Local News: The Landing Theatre Company Announces 2016-17 Season

Posted by: stephenm518on 2016/7/14 11:00:00 5228 reads T H E L A N D I N G T H E A T R E C O M P A N Y
SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT 2016 -2017


The Landing Theatre Company announces their 2016-17 Season, featuring the World Premiere of SMALL JOKES ABOUT MONSTERS, 2 Regional Premieres, and the nationally-recognized New American Voices Play Reading Series.

HOUSTON - David Rainey, Executive Artistic Director of The Landing Theatre Company (LTC), announces the company's sixth season, and first full season in their new venue downtown: Landing Theatre @ the Docks (formerly home of Catastrophic Theatre and DiverseWorks). This season will feature the world premiere of Steven Strafford's Small Jokes About Monsters, a finalist in the 2016 New American Voices Play Reading Series; the Regional Premiere of Idris Goodwin and Kevin Coval's This is Modern Art, originally commissioned by Steppenwolf; the Regional Premiere of Winter Miller's In Darfur, originally co-commissioned by the Guthrie Theatre and The Playwrights Center and presented at the Public Theater; and the Olivier-nominated Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis.


In addition to the exciting season line-up, this year the company will offer two programs for new works. Landing will open their season with The Redemption Series, a festival of ten-minute plays, presenting original works from playwrights around the country centered on how we respond and recover in times of crisis. Submissions are currently open to any American playwright. Deadline for submissions is August 15. The 2017 New American Voices Play Reading Series, the Landing's nationally renowned series returns, showcasing four full-length plays from our country's top emerging playwrights. Finally, the company will host the inaugural Landing Holiday Concerts, bringing in a diverse mix of bands to benefit The Landing Theatre Company for a month of unique holiday concerts. 18 one night only performances.


THE REDEMPTION SERIES
Group A Plays Open September 21, Through September 25, 2016
Group B Plays Open September 28, Through October 2, 2016

How do we, as a people, come together in times of crisis? When everything we hold dear is stripped away from us, how can we continue on? In the wake of national tragedies we are again confronted with these questions. Featuring new plays by American playwrights from around the country, the Landing Theatre Company seeks to find answers to these questions through laughter, tears, and community. Intended for mature audiences.

REGIONAL PREMIERE
THIS IS MODERN ART

By Idris Goodwin and Kevin Coval
Directed by Stephen M. Miranda
Previews begin October 27, Opens October 30, Through November 17, 2016

Commissioned by Steppenwolf and developed at The Kennedy Center's New Voices/New Visions, THIS IS MODERN ART gives us a glimpse into the anonymous lives of graffiti artists and asks us to question the true purpose of art. Based on true events, the LOH crew is willing to risk anything for their art. Called vandals, criminals, even creative terrorists, these Chicago graffiti artists set out night after night to make their voices heard and alter the way people view the world. But when the crew finishes the biggest graffiti bomb of their careers, the consequences get serious and spark a public debate asking, where does art belong? Intended for general audiences.

"A raw, visceral narrative that gives graffiti artists the humanity and genius the headlines rob them of."- Newcity Stage

"Sharp, exciting and stimulating…It will entertain, educate and is guaranteed to prompt heated discussions about the nature of art and the place for graffiti.” - Chicago Theatre Review

"A catalyst for controversy and discussion... a potentially damaging work." - Chicago Sun Times

LANDING HOLIDAY CONCERTS
18 groups over 24 days, Opens November 29, Through December 23
Tuesdays - Saturdays, with a different act nightly!

There are many ways to celebrate the holiday season, and music is one of the most immediate. Join us for a series of benefit concerts featuring a diverse mix of bands, celebrating the holiday season and jamming the night away! A complete list of groups will be announced on our website soon for this one of a kind holiday extravaganza!

WORLD PREMIERE
SMALL JOKES ABOUT MONSTERS

By Steven Strafford
Directed by Clinton Hopper
Previews begin January 12, Opens January 15, Through February 4, 2017

Presented as a part of the 2016 New American Voices Play Reading Series and a semi-finalist at the O'Neill Center, SMALL JOKES ABOUT MONSTERS explores how one family grapples with personal trauma after the death of the patriarch. Three brothers meet at a rented beach house after their estranged father's funeral - who has left them an envelope to be opened after his death. When their mother arrives, secrets begin to unfold, truth is revealed and tempers flair. The family has to take steps; forward or back is the question. Intended for mature audiences.

Steven Strafford is a Playwright/Actor best known for his Jeff Nominated one-man show Methtacular!, hailed as “searing, brutally honest, and often funny” (TimeOut Chicago - Four Stars/Critics Pick). Strafford has been seen on stages around the US, Europe, and Asia.

JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN
By Stephen Adly Guirgis
Directed by Tiffany Greene
Previews begin February 23, Opens February 26, Through March 18, 2017

Nominated for an Olivier Award in 2003, JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN is a “probing, intense portrait of lives behind bars” (NY Times). Angel Cruz, a bike messenger from NYC who has lost his best friend to a religious cult, is awaiting trial for shooting the leader of that cult in the "ass." After the cult leader, Reverend Kim, dies on the operating table, and the charge against Angel changes to murder, Angel is discovered in his cell barely conscious with a bed sheet tied around his neck. He is then transferred to a special twenty-three-hour lockdown wing of protective custody. For one hour a day, Angel experiences daylight from a cage on the Riker's Island Prison roof. His only source of human contact is the lone inmate who is also in protective custody: Lucius Jenkins, a.k.a. "the Black Plague.” A sociopathic serial killer awaiting extradition to Florida, Lucius pauses from his furious workouts only to chain smoke and to "save" Angel. Lucius Jenkins has found God, and Angel's life and the course of his trial will be changed forever. Intended for mature audiences.

"Its aggressive high-octane style is like a shot of caffeine straight in the veins" - Lyn Gardner, Guardian

“It has the courage of its intellectual restlessness…[JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN] has been written in flame." - NY Times

2017 NEW AMERICAN VOICES PLAY READING SERIES
Four plays in two days: April 1 & 2, 2017

The New American Voices Play Reading Series annually features four new American plays by some of our nation's top emerging playwrights. These eclectic and innovative new plays are performed by local actors, and followed by talkbacks with the playwrights, directors and casts. The weekend reading series is open to the public, and offers the seasoned theatre-goer a stimulating taste of what's next in American theatre! Intended for general audiences.

Submissions for the 2017 NAV will be open from September 1-October 31, 2016.

REGIONAL PREMIERE
IN DARFUR

By Winter Miller
Directed by Troy Scheid
Previews begin April 20, Opens April 23, Through May 13, 2017

Without Winter Miller, you might not know about the genocide is occurring in Darfur. Commissioned by the Guthrie Theater and the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis and presented at The Public Theater in NY, IN DARFUR is the provocative account of three intertwined lives at a camp for internally displaced persons in Darfur. The story follows an aid worker's mission to save and protect lives, a journalist's pursuit to deliver a "Page One" story and a Darfuri woman's quest for safety. It is a searing story of urgency and international significance and how one voice can bring awareness to the entire world in the pursuit of change and peace. A portion of the playwright's royalties from IN DARFUR is being donated to an anti-genocide organization. Intended for mature audiences.

“Urgent and fierce. Timely and Timeless. Truly a heroic act of playwriting." - Ari Roth, Artistic Director of Theater J

“Winter's play is an urgent and passionate response to a crisis unfolding at this moment.” - Oskar Eustis, Former Artistic Director of the Public Theater

“A play that forces us to question our moral responsibility to the victims of human rights abuse.” - Lynn Nottage, Pulitzer winning playwright (Ruined)


TICKET AND SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
All LTC productions are Pay-what-you- can. Subscribers can purchase Season Tickets online for a 5-play package at the Gold Star Reserved level including This Is Modern Art, Small Jokes About Monsters, Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train, In Darfur and the to-be-announced Summer 2017 production for a discounted $150 ($25 off the per-show Gold Reserve Rate). Season Tickets can be ordered online (landingtheatre.org) or by phone (562.502.7469).
2016-17 LANDING THEATRE COMPANY SEASON



PROFESSIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
In addition to a main stage season, LTC offers a number of educational programs. Our ongoing workshops and training classes for professional actors and playwrights, feature a variety of top instructors from all across the country. Our in-school literacy program launches this fall, using playwriting to empower young people and ignite a passion for words. Anyone interested in participating in either of these programs, can find out more by visiting www.landingtheatre.org.

ABOUT THE LANDING THEATRE COMPANY
The award winning Landing Theatre Company (LTC) is dedicated to advancing American Theatre through the cultivation of extraordinary American playwriting and presenting American works that have significant artistic worth to our community, our culture and our history.

“With all of our plays and programs, we are always trying to do theatre that matters. We believe that we have put together an exciting offering of plays and programs for our audience, and that this is a great launch to our first full season as a company in our new home. We hope that our supporters will embark with us as we head in a bold direction to positively impact our local and national communities through American playwriting.” - David Rainey, Executive Artistic Director

http://www.landingtheatre.org