Serenbe Playhouse Announces Second Season Lineup

After an incredibly successful inaugural season, Serenbe Playhouse has secured three exciting premieres for its second season this summer. The season will begin with the Southeast premiere of Ordinary Days, a new musical by Adam Gwon (June 2 - 25), followed by the world premiere of an original adaptation of The Ugly Duckling, (July 1 - August 27), ending with the Atlanta premiere of Shipwrecked! An Entertainment: The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont, (August 4 - 27).

"This season's lineup is a dream come true, and I am thrilled that we were able to get the rights to these cutting edge new shows," says Serenbe Playhouse Founder & Executive Artistic Director Brian Clowdus. "Atlanta and Southeast Audiences will be experiencing these productions for the first time and will find themselves in a different Serenbe location each show, whether it be a courtyard, lake or open air pavilion, guaranteeing a new transporting experience. Audiences are in for a real treat this summer at Serenbe."

The critically acclaimed Serenbe Playhouse opened in the summer of 2010 to rave reviews. With a diverse lineup of productions, including an interactive performance of childhood favorite The Jungle Book at the tree house in the woods of Serenbe, the compelling musical John & Jen, and the unforgettable Shakespeare's R&J, performed under the stars in the Serenbe Courtyard, the Playhouse allowed audiences to experience quality theater in the beautiful, natural surroundings of Serenbe; it is truly, as Atlanta Magazine says, "a playhouse in paradise."

Arts critic Wendell Brock said of John & Jen, "The show compares favorably to work by Atlanta's well established intown theaters... The only difference is that it's performed al fresco, so that the sky and the clouds become part of the drama."

For more information about Serenbe Playhouse, to purchase tickets or become a supporting member, please visit www.serenbeplayhouse.com and follow "Serenbe Playhouse" on Facebook.

SUMMER 2011 LINEUP:
The Southeast Premiere of Ordinary Days
A New Musical by Adam Gwon
Directed by Justin Anderson, Music Directed by Will Shuler
Starring: Christy Baggett, Brian Clowdus, Laura Floyd, Dustin Lewis
June 2 - 25, 8:30 pm (Every Thursday - Saturday)
From one of musical theatre's most exciting new composers comes ORDINARY DAYS, a refreshingly honest and funny musical about making real connections in the city that never sleeps (but probably should at some point.) ORDINARY DAYS tells the story of four young New Yorkers whose lives intersect as they search for fulfillment, happiness, love and cabs. Through a score of vibrant and memorable songs, their experiences ring startlingly true to life.

The World Premiere of: The Ugly Duckling
An Original Adaptation Created by Joanna Brooks, Brian Clowdus, Chip Epsten and Rachel Teagle in collaboration with Brooks & Co. Dance
Directed by Brian Clowdus, Choreographed by Joanna Brooks, Text by Rachel Teagle, Music by Chip Epsten
July 1 -August 27, 2 pm (every Friday and Saturday)
In a direct response to the bullying epidemic in Georgia and across the country, Serenbe Playhouse is going back to one of the oldest childhood tales of diversity, The Ugly Duckling, but giving it a modern twist with a production that will move children and adults of all ages. This will not be your typical children's theatre experience and will have a level of sophistication that will have parents on the edge of their seat as well, with half human/half animal bird dancers and a set built out into a lake, allowing dancers and actors to be in and out of water, just as these characters would be in their natural environment. This show will be a fusion of live music, fantastical costuming, witty writing, and modern choreography with performance on land and in water.

The Atlanta Premiere of: Shipwrecked! An Entertainment- The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself) by Pulitzer Prize Winner Donald Margulies
Directed by Brian Clowdus
August 4 - 27, 8:30 pm (Every Thursday - Saturday)
The adventurous Louis de Rougemont invites you to hear his amazing story of bravery, survival and celebrity that left nineteenth-century England spellbound. Dare to be whisked away in a story of the high seas, populated by exotic islanders, flying wombats, giant sea turtles and a monstrous man-eating octopus. SHIPWRECKED examines how far we're willing to blur the line between fact and fiction in order to leave our mark on the world.

ABOUT SERENBE PLAYHOUSE:
Serenbe Playhouse believes that theatre is an art form with a unique power to illuminate the human experience, and does so by producing artistically rich, open-air theatrical performances for audiences throughout Greater Metro Atlanta. A pioneer in modeling Green Theatre Practices, Serenbe Playhouse produces plays with a commitment to social responsibility and environmental stewardship. Founded in 2009 under the executive and artistic direction of Brian Clowdus, an accomplished actor, educator, director and producer, and established under the umbrella of its parent organization, the Serenbe Institute for Art Culture & the Environment, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Serenbe Playhouse operates with the support of a diverse working board of directors and community volunteers.