Theatre Horizon's 15th Season Celebrates Signature Hallmarks

Theatre Horizon, Norristown's professional theatre company, celebrates 15 years during the 2019-20 season. To honor the thousands who have come to know and love the theatre's hallmark programming, Horizon is proud to announce a season that includes works that highlight their strong commitment to social activism, community, musical theatre, a diversity of voices, and celebrating the power of great storytelling.

"I was craving a 15th anniversary season that would be fun, smart, and ambitious, so we're blowing the roof off and programming 7 shows," said Artistic Director Erin Reilly. "The calibre of artists in this upcoming season is bar none, and each play unpacks big ideas that patrons will be buzzing about all the way home. Combined with two reunion concerts of beloved musicals, it's the perfect mix of classic and new."

The season begins when Theatre Horizon revisits Sondheim's classic, INTO THE WOODS, with a special series of concerts featuring returning cast members from the company's lauded 2015 production. Under the direction of Barrymore-winning collaborators Matt Decker and Amanda Morton, these limited-engagement performances will be one of the hottest tickets in the region. A special Saturday evening pre-show gala will commemorate Theatre Horizon's 15th anniversary season. (Friday, September 27 through Sunday, September 29, 2019)

The company will then team up with Power Street Theatre company to present MINORITYLAND, written and directed by Erlina Ortiz. When the local university begins to buy houses in el barrio, the landscape of a diverse neighborhood starts to change. Block by block, residents are pushed out of their homes, and the fabric of the community is ripped. Examining what it means to be a "minority" in modern-day America, this bilingual drama by Ms. Ortiz explores power and morals. (Friday, October 11 through Sunday, October 13, 2019)

In November, Steven Canny and John Nicholson's THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES takes to the Theatre Horizon stage. Directed by Matt Pheiffer, this hilarious comedy is about an ancient family curse, a desolate moor, a spectral hound, and a deranged killer on the loose. THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES is the most celebrated Holmes story of all, a masterpiece of mystery, suspense, and, yes, plenty of laughs, featuring only three actors who play all 16 characters in this side-splitting spoof. (Sunday, November 10 through Sunday, December 8, 2019)

The 2018 Horizon production of THE COLOR PURPLE, directed by Amina Robinson, was a regional highlight. Now, Ms. Robinson and cast members from the memorable production will reunite with a concert staging of Alan Menken's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, continuing Theatre Horizon's 15th anniversary season by revisiting one of their earliest productions. A collection of some of the most celebrated voices on the musical theater stage will lift their voices in the hit rock musical comedy with an unforgettable score. (Friday, January 24 through Sunday, January 26, 2020)

In 2020, audiences can look forward to Mat Smart's engaging THE AGITATORS. This story, based on real-life events, tells the tale of Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony's 50-year long friendship that remade American democracy. The play celebrates what it means to fight for someone else's rights. It will be presented along with festivities surrounding the 150th anniversary of 15th Amendment and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment - and a look at the work still ahead surrounding voting rights (Friday, February 28 through Sunday, March 22, 2020)

Theatre Horizon has never been afraid to tackle important issues through it's programming. With a reading of Christine Evans' GALILEE, directed by company Artistic Producer Rebecca May Flowers, they add the ever-pressing concern of global warming to the list. The play, developed by Philadelphia's PlayPenn, is about a one bustling fishing town along the Great Barrier Reef where a gifted biology student puts her college career on pause to help save the family business. Sea temperatures rise and the world's first blackfin sharks appear. Celebrate Earth Day's 50th anniversary with this unexpectedly funny new play. (Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19, 2020)

Finally, the season closes with ATHENA by Gracie Gardner, directed by Kathryn MacMillan. Mary Wallace and Athena are seventeen-year-old fencers in training for the Junior Olympics who spend much of their time together. This delicately ferocious and full-throttle funny play explores what it means to have ambition, success, and bravery in a complicated world. (Thursday, May 14 through Sunday, May 31, 2020)

Season subscriptions are currently available by visiting theatrehorizon.org.