MINNEAPOLIS: Jungle Theater has announced its 2018-19 Season, which for the first time will be expanded to seven plays. These seven productions include three world premieres, two of them commissioned by Jungle.
“I am beyond excited to announce our 28th season, which features plays that are smart, surprising, and inventive,” said Jungle Theater artistic director Sarah Rasmussen in a statement. “Best of all, they are truly Jungle shows: timely, big-hearted stories with richly drawn characters, ideally suited for our unique, intimate space.”
The season opens with the Jungle-commissioned world premiere of Little Women (Sept. 15-Oct. 21), by Louisa May Alcott, adapted by Kate Hamill, an adaptation of the beloved classic about the four March sisters’ journey from adolescence to adulthood during the Civil War. Rasmussen will direct.
Next will be the Jungle co-commission and co-world premiere (with Chicago’s Northlight Theater and the Bay Area’s Marin Theatre Company) of The Wickhams (December 1-30), by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, about the downstairs at Pemberley, which is a-twitter with the bustle of servants and the arrival of the Bennet clan as seen in last season’s production, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. Christina Baldwin will direct.
Following will be the regional premiere of The Children (Jan.12-Feb.10, 2019), by Lucy Kirkwood, about two retired nuclear scientists who reside in a quiet cabin on the lonely British coast while the outside world erupts in utter chaos, until an old friend arrives with a frightening plan. Casey Stangl will direct.
Next will be the regional premiere of Schoolgirls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play (March 16-April 14, 2019), by Jocelyn Bioh, about the reigning queen bee at Ghana’s most exclusive boarding school whose sights are set on the Miss Universe pageant until a new student captures the attention of the pageant recruiter, and the queen bee’s hive-minded friends. Shá Cage will direct.
Following will be the regional premiere of Every Brilliant Thing (Dates and Venue to be determined), by Duncan MacMillan, a one-person show about a seven-year-old’s attempt to cheer up his sad mom by making a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. David Ivers will star and Rasmussen will direct.
Next onstage will be Small Mouth Sounds (May 18-June 16, 2019), by Bess Wohl, about six wildly disparate urbanites who embark on a silent retreat in the overwhelming quiet of the woods. The production will feature Christina Baldwin, Jim Lichtscheidl, and Eric Sharp, with direction by Lauren Keating.
Closing out the season will be the world premiere of Stinkers (July 20-Aug. 18, 2019), by Josh Tobiessen, about two adorable kids, one stay-at-home dad, and one felonious meemaw. The production will feature Sally Wingert with direction by Rasmussen.
Founded in 1991, Jungle Theater produces imaginative work in an intimate setting and is committed to producing and commissioning new work.
