Bookended by two of Broadway's biggest musical hits, Pioneer Theatre Company has announced seven productions for its 2006-07 season.
PTC is among the first regional, professional companies to acquire the rights to "Les Miserables," which will close the season, and has also secured the rights to "Chicago" — the season opener — which is still running on Broadway.
Also on the docket are artistic director Charles Morey's adaptation and translation of Georges Feydeau's French farce, "The Ladies Man," an all-new adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice" (by James Maxwell and revised by Alan Stanford from Jane Austen's classic novel) and PTC's first-ever production of William Shakespeare's "Othello."
Two classic comedies in the lineup are Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's "You Can't Take It With You" and Neil Simon's acclaimed "Lost in Yonkers."
"Ever since I saw 'Les Miz' on Broadway in 1988 I have loved it and wanted to do it," Morey said before leaving for a five-week fellowship at the MacDowell Colony in New Hampshire. "I thought then, maybe it would be 10 years before it was available. Instead it's been nearly 20, but it is a very exciting project."
Several Utah schools have produced the high school edition of "Les Miserables," but this will be the first time a Utah company has acquired the rights to a fully staged professional production. "I've also been trying to get the rights to 'Chicago' for 10 years, and things finally fell into place. Opening and closing with these two shows is really exciting. They bookend a strong season."
Of the seven shows, five are family-friendly, according to PTC managing director Chris Lino. The two that are not are "Chicago" and "Othello." " 'Chicago,' as anyone who saw the PG-13-rated movie knows, has some mature themes, and 'Othello' is a towering tragedy that is probably for more serious-minded theatergoers."
New this coming season will also be a change in opening nights. For the past several years, PTC has opened its shows on Wednesdays. Beginning next fall, opening night will change to Fridays, with dress rehearsals on Wednesdays and Thursdays prior to opening.
In addition to its traditional season-ticket packages, ranging from $92-$244, PTC is offering two new season-ticket options — $99 for a "rush pass" (for available seating one hour prior to curtain) and $70 for a seven-play upper-balcony season ticket (581-6961 or www.pioneertheatre.org).
Season line-up
Here are the dates for Pioneer Theatre Company's 2006-07 season productions:
"Chicago," Sept. 29-Oct. 14
"Pride and Prejudice," Nov. 3-18
"You Can't Take It With You," Dec. 8-23
"The Ladies' Man," Jan. 12-27, 2007
"Othello," Feb. 16-March 3
"Lost in Yonkers," March 16-31
"Les Miserables," April 27-May 12
E-mail: ivan@desnews.com