Although it will be difficult for the 2009-2010 theater season in New York to come close to the banner prior year, the shows scheduled to open in New York this fall have great promise.
The production that has me most excited are "The Brother/Sister Plays, Parts 1 & 2" at the Public. Authored by the immensely talented young playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, the three plays offered as two shows begins previews at the Public in late October. McCraney wrote last season's "Wig Out," which was one of the highlights of the prior season for me. From all accounts, these plays build on, and go beyond, that promise.
The other plays that I look forward to in NY this fall include Sarah Ruhl's "In The Next Room (or the vibrator play)," which also begins previews in late October. Ruhl's plays can be hit or miss for me, but the reviews from the Berkeley Rep production of this play suggest this is among her best works to date. I am also looking forward to the nine Horton Foote plays that make up Signature Theater's three-show event "Orphans Home Cycle." The three shows are being introduced over time, and I think I will wait until Spring 2010 to catch one of the few all day marathons.
I also hope to catch Jude Law in Michael Grandage's Donmar Warehouse production of "Hamlet." This will likely be a tough ticket to get if it receives the favorable notices here that it received in London.
On the musical front, one of my favorite shows from last year - "Memphis" is finally finding its way to Broadway. The same two outstanding leads (Chad Kimball & Montego Glover) have been retained from the prior productions, and I am hopeful that the latter part of the second act has been improved. I also hope to finally catch "Fela!," which I missed off-Broadway last year. The revivals of "Ragtime" (from DC's Kennedy Center) and Encore's "Finian's Rainbow" also hold much promise.
I am waiting for more word on "Broke-ology" at Lincoln Center's Newhouse, Anna Deveare Smith's "Let Me Down Easy" at Second Stage, Roundabouts "Ordinary Days," and the David Cromer directed Neil Simon revivals of "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "Broadway Bound."
The fall does not look nearly as promising on the West Coast due, in part, to retrenchment from the major west coast regionals such as the Center Theater Group. Nevertheless, among the productions that I look forward to seeing are the touring company of "August: Osage County" at the Ahmanson, "Parade" at the Taper, "Equivocation" at the Geffen, Annette Benning's "Medea" at UCLA, The Druid Ireland's "Walworth Farce" and "New Electric Ballroom" both at UCLA, and "Saturn Returns" at South Coast Rep. I am also intrigued by the new Green Day musical "American Idiot" which I will see at Berkely Rep in September. I loved the Green Day album of the same title, but wonder if it will work dramatically. Time will tell.
So, what is with the Anita Bryant in this post's title? That would be a reference to the exciting production of Brian Christopher William's funny and moving "Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins," which is given a sparkling production at West Coast Ensemble's El Centro theater. This show proves how great small venue theater can be. Critical to the show's success is a true star-making perfomance by young actor Wyatt Fenner. Fenner will unquestionably be at the top of many casting agents' lists for his incredible work in this show. I cannot say enough good things about his performance, but the whole cast of the show deserves praise. To those in SoCal, you owe it to yourself to book to this show before it sells out its limited run.
