Hoch, Kaufman, White, et al. Set for Kirk Douglas Theatre’s 2008-2009 Season

Center Theatre Group has announced the 2008-2009 season selections for the Kirk Douglas Theatre, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary.

First up will be the West Coast premiere of The Civilians’ This Beautiful City (September 21-October 26), a new play with music that details the explosion of America’s evangelical Christian movement. The piece was created from interviews with church members, civic leaders, progressive activists and individuals from all walks of life in Colorado Springs, and is written by Steven Cosson and Jim Lewis, and has music and lyrics by Michael Friedman. Cosson will direct.

Next will be Douglas Carter Beane’s The Little Dog Laughed (November 16-December 21), with Julie White reprising her Tony Award-winning performance. Scott Ellis will direct this satirical play about a brash, fast-talking Hollywood agent, whose client has a chance to make it to superstar status, if only he stays in the closet.

Obie Award-winner Danny Hoch will present his latest solo, Taking Over, January 21-February 22, a riveting study of the effects of gentrification and how this is changing the face of many American cities. Hoch transforms himself into the vividly diverse characters from his hometown, the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, and into the real estate agents and developers who are shepherding radical changes into the district’s character and nature. Tony Taccone will direct.

Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo will run May 10-June 7. This lyrical, haunting new play is set against the backdrop of the war in Iraq, and tells the story of two American soldiers, an Iraqi translator, the ghosts of Saddam Hussein’s sons Uday and Ousay, and a Bengal tiger. Tony Award nominee Moisés Kaufman will direct.

The season will conclude with Heddatron (July 5-August 2), a wildly funny and imaginative new work that gleefully deconstructs Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler and features both actors and fully-functioning robots. The play is written by Elizabeth Meriwether and will be directed by Alex Timbers.

For more information, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org.