Theater News

American Repertory Theater Announces 2013-14 Season

A world premiere of the musical Witness Uganda joins the A.R.T. season lineup.

Boston
A.R.T. artistic director Diane Paulus, nominated for a Tony Award this past week for her direction of the Broadway revival of Pippin, has announced the roster of productions scheduled for the theater’s 2013-14 season.

All the Way, the historical drama about the first year of LBJ’s presidency, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Schenkkan (The Kentucky Cycle), will open the season in September at the Loeb Drama Center. As previously announced, the production will be directed by Bill Rauch and will feature a star-studded cast including Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) as LBJ, Michael McKean (The Best Man) as J. Edgar Hoover, Brandon J. Dirden (Detroit ’67) as Martin Luther King Jr., and Reed Birney (Picnic) as Hubert Humphrey.

The Heart of Robin Hood, originally produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, will then come to the Loeb Drama Center in December. Written by David Farr, the play follows the classic literary character of Robin Hood and his band of outlaws, who selfishly keep their spoils rather than sharing them with the poor. The production will be directed by Gisli Örn Gardarsson.

The Light Princess, a family-friendly musical about a princess who has been cursed by an evil witch to have no gravity, is also scheduled to begin performances in December. Based on the short story by George MacDonald, the musical features a book by Lila Rose Kaplan and a score by Mike Pettry. Allegra Libonati will direct.

Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews’ new musical Witness Uganda will then make its world premiere at the Loeb Drama Center in February 2014, helmed by Diane Paulus. Inspired by a true story, Witness Uganda follows Griffin who travels from New York to Uganda to help build a village school. During his stay, he develops a complicated relationship with a group of orphaned teenagers and immerses himself in a project that will change their lives.

Up next, opening in April 2014 at OBERON, is The Shape She Makes, a fusion of dance and theater that follows a family torn apart by alcoholism. Written and directed by Jonathan Bernstein, the production features choreography by Susan Misner.

Shakespeare’s The Tempest rounds out the season at the Loeb Drama Center in May 2014. Newly adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller (of legendary magic duo Penn & Teller), the play (a coproduction with the Smith Center, Las Vegas) features music by Tom Waits.

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