Theatre Aspen Sets Extended 2015 Season: CABARET, 'STARCATCHER' & More

Award-winning Theatre Aspen announced the lineup for its 32nd season today, which will be extended by an extra week this summer. The Hurst Theatre opens with the groundbreaking revival version of the musical CABARET, running in repertory with Other Desert Cities, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Junie B. Jones The Musical. This is the first season since 2008 that the organization will produce four plays in repertory. Casting will be announced soon.

Executive Artistic Director Paige Price said, "Last summer we featured lots of variety with a dash of bawdiness. This year we're doubling down on that and adding some drama, with the Pulitzer nominee Other Desert Cities. We're also responding to our patrons, who have told us they want a longer season." In addition to the regular season, the organization also announced the launch of the annual Aspen Theatre Festival for new work, from August 23rd through 28th.

Carbonell Award winner and Theatre Aspen favorite Mark Martino will direct and choreograph CABARET, opening June 26th. With a book by Joe Masteroff music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, the musical will run in repertory through August 15th. Paul Black designs sets and lighting, with costumes by Kevin Brainerd and the season's sound designed by David "DT" Thomas. Musical director is Eric Alsford, with Vernon Willet as Production Stage Manager.

Martino will also direct Peter and the Starcatcher, the inventive prequel to Peter Pan, written by Rick Elice and based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The play-with-music opens July 15th and runs through August 21st. The design team of Paul Black (sets/lights) includes costumes by Annabel Reader. Eric Alsford is Musical Director.

Opening August 5th is Other Desert Cities, by Jon Robin Baitz. Directed by Sarna Lapine (War Horse, Light in the Piazza), the play will run in repertory through August 22nd. Sets are by Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams, lighting by Paul Black, costumes by Kevin Brainerd. Kevin Carson is Production Stage Manager.

New this season is a Theatre for Young Audience series, to be presented on weekend mornings, with the musical Junie B. Jones The Musical, based on the Barbara Parks series, from June 29th through August 15th, with book and lyrics by Marcy Heisler and music by Zina Goldrich. The team's new musical Ever After, based on the film, is eyeing Broadway after an upcoming production this summer at Papermill Playhouse. The creative team comprises Tom Ward (sets), Colin Riebel (lights), Lora LaVon (costumes) and director and choreographer Devanand Janki, whose choreography for the original Off-Broadway production garnered a Lortell Award nomination. LaVon was also a member of the original creative team. Jonathan Gorst is Musical Director.

Theatre Aspen's new Aspen Theatre Festival begins this summer, featuring new plays and musicals being developed for the stage. A world-premiere reading of The Agent, by Scott Martin, will kick off the weeklong festival. The new play is described as "a new romantic comedy about the romance and disillusion of trying to break through to fame in Hollywood," and will be directed by multiple Emmy-winner, Jay Sandrich (Soap, Cosby, Mary Tyler Moore Show). The new musical Finn the Fearless, by Andrew Butler and Andrew Farmer, will also be presented in a developmental workshop, directed by Kent Nicholson.

The organization initiated their new play initiative in May of 2014 with the Duncan Sheik/Steven Sater musical Alice By Heart, directed by Lear deBessonet and choreographed by Chase Brock, presented at the Wheeler Opera House. Theatre Aspen also produced a reading of Some Lovers, a musical by Burt Bacharach, with a book by Steven Sater.

Season passes are on sale now, and all productions take place in the Hurst Theatre in Rio Grande Park and will be underwritten by season sponsor ANB Bank, with the generous support of Franklin and Barbara Carson, Jessica and John Fullerton, Soledad and Bob Hurst, Darlynn and Tom Fellman, Jim and Brenda Grusecki, Liz Armstrong, the City of Aspen, Les Dames d'Aspen and The Aspen Club and Spa.

Media sponsors include the Aspen Times, Aspen Daily News, Sopris Sun, Aspen Sojourner, Aspen Magazine, Aspen Peak, Aspen Public Radio, KSPN/KNFO.

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