Tracie Bennett, Peter Michael Goetz, Dearbhla Molloy, et al. Set for Guthrie Theater Season

The Guthrie Theater has announced 14 plays of its 2011-2012 season.

The season will include Joe Dowling’s production of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, starring Dearbhla Molloy (September 10-November 5); Marcela Lorca’s production of Seamus Heaney’s The Burial at Thebes (September 24-November 6); John Miller-Stephany’s production of Brandon Thomas’ classic British farce Charley’s Aunt (November 26-January 15) starring John Skelley; and Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (January 14-February 26).

Up next will be Peter Quilter’s award-winning musical drama about Judy Garland, End of the Rainbow, starring Tracie Bennett and directed by Terry Johnson (January 28-March 11); Christopher Luscombe’s production of Noel Coward’s farce Hay Fever (March 10-April 22); Dowling’s production of Donald Margulies’ drama Time Stands Still (April 7-May 20); the Penumbra Theatre Company’s production of James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner, directed by Lou Bellamy and starring Greta Oglesby (May 5-June 17).

Concluding the season will be the American premiere of the musical Roman Holiday, a stage adaptation of the legendary film with the songs of Cole Porter and a book by Paul Blake, to be directed by John Miller-Stephany (June 9-August 19), and Gary Gisselman’s production of Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys, starring Raye Birk and Peter Michael Goetz (July 7-September 2).

The Guthrie will also produce three plays in the Dowling Studio next season, including Adam Rapp’s The Edge of Our Bodies, directed by Benjamin McGovern (October 22-November 20); Rob Melrose’s production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (January 14-February 5); and the 2009 stage adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s story The Birds, written by Conor McPherson and directed by Henry Wishcamper (February 25-April 8).

In addition, Dowling will again direct Crispin Whitell’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (November 19-December 30).

For ticket and information, call 877-44-STAGE or visit www.guthrietheater.org.