The SF Playhouse Announces Line-up 'For The Power Of Laughter' Seventh Season

Bill English, Artistic Director and Susi Damilano, Producing Director of The SF Playhouse announced plans for their seventh season of award winning theatre. The SF Playhouse has set an enviable standard for theatre production and in the process has attracted the Bay Area's best talent to its stage; this season will continue that trend.

"The theme of the new season will be 'The Power of Laughter'", remarked English, "Comedy connects us to so many of our human needs: To escape the humdrum and the daily struggle, to expose wrongs in our culture, our neighbors or even ourselves, to empower our impulses to change ourselves or society and to enjoy the power of comic language and action to stimulate our dramatic taste buds."

Launching this season of laughter is First Day of School by Billy Aronson (Rent).Developed by Magic Theatre / Z Space Studios New Works Initiative, First Day of School is a sex farce about parents and what they do once their children are in school. Chris Smith will direct.

For the holiday's season we bring David Greenspan's She Stoops To Comedy to San Francisco. An actress (played by a man) schemes to woo back her estranged female lover by playing Orlando opposite her lovers' Rosalind in this gender-bending romp by one of New York's most innovative writer/performers. Mark Rucker will direct.

Our winter slot remains to be announced. Amy Glazer will direct a West Coast Premiere.

Stephen Adley Guirgis returns to the SF Playhouse with one of his earlier plays, Den of Thieves, a peek into the world of unorganized crime. Cracking a safe to steal $750,000 in drug money may not be the perfect road to recovery for kleptomaniacs Maggie and Paul. Watch them join forces with Puerto Rican wannabe Flaco and the ultra-fabulous topless dancer Boochie in order to pull off the perfect crime. Director has not been announced.

Direct from the 2009 Humana Festival comes Slasher by Allison Moore, a hilarious spoof on the film genre. When she's cast as the "last girl" in a low-budget slasher flick, Sheena thinks it's the big break she's been waiting for. But news of the movie unleashes her malingering mother's thwarted feminist rage, and Mom is prepared to do anything to stop filming...even if it kills her. Director to be announced.

And finally, for the hot summer months comes The Full Monty, book by Terrence McNally Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek. A story that hits home in this world of layoffs. When more traditional jobs are hard to find, unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, New York come up with a bold way to make some quick cash. In the process they discover renewed self-esteem, the importance of friendship and the ability to have fun. Director to be announced.

The SF Playhouse's Seventh Season:
The Power of Laughter
Fact Sheet

World Premiere
First Day of School
By Billy Aronson
Directed by Chris Smith
September 23-November (Opens September 26th)
What exactly are the parents up to when their kids go off to school...? Find out in this outrageous comedy about sex and marriage for the original author of Rent.

She Stoops to Comedy
By David Greenspan
Directed by Mark Rucker
November 18-January 8 (Opens November 21st)
An actress (played by a man) schemes to woo back her estranged female lover by playing Orlando opposite her lovers' Rosalind in this gender-bending romp by one of New York's most innovative writer/performers.

West Coast Premiere
TBA
Directed by Amy Glazer
January 20-February 27 (Opens January 23rd)
We like to keep one spot open for that fabulous show that comes available mid-year. We have some really exciting new titles in mind.

Bay Area Premiere
Den of Thieves
By Stephen Adley Guirgis
March 10-April 17 (Opens March 13th)
Welcome to the world of unorganized crime. Cracking a safe to steal $750,000 in drug money may not be the perfect road to recovery for kleptomaniacs Maggie and Paul. Watch them join forces with Puerto Rican wannabe Flaco and the ultra-fabulous topless dancer Boochie in order to pull off the perfect crime.

Bay Area Premiere
Slasher
By Allison Moore
April 28-June 5 (Opens May 1st)
When she's cast as the "last girl" in a low-budget slasher flick, Sheena thinks it's the big break she's been waiting for. But news of the movie unleashes her malingering mother's thwarted feminist rage, and Mom is prepared to do anything to stop filming...even if it kills her. The new play was the hit of this year's Humana Festival

The Full Monty
Book by Terrence McNally
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek
June 16-September 5 (Opens June 19th)
When more traditional jobs are hard to find, unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, New York come up with a bold way to make some quick cash. In the process they discover renewed self-esteem, the importance of friendship and the ability to have fun.

 

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