Listen to this articleEarlier this month Pioneer Theatre Company Artistic Director Karen Azenberg announced the highly-anticipated 2019/20 season. Among the season offerings includes a pre-Broadway tryout, a world premiere, and three productions that have never before been professionally performed in Utah.
Additionally, two-time Tony Award-nominated producer Christopher Massimine, will serve as PTC’s managing director.
“We have a great line-up in store,” stated Azenberg. “Salt Lake has a wonderfully sophisticated theatre audience; they know what is playing on Broadway, what is touring and what they want to see. We’re delighted to provide a unique opportunity offering our patrons productions that would otherwise be unavailable to statewide theatregoers.”
PTC opens the season with an expanded version of the Off-Broadway hit musical Cagney, an effervescent, tap-dancing biographical show about Hollywood “tough guy” James Cagney. Fred and Adele Astaire Award-winner Robert Creighton will reprise his Drama Desk Award-nominated performance of the title role in this first pre-Broadway tryout.
Applauded by Variety as “Showstopping! Pure hallelujah moments,” Cagney runs Sept. 20-Oct. 5.
Next, fresh from a revered Broadway run, PTC presents an exclusive engagement of The Lifespan of a Fact. It’s a timely and thought-inspiring comedic drama The New York Times deemed “terrifically engaging,”
The Lifespan of a Fact examines truth through the eyes of a national magazine’s fact-checker. The critically-acclaimed play, which made Variety’s ‘2018 best of the year’ list, runs Nov. 1-16.
Then from Dec. 6-21, PTC welcomes the Utah premiere of The Play That Goes Wrong. Originally produced by J.J. Abrams, this wildly successful Broadway comedy is “the ‘Tom and Jerry’ of British farce, slapping you silly with mishaps and pratfalls,” (The Washington Post).
“The Play That Goes Wrong was the most requested play on our 2019/20 season survey,” said Azenberg. “We are honored that PTC is one of a select group of professional companies in the country who have been given the opportunity to produce this complicated, hysterically funny piece.”
The new year kicks off with Mary Stuart, a politically-charged biographical British drama, that follows the unseen power-play between two of history’s greatest Monarchs, who happened to be women. Running Jan. 10-25, this smart and charming play recently presented a lauded revival in London’s prestigious West End Theatre district.
“Mary Stuart is a testament to human bravery and dignity,” raved Azenberg. “With inspiring female roles, and a theme grounded in the struggle between religion, womanhood and statesmanship, this highly-relevant play mirrors, explores and questions those same issues present today.”
Slated for Feb. 21-March 7 is another Utah Premiere, the “ravishing revival” (The New York Times) of Once on this Island. The 2018 Tony Award-winning musical folktale follows the adventure of two star-crossed romantics among an imaginative and vibrant Caribbean backdrop.
The world premiere of Ass runs March 27-April 11. A comedy about complicated family relationships, author Ellen Simon informs us that the play’s key figure, a famous sculptor, isn’t really based on her famous father, Neil Simon, but that her character “is really more of a Picasso guy.”
Ass first appeared at PTC as part of the 2017-2018 Play-by-Play new play reading series, and will enjoy its first fully-staged production.
Closing the season, May 8-23, is Something Rotten!. The recent rambunctious Broadway musical was adored as an “over-the-top take on Shakespeare” by The New York Times. Wallowing in puns, double-entendres and bad taste, theatre buffs will enjoy the “Easter egg” references to popular musicals laced throughout this comedy.
Also, PTC will continue to present its staged Concert Production and Play-by-Play new play reading series. Titles for both will be announced at a later date.
For the 2019/20 season, single ticket prices for musicals will range from $45-68, and prices for non-musicals range from $31-47. PTC’s economical season packages include a full 7-Play, Pick-5, and Flex and Rush Passes.
In addition PTC offers an “Under 35” package, for emerging professionals. Packages and passes range in price from $149-330 and include the best seats, discounts on additional tickets with an exclusive presale period, and the convenience of free exchange privileges.
Current PTC season subscribers will receive their renewal notices in April, and will have the opportunity to reserve their current seats as long as they do so by Friday, June 28, 2019. New subscriber orders will be filled in the order in which they are received. For season subscriptions, contact Pioneer Theatre Company’s Box Office at 801-581-6961 or visitwww.pioneertheatre.org.
