Indy Theatre Habit

At the beginning of the month, the Managing Director of the Phoenix Theatre, Sharon Gamble, sent me the following info about the Phoenix’s 2008-2009 season.    I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me then to share it with you.  I guess I am still very new to this blogging business.

Anyway, I am delighted to see that there will be a Phoenix Xmas show again featuring work by a variety of playwrights.  I am even more delighted to see that “Octopus” is in the line-up.  I first heard about this new play in June when the National New Play Network had its annual meeting here in Indy.

I am also delighted again that the Phoenix is going to be offering reduced ticket prices on Thursdays throughout the run of a show, instead of lumping all of the “cheap seats” together in the show’s first weekend. 

There are still a couple of “to be announced”s, but see what you think about the Phoenix’ new season so far:

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PHOENIX THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2008-2009 SEASON

Indianapolis – The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis will begin its 2008-2009 season with political plays featuring ripped-from-the-headlines content, and will continue the season with the first Indianapolis production of a work by popular Irish playwright Conor McPherson, a world premiere “mock operetta” by Jack O’Hara, and a Spanish-language production as well as the regional premieres of a number of plays.

 

The Phoenix Theatre was founded in 1983 by a group of Indianapolis theatre artists who wanted to produce contemporary plays as well as to pay the theatre’s artists, a goal that was achieved a few years down the road. In 1983, the Phoenix fulfilled a unique niche in the city’s theatre environment: producing exclusively current plays. The theatre’s mission has not changed since 1983, and Bryan Fonseca, the theatre’s Producing Director, retains his original position. The Phoenix mission statement reads: “The Phoenix Theatre entertains by presenting the best of professional, contemporary theatre in an intimate setting. Engaging our community, patrons and staff with issue-oriented plays, the Phoenix enlightens audiences about social concerns while challenging them to re-examine their roles in society.” Since 1988, the Phoenix has been housed in the Mass Ave Theatre and Gallery District in a 1907 former church building. The theatre’s two venues are the proscenium 130-seat Mainstage and the cabaret-style 75-seat Frank & Katrina Basile (buh-SEAL) Theatre.

 

Community Outreach

The 2008-2009 season continues the Phoenix Theatre tradition of responding to the needs of the Indianapolis community: For the third year, the theatre will offer a production alternately in Spanish and English. The theatre will also produce a play (Octopus) that addresses the alarming rise in HIV/AIDS cases in the younger gay male population. In addition, the Phoenix will continue to offer AfterWords, its series of post-play discussions with subject matter experts who can illuminate issues raised on stage.

 

Ticket Prices

The Phoenix will continue to offer single tickets at $25.00 ($15 for those 24 and under). For groups of 15 or more, tickets are available at $22.00 per person. Groups may also “buy out” the entire theatre at a 30 percent discount and re-sell the tickets at any price point desired for fundraisers or group outings. A season-long FlexPass for $120.00 gives the patron six vouchers that can be traded in on any combination of tickets for any of the 2008-2009 productions. FlexPasses will be sold from August 1, 2008, through May 2, 2009. The Phoenix will continue its CheapSeats initiative with a twist: Every Thursday of the 2008-2009 season, all tickets are just $15.00 (no additional discounts). All seating is general admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Performances are Thursdays at 7:00 pm; Fridays at 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays at 8:00 pm. There will be no regularly scheduled Sunday performances. Doors open ½ hour prior to curtain for seating. The Phoenix Pub, located inside the theatre, offers beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, and bottled water, as well as treats, and all refreshments may be taken into either theatre and consumed during the performance.
 

For more information about any Phoenix programs or to purchase tickets, call the Phoenix Theatre box office at 317.635.PLAY(7529). The theatre’s website is www.phoenixtheatre.org.

 

Information on each of the 2008-2009 productions:

November, by David Mamet

September 11-October 11

Mainstage

A corrupt, dim-witted President desperately seeking a second term despite four years of deadbeat leadership (and poll numbers lower than Gandhi’s cholesterol). His miracle come-from-behind victory may hinge on same-sex marriage, Native American rights…and pardons for Thanksgiving turkeys. David Mamet’s November is diabolically funny, politically incorrect, and a funhouse of pre-election comedy.

 

Drunk Enough to Say I Love You?, by Caryl Churchill

October 16-November 15

Basile Theatre

Imagine a love affair ending miserably – and then recovering under the most unlikely of circumstances (such as military diplomacy, regime change, rigged elections and a little imperialism). That’s the story of (Union) Jack and (Uncle) Sam, whose love story mirrors that of Great Britain and the United States from Vietnam to today. Caryl Churchill uses a gay affair to represent Britain ’s submissiveness to America ’s foreign policy. Drunk Enough to Say I Love You? is harsh, witty, paranoid and brilliant – plus an intoxicating theatrical experience.

 

A Very Phoenix Xmas, by playwrights to be announced

November 20-December 20

Mainstage

Deep-six the sugar plums, kick those Dickens poorhouse kids to the curb, and don’t even think of putting on toe shoes: The Phoenix continues its alternative holiday tradition with A Very Phoenix Xmas. The show will feature sketches, audience participation, and music sending up all of the winter holidays, including Christmas, Hanukah, the Winter Solstice, New Year’s, and more. Audience Advisory: Not a scrap of traditional holiday fare included. Fruitcake optional. .

 

Love Person, by Aditi Brennan Kapil

January 8-January 31

Basile Theatre

Presented as a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere with Mixed Blood Theatre ( Minneapolis ) and Marin Theatre Company ( Mill Valley , CA )

Love Person is a riveting love story about language as a portal and barrier to human connection in which love transcends sexual orientation, physical attraction, and social structure, and rests instead on the ways in which people communicate. It is performed in American Sign Language (ASL), Sanskrit, spoken English, and projected e-mail for a multi-lingual experience.

 

The Seafarer, by Conor McPherson

February 5-February 28

Mainstage

Indianapolis premiere of hot Irish playwright

It’s Christmas Eve in Dublin . In the rundown house where Sharky cares for his blind brother, old acquaintances gather for a card game—joined by an ominous stranger. As the booze flows and the game intensifies, Sharky discovers he is playing for his soul. In this Faustian, darkly humorous tale, celebrated playwright Conor McPherson examines how we face the demons of our past as we struggle to find redemption.

 

Mauritius, by Theresa Rebeck

March 5-April 4

Basile Theatre

A woman’s death reunites two estranged half-sisters who discover a book of rare stamps while going through their mother’s belongings. And the stamp collection just may include a crown jewel for collectors. One sister wants to sell it for profit. The other wants to keep it for sentimental reasons. In this gripping Tony-nominated mystery, a seemingly simple sale becomes dangerous when three seedy, high-stake collectors enter the picture, willing to do most anything to claim the rare find as their own.

 

Bilingual TBA

April 9-May 2

Mainstage

Performances of this soon-to-be-chosen play will be offered in Spanish on select nights.

 

The Zippers of Zoomerville, or 200 Laps and a Lass:  A mini-mockeretta by Jack O’Hara

May 7-June 6

Basile Theatre

World premiere

Speed, greed and the dirty deed drive this world premiere musical spoof of fast-track fever, wherein an oval raceway rouses a circular city to revel ‘round its maypole. A rite-of-springish, Gilbert and Sullivanesque celebration of flat-out folly and full-throttle love, The Zippers of Zoomerville fancifully celebrates and gently spoofs the Circle City ’s love affair with the Indianapolis 500. 

 

Octopus, by Steven Yockey

June 11-July 11 (no July 4)

Mainstage

Midwest premiere

After two gay couples get together for an evening of partner-swapping, one of the four men disappears into the ocean, launching a chain of events that eventually lands each man into the deep blue sea. Is it a bizarre coincidence or some kind of cosmic revenge for a night of debauchery?  Octopus examines the fallout on two committed relationships. Audience Advisory: Contains adult content, nudity and strong language.

 

The Dos and Don’ts of Time Travel, by Nick Wardigo

July 16-August 15

Basile Theatre

Midwest premiere

When her girlfriend Claire is diagnosed with cancer, Zoey’s past suddenly becomes her future. Hooked on time travel for decades, Zoey wills herself to relive the two most painful years of her life. But her friend Rachel thinks “time travel movies suck” (and she’s writing a thesis to prove it). Rachel wants Zoey to stop nursing her ailing lover long enough to change the course of their friendship. In a universe of endless possibilities, they learn no moment can ever be recaptured. It’s a tale of love, hate, sacrifice – and physics — that spins with sensual velocity.

 

ABOUT THE PHOENIX THEATRE
“The Phoenix Theatre has cornered the market on hip new works.” — Chris Jones, Chicago TribuneThe Phoenix Theatre is Indiana ’s only professional contemporary theatre, and has presented productions to challenge and entertain the Indianapolis community for 26 years. An Equity house, the Theatre presents the Midwest and Indiana premieres of many popular Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, and has presented more than 70 world premieres in its quarter century. The Phoenix operates the 130-seat proscenium Mainstage as well as the 75-seat cabaret-style black box Frank & Katrina Basile (buh-SEAL) Theatre. The Phoenix Pub, located in the Basile Theatre, serves beer, wine, coffee, soft drinks, water, and treats, and patrons may take all refreshments into either theatre. Both venues are housed along with administrative offices in a renovated 1907 church in downtown Indianapolis ‘ historic Chatham Arch neighborhood, part of the Mass Ave Arts & Theatre District. The Phoenix Theatre is a member of the National New Play Network and the League of Indianapolis Theatres, and is supported by the Indiana Arts Commission, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as local corporate and foundation funders and more than 500 individual donors.

 

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Thanks, Sharon!  Break a leg with all of your shows this season!

 

Hope Baugh - www.IndyTheatreHabit.com