The Salem Theatre Company has announced the schedule for its landmark Seventh Season, with nine productions to be staged around the North Shore, including the group’s first musical.
Tickets for all productions – both Main Stage and Second Stage – are available at www.salemtheatre.com or by calling the Box Office at (978) 790-8546. Main Stage passes are available for $50 and are good for one adult admission to all three Main Stage performances – a savings of over 15%. Passes can also be purchased at www.salemtheatre.com.
October 2009: Supernatural at sea! The 7th annual offering of Chilling Tales: Eerie Legends of the Supernatural at Sea once again goes aboard the Friendship, Salem’s tall ship docked in Salem Harbor. This year’s stories feature classic tales of maritime macabre by Edgar Allen Poe, in celebration of his 200th birth year. Produced in partnership with the National Park Service. Stories adapted by Dominick and Matteo Pangallo, directed by John Fogle, and managed by Art Hennessey. Weekends in October starting October 9, 5:30-9:30pm, Tickets $15/$10, Friendship at Derby Wharf, Salem.
December 2009: Holiday traditions, classic and comic. The STC stages its 5th annual production of Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales, with musicians, refreshments, and Thomas’ classic radio play in performance, directed by Caroline Watson-Felt.
Adults seeking for some holiday humor can catch the STC’s production of the hysterical and edgy The Eight: Reindeer Monologues by Jeff Goode and directed by Catherine Bertrand.
A Child’s Christmas in Wales, December 4 and 12 at 7pm, and December 6 at 2pm, tickets $15/$10, venue TBA. The Eight, December 5 and 11 at 7pm, and December 13 at 2pm, tickets $15, venue TBA. Adult combination ticket to both plays $25.
February 2010: Masterpiece of black farce… The first Main Stage production of the Seventh Season features Joe Orton’s Loot, directed by Pauline Wright. Orton’s classic, darkly comic play has been called a masterpiece of black farce. The script follows the misfortunes of two young thieves, their floundering attempts to throw the law off their trail, the loot they made off with, a nurse with a vicious secret, an innocent man, and one corpse. February 11-28, Tickets $20/$15, venue TBA.
April 2010: All too timely comedy… The STC welcomes spring with its first ever production outside the city of Salem. The second Main Stage of the Seventh Season is Michael Frayn’s Alphabetical Order, directed by John Fogle. This ironically timely comedy relates the final days of a provincial newspaper and the battle between the easy going manager and her fiercely organized new young assistant. April 8-25, Tickets $20/$15, Marblehead Little Theater, 12 School Street, Marblehead.
Also in April. Shakespeare open mic. The STC once again celebrates the Bard’s birthday with their 7th Annual Shakespeare Open Mic Night. April 23rd, 8:00pm, FREE, Gulu-Gulu Café, Salem.
May 2010. STC on stage in Boston. The STC looks forward to returning for the third time to present a one-act as part of the Boston Theater Marathon. This season’s offering is yet to be announced. For those unable to make it into Boston for the performance, the STC will reprise the work for free at the Salem Arts Festival in June. Details about the STC’s entry in the Marathon will be announced in May.
June 2010. Peace, love, and HAIR! For the third and final Main Stage production of the 7th Season, the STC presents its first musical: Hair, written by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, with music by Galt MacDermot, directed by Catherine Bertrand. Hair is the story of a tribe of hippies living and loving in New York City in 1968. The play focuses on the life changing decision faced by one member of the group, to either follow his heart or conform and accept his fate when drafted to go to Vietnam. June 4-20, Tickets $20/$15, venue TBA.
July 2010. Festival of original theater returns! Returning for the third time, the STC presents the wildly popular Moments of Play – the North Shore’s own festival of original plays by up-and-coming playwrights. This experimental “test kitchen” for new works is always an enjoyable bash of theatrical creativity. New this year are is an expanded offering of programs over the four days of the festival, including symposia with notable playwrights, workshops, and, of course, performances of new, original works. The festival is produced by Caroline Watson-Felt. May 6-9, 2010, Tickets $15/$10 for one program’s admission or $50/$35 for a Festival Pass to all five programs, venue TBA.
August 2010. It’s gonna get funny out here. The STC wraps up the Seventh Season with the fourth annual offering of Improv on the Bricks. The free, family-friendly outdoor improv comedy show coincides with the city of Salem’s Heritage Days festival. August 7 and 8 at 3:30pm, FREE, Derby Square on Front Street, Salem.
Throughout the year. Theater classes. Throughout the year, STC’s theater professionals and instructors will offer community classes for children and adults in acting, directing, and other theater arts. Sign up for the STC email list at www.salemtheatre.com for bulletins about classes.
