Theater News

Red, Scottsboro Boys, and More Part of Philadelphia Theatre Company’s 2011-2012 Season

John Logan
(© Tristan Fuge)
John Logan
(© Tristan Fuge)

Philadelphia Theatre Company has announced its 2011-2012 season, which will open with the 2010 Tony Award winner for Best Play, John Logan’s Red (October 14-November 6). Anders Cato will direct this piece about master abstract expressionist Mark Rothko and his young assistant.

The new musical The Scottsboro Boys (January 20-February 19), which was nominated for 12 Tony Awards this past season, is by the legendary songwriting team of John Kander and Fred Ebb. It explores the infamous 1930’s ‘Scottsboro Case’ in which a group of African-American men are falsely accused of a terrible crime, ultimately provoking a national outrage that sparked the American Civil Rights movement. The PTC production features original direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, recreated by Jeff Whiting.

Bruce Graham’s newest play The Outgoing Tide (March 23-April 15) is directed by James J. Christy. In a summer cottage on Chesapeake Bay, Gunner has hatched an unorthodox plan to secure his family’s future but meets with resistance from his wife and grown son, who have plans of their own.

The season will conclude with Neil LaBute’s dark comedy reasons to be pretty (May 25-June 17). When a cruel, off-hand remark disrupts the lives of two young couples, they confront a sea of self-deceit, treachery and their own willingness to change.

In addition, PTC will continue its PTC@PLAY new works festival (February 27-March 11) featuring panel discussions and staged readings of new plays and musicals by award-winning playwrights as well as the creation of a new mentorship and commissioning program that will pair an established playwright with an emerging playwright of similar sensibilities.

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