SWEENEY TODD, ALL MY SONS And CRAZY FOR YOU Among FAC's 2009/10 Season

The Fine Arts Center Theatre Company presents four Tony Award-winning plays and musicals as part of the 2009-2010 theatre season, which begins in October of 2009.

The FAC Theatre Company’s production of The Music Man concludes this season, which runs through May 31.

The 2009-2010 season features some of the biggest creative names in American theatre, beginning with Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound, the final piece to the semi-autobiographical trilogy. Once again, as with the FAC Theatre Company’s production of Brighton Beach Memoirs from 2007 and Biloxi Blues from 2008, local actor Marco Robinson returns to play the young Neil Simon, Eugene Jerome.

Stephen Sondheim returns as well. Following recent successful runs of Sondheim’s Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George, the FAC Theatre Company will unleash the Demon Barber of Fleet Street with its production of the Tony Award-winning musical thriller, Sweeney Todd.

Two more Tony Award-winning productions highlight the season: All My Sons, written by Arthur Miller, and Crazy For You with music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin and a book by Ken Ludwig, writer of last year’s hit comedy Lend Me a Tenor. Also, the FAC Theatre Company offers A Christmas Survival Guide during the holidays, a musical revue that is both hilarious and heartwarming.

Fine Arts Center Theatre Company 2009/2010 Season

Broadway Bound Oct. 9 – 25, 2009

By Neil Simon

Following the critically acclaimed productions of Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues, Broadway Bound promises to showcase the pinnacle of Neil Simon’s playwriting genius as the last installment in his autobiographical trilogy. This play won the Tony Award for Best Play and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This final chapter finds Eugene (Marco Robinson) and his brother Stanley trying to break into professional comedy writing, while coping with the breakup of their family. Their efforts to create an idea for a comedy sketch sparkle with hilarity and ultimately launch them to careers in New York City as television comedy writers.

A Christmas Survival Guide Dec. 4 – 23, 2009

Conceived and Written by James Hindman and Ray Roderick

Musical Arrangements by John Glaudini

This intimate musical revue takes a wry and knowing look at the stressful holiday season. Armed with a copy of A Christmas Survival Guide and an optimistic attitude, the characters charge into shopping malls, office parties, and family gatherings in their search for the true essence of Christmas. By mixing comedic vignettes, a contemporary score of original music and classic songs such as Silver Bells, Away in a Manger, and Carol of the Bells, the characters learn to cope with the season in ways that are both hilarious and heartwarming. A Christmas Survival Guide is a light and lively way to take your mind off the holiday crush!

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Jan. 22 – Feb. 14, 2010

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Book by Hugh Wheeler

This chilling, suspenseful, heart-pounding masterpiece of murderous “barber-ism” and culinary crime earned three Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical. Sweeney Todd tells the infamous tale of the unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking revenge against the judge who framed him. His thirst for blood soon takes its toll on his unfortunate customers, and the resourceful proprietress of the pie shop downstairs has the people of London lining up in droves for her mysterious new meat pie recipe! Sweeney Todd has a great sense of fun, mixing intense drama with howlingly funny moments of dark humor: audiences find themselves laughing hysterically one moment and gasping in surprise the next. This production contains graphic violence, adult language, adult situations, and is not suitable for anyone who is easily offended or for children under the age of 17.

All My Sons March 19 – April 4, 2010

By Arthur Miller

Arthur Miller is arguably the greatest American playwright of all time. All My Sons, a Tony and Drama Critics Circle Award winner for Best Play, chronicles the lives of the Keller and Deever families just after the conclusion of World War II. Joe Keller, and neighbor Herbert Deever, ran a machine shop which made airplane parts. Deever was sent to prison because the firm turned out defective parts, causing the deaths of many soldiers. Keller went free and became wealthy. The twin shadows of this catastrophe and the fact that one of two Keller sons was reported missing during the war, dominate the action. The climax showing the reaction of a son to his guilty father is a fitting conclusion to a play electrifying in its intensity. As local families yearn for the safe return of their loved ones and more is learned about potentially unethical government contracting practices in Iraq, this timeless masterpiece couldn’t be more relevant.

Crazy for You May 7 – 30, 2010

Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin

Book by Ken Ludwig With music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin and a book by Ken Ludwig (writer of last year’s hit comedy Lend Me A Tenor), this high-energy musical comedy is filled with mistaken identity, plot twists, fabulous dance numbers, and memorable tunes, including I Got Rhythm, They Can't Take That Away from Me, Nice Work if You Can Get It, Embraceable You, and Someone to Watch Over Me. It is the story of Bobby Child, a well-to-do 1930s playboy, whose dream in life is to dance. Despite the serious efforts of his mother and soon-to-be-ex-fiancée, Bobby achieves his dream and finds the love of his life. Crazy for You earned the Tony and Drama Desk Award for Best Musical and a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical.

Season Subscriptions Are on Sale Now. Patrons subscribing to the 2009-2010 season get five shows for the price of four and can take advantage of the “trade out” policy, which allows patrons to trade tickets from one performance for additional tickets to another. Renewing subscribers can keep their same seats or upgrade. Subscribers can claim the best seats months before single tickets go on sale. They are also covered by ‘Lost Ticket Insurance’ and can use the ‘Easy Exchange Policy.’ Fine Arts Center members will receive a discount to all FAC Theatre Company productions. FAC membership packages offer discounted rates for seniors, members of the military, and families. Show times are 7:30 p.m. for Thursdays, 8 p.m. for Friday and Saturdays and 2 p.m. for Sunday matinees. Subscription Packages Thursday and Sunday Series: FAC Members $100 Non-members $120 Friday and Saturday Series: FAC Members $115 Non-members $140 Single tickets will be available for sale in the fall. For complete subscription information, visit csfineartscenter.org or call the FAC Box Office at 719.634.5583 for additional information.

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