SEATTLE: Seattle Repertory Theatre has announced its 2017-18 season, featuring nine productions.
“Our 2017-18 season is full of joy, humor, hope, and perseverance,” said artistic director Braden Abraham in a statement. “Through the work of a dynamic and diverse group of exciting artists, this coming season explores our greatest passions, our hopes for the future, and the dark corners within ourselves in the hope of finding a new sense of belonging.”
The season will open with Public Works Seattle’s The Odyssey (Sept. 8-10), adapted by Todd Almond and originally conceived and directed by Lear deBessonet. It is a retelling of the Greek classic about Odysseus and his crew battling monsters and dangers of the high seas. The production, with music and lyrics by Almond, will feature more than 100 Seattle citizens performing with professional actors onstage. Marya Sea Kaminski will direct.
Following will be Pride and Prejudice (Sept. 29-Oct. 29), adapted by Kate Hamill from Jane Austen, a progressive take on the trials and travails of the Bennet family in 19th-century England. The play was developed as part of Seattle Repertory Theatre’s new-play development program. Amanda Dehnert will direct.
Next up will be Stephen Karam’s The Humans (Nov. 17-Dec. 17), about a family who gathers for Thanksgiving dinner, where secrets and fears are revealed. Joe Mantello will direct the play, which is produced as part of the official Broadway national tour.
Following will be August Wilson’s Two Trains Running (Jan. 12-Feb. 11, 2018), produced in association with Arena Stage, about a Pittsburgh diner that is set to be demolished during the Civil Rights Movement in 1969. Juliette Carrillo will direct.
The season will continue with the world premiere of Ibsen In Chicago (Feb. 2-March 4, 2018), by David Grimm, about an ensemble of Scandinavian immigrants who stage an Ibsen play in Chicago in 1882. Abraham will direct.
Next will be Hershey Felder As Irving Berlin (Feb. 23-March 18, 2018), with book by Hershey Felder and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. The play with music will be about Berlin’s life. Trevor Hay will direct.
Next will be the co-world premiere of The Great Leap (March 23-April 22, 2018), by Lauren Yee, produced in association with Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company, about an American college basketball team that travels to Beijing in 1989.
Following will be Danai Gurira’s Familiar (April 27-May 20, 2018), produced in association with the Guthrie Theater, about a first-generation Zimbabwean American family preparing for the marriage of their eldest daughter.
Next will be the world premiere of Mac Beth (May 18-June 17, 2018), adapted and directed by Erica Schmidt. In it, seven young women gather after school to re-tell Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The play will be presented as part of the Seattle Celebrates Shakespeare Festival.
Founded in 1963, Seattle Repertory Theatre produces classic and contemporary plays, provides educational programming, and develops new plays.
