POP! WHO SHOT ANDY WARHOL?, 'NIGHT, MOTHER and More Set for Firehouse Theatre Project's 20th Season

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Firehouse Theatre Project presents a series of plays that span the entire contemporary era from an American classic set in sultry post WWII New Orleans to a hilarious new satire set in a present day wrestling ring. Winners of 10 prestigious awards and numerous nominations for their New York premiers, the 2013-14 season boasts three Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalists and an Outer Critics Circle Award winner for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical.

This summer, Firehouse will present the sensation musical, POP! Who Shot Andy Warhol? with book and lyrics by Maggie-Kate Coleman and music by Anna K. Jacobs. POP! is an outrageous whodunit musical in which the famous-and infamous-residents of Warhol's legendary Factory all have motives to pull the trigger. But the pop art icon unravels an even bigger mystery as he confronts not only the prime suspects, but also his art and his own greatest creation: himself. POP! is presented in partnership with Yale Repertory Theatre with music direction by Anthony Smith, choreography by Starr Foster, and starring Richmond Theatre Critics Circle (RTCC) Award nominee John Mincks as Andy Warhol.

The September season opener, Marsha Norman's 'night, Mother, explores the final hour in the life of a young woman who has decided that life is no longer worth living. This moving, gripping and finally shattering play will be helmed by esteemed New York City and DC actor/director/playwright David Emerson Toney and star RTCC Award nominee Lorri Lindberg. Next is the sizzling musical, Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. Lippa's award winning score delivers exhilaration and drive in this story of passions gone mad. Capturing the essence of a bygone era mixed with sounds of the present day, he shows that moral decadence is not just a thing of the past.

In February, Kristoffer Diaz's Obie Award winner The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity will be Firehouse's Acts of Faith Festival contribution. Veteran actor/director Barry Bell will bring us this hilarious comedy that explores race, religion and politics in 21st Century America set in a WWE style wrestling ring - yes there will be an actual wrestling ring on the Firehouse stage! The 2013-14 season will close with the beloved American classic, Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. Broadway's Tawnya Pettiford-Wates will direct this iconic masterpiece of the American theatre. The play follows the beautiful but fading southern Belle Blanche du Bois as an unexpected guest of sister, Stella, and her brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski. Over the course of one hot, sultry New Orleans summer, Blanche's delicate facade slowly disintegrates as she meets her match in the handsome, brutish, and sensual Stanley.

In addition to our exhilarating main stage season of contemporary American plays, Firehouse Theatre Project is excited to announce a second season of experimental theatre in partnership with Stage B Theatre Company; a Firehouse Dance Series produced by Starr Foster Da­­nce Project; and ground breaking dramatic work exploring racism in America by The Conciliation Project. Firehouse Theatre Project is thrilled to collaborate with such a diverse group of artists and look forward to bringing their talents to the patrons of Richmond and Central Virginia.

DATES:

POP! Who Shot Andy Warhol? - July 11 - August 10, 2013
'night, Mother - September 19 - October 19, 2013
The Wild Party - November 21 - December 28, 2013
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity - February 6 - March 8, 2014
A Streetcar Named Desire - April 17 - May 17, 2014

All shows play the Firehouse Theatre, 1609 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA. Call (804) 355-2001 or visit www.firehousetheatre.org for more information or to subscribe. Regular subscriptions are $105 adults, $85 seniors 65+, and $50 students and military members with valid identification. Earlybird specials available now.