Aurora Theatre Announces 17th Season

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company proudly announces the lineup for its 17th season. The company will open its season with an "American Trilogy," presenting three views of the United States at different times in history, including the West Coast Premiere of George Packer's provocative 2008 current Off-Broadway hit Betrayed, about three Iraqi translators working for America in contemporary Baghdad; the timely staging of Gore Vidal's seminal 1960's satirical political drama The Best Man, directed by Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross; and The Devil's Disciple, George Bernard Shaw's comedy set during the American Revolution, directed by Aurora Theatre Company founding Artistic Director Barbara Oliver. The company will round out the season with a classic masterwork and a quirky new comedy. Mark Jackson, who directed Aurora Theatre Company's acclaimed production of Salome, returns to the company to helm Swedish master August Strindberg's Miss Julie. The company is also poised to present the Regional Premiere of Bob Glaudini's unconventional Off-Broadway hit Jack Goes Boating, directed by veteran Bay Area actress and director Joy Carlin. The regular season will be staged August 2008 through May 2009 at the intimate Aurora Theatre in the downtown Berkeley arts district. For tickets (previews $28, regular performances $40-42, limited opening night seating $50) or subscriptions ($130-210), the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org. In chronological order, the Aurora 2008-09 season is as follows:

The Best Man
By Gore Vidal
Directed by Tom Ross
August 22-September 28, 2008 (press opening: August 28)

The Devil's Disciple
By George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Barbara Oliver
October 31-December 7, 2008 (press opening: November 6)

Betrayed
By George Packer
West Coast Premiere
Director TBA
January 23-March 1, 2009 (press opening: January 29)

Miss Julie
By August Strindberg
Directed by Mark Jackson

April 3-May 10, 2009 (press opening: April 9)

Jack Goes Boating
By Bob Glaudini
Regional Premiere
Directed by Joy Carlin

June 12-July 19, 2009 (press opening: June 18)

Aurora Theatre Company continues to offer challenging, literate, intelligent stage works to the Bay Area, each year increasing its reputation for top-notch theatre. Located in the heart of the Downtown Berkeley Arts District, just steps away from BART, Aurora Theatre Company has been called "one of the most important regional theaters in the area" by the San Francisco Chronicle, while The Wall Street Journal has "nothing but praise for the Aurora." The Contra Costa Times stated "perfection is probably an unattainable ideal in a medium as fluid as live performance, but the Aurora Theatre comes luminously close," while the San Jose Mercury News affirmed "[Aurora Theatre Company] lives up to its reputation as a theater that feeds the mind," and the Oakland Tribune declared "it's all about choices, and if you value good theater, choose the Aurora."