Rover Dramawerks' 15th Season to Include 24-Hour Play Festivals and More

Rover Dramawerks has announced their Fifteen Season of plays "off the beaten path." The fact that this will be their first full season in their new theatre venue makes this milestone anniversary even more special. Rover will present seven plays and two One Day Only 24-hour play festivals, starting with The Fourth Wall, by A. R. Gurney, directed by Andi Allen, running October 23 - November 15, 2014.

Peggy, a simple upper-class housewife, has a strange obsession with a blank wall in her house, as she has redecorated the living room to resemble a stage set with everything facing this blank "fourth wall." As each character enters the room, they, too, begin to behave as if they are acting in a play, or even a musical, when they occasionally burst into song. Cleverly tackling contemporary topics while illuminating the nature of theater and its current state in America, this is a drawing room comedy by one of the most prolific and produced playwrights in America, with the wit of Noel Coward and the songs of Cole Porter.

As always, Rover does not produce holiday shows, choosing instead to take that time off. However, the theatre is available for rent by other organizations during late November through the month of December.

The Cupcake Conspiracy, by C.J. Ehrlich & Philip J. Kaplan, directed by Carol M. Rice will run January 8-31, 2015. Max is a timid nebbish who sneaks out on a blind date behind his soon-to-be ex wife's back and due to a case of mistaken identity at the top of the Empire State Building, he finds himself up to his neck in a terrorist plot involving cupcakes. Really evil cupcakes. His date with the sultry Natasha could be the most exciting night of his life - if he can just foil her plot and, more importantly, keep his wife from finding out! This World Premiere is the winner of Rover Dramawerks' New Play Contest.

Other People's Money, by Jerry Sterner, directed by Paul McKenzie follows, running February 19 - March 14, 2015. Wall Street takeover artist Lawrence Garfinkle's computer is going tilt over the undervalued stock of New England Wire & Cable. If the stockholders back his takeover, they will make a bundle but what will happen to the 1200 employees and the community when he liquidates the assets? Opposing the rapacious financier are the genial man who has run the company since year one and a young lawyer who specializes in fending off takeovers. This compelling drama explores whether corporate raiders are creatures from the Black Lagoon of capitalism or realists. Winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off Broadway Play.

One Day Only 24, the first of two One Day Onlys in the season, is next on March 28. Rover will present five plays from concept to curtain in just 24 hours, with performances at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.

Running April 23 - May 16, 2015 is 18 Holes, by Gene Kato, directed by Lindsey Humphries. Four sets of golfers make their way around the eighteen greens of the Brazoria Bend golf course in Southeast Texas. A father who must tell his young son that his wife is leaving him, a golden years couple constantly bickering over the winning power of a pink golf ball, two slackers in hot pursuit of the beer girl, and a collection of ladies from the Sunset Society (an organization of women who wear orange hats). Guided through the evening by Lyle, the course greenskeeper, and filled with both comedy and drama, this is a true slice of life that everyone can relate to. Winner of the 2007 Rocky Mountain Theatre Association Best Play Award.

Suite Surrender, by Michael McKeever, directed by Carol M. Rice is a new American farce that will run June 4-27, 2015. It's 1942, and two of Hollywood's biggest divas have descended upon the luxurious Palm Beach Royale Hotel with assistants, luggage...and legendary feud in tow. Even with members of the Navy diving out of the fourth floor windows into the swimming pool and running maneuvers in the lobby, everything seems to be in order for their wartime benefit performance. That is, until they are somehow assigned to the same suite. Mistaken identities, overblown egos, double entendres, and a lap dog named Mr. Boodles round out this riotous love note to the classic farces of the 30s and 40s.

True to their mission of producing lesser-known plays by well-known playwrights, Come Blow Your Horn, by Neil Simon will run July 16 - August 8, 2015, directed by Misty Baptiste. Twenty-one year old Buddy Baker has left home and arrives unannounced at the luxurious Manhattan apartment of his older brother, Alan, a swinging, womanizing bachelor who prefers his carefree life to working in the family business. Alan is only too happy to mentor his brother in the ways of the world, but as Buddy turns into a ladies' man himself, Alan discovers real feelings for one of the many women with whom he is currently seeing and has to rethink his life choices to keep her. This farcical 60s romp was Neil Simon's first Broadway comedy hit!

One Day Only 25 is next on August 29, again with two performances at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. of five world premieres that didn't exist the day before.

ODO25 - August 28-29, 2015

Closing out the season September 10 - October 3, 2015 is Cactus Flower, by Abe Burrows, directed by Mark-Brian Sonna. Julian, a philandering dentist, keeps his many affairs at bay by claiming to be married with children. When he falls for his girlfriend Toni and proposes, she wants to make sure his marriage is really over and Julian must produce a "wife." He recruits his prickly nurse Stephanie to pose as his wife, with hilarious results. This Broadway hit later became a successful film starring Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, and Goldie Hawn, winning her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

Between the runs of mainstage shows and One Day Onlys, Rover Dramawerks will also continue their Adventure Nights series every Friday and Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. While most of these are not yet planned, Rover will definitely be presenting the four 10-minute play winners of their New Play Contest in April of 2015, as well as offering a Valentine's Day murder mystery on February 13 and 14. They are also taking votes from patrons for their Retro Reading Series to determine which of their past plays deserves the next staged reading.

Fifteenth Season tickets are now on sale, as well as Season Samplers and Rover's popular Punch Cards. Subscribers can also add both One Day Onlys to their package at a deep discount. The current season also continues with the currently running farce Who Was That Lady I Saw You With? by Norman Krasna, through August 23; Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily by Katie Forgette running September 11 - October 4, and One Day Only 23 on October 18.

For more information about Rover Dramawerks' Fifteenth Season, to purchase season or single tickets, and for information on renting the theatre over the holidays or between shows, please visit the website at www.roverdramawerks.com or call 972-849-0358.

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