Now celebrating its seventh season, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County proudly announces an extraordinary lineup of new and ongoing partnerships for the THEATER UP CLOSE 2012-2013 SEASON. This season features six incredible productions – such as the world premiere of Girls vs. Boys, a new rock musical; two Florida premieres including All New People and The Nutcracker; and a Miami premiere with The Savannah Disputation– from stellar local and national art organizations, all in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater in the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House.
Miami’s Zoetic Stage – a company of South Florida’s most celebrated playwrights, directors and actors – triumphantly returns for its third season at the Adrienne Arsht Center to co-present three exciting productions: Doug Wright’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play, I AM MY OWN WIFE, October 4-21, 2012, opens the season with its striking, one-man play telling the gripping story of German transvestite Charlotte von Mahlsdorf; ALL NEW PEOPLE, January 10-27, 2013, Zach Braff’s contemporary comedy commended by The Huffington Post as “the defining play of a generation”; and Evan Smith’s THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, April 11-28, 2013, a heaven-sent comedy drenched in Southern charm.
After last season’s reinterpretation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s classic The House of Bernarda Alba, the Adrienne Arsht Center and the University of Miami’s Department of Theatre Arts are partnering once again to develop a fresh new piece, GIRLS VS. BOYS, November 1-18, 2012, an original musical written by the creators of The House Theatre of Chicago’s smash hit, The Sparrow.
The critically acclaimed House Theatre of Chicago, which co-produced last season’s wildly successful Death and Harry Houdini, returns for a third season with their holiday play THE NUTCRACKER, November 29, 2012 – December 30, 2012, “a riveting reinvention” (The Chicago Sun-Times) of the classic Christmas story.
Lastly, David Michael Sirois’ Carbonell Award-nominated BROTHERS BECKETT, March 7-24, 2013, is a co-presentation with the Alliance Theatre Lab that depicts the tale of two brothers dealing with codependency and miscommunication. “Brothers Beckett is that rarity, a play that speaks resonantly to its young characters’ contemporaries while entertaining a much broader audience.” (The Miami Herald)
“Following a successful inaugural Theater Up Close season, which included a record number of consecutive sellouts in the Carnival Studio Theater, the Center continues to focus on creating stellar collaborations that feature the greatest South Florida talent and nationally renowned artists and playwrights,” said Scott Shiller, Executive V.P. of the Adrienne Arsht Center. “The six plays selected this season take us on a whirlwind tour from 1940s Berlin to the quiet streets of Savannah and even to an imaginary wintry world. Ranging from heavy drama to a rock musical to cheeky comedy, the season reflects the diversity of our theatergoing audience and the Miami community in general and, at the same time, encourages thoughtful reflection on modern-day society.”
Six show packages are just $160!
Subscriptions to the six-show 12-13 Theater Up Close Season are available at more than 35% off the single ticket price.
Subscriptions are on sale to members and the general public beginning June 11 through the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at www.arshtcenter.org.
Single tickets to I Am My Own Wife will be available to members beginning July 23 and to the general public on July 30. Tickets for the remaining five shows are available to members beginning August 6 and to the general public on September 8.
Programming for the 2012-2013 Theater Up Close season features the following:
Zoetic Stage and The Adrienne Arsht Center present
I AM MY OWN WIFE by Doug Wright
October 4-21, 2012
“The most stirring new work to appear on Broadway!” – The New York Times
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play, Doug Wright’s I Am My Own Wife is the astonishing story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a Berlin transvestite, who survived first the Nazis and then the Communists—as a woman.
With Carbonell Award-winning actor Tom Wahl portraying the elegant Charlotte and more than 30 other characters, I Am My Own Wife is a remarkable one-man tour de force – strikingly political and beautifully humane.
The Adrienne Arsht Center and University of Miami’s Department of Theatre Arts present
GIRLS VS. BOYS, A loud new musical
Book and Lyrics by Chris Mathews, Jake Minton and Nathan Allen
Music by Kevin O’Donnell and Nathan Allen
November 1-18, 2012
“A made-from-scratch new rock musical in the Spring Awakening or American Idiot mode!” – The Chicago Tribune
For sister and brother Sam and Casey entering the game of adolescence on opposite sides could be deadly. Girls vs. Boys’ soul-bearing score of throbbing rock, punk, metal and more illuminates the high-stakes, life-and-death game of love and sex that no one is prepared for. Fighting a fierce battle with parties and pills — will they find love or lose each other?
The multi-faceted collaboration between the University of Miami’s Department of Theatre Arts and the Adrienne Arsht Center continues to serve as a professional learning experience that offers the theater majors at the University an opportunity to work with seasoned professionals in creating a professional production. UM’s talented student actors will be cast as the battling teens. Also, students majoring in technical theater and design will work side-by-side with the Adrienne Arsht Center/UM production and creative team to create a professional set, costumes and lighting design and assisting the production manager, stage manager and other key production staff members. In addition, members of the House Theatre will mentor students as visiting artists to further explore and develop this exciting musical.
The Adrienne Arsht Center presents
The House Theatre of Chicago’s
THE NUTCRACKER
Book by Phillip Klapperich and Jake Minton
Music by Kevin O’Donnell
Lyrics by Jake Minton
Directed and Choreographed by Tommy Rapley
Based on the story by E.T.A. Hoffman
November 29, 2012 – December 30, 2012
“A riveting reinvention” – The Chicago Sun-Times
The House’s fantastical expansion of this holiday classic centers on young Clara’s journey to save Christmas. With the help of a magical Nutcracker, this brave little girl will fight the Rat King and save her family! This modern holiday production weaves together riveting dialogue, astonishing puppetry, original song and spellbinding spectacle to tell a heartwarming, darkly moving story of magic and hope — a fun outing fit for the whole family.
Zoetic Stage and The Adrienne Arsht Center present
ALL NEW PEOPLE by Zach Braff
January 10-27, 2013
“The defining play of a generation.” – The Huffington Post
From Zach Braff, the writer, director and lead of the hit film Garden State and star of the long-running TV comedy “Scrubs,” All New People is a fresh look at unexpected and accidental friendships that arise in life’s most trying moments.
Charlie is having a tough time with life and, on his 35th birthday, decides to call it quits. Ruining his plans is a parade of hilariously odd but engaging characters who are somehow sent to save his life.
The Alliance Theatre Lab and The Adrienne Arsht Center present
BROTHERS BECKETT by David Michael Sirois
March 7 – 24, 2013
“Brothers Beckett is that rarity, a play that speaks resonantly to its young characters’ contemporaries while entertaining a much broader audience.” – The Miami Herald
Kevin Beckett, Yale alumnus, is awaiting the arrival of his beloved girlfriend named Tuesday, who will be spending a perfect week with him and his roommate/brother, Brad. When Kevin divulges to Brad that he plans on proposing, Brad tries to find any way possible to keep his brother from moving out of their bunk-bedded, pink-walled studio apartment.
A hilarious and irreverent riff on friendship, family, and adult boys who don’t want to grow up, Brothers Beckett is a satirical portrait of slacker siblings laced with sharp banter and dark humor, written by The Alliance Theater Lab’s own Carbonell Award-nominated resident playwright, David Michael Sirois.
Zoetic Stage and The Adrienne Arsht Center present
THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION by Evan Smith
April 11-28, 2013
“With seemingly endless side-splitting moments, it may well be the funniest play of the season.”
– The Boston Metro.
The Savannah Disputation is a heaven-sent comedy drenched in southern charm, infused with a pinch of hellfire and a dollop of damnation. Two daffy Catholic sisters find themselves in a verbal smack down with a door-to-door evangelist in their own home. Crackling with wit and brimming with emotion, what unfolds is an up-to-the-minute comedy about organized religion, faith and morals in the not-so-United States.