Think of Ignition Theatre’s next season as Ignition lite — with some Broadway sparkle.
The same big life themes will be explored in the professional theatre company’s 2010-11 season, but with more doses of humour than in past years — and with special appearances from several big Broadway artists.
“It’s definitely got a lighter tone,” said artistic director Matt Grue of his lineup of plays, including Speech & Debate by Stephen Karam, which opens on Sept. 16, and Dog Sees God, Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, by Bert V. Royal, which starts on Feb. 17.
The former is a dark comedy, called one of the 10 best plays of the year by Entertainment Weekly. It’s about three teenage misfits in Oregon who discover they are linked by a sex scandal. The action has a live music soundtrack — although Speech & Debate is not a musical.
Dog Sees God is about what happens when the Peanuts gang become adolescents. This play, which is not sanctioned by the Charles Schulz estate, centres on the gang getting together after CB’s dog dies from rabies after eating “a little yellow bird.” Party girls, Goths, potheads and some unexpected sexual tension set into motion a plot that’s sure to rattle Peanuts purists.
Grue joked that instead of tackling 20-something angst, as he has in past seasons, the new lineup will examine teenage angst — “I’ve regressed.” The two plays deal with identity issues — particularly Dog Sees God, which is “a really fun, smart play that takes the apple-pie gang of America and has them go through all the things other teenagers go through,” said Grue.
The third local production, opening on May 19, is the musical Title of Show, by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell. The 2009 Tony Award-nominated show is about two guys who write a musical in three weeks. Grue felt this “love letter to the musical theatre” was an appropriate choice after he and several co-writers went through the experience of writing their own musical this spring.
The only other locally produced play will be a reprise of It’s a Wonderful Life, done as a live radio drama, starting on Dec. 9. This time it will be directed by Jeremy Robinson, who in last year’s production played the angel Clarence. Grue hopes seeing the play will become a Christmas tradition for local families.
The rest of the Ignition Theatre season is the brand-new Live from New York series, which will bring some of the best of Broadway entertainment to Red Deer. Grue said this series brings his wildest dreams to fruition. “It will put Ignition Theatre and Red Deer on Canada’s celebrated theatrical map like nothing else before it.”
Rhapsody in Seth, written by and starring Seth Rudetsky, will play at The Matchbox from Oct. 14 to 16. The one-man multi-media comedy consists of Rudetsky discussing his obsession with high-belting Broadway divas, Gershwin, and growing up gay in Long Island. This will be Rudetsky’s second Red Deer appearance after selling out last fall.
Miranda Sings!, from Jan. 27 to 29, stars a YouTube sensation who badly warbles scales and popular songs. Miranda has been described as “a tone-deaf crooner who has no stage presence and even less acting talent,” yet she’s one of the most popular Broadway stars at the moment — sort of a William Hung with big lips and roving eyes. Miranda’s infinitely more talented alter-ego, Colleen Ballinger, will take the stage during the second half of the show.
Adam Pascal: in Concert runs from April 14 to 16, starring the Tony-nominated star of the Broadway blockbuster musical Rent and the opera Aida. Pascal will perform an evening of classical Broadway tunes from Stephen Sondheim, Jonathan Larson and Kander and Ebb, as well as rock songs from The Beatles, Billy Joel, Elton John and Pink Floyd.
Neither an original locally written play nor the Bohemian Rhapsody summer fringe festival are in the new season for various reasons, including financial feasibility. Grue said the concepts are on hiatus and need to be re-conceived.
For the first time, Ignition Theatre tickets will not be sold by Ticketmaster, but by The Matchbox box office. The full-season package is $139. For individual show ticket prices and various package break-downs, visit www.ignitiontheatre.ca or phone 403-341-6500.
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com