Bradford Little Theatre, which promotes, encourages, and
produces community-based theatre in the Bradford area, announces a
ninth season line-up.
“Our season features the wide variety of shows our audiences
have come to expect, including drama, comedy, and music,” says BLT
President Chris Mackowski. “But we’re also continuing to offer
innovative and unique productions, as well, so we have a few
pleasant surprises for audiences this season.”
The season kicks off with a live radio adaptation of “The War of
the Worlds,” continues with the jazzy musical “A Year with Frog and
Toad” and the drama “American Daughter,” and wraps up with the
farce “Don’t Dress for Dinner.”
The season opener, an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ “War of the
Worlds,” runs Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 and 2. Adapted by WESB morning
show host Pottsy, the production will be directed by Diane Kerner
Arnett and produced by Nanci Garris. The adaptation takes the
familiar story of a Martian invasion and sets it in and around
Bradford. The three performances will be recorded, edited together
and broadcast on WESB radio.
“People revisit ‘War of the Worlds’ because it portrays a
universal fear,” says Arnett. “What if everything familiar and safe
in your life changes in an instant to something unknown and
life-threatening?”
The next full production takes place Jan. 27-29, 2006, with the
musical “A Year with Frog and Toad” directed by Mackowski.
“A Year with Frog and Toad” is the musical adaptation of Arnold
Lobel’s Newbery and Caldecott Honor books, with lyrics by Willie
Reale and music by Robert Reale.
This family-oriented musical follows best friends Frog and Toad
through a year’s worth of fun and adventure. Come along with Frog
and Toad and their friends Snail, Turtle, Mouse and the rest of the
animal gang, for some kite-flying, sled-racing, cookie-munching
fun. Each amphibian anecdote comes to life with hilarious and
heart-warming songs using jazzy 40’s style music to explore the
challenges, rewards and tenderness of friendship.
“A Year with Frog and Toad” premiered at The Children’s Theatre
Company in 2002. In April 2003 the production was nominated for
three Tony Awards, including Best New Musical.
“Families will love the show because of its timeless tale of
friendship, and adults will love the show because it has one of the
snazziest ragtime musical scores to come out of Broadway in
decades,” says Mackowski.
For its third main offering of the season, BLT will present “An
American Daughter” by Wendy Wasserstein, March 31, April 1 and 2.
This drama, directed by Rebekah Blair, could be taken from today’s
headlines.
Set in Washington, D.C., “An American Daughter” focuses on Dr.
Lyssa Dent Hughes, a health care expert and forty-something
daughter of a long-time senator. When the President nominates Lyssa
to a Cabinet post, an indiscretion from her past is discovered, and
the media turns it into a scandal.
“Wendy Wasserstein has crafted a smart, funny, and observant
play about the underbelly of American politics and how politicians
have come to confuse opinion polls with democracy.
“By the time we put this play to the stage the country will have
just come through Congressional confirmation hearings for a Supreme
Court post, so it’s very timely,” notes Blair. “And I’m excited
that we’ll be presenting it in conjunction with Pitt-Bradford’s
Women’s History Month Committee. I found ‘An American Daughter’ to
be very moving, very witty, with the kind of well-written
characters that attract the best actors and resonate with
audiences.”
Rounding out BLT’s season will be Marc Camoletti’s farce, “Don’t
Dress for Dinner” directed by Dick Marcott.
Bernard and Jacqueline are a couple who own a second home in the
country. Bernard, deciding to take advantage of his wife’s visit to
her mother, plans a weekend tryst with his mistress – complete with
his best friend for an alibi and a French chef to ensure a
wonderful time. What can go wrong?
“‘Don’t Dress for Dinner’ is a wonderful farce. It has a great
track record, playing two years in Paris and six in London,” says
Marcott. “It’s a challenge for the players and a lot of fun for the
audience as they follow the two men improvising at break-neck speed
to get themselves out of situations with more twists than a
corkscrew.”
All of BLT’s full productions are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and
Saturday nights with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Performances will
be in Pitt-Bradford’s O’Kain Auditorium.
Along with the full productions, BLT is pleased to continue its
playwright-in-residence program for the seventh year in a row. This
year’s playwright is Les Buhite, Pitt-Bradford’s technical
director. The date of the residency will be announced soon.
BLT, by making theatre available and accessible to the public,
provides opportunities for community participation, appreciation
and education, thus enriching the community and increasing interest
in the arts. An award-winning theatre company, BLT is a member of
the American Association of Community Theatres, the Theatre
Association of New York State, and a founding member of the
Pennsylvania Association of Community Theaters.
