RIPCORD, FULL CODE Premiere and More Slated for BETC's 11th Season

By: May. 06, 2016
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Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC) is delighted to announce the lineup for the 2016-17 season, their 11th. This season features an expanded slate of six plays, including four regional premieres and one world premiere.

Stephen Weitz, Producing Ensemble Director, said, "This season is a diverse mix of comedy, drama, and romance. It reflects our commitment to bringing the best new plays to Boulder and to Colorado and sharing experiences with our audience that they can't get anywhere else in the area."

The titles for Season 11 are:

Ripcord

A regional premiere by David Lindsay-Abaire September 15 - October 9, 2016

A sunny room on an upper floor is prime real estate in the Bristol Place Assisted Living Facility. So when resident curmudgeon Abby is forced to share her quarters with new arrival Marilyn, she has no choice but to get rid of the infuriatingly chipper woman by any means necessary. A seemingly harmless bet between the two women quickly escalates into a hysterically funny game of one- upmanship. This regional premiere comedy from Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire is as heartfelt as it is hilarious.

Statement from Producing Artistic Director, Stephen Weitz: "We're so pleased to be offering this comedy from one of America's great playwrights. David Lindsay-Abaire is best known for his powerful dramas such as Rabbit Hole and Good People, but with Ripcord he demonstrates that he can write incredibly funny comedy as well. We think this is an ideal way to kick off our second decade and welcome our patrons back to our newly remodeled home at the Dairy."

Full Code

A world premiere by David Valdes Greenwood October 22 - November 13, 2016

After a freak accident, Sander is in a coma. As he slips back and forth between memory, reality, and coma dreams, he must decide which direction his path will lead ... if he wakes up. His estranged wife Callie and work colleague Lauren take turns at the bedside of the man they love. Both women

must stake their claim, and decide if they can bear the burden of supporting the man who emerges. A gripping look inside the human mind, filled with humor, passion, and fresh perspective.

Statement from Producing Artistic Director, Stephen Weitz: "Full Code was the winner of BETC's first Generations play competition*, and will be BETC's third world premiere. We workshopped this play with David a few years ago and are so pleased to be presenting the world premiere. This is the first time a Generations-winning play will make it all the way to production and demonstrates BETC's commitment to developing and presenting new American plays."

*Generations is BETC's annual new play competition for writers who are parents of at least one child aged 18 or younger.

The SantaLand Diaries

By David Sedaris, adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello November 25 - December 24, 2016

BETC and Off-Center @ The Jones partner for more hilarious holiday hijinks as Ensemble Member Michael Bouchard returns as Crumpet the Elf in this acclaimed production. Looking for a little more snark in your stocking this year? The SantaLand Diaries is the sure cure for the common Christmas show.

Statement from Producing Artistic Director, Stephen Weitz: "This will be our eighth year of presenting SantaLand in the metro area. We're so pleased to continue our partnership with Off- Center @ The Jones for a third year. This one always sells fast, so get your tickets early!"

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some)

A regional premiere by Michael Carleton, Jim FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez December 8-24, 2016

Three actors set out to perform Charles Dickens' "beloved holiday classic" for the umpteenth time. But why settle for one holiday play when you can have Every Christmas Story Ever Told! Throw in some Christmas traditions from around the world, a handful of seasonal references both ancient and modern, a dash of pop-culture, and a sprinkle of caroling, and you've got a madcap romp guaranteed to sustain you throughout the holiday season!

Statement from Producing Artistic Director, Stephen Weitz: "Since we moved our production of SantaLand to Denver, there's been a dearth of holiday-themed programming in Boulder. We decided to double down on the holidays this year by presenting this outrageously funny play that has something for everyone. We hope this will be the start of a new holiday tradition in our hometown."

An Iliad

A regional premiere by Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare February 2-26, 2017

In this spellbinding one-person retelling of Homer's epic poem, the ancient tale of the Trojan War collides with our contemporary compulsion toward violence. Our storyteller, who is fated to tell this tale throughout history, weaves a complicated story full of poetry and humor, heroism and horror.

Statement from Producing Artistic Director, Stephen Weitz: "I feel like this is one of the most inventive and important plays of recent years. By taking the epic scale of The Iliad and distilling it down to a one-person show, and then using it to explore mankind's never-ending addiction to warfare, Peterson and O'Hare have created a uniquely theatrical event with powerful immediacy."

Silent Sky

A regional premiere by Lauren Gunderson April 6-30, 2016

In a Harvard basement office, Henrietta Swan Leavitt maps the night sky, cataloguing the stars. Although the task seems endless, she soon learns it might well be completed before her groundbreaking discoveries are accepted in the man's world of 19th-century scientific study. And what can her studies teach her about the mysterious territory of her own heart? Revel in the romance of the universe on this historic journey of love, family, science, and determination.

Statement from Producing Artistic Director, Stephen Weitz: "Lauren Gunderson is one of America's most talented and prolific writers. We've been hoping to do one of her plays for several seasons and are thrilled to bring Silent Sky to the stage. We are always looking for ways to connect with specific segments of our community and this play is a way for us to continue the success we've had in embracing the large science community here in Boulder. A show like this, full of brains and heart, perfectly defines the BETC brand."

All productions with the exception of The SantaLand Diaries will be performed in the newly remodeled Grace Gamm Theater at the Dairy Arts Center. SantLand will be presented at the Jones Theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

For more information on the season, go to www.betc.org.



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