Without further ado, here is what you can see at Lyric Arts next season (visit Lyric Arts' website or Facebook page for updated information.)
If/Then—September 7 – 23, 2018
Music by Tom Kitt
Lyrics and Book by Brian
Yorkey
Exploring the themes of
choice, chance and infinite possibilities, If/Then
showcases an extraordinary list of songs that follows the journey of one
woman with two paths of possibility. The New
York Magazine says If/Then is
“intense & thrilling. The most compelling musical in years!”
If/Then, a Tony
Award nominee for Best Original Score, tells the story divorced 38-year-old
Elizabeth, who is hoping to find a new start in New York City. When Elizabeth
finds herself in a park, she has the chance to go by a new name: either “Liz”
or “Beth”, ultimately showing the two possibilities that her life could take.
If/Then made its Broadway debut in
March 2014 at the Richard Rodgers theatre starring Idina Menzel in her first
Boradway production after starring in Disney’s Frozen.
God of Carnage—October 12–28, 2018
By Yazmina Reza
A civil conversation turns to childish chaos in God of Carnage, which tells the
hilarious story of an attempt at parental peace talks that devolves into
parents behaving badly after their children are involved in a playground
fight. Considered to be a dark
comedy—with no manners—the show explores the themes of our place in society and
the perceptions that it provides us as well as how civility is formed.
As a “pulls no punches” playwright, Yazmina Reza dives in
to the deep end of parenthood and people’s perceptions in a way that takes the
audience beyond the surface. New York Times theater critic, Ben
Brantley says, “God of Carnage… definitely
delivers the cathartic release of watching other people’s marriages go boom.”
God of Carnage was
first produced on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs theater in 2009.
Prancer—November
16–December 23, 2018
By Greg Taylor
Light
up your holiday season with a heartwarming tale of a young girl’s steadfast
belief in miracles—and Santa. In spite
of recent heartbreak, young Jessica Riggs’ holds tight to her bright eyed view
of life. When she discovers an injured
reindeer in her backyard, she is convinced that it is Prancer. Her unwavering
hope in healing and in returning Prancer to Santa inspires the community around
her, while also challenging her disheartened father.
Based
on the 1989 feature film, also written by Greg Taylor, this magical tale is
sure to capture the Christmas spirit in all who see it. The play was first produced at The Rose
Theater in 2016. This is the first time
audiences will be able to see this charming play here in the Twin Cities.
Winter Wonderettes—November 29–December 23, 2018
By
Roger Bean
"The
perfect Christmas revue! Crackles with energy and joy!" says LA Weekly. Winter Wonderettes is a seasonal celebration that finds
our fabulous and funny female quartette entertaining at the annual Harper’s
Hardware Holiday Party.
Our lovely leading ladies use
their talent and creative ingenuity to save the holiday party when Santa is
suddenly missing! This holiday revue features some of the ’60s great versions
of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell
Rock,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and “Winter Wonderland.”
Winter Wonderettes is the holiday extension of the long-running off-Broadway hit The Marvelous Wonderettes. The show will be making its Twin Cities
debut on our stage.
Dead Man’s
Cell Phone—January 11–27, 2019
By
Sarah Ruhl
In
today’s world, most people carry with them a cell phone. A cell phone that holds the information and
data in our lives but also controls the connections we have with people. In Dead
Man’s Cell Phone, a wildly imaginative comedy, we explore the connection and disconnections that technology
brings to our lives.
Sitting
in a small café, this play begins with the incessant ringing of a
cellphone. We quickly learn the man’s
whose cell phone is ringing is dead.
Jean, a mostly unexceptional women, decides to answer the dead man’s
cell phone. She soon finds herself connecting with his family and uncovering
some unusual information about the man’s life, all while falling in love with
his brother.
Dead Man’s Cell Phone was awarded a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New
Play. The show made its debut in 2006 at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.
Sense and Sensibility—February 15–March 3, 2019
Book by Jane Austen
Adapted by Kate Hamill
Sense
and Sensibility is
a story of sisterhood and the adventures of finding love, reveling in romance
and hurting from heartache. Each sister’s experience is deeply rooted in her
own level of sense and sensibility.
Adapted from Jane Austen’s
beloved story, Sense and Sensibility
follows the lives of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood after the death of their
father. The close bond between the sisters persists not only through their new
circumstances, but also their romantic relationship trials.
The Kate Hamill adaptation of Sense and Sensibility made its world
debut by Bedlam at the Sheen Center in New York City in 2014 with a minimalist production
directed by Eric Tucker.
Evita—March 22–April 14, 2019
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Born into poverty, Eva Maria
Duarte de Peron rose to her position of political power with a great passion
for the people of Argentina. Evita, a Tony Award winner for Best
Musical, celebrates her life and legacy with beautiful music by Andrew Lloyd
Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice.
This inspiring story of Eva
Peron, Argentina’s First Lady, recounts her life as a young girl who aspires to
be an actress, but ultimately finds success in politics and influence with the
people of Argentina. This powerhouse
musical debuted 40 years ago at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco, followed
by the Broadway production at the Broadway Theatre in September of 1979.
Junie B. Jones
is Not a Crook—May 3–21
By Allison Gregory
Book by Barbara Park
Everyone’s favorite first
grader returns in this hilarious tale that focuses on the importance of
honesty.
Junie B. Jones has a huge
problem! Her furry red mittens are missing, and that can only mean one thing—they’ve
been stolen! But when Junie finds a really cool pen on the floor, the finders
keepers’ moto applies—or does it?
The play, adapted by Allison
Gregory, is based on the popular book series by Barbara Park. Junie
B. Jones is Not a Crook finds Junie B facing tough decisions about what is
right and wrong. She faces the moral
dilemma of defining the differences between “finding” something and “stealing.”
All young girls face these moments of morality each day and this show is a
delightful portray of Junie’s experience and how she navigates her way through
the situation.
A Raisin in the Sun
Written by Lorraine Vivian
Hansberry
Our season would not be
complete without honoring the first play to debut on Broadway that was written
by a women of color, A Raisin in the Sun. We are honored to bring this show to our
stage during the 60th anniversary of its premiere at the Ethel
Barrymore Theater.
Inspired by Langston Hughes’
poem “Harlem” (also known as “A Dream Deferred”), A Raisin in the Sun is a heart wrenching and candid look at a family’s
struggle to not only bring themselves up from poverty but to achieve the dreams
that can now be possible, addresses the topics of race and culture in a world
that is still held back by prejudice.
After the death of their
father, an African-American family is given the chance to accept an insurance
buyout, ultimately leading to struggles over racial inequality and the
importance of one’s culture.
Legally Blonde—July 12–August 4, 2019
Music and Lyrics by Nell
Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe
Book by Heather Hach
Based on the novel by Amanda
Brown
Based on the novel written by
Amanda Brown, Legally Blonde became a
popular musical when it made its Browadway debut in 2007. The New York Times, wrote that the show was
a "high-energy…. hymn to the glories of girlishness."
Legally
Blonde is all
about Elle Woods, sorority president! After she is dumped by her boyfriend
Warner for a more serious girlfriend, Elle decides she will do anything to win
him back, even if it means going to Harvard Law School. With the help of her
sorority sisters and one really cute law-teaching assistant, Elle proves that a
blonde can make it in the high-stakes world of law.