Washington Stage Guild Kicks off the 2017-18 Season with WIDOWERS' HOUSES

The Washington Stage Guild will begin its 32nd season with Widowers' Houses, the first play written by George Bernard Shaw as he set out to shake up the British theatre. Published in 1893, the comedy is still amazingly topical in 2017, and especially in a gentrifying city like Washington. A predatory real-estate speculator hopes to marry his daughter to a young doctor with aristocratic connections. The young man is agreeable, but finds the source of her wealth troubling. Shaw's wit blazes as he indicts those who abuse the poor and those who profit from it, knowingly or not! With Widowers' Houses, Shaw began a career that would lead to world-wide fame and the Nobel Prize for Literature.

"Stage Guild patrons have been marveling at Shaw's prescience and topicality since our first season in 1986, sometimes wondering if we'd added contemporary references," says Stage Guild artistic director Bill Largess. "But there's no need to do that, even in plays from 125 years ago. His wit is as fresh and his insights as relevant as when they were eagerly awaited by his own audiences. Widowers' Houses is the first of what he called the 'Plays Unpleasant,' comedies that take on social issues in a way that confront audiences with their own complicity in evil. And having capped last season with his visionary, futuristic Back To Methuselah, it seems fitting to inaugurate this one with one of his early realistic satires. And we have a cast of Washington's finest Shavians!"

Playing Sartorius, the slumlord, is Lawrence Redmond last seen at Stage Guild in the 2015 production of It's a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play. As his daughter Blanche, Madeline Farrington returns after her appearance in last year's "Newly-Born" from Part 3 of Back to Methuselah. Steven Carpenter, our Henry Higgins in 2012's Pygmalion, is the scheming Lickcheese. Back for his 13th show with the Stage Guild is Michael Glenn (seen last at the Shakespeare Theater's School for Lies) as the tactful William deBurgh Cokane, and making his Guild debut as the idealistic Dr. Trench, is Scott Harrison.

Founding Company Member Laura Giannarelli directs. The costume designer is Sigridur Johannesdottir, with setting by Carl F. Gudenius & Kirk Kristlibas. Marianne Meadows is lighting designer and Marcus Darnley returns from his wanderings to design sound. Arthur Nordlie is the stage manager.

Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday nights and 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Matinee performances are Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. 2017-2018 Season Passes are on sale now: each Pass gives the recipient four admissions that can be used any way: all four at once; two for one show, two for another; or one for each of the four productions.).

The Stage Guild will celebrate the beginning of its 32nd year with A Stage Guild Celebration! This gala evening, hosted by Andrea, Anne and Heidi Hatfield and the Stage Guild Board will be held on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at 6:00PM. For more information, CLICK HERE.

The 2017-2018 Season:

WIDOWERS' HOUSE by George Bernard Shaw Directed by Laura Giannarelli
September 28 through October 22, 2017
Press Night: Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 8 pm
An ambitious young doctor falls in love with the daughter of a predatory real-estate speculator, but while her wealth is appealing, he balks at its source. Her refusal to live on his income alone spells trouble, until the facts about his own family finances is revealed. Shaw's first play, from 1893, sparkles as it fences with some unpleasant truths.

A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES & OTHER STORIES
adapted by Bill Largess November 24 through December 17, 2017
Press Night: Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 8 pm

Holiday memories are treasures, but not always reliably reported. An evening of works adapted from Dylan Thomas, Charles Dickens, AA Milne, Louisa May Alcott and others in the age-old tradition of stories that give us our idea of what Christmas should be, even if ours were not quite like that, will receive its world premiere in a warm and nostalgic production.

SEE ROCK CITY by Arlene Hutton Directed by Bill Largess January 18 through February 11, 2018 Press Night: Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 8 pm

In the height of World War II, Raleigh and May, the young couple from last season's uplifting hit LAST TRAIN TO NIBROC, have returned home to Corbin to figure out their lives. Raleigh's guilt at not going to war, and at May's need to support them, colors their lives in Corbin, where their two very different mothers have plenty of ideas for them. The war's progression has an effect on all, and leads to a heartwarming, bittersweet conclusion. Returning as Raleigh and May are Wood Van Meter and Lexi Langs, the critically acclaimed cast of last season's NIBROC. An area premiere.


ALABAMA STORY by Kenneth Jones Directed by Kasi Campbell March 22 through April 15, 2018 Press Night: Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 8 pm

A librarian in segregation-era Alabama purchases a new childrens' book for the library, The Rabbits' Wedding. But the nature of the seemingly innocent wedding draws the attention of a grandstanding, intolerant state senator, who leads a crusade against it. When the librarian stands her ground, the attention of the country focuses on the unexpectEd Battle. Based on a true story from the 50s, this is an area premiere.