PHILADELPHIA: The Wilma Theater has announced its 2016-17 season, which will include a world premiere featuring the theatre’s resident HotHouse acting company.
The season will launch with Stew and Heidi Rodewald’s Notes of a Native Song (Sept. 5-11), copresented with FringeArts. The musical, inspired by writer and activist James Baldwin, uses music, video, and spoken word to capture his legacy.
Next up will be Andrew Bovell’s When the Rain Stops Falling (Oct. 12-Nov. 6). The play follows four generations of a family from 1959 to 2039, exploring what might happen to humanity in the face of climate change. Artistic director Blanka Zizka will direct.
Wajdi Mouawad’s Seuls (Nov. 29-Dec. 11) will be next. Written, directed, and performed by Mouawad, the semi-autobiographical show follows the Lebanese-Canadian artist’s childhood, when he moved to a new country to escape the civil war at home.
The following show will be Nick Payne’s Constellations (Jan. 11-Feb. 5, 2017). The play follows the unending possibilities of a couple’s relationship. The production will feature HotHouse resident acting company members Sarah Gliko and Jered McLenigan and will be directed by Tea Alagic.
Next up will be a world premiere production (March 22-April 16, 2017), which will be announced in June. The show will also feature the HotHouse company, along with international artists.
Founded in 1973, the Wilma Theater aims to produce bold, original shows that represent a range of voices, viewpoints, and styles.
