Johanna Day, Annette O’Toole, et al. Set for Arena’s Quality of Life

Johanna Day, Annette O’Toole, Kevin O’Rourke, and Stephen Schnetzer will star in Arena Stage’s production of Jane Anderson’s The Quality of Life, to be directed by Lisa Peterson (Crystal City, September 11-October 18). In the wake of devastating personal tragedies, two cousins meet one weekend in an attempt to forge a friendship out of distant familial bonds. O’Toole replaces the previously announced JoBeth Williams.

Arena’s previously announced season will also include The Fantasticks (Lincoln Theatre November 20, 2009-January 3), featuring book and lyrics by Tom Jones, music by Harvey Schmidt, and direction by Amanda Dehnert, who re-imagines this timeless fable amid the thrills and chills of an amusement park. Kenny Leon will direct Lydia R. Diamond’s Stick Fly (Crystal City, January 1-February 7). Race and privilege intersect in this thought-provoking and lively modern family comedy.

The musical, The Light in the Piazza, with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel and book by Craig Lucas based on the novel by Elizabeth Spencer, will play Crystal City March 5-April 25. Molly Smith will direct an intimate, chamber version of this musical that won six Tony Awards (including Best Score). Maurice Hines choreographs and stars in Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, a musical revue, which will be presented at the Lincoln Theatre, April 9-May 30. Featuring a concept by Donald McKayle, based on Ellington’s music, the show features musical and dance arrangements by Lloyd Mayers, vocal arrangements by Malcolm Dodds and Mayers, and original music direction by Mercer Ellington. Charles Randolph-Wright will direct. Written and directed by D.W. Jacobs, R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) of the Universe is drawn from the life, work and writings of R. Buckminster Fuller. It will play Crystal City, May 28-July 4.

For more information, visit www.arenastage.org.