Theater Latte Da Announces 2011-2012 Season, Begins With SPELLING BEE

Theater Latté Da announced today a dynamic season of four productions that feature the wickedly funny musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Ordway Center's McKnight Theatre (October 6-30, 2011), the new holiday classic All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 at the Pantages Theatre (December 15-18, 2011), the regional premiere of Beautiful Thing at The Lab Theater (February 24 - March 18, 2012), and the passionate rock musical Spring Awakening produced in partnership with the University of Minnesota at the Rarig Center's Stoll Thrust Theatre (April 12 - May 6, 2012).

Theater Latté Da opens their fourteenth season with the musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Ordway Center's McKnight Theatre October 6-30, 2011. The show's Tony Award-winning creative team has created the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time. At first blush, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee seems a lighthearted spoof about nine students competing for the title of spelling bee champion. Look beneath the surface, however, and you'll see the pains and heartaches today's students experience as they strive for academic success. The production will feature artistic associate Tod Petersen as Vice Principal Douglas Panch. "This Tony Award-winning musical is innovative in both form and content, and is as insightful as it is hilarious," says Artistic Director Peter Rothstein.

Back by popular demand, Theater Latté Da will once again join forces with Hennepin Theatre Trust and the renowned vocal ensemble Cantus to present All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914. Rothstein created what has become a holiday classic by melding European carols and war songs together with found text to tell the remarkable story of the World War I Christmas Truce. All Is Calm premiered on Minnesota Public Radio to great success, and has since been broadcast around the globe through American Public Media and the European Broadcast Union. All Is Calm will again tour across the country ending with six performances at the Pantages Theatre in downtown Minneapolis, December 15-18, 2011.

Theater Latté Da ventures to The Lab Theater with the area premiere of Beautiful Thing, February 24 - March 18, 2012. Telling the whole world that you've fallen in love is a right of passage, but what happens when you fall in love with someone of the same sex? Two boys from working class

London venture down this road less traveled. Beautiful Thing is a heart-wrenching play that inspired the sleeper-hit movie of the same title. Theater Latté Da will infuse the production with music of the Mamas and Papas with local favorite Erin Schwab singing Mama Cass. Theater Latté Da is excited to announce that Jeremy Cohen, producing artistic director of The Playwrights' Center, will be guest directing Beautiful Thing. "Jeremy is a smart, dynamic arts leader. It is thrilling to have him join our community and make his local directing debut with Latté Da," says Rothstein.

Theater Latté Da will cap the season with Spring Awakening, produced in collaboration with the University of Minnesota, April 12 - May 6, 2012. Adapted from Frank Wedekind's 1891 expressionist play about the trials, tears, and exhilaration of the teen years, it has been hailed as the Best Musical of the Year by the New York Times, New York Post, Star Ledger, Journal News, New York Observer and USA Today. Spring Awakening was the winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. "We have been discussing a partnership with the University of Minnesota for a few years. I saw Spring Awakening on Broadway at a student matinee; it was one of the most volatile, thrilling theater experiences of my life. I wanted to recreate that dynamic and partnering with the U of M was the ideal opportunity," says Rothstein. Carl Flink, chair of the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance, and Founding Artistic Director of Black Label Movement, will choreograph the production.

SEASON TICKETS
Theater Latté Da will again offer season ticket packages. For information or to request a season brochure call 612-339-3003.

ABOUT THEATER LATTÉ DA
Theater Latté Da is a Twin Cities theater company recognized for its ability to connect story, music, artist and audience through diverse stories and theatrical innovation. Theater Latté Da specializes in advancing the art of musical storytelling through emotional, visceral and intellectual performances that resonate with our current world. The company's bold approach expands the genre by originating new works, radically reinventing classics from the musical theater canon, and experimenting with unusual forms, musical styles and storytelling techniques. www.LatteDa.org

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Music & Lyrics by William Finn, Book by Rachel Sheinkin

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman

Additional material by Jay Reiss

Originally produced on Broadway by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo, Barrington Stage Company, Second Stage Theatre

Directed and Choreographed by Peter Rothstein and Michael Matthew Ferrell

Music Direction by Denise Prosek

Featuring Tod Petersen as Vice Principal Panch

October 6-30, 2011

Ordway Center, McKnight Theatre

345 Washington Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102

Box Office: 651-224-4222

Ordway.org

ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914
by Peter Rothstein

with musical arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach

December 15-18, 2011

A co-production with Cantus and Hennepin Theatre Trust

Pantages Theatre

710 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Box Office: 800-982-2787

HennepinTheatreTrust.org

BEAUTIFUL THING
by Jonathan Harvey

Directed by Jeremy Cohen, Producing Artistic Director of The Playwright's Center

Featuring Erin Schwab singing the music of Mama Cass

February 24 - March 18, 2012

The Lab Theater

700 North First Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Box Office: 612-333-7977

TheLabTheater.org

SPRING AWAKENING
Book and Lyrics by Steven Sater, Music by Duncan Sheik

Based on the play by Frank Wedekind

Directed by Peter Rothstein

Music Direction by Denise Prosek

Choreographed by Carl Flink

April 12 - May 6, 2012

Rarig Center, Stoll Thrust Theatre
330 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Box Office: Northrop Ticket Office, 612-624-2345
Northrop.umn.edu

 

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