Theater Schmeater Announces 2009 Season

Theater Schmeater has announced selections for its 2009 season, offering a diverse range of Seattle and West Coast premieres.

The season will open with the Seattle premiere of Jordan Harrison’s Act a Lady (January 16-February 14), to be directed by Steve Cooper. The comedy is set in 1927, in a small town in which Midwestern Elks try to produce and act in an 18th Century Romantic stage romp. Next up will be the West Coast premiere of Laura Eason’s When the Messenger Is Hot (March 13-April 11), to be directed by Stephanie Shine. Based on Elizabeth Crane’s collection of short stories by the same title, the show follows the life of Josie, portrayed by three different actresses as she seeks redemption and absolution through biker boys, juke box romances, and long distance calls from her dead mother.

Tim Crouch’s An Oak Tree will make its Seattle premiere, March 20-April 11. The piece is a scripted play for two actors, one of whom has never seen the play or read the script. Theater Schmeater Artistic Director David Gassner will be joined by a different actor every night. The season will continue with the West Coast premiere of Jason Grote’s Maria/Stuart (May 8-June 6), to be directed by David Gassner. The dark comedy is a hysterical take on dysfunctional family life that incorporates ghosts, German poetry, and supernatural fax machines that reveal all.

Arthur Miller’s The Creation of the World and Other Business will be directed by J.D. Lloyd, and play September 11-October 10. This tongue-in-cheek account of the book of Genesis features a familiar cast from the beginning of the world. The season will conclude with the Sreattle premiere of Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo (November 6-December 5), previously titled Peter and Jerry. Mary Machala directs this play which pairs Albee’s classic The Zoo Story (1958) with a new prequel about Peter’s day at home before he heads to Central Park, entitled Home Life (2007).

For more information, visit www.schmeater.org.