Delaware Theatre Company Announces 2009-2010 Season Lineup

Artistic Director Anne Marie Cammarato has announced Delaware Theatre Company's (DTC) 2009-2010 season. Cammarato says the company's 31st season will be a pure celebration of theatre: "the DTC stage will come alive with music, puppetry, radio drama, documentary, video and poetry all season long. Exploring storytelling in all forms and creating rare theatrical moments, the plays we've chosen are about communities across the country and approach them from new, surprising and insightful angles."

2009-2010 SEASON

The stage heats up this fall when DTC favorite Kevin Ramsey (creator/director of the 2007 hit Sam Cooke Forever Mr. Soul and star of last season's No Child...) returns with the East Coast premiere of Fire on the Bayou: A Mardi Gras Musical Extravaganza. Told through the lens of Hurricane Katrina survivors, Fire on the Bayou is a celebration of the music and the enduring spirit of Ramsey's hometown of New Orleans. Ramsey, who conceived and will direct the production, describes it as "a mythical musical journey that will lead the Wilmington audience through the jazz-filled streets of New Orleans-a colorful, vibrant city where the saints go marching in and culture bubbles up from the streets." Fire on the Bayou: A Mardi Gras Musical Extravaganza runs October 14 - November 1, 2009. This show is best enjoyed by audiences ages 10 and up.

There's holiday fun the whole family can enjoy in December when DTC presents the timely play, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, written by Joe Landry. The classic Frank Capra film is re-told in the format of a 1940s radio show, complete with man-made sound effects, old-style commercials and live music. An ensemble of performers will bring the characters of this beloved holiday favorite to life, and remind audiences why every life has an impact on its community. Directed by Anne Marie Cammarato, this production runs December 2 - 20, 2009.

As the season continues, questions of art, family, religion and loyalty are explored in Aaron Posner's (2006's A Murder, A Mystery & A Marriage) adaptation of Chaim Potok's powerful coming-of-age novel, My Name is Asher Lev. Asher Lev, born into a Hasidic Jewish family, tries to balance his artistic genius with the demands of his family. A poignant and elegant drama, The Philadelphia Inquirer called this play "exquisite" and Talkin' Broadway labeled it "a truly theatrical experience." Co-produced with Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland, and directed by Jeremy Skidmore, My Name is Asher Lev runs February 10 - 28, 2010. Due to brief nudity and adult subject matter, this play is best enjoyed by audiences ages 15 and up.

As began with last season's No Child..., DTC continues its Community Series exploring the voices of Wilmington on its stage with 10 Months: The Wilmington Voices Project, conceived and directed by Anne Marie Cammarato. 10 Months asks, "How does our city define itself? What can happen to a community in ten months' time?" Through interviews, video and live actors, DTC will explore ten months in the life of Wilmington, both in the past and present. Audiences will follow stories of their neighbors, community leaders-and sometimes those of forgotten voices-through ten-month time periods in Wilmington's early history, the occupation by the National Guard in 1968, and in present-day Wilmington. 10 Months: The Wilmington Voices Project runs March 17 - April 4, 2010. This show is best enjoyed by audiences ages 15 and up.

Philadelphia artists-and DTC favorites-Anthony Lawton (A Murder, A Mystery & A Marriage, Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie) Matt Pfeiffer and Aaron Cromie (both in Picasso at the Lapin Agile) return to complete the 31st season with Lawton's playful and creative comedy, The Foocy. "In the spirit of The Brothers Grimm and Tim Burton," explains Pfeiffer, who will direct the theatrical event, "The Foocy is funny, fantastical fairy tale full of surprises and thrills for the whole family." This puppet comedy with masks and music spins a wondrous tale of good against evil when a hideous witch who travels the Russian countryside terrorizing villagers, meets her match in the little town of Vrinsk. The Foocy runs April 28 - May 16, 2010. This production is best enjoyed by audiences ages 10 and up.

Of the season, Cammarato says "We're looking forward to producing this cross-section of American plays that offer something for everyone, including musical lovers, families and audiences curious about the history of our city."

2009-2010 season subscriptions are currently available and can be ordered online at www.delawaretheatre.org or by contacting the DTC Box Office at 302.594.1100. DTC continues to offer its classic and specialty packages, as well as Flex Passes. Ideal for people with busy schedules, DTC's Flex Pass subscription gives patrons five Passes to see any show on any night (or day) of their choice. Rather than of commit to a date in advance, Flex Passes may be redeemed up to 24 hours before a chosen performance. New this season is a Family Flex Pass, a family-friendly version of the traditional Flex Pass subscription that gives patrons four adult passes and four kids' passes to use throughout the season, as well as a free Family Fun Pack full of snacks to share. Additional Passes may be purchased for both the Flex Pass and Family Flex Pass at any time.

Subscribers save 10 percent off single ticket prices, and receive free ticket exchanges, restaurant discounts, and one free ticket to introduce a friend to DTC (except Family Flex Pass). Single tickets will be on sale beginning July 1, 2009, with group, senior, and student discounts available. The theatre is wheelchair accessible, and assistive listening devices and large format programs are available for all performances. Wheelchair seating can be reserved in advance by calling the DTC Box Office at (302) 594-1100.

Subscription packages: $157.50 - $260
Single tickets: $35 - $49 (discounts available for students and seniors)
Group sales: Groups 10 or larger receive discounts up to 40% off single tickets.
Box office: Delaware Theatre Company
200 Water Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 594-1100

For more information visit www.delawaretheatre.org.

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