Happy 21st! Aurora Theatre Company has announced their 2012-13 season. The playhouse, located on Addison in Berkeley’s downtown arts district, is truly one of the Bay Area’s gems, and there’s been no shortage of memorable productions over the years. When artistic director Tom Ross and team release their schedule I’m always interested to see what’s on tap.
The season begins in August, and features five shows: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Wilder Times, Our Practical Heaven, The Arsonists, and Neil Labute’s This is How it Goes.
Several acting and directing favorites return including Julia Brothers, Mark Jackson, Gabriel Marin, Carrie Paff, and Tom Ross.
Perhaps a notable absence this year is James Carpenter, one of the region’s hardest working, most revered actors, and a personal favorite. Seeing him up close at arm’s length on the intimate Aurora thrust stage is an experience not to be missed.
See you at the show, and don’t forget to #playon.
From the release:
“The company opens the season with the highly-coveted Bay Area Premiere of Kristoffer Diaz’s Pulitzer-nominated powerslam of a play, THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, directed by Jon Tracy.Aurora Theatre Company founding Artistic Director Barbara Oliver returns to the company to direct WILDER TIMES, a collection of short plays by iconic American playwright and novelist Thornton Wilder. Aurora Theatre Company is also poised to present the World Premiere of Anthony Clarvoe’s OUR PRACTICAL HEAVEN. Originating as one of Aurora Theatre Company’s Global Age Project (GAP) finalists in 2011, this family drama is the third main stage production to develop from the GAP; GAP director Allen McKelvey, as well as original GAP cast members Julia Brothers, Joy Carlin, and Anne Darragh, reprise their roles for Aurora’s main stage production. Award-winning Bay Area auteur Mark Jackson returns to Aurora Theatre Company to put his spin on Alistair Beaton’s new translation of Max Frisch’s West End hit THE ARSONISTS. The 21st season concludes with the Bay Area Premiere of Neil LaBute’s searing dark comedy/drama THIS IS HOW IT GOES, directed by Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross, and featuring Aldo Billingslea, Gabriel Marin, and Carrie Paff.”
Aurora Theatre Company 2012-13 Season
THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY
By Kristoffer Diaz
Directed by Jon Tracy
Bay Area Premiere
August 24-September 30, 2012 (Opens: August 30)WILDER TIMES
A collection of short plays by Thornton Wilder
Directed by Barbara Oliver
November 2-December 9, 2012 (Opens: November 8)OUR PRACTICAL HEAVEN
By Anthony Clarvoe
Directed by Allen McKelvey
World Premiere
January 25-March 3, 2013 (Opens: January 31)THE ARSONISTS
By Max Frisch
In a new translation by Alistair Beaton
Directed by Mark Jackson
April 5-May 12, 2013 (Opens: April 11)THIS IS HOW IT GOES
By Neil LaBute
Directed by Tom Ross
Bay Area Premiere
June 14-July 21, 2013 (Opens: June 20)
