Maryland Ensemble Theatre Announces 2017-18 Season

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) is proud to announce its 20th season. As MET celebrates their 20th anniversary of producing MainStage programming, they open the season by presenting a magnifying glass on society with a promise to make theatre even more accessible. "I'm so pleased to have joined an organization whose artistic leadership team is dedicated to collaboration and the promise of making theatre accessible for ALL" says Christine Mosere, MET's Managing Director. "In fact, in honor of our 20th anniversary, MET has lowered our ticket pricing to $20 for every MainStage production."

Artistic Director Tad Janes, along with Associate Artistic Directors Julie Herber and Gené Fouché, speaks about the season: "Our 20th year will be an exciting one for MET, especially for so many of us who are founding members and remember those early days and dreams of forming a truly unique collaborative theatre experience." Gené adds "It was important for us to include a mix of laughter while also representing current day realities (good and bad)." Julie Herber adds "Yes, theatre gives voice to the voiceless, and sometimes moves you so deeply, you can't stop talking about the productions."

MET is proud to present an important season that will make you think and leave the theatre glad you came. MET's MainStage season will run from September of 2017 through June of 2018 and begins with the show the London Times called "Stupendous Anchorless Joy!" - The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged and Revised written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield. This delightfully zany show is back at MET and will be directed by MET Founding Artistic Director Tad Janes.

Next, join MET in October for Michael Sullivan's provocative adaptation of George Orwell's 1984, directed by Associate Artistic Director Julie Herber. That's followed in December by a funny and heartfelt holiday show - A Christmas Story by Joseph Robinette. This favorite nostalgic tale, directed by Gené Fouché, is also returning to MET for our 20th anniversary. February brings Martin McDonagh's Pillowman, a startling and intimidating show that centers on an unnamed totalitarian state and has echoes of Stoppard, Kafka, and The Brothers Grimm. Peter Wray directs what The NY Times called "Energizing... a blindingly bright black comedy." Next from April 13th to May 6th, you'll be laughing once again as Suzanne Beal directs Rapture, Blister, Burn by Gina Gionfriddo - a sharp-witted, edgy comedy that asks the question "What makes us happy in life?"

And the final show of our 20th season is A View from the Bridge, directed by MET's veteran director Jerry Stropnicky. Arthur Miller's gripping tragedy lets us peek into the window of poverty in American working class families and the sheer destitution of their immigrant cousins. "An intensely absorbing drama, sure of itself every step of the way" (NY Times).

All shows will run for 15 performances over a four-week period at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre, located at 31 W. Patrick Street in downtown Frederick's historic FSK Hotel. The Thursday before opening night of each show will be a "pay-what-you-will" preview.

The Maryland Ensemble Theater's 20th MainStage season is made possible in part through the support of MET's season sponsors, including the Ausherman Family Trust, Maryland Oral Surgery Associates, both the Frederick and Maryland Arts Councils, Comcast, Key 103, Eagle 106.9, The Frederick News Post, and Frederick Magazine.

In addition to the MainStage season, Maryland Ensemble Theatre's family theatre, The Fun Company, will be producing a full season of theatre, plus exciting new work will continue through MET-X productions. The Comedy Pigs return as one of the region's best sketch and improv troupes (celebrating 25 years in April!). A Christmas Carol will also be returning to the Weinberg and Carroll County Arts Center for another year in what has become a downtown holiday tradition. For more information on the MET's upcoming season, you can visit marylandensemble.org or call 301-694-4744.

Following is the 2017-18 slate of Maryland Ensemble Theatre's MainStage productions:

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF William Shakespeare ABRIDGED/REVISED
By Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield
Directed by Tad Janes

September 8 - October 1

Three guys, one dead playwright, and 37 plays in 97 minutes! An irreverent, fast-paced romp through the Bard's plays that is as clever as it is bawdy. Equally pleasing to the Shakespeare aficionado and the novice.

1984 adapted from the George Orwell novel by Michael Gene Sullivan
Directed by Julie Herber

October 20 - November 12

Based on the iconic novel by George Orwell, Sullivan's provocative adaptation is not your father's 1984. Winston Smith, a cog in the giant machine state of Oceania, is physically and mentally under the eye of Big Brother. He is caught struggling for scraps of love and freedom in a world awash with distrust and violence.

A Christmas Story by Joseph Robinette
Directed by Gené Fouché

December 1 - 23

A funny and heartfelt holiday show based on the classic 1983 movie -which itself was based on stories by legendary radio humorist Jean Shepherd. Ralphie Parker wants only one thing for Christmas: an official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle!

Pillowman by Martin McDonagh
Directed by Peter Wray

February 16 - March 11, 2018

Pillowman centers on a writer in an unnamed totalitarian state who is being interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories and their similarities to a series of child murders.

"Energizing...a blindingly bright black comedy" -NY Times.

Rapture, Blister, Burn by Gina Gionfriddo
Directed by Suzanne Beal

April to May (start date subject to change either April 6th - April 29th or April 13 - May 6)

An intensely smart, immensely funny play that asks the question "What makes us happy in life?"

"Heady with sharp-witted dialogue about the particularities of women's experience (there's a joke about pornography and Google maps - believe it or not - that's worth the ticket price alone)" -NY Times.

A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller
Directed by Jerry Stropnicky

May 25 - June 17

The limits of family bonds and personal honor are tested in Miller's gripping tragedy. The poverty of an American working class family comes face to face with the sheer destitution of their immigrant cousins, desperate to make a new life when an admirable longshoreman takes in two of his wife's Italian cousins who have been smuggled into this country. One falls in love with his niece and a 1950s plot becomes more topical than ever!

---

TICKETS/LOCATION/DATES INFORMATION

Where: Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 West Patrick Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701

Dates: September 2017 - June 2018, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays

Performances: 15 performances. All Thursday - Saturday nights are at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm

Ticket Prices: Season Tickets: $110 and include "Bring a Friend" passes, tickets to our family productions, AND, 10% off any additional theatre ticket purchases throughout the season. Individual show tickets: All seats - every performance $20 (additional service fees may apply). Pay-what-you-will preview tickets the first Thursday before opening night.

Box Office: 301-694-4744 or marylandensemble.org or at the MET. Box office hours will be expanding in Season 20 to Tuesday - Friday from 11am - 4pm, and 1 hour before each show.

MARYLAND ENSEMBLE THEATRE MISSION
Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) is dedicated to bringing our community together through the creation and production of extraordinary theatre art through The Combined voices of a diverse ensemble of professional resident artists who are influential leaders in the community and visionaries in the art of theatre.