BURLINGTON, VT.: Vermont Stage has announced its 2019-20 season, featuring four productions, a holiday tradition, and a summer special event.
“We have a diverse range of offerings this season,” said artistic director Cristina Alicea in a statement. “From a lighthearted romance with acoustic guitar and ukulele, to meaty, socially conscious plays worthy of discussion, to a musical biography of a legend of rock ’n’ roll. I managed to mix in a little something for everyone this season while adhering to our mission to create theatre that makes our community a better place.”
The season will open with Audrey Cefaly’s The Last Wide Open (Oct. 2-19), featuring music by Matthew M. Nielson. The romantic comedy follows a young waitress and an Italian immigrant who work at the same restaurant and find themselves alone at the eatery during a late-night thunderstorm. Jamien Forrest will direct.
Just in time for the holiday season will be the company’s annual Winter Tales (Dec. 11-15), conceived by Mark Nash and hosted by Kathryn Blume. The evening will feature songs written and performed by Patti Casey and Pete Sutherland, poetry from the Young Writers Project, hot apple cider, and molasses cookies. Alicea will direct.
Next up will be Mark St. Germain’s relativity (Jan. 22-Feb. 9, 2020), about the mysterious disappearance of Albert and Mileva Einstein’s baby daughter in 1904. Jordan Gullikson will direct.
Following will be Marie and Rosetta (March 4-22, 2020), by George Brant, about the musical duo of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and her protégée Marie Knight. Jarvis Antonio Green will direct.
The season will continue with Lee Hall’s The Pitmen Painters (April 15-May 10, 2020). Inspired by a book by William Feaver, the play is about a group of British miners who discover a new way to express themselves. Alicea will direct.
Also part of the programming will be the annual Bake Off (June 9-14), conceived by Alicea. This special event takes one play, breaks it into three parts, and adds three directors and three separate casts into the mix. The chosen play will be announced in the spring.
In addition, the Vermont Stage Youth Company at Main Street Landing will present productions—which will be announced at a later date—throughout the mainstage season.
Founded in 1994, Vermont Stage is Burlington’s only year-round professional theatre company.
