Alliance Kicks Off '10-'11 Season with Debbie Allen-Helmed TWIST Musical, Sept. 15

The ALLIANCE THEATRE's 2010-11 Season kicks off with Twist - an American musical, inspired by the Dickens' classic Oliver Twist, set in New Orleans in 1928. There, while the Roaring 20s dance their way down Bourbon Street, an orphan in search of home finds family in the most unexpected of places. Twist is the story of the emotional struggle of an orphan, whose father was a black song-and-dance man and whose mother was a southern white aristocrat, seeking a place to belong and a family to love while guided by a fierce yearning for home.

"Twist is the cherry on top of our season," said ALLIANCE THEATRE Jennings Hertz, Jr. Artistic Director, Susan V. Booth. "Twist's capacity to take the warm familiarity of Dickens' beloved tale of a child's search for home and make it fresh, contemporary and American was irresistible. It afforded us the opportunity to showcase a cadre of remarkable artistic talent like William F. Brown, Tena Clark, Gary Prim, and Debbie Allen, who've collaborated to bring this amazing piece of work to fruition." Booth continued.

Legendary director and choreographer Debbie Allen (Fame), returns to the Alliance to direct the production fresh from her acclaimed Broadway and Olivier Award-winning West End productions of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.

"It's inspiring to do something this original and this fresh based on a classic that all of you will relate to, understand, love, and enjoy," states Debbie Allen.

Book writer and Tony Nominee William F. Brown, author of The Wiz, joins forces with Grammy Award-winning composer/lyricist Tena Clark - who has written for recording artists Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin and Natalie Cole - and composer Gary Prim on this heart wrenching musical of identity, belonging and family. Orchestrations are created by six time Tony Nominee and musical director for Dancing with the Stars, Harold Wheeler.

Multi-talented child actor/dancer/singers were cast from Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. The children range in age from 10 to 16 years of age.

Twist, the Alliance's season opening production, begins previews September 1, 2010 with opening night slated for Wednesday, September 15. Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. September 1 - October 3 on the Alliance Stage. There is no matinee on Saturday, September 4.

Tickets are $25 - $55 and are available at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office by calling 404.733.5000 or online at http://alliancetheatre.org. Discount rates for groups of 10 or more are available by calling 404-733-4690. Discount rates are also available for members of the military, seniors and students. The ALLIANCE THEATRE is located at the Woodruff Arts Center, corner of Peachtree and 15th Street, in Midtown Atlanta.

Now in its 42nd season, Atlanta's nationally acclaimed ALLIANCE THEATRE, recipient of the 2007 Regional Theatre Tony Award® and a leading National Theatre, creates the powerful experience of shared theatre for diverse people on two stages for youth and adult audiences. Under the leadership of the Jennings Hertz, Jr. Artistic Director Susan V. Booth, the ALLIANCE THEATRE is a National Theatre with a local address, reaching out annually to almost 200,000 patrons and members of the community. Known for its high artistic standards and national role in creating significant theatrical works, the Alliance launched three Tony Award-winning hits to Broadway: Alice Walker's The Color Purple, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida and Alfred Uhry's The Last Night of Ballyhoo. And, in a rare event for a regional theatre, it originated the national tour of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Most recently, the Alliance transferred Twyla Tharp's Come Fly Away to Broadway for a critically acclaimed Tony Award-nominated run. The theatre has premiered 60 works including adaptations of Carson McCullers' The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and Pearl Cleage's Blues for an Alabama Sky. Further evidence of the Alliance's commitment to new work is founding its nationally recognized Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition, a cutting-edge program introducing student playwrights to professional networks while producing the world premiere of the winning student's work. The ALLIANCE THEATRE also offers extensive education and outreach programs such as the Institute for Educators and the Collision Project for high school students. The Alliance continuously brings Atlanta the finest talent and finest art-proving once again that the Alliance is where great theatre lives. 404.733.4650 or www.alliancetheatre.org.

The ALLIANCE THEATRE is a division of the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia, which also includes the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art and Young Audiences.