'THE SPECKLED BAND', THE CHERRY ORCHARD and More Set for Classical Theatre Company's 2014-15 Season

By: May. 12, 2014
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The Classical Theatre Company (CTC) has announced the lineup for its 2014-2015 Mainstage Season. As the only professional theatre company in the State of Texas that solely produces classical drama on a year-round basis, CTC only produces plays that are 100 or more years old.

The Speckled Band: An Adventure of Sherlock Holmes
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Adapted by Timothy N. Evers
Directed by Julia Traber

October 15 - November 2, 2014
The Barn - 2201 Preston St.

This play, penned by Doyle himself in 1910, dramatizes one of the Great Detective's most famous mysteries: The Adventure of the Speckled Band. "I have idolized the character of Sherlock Holmes since I was a young child," says CTC artistic chief John Johnston, "and the opportunity to portray one of my literary heroes on stage is a real thrill." Adapted by Timothy N. Evers, whose adaptation of Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, the CTC produced in February, this script will be streamlined and have a contemporary feel about it. Set to star Johnston in the titular role, and directed by CTC veteran Company Artist, Julia Traber, this production will capitalize on the Sherlock-mania that is gripping pop culture right now, while breathing new life into Doyle's century-old play.

A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens
Adapted by John Johnston & Matthew Keenan
Directed by Philip Hays

December 9 - December 23, 2014
The Barn - 2201 Preston St.

This brand new adaptation of this holiday classic promises to create a unique and visceral experience for its audiences. This new script is very strongly tied to the great and famous words that Dickens penned nearly 175 years ago. Adapted by CTC Executive Artistic Director John Johnston and Resident Company Artist Matthew Keenan, they were drawn to this iconic piece of literature through various productions in which they both were actors. "We've both been in productions of dramatized versions of this story," says Keenan, "and we each felt that this is the ultimate Christmas story, but that we hadn't really experienced a production that faithfully adhered to the words which Dickens wrote. We want to get back to the roots of this piece." To be directed by CTC Resident Artist and award-nominated director Philip Hays, A Christmas Carol will simply and creatively thrill our audiences with this age-old story of redemption and hope.

The Cherry Orchard
By Anton Chekhov
Directed by John Johnston

April 8 - April 26, 2015
The Barn - 2201 Preston St.

The Cherry Orchard is one of the great Russian Master Anton Chekhov's most beloved plays. As many of his plays are, it is a dark comedy that critically examines, and comments on, the Russian landowning aristocracy in the final days of Czarist Russia. It focuses on the absurdity of class through the lens of a once-wealthy family who is losing their property, on which sits their cherry orchard. "Chekhov is frequently mistaken by US and British audiences as being very slow, plodding, and depressing," says director John Johnston, "but Chekhov intended his plays to be comedies - just dark ones. They should feel like a 'Peanuts' comic strip. Charlie Brown never quite kicks that football, but we still laugh when he fails, despite his agony." This production will have audiences laughing through their tears as we see the fall of this family-out-of-place.

Classical Theatre Company's Mainstag Season takes place at The Barn, 2201 Preston St., Houston, TX 77003 and runs October 2014 - April 2015. Tickets: General Admission $20, Seniors $15, Teachers/Students and Industry $10
Available online at www.classicaltheatre.org/tickets.

The Classical Theatre Company is dedicated to boldly re-envisioning classical drama on the stage, in the community, and in the classroom through engaging and enlightening plays - bringing them new life and relevance while maintaining the integrity that the works deserve.



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