Arizona Theatre Company Announces 2013-2014 Season

As the preeminent professional theatre in the state, Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) announces its 47th season with the production of six electrifying plays for 2013-2014, with performances in Tucson and Phoenix. David Ira Goldstein, ATC's Artistic Director, announced the season that will include the Arizona premieres of three of Broadway's newest smash hits, a delightful long-running Broadway musical comedy and will revisit two cherished classic stories in vibrant new productions.

The season kicks off with Oscar Wilde's beloved comedy, "The Importance of Being Earnest," the first time in 25 years that ATC has produced this classic favorite. "The Mountaintop" is the powerful Broadway play about the final night of DR. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life. The outrageous high-energy Broadway musical hit, "Xanadu" is on the season, along with the madcap antics that ensue in "Around the World in 80 Days." "Venus in Fur" is the sexy, cat and mouse hit of Broadway last season. Rounding out the season will be the Arizona premiere of "Other Desert Cities," the multi-award-winning Broadway smash about one family in a neighboring desert city's struggle dealing with a surprising and troublesome history.

"Our mission at ATC is to bring together a cross-section of Arizona's communities to be entertained, provoked and astonished by wonderful artists telling stories in the most thrilling ways possible," said Artistic Director David Ira Goldstein in announcing the 2013-2014 season. "Our hope is always to create dialogue with our audiences about the diverse work we do. For our new season, we were able to secure the rights to produce some of the hottest, most provocative and most entertaining new plays and musicals direct from Broadway as well as the perfect artists to help us create new looks at classic stories. It is a season that finds towering, engaging characters in extraordinary circumstances. Next year will find some of our favorite artists returning, but also an array of new voices, directors, actors and designers pointing us towards a future that has all of us here at ATC deeply engaged and full of wondrous expectation."

The 2013-2014 Season:

"The Importance of Being Earnest"
by Oscar Wilde
Directed by Stephen Wrentmore
Tucson: September 14, 2013 - October 5, 2013
Phoenix: October 10-27, 2013

At a refined bachelor flat trouble is brewing! In Oscar Wilde's most beloved and endlessly delightful classic, Jack is in love with Gwendolen, Algernon is in love with Cecily. But Gwendolen and Cecily are both in love with Ernest, who in fact does not exist. In a tangle of mistaken identity and delicious wordplay, the lovers also face the indomitable force of Lady Bracknell. Full of sparkling wit, provocative remarks and with satirical humor at every turn, this truly is one of the most loved and enduringly popular plays of all time, brought to new life with ATC's panache.

"The Mountaintop"
by Katori Hall
Directed by Lou Bellamy
A co-production with Penumbra Theatre Company at the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN
Arizona Premiere
Tucson: October 19, 2013 - November 9, 2013
Phoenix: November 14, 2013 - December 1, 2013

The Lorraine Motel. Memphis. 1968. In this gripping re-imagining of the events on the eve of his assassination, we find Martin Luther King in his hotel room after delivering his most memorable speech - when an unexpected visitor arrives with surprising news. Through this encounter, Dr. King is forced to confront his doubts, destiny and legacy to his people. A soul-stirring hit in London and on Broadway, "The Mountaintop's" dramatic, magical storytelling gives us insight into King, the man, and reaches a summit that might surprise you. Mature language.

"Xanadu"
Book by Douglas Carter Beane
Music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne
Directed by David Ira Goldstein
A co-production with Village Theatre, Seattle, WA
Tucson: November 30, 2013 - December 21, 2013
Phoenix: December 31, 2013 - January 19, 2014

More Articles by This Author...