SAY GOODNIGHT GRACIE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL Highlight Queens Theatre Season

Queens Theatre (QT) is pleased to announce an exciting and wildly entertaining line-up for the 2014-2015 season. The fun begins on with Alan Safier as George Burns in the Tony-nominated play Say Goodnight Gracie, a hilarious celebration of the life of George Burns, and continues all season long with an overflowing assortment of comedy, music and dance.

This past summer, under the leadership of new Managing Director Taryn Sacramone, QT's production of the World's Fair Play Festival was chosen as a New York Times Critic's Pick, a new performance program for children called Showstoppers! was introduced, and the Latino Cultural Festival made a triumphant return, illuminating extraordinary women.

Now, QT is launching its 26th season. 'There will be - as always - a lot of variety on the Queens Theatre stage. Looking at the season as a whole, I can tell you that the Theatre Series productions are exceptionally clever, romantic and funny, while the Dance Series performances will be thrilling, innovative and inspiring. I know that audiences will connect with and enjoy these shows and I'm looking forward to seeing that happen,' said Queens Theatre Managing Director Taryn Sacramone.

Along with the Mainstage Theatre, Comedy, and Dance Series, exciting events have been added to this year's offerings, including a soaring new adaption of Charles Dickens' classic story, A Christmas Carol, a co-production with QT resident Titan Theatre Company, and The Magic of Bill Blagg LIVE!, featuring the spellbinding stage performer, Bill Blagg, who has thrilled audiences with his incredible illusions. The annual family series will continue to showcase productions based on popular children's books such as Tedd Arnold's Fly Guy and Other Stories on October 19and E.B. White's Charlotte's Web on February 8, more information forthcoming.

THEATRE SERIES:
Single Tickets: $42; Member Tickets: $38; Rear side Seating Tickets: $25

Alan Safier as George Burns in Say Goodnight Gracie
September 27 & 28, 2014; Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, Sunday at 3pm
The Tony-nominated play Say Goodnight Gracie celebrates crafty comedian George Burns, whose career spanned over 90 years of American entertainment history--in vaudeville, radio, television and film. 'You'll be in heaven!' - The New York Times

The Cottage by Sandy Rustin
November 7-16, 2014; Fridays at 8pm (11/14 Matinee at 2pm) Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm, Sundays at 3pm
A mischievous farce set in a cozy 'love nest' in the English countryside in the early 1920's. As the classy cast exchange stinging barbs and longing looks, a surprising and delicious web of secrets are unraveled. The Cottage is a wickedly murderous comedy. 'Vibrant, hilarious and full of heart!' - Talkin' Broadway

Centennial Casting by Gino DiIorio and Nancy Bleemer
March 6-15, 2015; Fridays at 8pm (3/13 Matinee at 2pm) Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm, Sundays at 3pm
For Vincent Didonato, the family's metal-casting shop he runs hardly seems the perfect place to meet Ms. Right. But when résumés from attractive New York actresses start pouring into this 'Casting Office,' that's exactly what happens. In Centennial Casting, show business and sheet metal collide with charming results. 'A fast-paced romantic comedy built on a funny premise!' - The Journal News

Shangri La by Rob Urbinati (Queens Theatre's Director of New Play Development)
May 8-17, 2015; Fridays at 8pm (5/15 Matinee at 2pm) Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm, Sundays at 3pm
Three high school girls from a tough neighborhood in Queens are determined to make it to the top. With a little grit and a lot of talent, the teens become overnight sensations ? and discover that they want very different things from life. Smart and sassy, Shangri La overflows with hit songs of the sixties including "Leader of the Pack.' 'A slice of jukebox heaven!' - Newsday

DANCE SERIES:
Single Tickets: $42; Member price: $38; Rear seating: $25

Dance Entropy
November 1 & 2, 2014; Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, Sunday at 3pm
Queens-based DANCE ENTROPY will present an exciting and innovative modern dance program featuring three vigorous new works including a dance/theater piece based on the story of the Titanic. Featuring a multi-ethnic company of gifted dancers, their work is surprising, bold, dynamic ? and completely captivating. "A visual feast of energy and movement!" - Queens Buzz.com

Ballet Hispanico
February 14 & 15, 2015; Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, Sunday at 3pm
Making a triumphant return to Queens Theatre, BALLET HISPANICO is a world-wide phenomenon, having offered over 3,000 performances to audiences of over 2 million throughout 11 countries. Their flamboyant work fuses Latin dance with classical and contemporary techniques to create a new style in which theatricality and passion propel every move. "This company can wake up the neighborhood with a brassy shout or croon softly in your ear, whispering words of love.' - The Star Ledger

Jessica Lang Dance
April 25 & 26, 2015; Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, Sunday at 3pm
Making the Queens Theatre debut, JESSICA LANG DANCE brilliantly transforms classical ballet language into artfully crafted contemporary works. Hailed as 'A master of visual composition' by Dance Magazine, the company seamlessly weaves mysterious music and striking design elements to create fearless, deeply emotional work.

COMEDY SERIES:
Single Tickets: $35; Member price: $31.50; Rear seating: $25

The Complete History of Comedy (abridged!)
October 25 & 26, 2014; Sat at 2pm & 8pm, Sun at 3pm
This bawdy adult comedy takes audiences on a rollicking ride through centuries of laughter, from the high-brow to the low-brow, from the ancient Greeks and Shakespeare to Vaudeville and Charlie Chaplin, from 'The Daily Show' to Anthony Weiner! 'My cheeks still hurt from laughing so much. Way, way too funny!' - The Cincinnati Enquirer

Steve Solomon's My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish, and I'm STILL In Therapy.
April 18 & 19, 2015; Sat at 2pm & 8pm, Sun at 3pm
The comedy chaos continues in this 'prequel' to the smash hit, My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish, and I'm in Therapy, takes us back to the comedian's childhood where we meet a side-splitting parade of Steve's quirky relations. A wonderfully entertaining journey through mixed marriages, ex-wives, strange pets and endless dieting. 'He's in Therapy- We're in Stitches!' - Washington Post

SPECIAL EVENTS:
Single Tickets: $30; Member price: $31.50; Rear seating: $25; 4-Pack Special: 4 tickets for $100

A Christmas Carol
December 11- 21, 2014
Titan Theatre Company & Queens Theatre join forces to bring a soaring new adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the three transformational visits he endures from spirits of his past, present, and future.

The Magic of Bill Blagg LIVE!
February 21, 2015; Saturday at 2pm & 8pm
Even the most skeptical audience will have to think twice about believing what they see when they watch the magic of Bill Blagg. A spellbinding stage performer, Blagg has thrilled and flabbergasted scores of people with his incredible illusions.

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TICKETS: $25-$42
Mainstage Theatre Series Subscription $126; Dance Series Subscription $126; NEW QT Flex Subscription $140; NEW Queens Theatre Membership $50. For more information, please call the box office at (718) 760-0064 or email boxoffice@queenstheatre.org

Queens Theatre
14 United Nations Avenue South
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens, NY 11368
FREE PARKING

DIRECTIONS:
Queens Theatre is located at 14 United Nations Avenue South in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, directly under the towers of the New York State Pavilion.
Car: Queens Theatre is accessible by all major highways that traverse Queens and is minutes away from Long Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Westchester. And the best part? Parking is always FREE. http://queenstheatre.org/getting-theatre for directions
Subway: 7 train to the Mets-Willets Point station. Follow signs to LIRR/Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Free Shuttle Service runs every 15 minutes beginning one hour prior to curtain and stops outside Mets-Willets Point station.

About Queens Theatre:
Queens Theatre (QT) is the premier performing arts venue in Queens. QT's mission is to provide quality and diverse live performances that are economically and geographically accessible to the 2.2 million residents of Queens, the most ethnically diverse county in the nation, and the surrounding metropolitan region. To foster greater cultural awareness and appreciation, the Theatre presents and produces programs that reflect this diversity and feature international, national and local artists.

Photo Credit: Dominick Totino