PHILADLEPHIA: Arden Theatre Company has announced its 2019-20 season, featuring seven productions.
“The Arden Theatre Company is pleased to announce its 2019-20 subscription season—seven productions that we will bring to life for audiences here in Philadelphia,” said artistic director Terry Nolen in a statement.
The season will kick off with Ragtime (Sept. 19-Oct. 20), with book by Terrence McNally, music by Lynn Ahrens, and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty. The musical, based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, follows a family in New York City pursuing the American dream at the turn of the 20th century. Nolen will direct.
Next up will be Tiny Beautiful Things (Oct. 24-Dec. 8), adapted by Nia Vardalos from the book by Cheryl Strayed. The play is about Strayed’s time as an advice columnist.
Following will be An Iliad (Nov. 14-Dec. 15), adapted by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare. This retelling of Homer’s classic presents the Trojan War alongside modern-day life. Rebecca Wright will direct.
The season will continue with the world premiere of My General Tubman (Jan. 16-March 1, 2020), by Lorene Cary, about Harriet Tubman and her enduring impact. James Ijames will direct.
Next will be A Streetcar Named Desire (March 12-April 12, 2020), by Tennessee Williams, about a Southern belle living with her sister and brother-in-law in a New Orleans tenement. Nolen will direct.
Following will be Nilaja Sun’s No Child…(April 23-May 24), a one-woman show about the playwright’s struggles to lead a city public school classroom.
The season will close out with Once on This Island (May 21-June 21, 2020), with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty. Based on the novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy, the musical is about a fearless peasant girl in the French Antilles who is willing to risk everything for love. Malika Oyetimein will direct.
Arden Theatre Company, founded in 1988, brings educational productions and programs to the artists, audiences, and students of the greater Philadelphia region.
