BWW Preview: The Unicorn Theatre's 2014-15 Season - Trucks, Tigers and Tribes

The Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. announced their 41st season for 2014-2015. The Unicorn utilizes two stages for productions, the Jerome stage, and the Levin Stage. Recently the name of The Mainstage as it had been known was changed to honor Producing Artistic Director, Cynthia Levin. The theatre also announced the Longevity Campaign, to raise funds to purchase their building, was successful and on April 17 they took custody of the theater building. The purchase of the building allows the Unicorn to cut production costs.

The 41st season opens on September 3 with Hands on a Hardbody on the Levin Stage. With a book by Doug Wright, lyrics by Amanda Green, and music by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green the Unicorn production will be directed by Missy Koonce. Armed with hope, humor, and ambition 10 Texans fight to keep one hand on a brand-new truck in order to win it. The play runs from September 3 through 28.

Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon opens the season on the Jerome stage on October 22. Cynthia Levin directs Dapha, a "Good Jew" who reunites with her cousins on the day of their grandfather's funeral. A hilarious brawl ensues when her cousin brings home a non-Jewish girlfriend and tries to lay deed to the grandfather's Chai necklace. The play runs from October 22 through November 16.

Levin will direct Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo by Rajiv Joseph on the stage named for her. A quick-witted tiger haunts the streets of war-torn Baghdad looking for meaning, forgiveness, and redemption. The tiger confronted by two American Marines and an Iraqi translator forever changes their lives. The production runs December 3 through December 28.

Lasso of Truth, A Rolling World Premiere by Carson Kreitzer and directed by Johnny Wolfe will open January 28, 2015 on the Levin Stage. Co-produced by UMKC Theatre this multimedia experience delves into the history of the lie detector, the inventor, and the two women he lived with; Wonder Woman. The play runs January 28 through February 15, 2015.

The second world premiere for the theatre is scheduled to be Women Playing Hamlet by William Missouri Downs. Ian R. Crawford will direct the Jerome Stage production, which opens March 4. Jessica is cast as Hamlet because she auditioned for Ophelia. She struggles to find herself in the role and answer the question, "To be or not to be?" The play runs from March 4 through March 29.

Mike Bartlett writes Cock a play to be directed by Jeff Church and opening on April 22 on the Jerome Stage. Taking a break from his boyhood John accidentally meets the girl of his dreams. Fueled by indecision a humor fight ensues as he decides how to straighter this out. The play runs April 22 through May 17.

Tribes by Nina Raine and directed by Theodore Swetz opens June 3 on the Levin Stage to close out the season. Billy a deaf person meets his girlfriend and a larger Deaf-community, which sparks a struggle for self-identity and rebellion against his eccentric family. The show runs from June 3 through June 28.

Season subscriptions for the 2014-2015 season are on sale now, with special subscription rates for students and patrons under age 30. Purchase tickets by calling the Unicorn Theatre box office at 816-531-7529 ext. 10 or in person at 3828 Main Street, Kansas City, Mo. Photo courtesy of the Unicorn Theatre.