SAN DIEGO, CALIF.: Cygnet Theatre has announced its 2016—17 season, featuring seven productions.
“I’m really proud of the diversity and quality of this season,” said artistic director Sean Murray in a statement. “To go from a stripper to an ex-con, to some ‘bad Jews,’ to one naughty little boy in just one season—that’s exciting.”
The season begins with Gypsy (July 14—Sept. 4), with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, about the vaudevillian striptease extraordinaire Gypsy Rose Lee. Linda Libby, Allison Spratt Pearce, Katie Whalley-Banville, and Manny Fernandes will star. David Brannen will choreograph. Terry O’Donnell will provide music direction, and Sean Murray will direct.
Next will be August Wilson’s Seven Guitars (Sept. 28—Nov. 6), about a group of friends who gather in a backyard tenement in Pittsburgh to mourn the loss of a blues guitarist and singer in 1948. Running in repertory with Seven Guitars will be Wilson’s King Hedley II (Sept. 29—Nov. 6), about a man recently released from prison attempting to rebuild his life in a community of crime and struggle.
Following will be A Christmas Carol (Nov. 22—Dec. 24), adapted by Sean Murray from Charles Dickens, with an original score by Billy Thompson. Patrick Marion will provide music direction, and Murray will direct.
Next will be Joshua Harmon’s Bad Jews (Jan. 12—Feb. 12, 2017), about three cousins who fight over a family heirloom after their grandfather’s funeral. Rob Lufty will direct.
Following will be On the 20th Century (March 9—April 30, 2017), with book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and music by Cy Coleman, about former lovers who reunite on a luxury train traveling from Chicago to New York City and create a play from scratch on the ride. Murray will direct.
The season will conclude with the West Coast regional premiere of Shockheaded Peter (May 18—June 18, 2017), with music by Adrian Huge, Martyn Jacques, and Adrian Stout; lyrics by Jacques; and a book by Julian Bleach, Anthony Cairns, Graeme Gilmour, and Tamzin Griffen. The story, based on “Struwwelpeter” by Heinrich Hoffmann, is about nightmares of naughty children spurred by misguided parents. Lufty will direct.
