed by Erin Farrell Speer, "Sweet Charity," follows Charity Hope Valentine in her pursuit of finding true love.
"Argonautika," takes center stage Oct. 24 to Nov. 3, directed by Steve Snyder. Written by Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman and adapted from "The Voyage of Jason and the Argonauts," "Argonautika" is a modern take on an old tale of ambition, deception, heroism, love and unintended consequences.
Nov. 15 and 16 in the Playhouse Theatre, the School of Theatre and the School of Music will present Mozart’s "Cosí fan tutte," a fully produced opera with chamber orchestra, sets and costumes. This comedy with a tragedy underneath is the perfect setting for the uncanny genius of Mozart, so clearly revealed in this dazzling score.
In February, theater at Penn State will celebrate with a spring opening night reception and the new musical "Love in Hate Nation," Feb. 13-24, with music, lyrics and book by Joe Iconis, in the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center. Directed by John Simpkins, "Love in Hate Nation" is a romance set in a 1960’s juvenile hall for girls. The production is the first project in a new musicals initiative in Penn State Musical Theatre.
The season ends with the Tony Award for Best Musical, "Kiss of the Spiderwoman," April 3-7, in the Playhouse Theatre. With music by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by Terrence McNally, and directed by Darcy Evans, "Kiss of the Spiderwoman" follows Luis Alberto Molina, in prison in a Latin American country for corrupting a minor, in his fantasy world to free prison life.
For additional show information, visit www.theatre.psu.edu. Tickets go on sale July 17, and are available at Penn State Tickets Downtown, Eisenhower Box Office, Bryce Jordan Center, or by calling 814-863-0255 or 1-800-ARTS-TIX. Save 10 percent when you buy tickets to four or more shows.
Penn State Centre Stage is the professional arm of the Penn State School of Theatre and serves as a training program for emerging theater professionals. One of its unique attributes is that it creates collaborations between established industry professionals and theater students from Penn State and other colleges and universities. Each Centre Stage production is created from conception to completion at Penn State using skills mastered and taught by its theater faculty. As a result, Penn State is one of the top-ranked universities in the country for its theater training programs.