ITHACA, N.Y.: Hangar Theatre has announced an outdoor summer season of five in-person mainstage productions. The shows share a theme of the healing power of music.
“In 2021, we plan to create art and all of the joy, wonder, and thought that comes with experiencing that art in person, safely,” said artistic director Shirley Serotsky in a statement. “We cannot wait to reunite artists and live audiences with a shared theatrical experience.”
The Hangar staff is working with local designer and Ithaca College professor Steve TenEyck to create a welcoming space where social distancing measures can be followed, as well as all local, state, and federal guidance as it pertains to the performing arts.
The summer season will begin with The REALNESS: another break beat play (June 17-26 ) by Idris Goodwin. The REALNESS tackles history and class collision among a group of hip-hop artists and music journalists.
Following will the musical Once (July 2-17) by Edna Walsh, with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. The love story follows musicians in Ireland, with a cast that doubles as the orchestra.
Next up will be Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The award-winning musical about a 19th-century barber with a vengeance will run July 23 through August 7.
The season will continue with Queens Girl in the World (Aug. 12-21) by Caleen Sinnette Jennings. An encore from Hangar’s virtual 2020 season, this Motown-infused story follows Jacqueline Marie Butler as she journeys from Queens to a private school in Greenwich Village.
Finally, the community-created spectacular An Odyssey will run Aug. 26 through Sept. 4. A co-production with the Cherry Arts, An Odyssey celebrates the communities of Ithaca with a fresh adaptation of Homer’s classic for all ages.
Hangar’s other in-person summer programming will be produced on a smaller scale for safety.
Hangar strives to create work of exceptional quality in the Finger Lakes region while training the next generation of theatre artists.
