Bette Aitken News

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is pleased to present a staged reading of award-winning playwright John Glore's Creep. This staged reading is being directed by Artistic Director Oanh Nguyen as part of Chance Theater's OTR New Works Series. Creep will be presented for one night only on Wednesday, May 8 at 7:30pm at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Cripe Stage.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is delighted to present the regional premiere of Kim Rosenstock's comedy, Tigers Be Still. Written by Kim Rosenstock and directed by Marya Mazor, Tigers Be Still will preview from May 3rd through May 10th; with regular performances beginning May 11th and continuing through June 2nd on the Fyda-Mar Stage at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, presents David Hare's celebrated drama, Skylight. Written by David Hare and directed by Chance Theater's Artistic Director, Oanh Nguyen, Skylight will preview from April 19th through April 26th; with regular performances beginning April 27th and continuing through May 19th on the Cripe Stage at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

The Orange County Playwrights Alliance kicks off its 2019 season of new play events on Saturday, April 6 at 2:30pm at the highly regarded Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills, with a staged reading of a new full-length work from Eric Eberwein. Peace Be With You was first presented last September in Paper Wing Theatre Company's new play festival (Monterey, CA). Amanda Zarr directs.

Many have, of course, heard of the infamous Lizzie Borden, a young woman, who was charged with---but later acquitted of---the brutal axe murders of her father and stepmother in 1892. Strong curiosity and speculation remain til this day about the tragic events that took place more than a century ago, resulting in countless retellings of Borden's story using a variety of different mediums---everything from movies and television to literature and, yes, stage works. The latest iteration of her story is, arguably, its most out-of-the-box depiction yet: LIZZIE THE MUSICAL, an engaging, ferociously explosive punk rock opera first presented in 2010 and is now having its regional premiere performances at Chance Theater in Anaheim through March 3, 2019. While certainly not the definitive retelling for the Borden scandal, the show itself is an entertaining show elevated by a quartet of fierce women with a lot of feelings to express.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is delighted to produce the Regional Premiere of Lizzie, The Musical. With music by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, lyrics by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Tim Maner, a book by Tim Maner, with additional music by Tim Maner, additional lyrics by Alan Stevens Hewitt, based on an original concept by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Tim Maner, this musical's orchestrations are done by Alan Stevens Hewitt. Lizzie, The Musical will preview from February 1st through February 8th; regular performances will begin February 9th and continue through March 3rd on the Cripe Stage at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is pleased to announce the first show in its fifth season of our TYA Family Series... James and The Giant Peach. With book by Timothy Allen McDonald, music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, based on the book by Roald Dahl, and directed by Darryl B. Hovis, James and The Giant Peach will preview from February 15 through February 17; regular performances will begin February 17 and continue through March 3 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Fyda-Mar Stage.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is delighted to announce its OTR New Works lineup for 2019. We will be presenting staged readings of Jessica Huang's Transmissions in Advance of the Second Great Dying on March 6th, John Glore's Creep on May 8th, and 2016 Resident Playwright Jenny Connell Davis' End of Shift on October 9th. We will also be doing a LAB Workshop of a new play (which is still being written) by our 2019 Resident Playwright, Jessica Huang from July 18th - 21st. All performances will take place at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is delighted to produce the Regional Premiere of Lizzie, The Musical. With music by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, lyrics by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Tim Maner, a book by Tim Maner, with additional music by Tim Maner, additional lyrics by Alan Stevens Hewitt, based on an original concept by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Tim Maner, this musical's orchestrations are done by Alan Stevens Hewitt.

While watching Chance Theater's brand new OC-premiere of EMMA: THE MUSICAL--Paul Gordon's charm-filled 2007 stage musical adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved 1815 novel--I noticed a welcome sensation that took over me throughout most of the production… I could not stop smiling. Delightfully appealing and positively buoyant in a great many aspects, this wonderfully witty and quite beguiling production--directed with engaging gusto by Casey Long--continues performances at their Cripe Stage in Anaheim through December 23, 2018.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, will present A Charlie Brown Christmas as part of our 2018 Holiday Series! Created by Charles M. Schulz, based on the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson, this stage adaptation by Eric Schaeffer is presented by special arrangement with Arthur Whitelaw and Ruby Persson, and will be directed by Resident Artist James McHale. A Charlie Brown Christmas will preview from December 7th through 9th; regular performances will begin December 13th and continue through December 23rd on the Fyda-Mar Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, will present A Charlie Brown Christmas as part of our 2018 Holiday Series! Created by Charles M. Schulz, based on the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson, this stage adaptation by Eric Schaeffer is presented by special arrangement with Arthur Whitelaw and Ruby Persson, and will be directed by Resident Artist James McHale. A Charlie Brown Christmas will preview from December 7th through 9th; regular performances will begin December 13th and continue through December 23rd on the Fyda-Mar Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is delighted to introduce Jane Austen's Emma: The Musical to Orange County for the first time as part of our 2018 Holiday Literature Series! Book, lyrics, and music by Tony-nominated composer Paul Gordon, directed by Casey Long, and with music direction by Bill Strongin, Jane Austen's Emma: The Musical will preview from November 23rd through November 30th; regular performances will begin December 1st and continue through December 23rd on the Cripe Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater is thrilled to announce its 21st Anniversary Season, which will be the fifth to employ both stages in its home at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center. Next year will feature eight fully-staged productions.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, will present A Charlie Brown Christmas as part of our 2018 Holiday Series! Created by Charles M. Schulz, based on the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson, this stage adaptation by Eric Schaeffer is presented by special arrangement with Arthur Whitelaw and Ruby Persson, and will be directed by Resident Artist James McHale. A Charlie Brown Christmas will preview from December 7th through 9th; regular performances will begin December 13th and continue through December 23rd on the Fyda-Mar Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is delighted to introduce Jane Austen's Emma: The Musical to Orange County for the first time as part of our 2018 Holiday Literature Series!  Book, lyrics, and music by Tony-nominated composer Paul Gordon, directed by Casey Long, and with music direction by Bill Strongin, Jane Austen's Emma: The Musical will preview from November 23rd through November 30th; regular performances will begin December 1st and continue through December 23rd on the Cripe Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is excited to announce that Sharr White's The Other Place will be adding performances on Friday, October 26 at 8pm; Saturday, October 27 at 3pm and 8pm; and Sunday, October 28 at 3pm. Performances will take place at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Fyda-Mar Stage.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is delighted to present an encore presentation of Fancy Nancy, The Musical as part of its fourth TYA Family Season. Book and lyrics by Susan DiLallo, music by Danny Abosch and directed by Alex Bueno, based on original staging by Kelly Todd, Fancy Nancy, the Musical will preview from October 5 through October 7; regular performances will begin October 7th and continue through October 28 on the Cripe Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

In award-winning playwright Sharr White's intriguing 2011 psychological drama THE OTHER PLACE, the play's compelling central figure, 52-year-old laboratory scientist turned drug company marketing exec Juliana Smithton, narrates her own fascinating story directly for the audience. For its stirring Orange County Premiere production currently on stage at Chance Theater in Anaheim through October 21, Juliana is played with powerful, intense ferocity by Jacqueline Wright, in what will surely be noted as one of the season's most memorable dramatic performances you will long remember this year.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is excited to announce the fifth show in its 20th Anniversary Season ... The Other Place. Written by Sharr White and directed by Matthew McCray, The Other Place will preview from September 21 through September 28; regular performances will begin September 29 and continue through October 21 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Fyda-Mar Stage.