Philadelphia's Arden Theater Announces 2006-2007 Season

Philadelphia's Arden Theater Company has lined up a number of premieres  for its 2006-2007 season, according to Variety.  Among the highlights will be a new world premiere play by local playwright Bruce Graham and the Philadelphia debut of Caroline, or Change.

Now in its 19th year, the Arden will kick off the season with Simon Brent's adaptation of the John Irving novel A Prayer for Owen Meany.  Featuring Terrence J. Nolen (the company's artistic producing director and co-founder),  Ian Merrill Peakes, Scott Greer, Mary Martello, Anthony Lawton, Paul L. Nolan, Karen Peakes, Catharine K. Slusar and Maureen Torsney-Weir, and Doug Hara, the show will run from September 14th through October 15th.

Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus' adaptation of the Fyodor Dostoevsky classic Crime and Punishment will be seen from October 12th through December 3rd.  The novel's many characters will be portrayed by three actors.  Arden resident director and co-founder Aaron Posner directs.

Bruce Graham's (Coyote on a Fence) new play Dex and Julie Sittin' in a Tree will have its world premiere from January 11th through March 4th, 2007, as part of the Philadelphia New Play Festival.  James L. Christy will direct and Jennifer Childs will star in the play, which concerns a reunion between a recently widowed professor and the old flame whom she has not seen for 25 years.

Caroline, or Change, Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori's ambitious sung-through musical about a weary, financially struggling maid in 60s New Orleans, will be seen in its Philadelphia premiere from March 8th through April 8th.  Nolen will direct.

The performance piece Lookingglass Alice, presented by the Lookingglass Theater of Chicago, will follow from May 10th through June 10th.  The production is based on the writings of Alice in Wonderland writer Lewis Carroll.

Two children's shows will also be performed: Roald Dahl's The BFG (in an adaptation by David Woods) from November 29th through December 21st and the musical Ferdinand the Bull, by Karen Zacariasand  and Deborah Wicks La Puma, from April 11th through May 13th.

Visit www.ardentheatre.org or call 215-922-1122 for more information.