Pear Theatre Announces 2016/17 Season

Pear Theatre is proud to announce its 2016/2017 season, an intriguing blend of classic stage works and contemporary gems. In this, its 15thseason, the Pear is offering special discounts to dual subscribers; patrons who purchase two full subscriptions earn a complimentary ticket to be used at any time during the season (subject to availability). All performances are held at the Pear Theatre's new space at 1110 La Avenida St., Mountain View. For subscriptions and individual tickets the public may visit www.thepear.org or call (650) 254-1148.

"All of us at the Pear feel so blessed to still be going strong, to be opening our 15th season on the Peninsula," said Artistic Director Diane Tasca. "Theater is an amazing collaborative art form, and our audience members and supporters are just as much a part of any production as our actors, directors, playwrights, and designers."

In honor of Pear Theatre's 2016-17 season, patrons who purchase two full-season subscriptions earn a complimentary ticket to be used any time during the season, subject to availability - in effect, purchasing 16 seats and getting the 17th free.

The season opens in August with an insightful pair of plays presented in repertory. THE GUYS, by Anne Nelson, chronicles the real-life relationship between a journalist covering the aftermath of 9/11 in New York, and a New York fire chief struggling to write eulogies for dozens of lost compatriots. The play not only examines how creating and telling the story of grief helps ease the pain, but also how those who report devastating news often feel powerless in the face of those events. Alternating with THE GUYS will be VEILS by Tom Coash, featuring two Muslim women during Arab Spring - one, an African-American born in the United States who seeks to be less of an outsider by taking her college studies to Egypt, the other an Egyptian-born woman who craves the freedom and adventure she imagines American women to have. These plays will be in performance when the nation commemorates the 15th anniversary of 9/11, reminding us that at the heart of all conflicts, all clashes of culture, are real and vulnerable human beings; and it is only connecting to one another as humans that we weather times of great upheaval and sorrow.

Next up is George Bernard Shaw's classic MAJOR BARBARA, a thought-provoking look at human nature, morality, religion, and social engineering. Which is a greater danger, the decline of morality and virtue, or rampant poverty, sickness, and deprivation? Are wealth and warfare to be despised if they are the fastest means to lifting the general populace out of misery? Is saving souls a worthy enterprise if it comes only in exchange for bread and board? Coming at the height of the election season, MAJOR BARBARAshines the light of Shaw's analytical wit on serious questions that continue to impact state of our union.

GEEKS VS. ZOMBIES, by James Kopp (author of SUPER VILLIAN!!) and David Rock arrives in December. A fun and fantastical break from the standard Christmas fare,GEEKS VS. ZOMBIES is the story of four geeks who survive the zombie apocalypse due to their video game skills and encyclopedic knowledge of zombie movies. While the play contains philosophical arguments about free will and destiny, and metaphorical comparisons to the state of the world, audiences will mainly enjoy action, raunchy humor, and plenty of gore. Spawning a book and Web series, GEEKS VS. ZOMBIES enjoyed two sold out runs in Bakersfield, CA. Hollywood Revealed reported, "The play is a rousing, fast paced, funny couple of hours that had the audience cheering every action scene, of which there are plenty."

The new year begins with UNCANNY VALLEY by Thomas Gibbons. "Uncanny valley" is a computer industry term, referring to a sense of unease when a computer-generated figure, or humanoid robot, appears almost - but not 'quite' - human. UNCANNY VALLEY - which shows us a synthetic being during the slow process of becoming a human analogue - explores the painful divide between creator and creation, the inherent unpredictability of consciousness, and how we are redefining what it means to be human in the twenty-first century. The Washington Post called it "fascinating ... cerebrally challenging. The questions the play raises -can, for instance, a robot's consciousness attain a level of sophistication that qualifies as sentience? - compel one to consider whether like the Tin Man, a manufactured being might actually someday possess a heart."

March brings Arthur Miller's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE. Set in 1950s New York in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, the play follows Eddie and his wife Beatrice, who shelter Beatrice's orphaned niece Catherine as she studies to become a stenographer. When two of Beatrice's cousins arrive from Italy and move into the household, Eddie is angry to discover a budding relationship between Catherine and Rodolpho, the cousin seeking a singing career. Tensions mount as accusations of improper love arise, and Eddie struggles to retain his position of authority over Catherine; and before it is over, the entire immigrant neighborhood will be hurt in ways they could not have predicted.

As always, spring means PEAR SLICES - a collection of original, short plays from the members of the Pear Playwrights Guild. Whether dramatic or comedic, heartfelt or simply absurd, the vignettes performed in this annual play showcase the wide range of talent available among local playwrights, actors, and directors.

Pear Theatre's 15th season concludes with WHAT YOU WILL, a "Shakespearean travesty" by Max Gutmann. When Antonio returns from a successful diplomatic mission with not only a signed treaty but a new French bride, little does he suspect how quickly his happy life is about to fall apart. Can he set things right in time to save his marriage and prevent civil war? Kidnapping, cross-dressing, and adultery combine in this madcap comedy, written by rearranging thousands of snippets cut from the plays of William Shakespeare into a fully new plot. Given a developmental reading at the Pear in 2015, WHAT YOU WILL returns as a fully staged production.

Pear Theatre began as the Pear Avenue Theatre in June 2002, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Tasca, by a group of theatre artists who believe that audiences are eager for plays that challenge as well as delight and move them. Producing intimate theatre by passionate artists, whether classic works or cutting-edge plays, the Pear attracts theatre artists and audiences from all over the Bay Area for its award-winning and high-quality productions.

Pear Theatre moved in 2015 from its original 40-seat warehouse space to a new, state-of-the-art black box theatre close by, with capacity of 75-99 seats depending on the configuration of the production. This exciting move allows The Pear to continue its tradition of intimate theatre while taking on new challenges and opportunities.