TCR Announces 2011-12 Season

Cedar Rapids — Theatre Cedar Rapids has announced its lineup for the 2011-12 Season. As is usual with TCR, they feature some old standards (A Christmas Carol) as well as some unique choices (Gross Indecency).

For 2011-12, Theatre Cedar Rapids has expanded to 12 productions, to be staged in two different spaces in the Iowa Theater Building. While the majority of shows will be performed in the main auditorium of the Iowa Theater Building, several plays will be featured in the new, more intimate Grandon Studio. In some cases, more than one production will be performed simultaneously; for example, a theatergoer could attend a performance of The Importance of Being Earnest on Friday night in the auditorium, and then return Saturday night to see Gross Indecency-a play about Oscar Wilde, who wrote The Importance of Being Earnest-on Saturday.

The season also marks the return of the TCR Underground Theatre Festival. Last season’s festival focused on one-act plays, but for 2011-12, TCR has expanded it to include brand-new plays of all lengths, written by Iowa playwrights. Applications are currently being accepted for both playwrights and directors. If you are interested in participating in either capacity, e-mail erica@theatrecr.org by June 30.

Shows for 2011-12 will include:

13: The Musical (Aug. 4-7, 2011, Auditorium)

When his parents get divorced and he’s forced to move to a small town in Indiana, Evan Goldman just wants to make friends and survive the school year – which is easier said than done in the stressful and competitive world of middle school. With a rock score by Jason Robert Brown, “13” is a musical that’s all about discovering that “cool” is where you find it – and sometimes where you least expect it.

TBA (Sept. 23-Oct. 15, 2011, Studio)

TCR is currently securing the rights for a comedy that’s slated to be performed in this slot. We will announce that title soon.

Damn Yankees (Oct. 7-29, 2011, Auditorium)

Middle-aged baseball fanatic Joe Boyd trades his soul to the Devil for the chance to lead his favorite team to victory against the New York Yankees. As young baseball sensation Joe Hardy, he transforms the hapless Washington Senators into a winning team – only to realize the true worth of the life he’s left behind. A classic Broadway musical from the creators of “The Pajama Game.”

TCR Underground Theatre Festival (Nov. 4-13, 2011, Studio)

Two weeks of staged readings and fully-staged productions of original works by playwrights from Iowa. Submissions are currently being taken for this volunteer-produced festival, which highlights and celebrates the talent of Iowa writers, actors and directors. Audiences can attend just one show, or get a pass for the entire festival.

A Christmas Carol (Nov. 25-Dec. 17, 2011, Auditorium)

Charles Dickens’ famous tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation from bitter old man to generous benefactor returns to Theatre Cedar Rapids for the first time in decades, this time in an acclaimed new adaptation for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The Importance of Being Earnest (Jan. 27-Feb. 18, 2012, Auditorium)

The famous comedy by Oscar Wilde, revolving around two young gentlemen in 1890s England who use the same false identity of “Ernest” on the sly. Their ruse works fine until they both fall in love with women using the fake name, which leads to a comedy of mistaken identities.

Gross Indecency (Feb. 10-March 3, 2012, Studio)

In 1895, the Marquess of Queensberry developed a feud with Importance of Being Earnest playwright Oscar Wilde over Wilde’s relationship with the Marquess’ son. The resulting scandal led to three separate trials – and with Wilde being sentenced to prison for “gross indecency with male persons.” Moisés Kaufman’s play explores how history is made, and how it can be so timely revisited in the theatre.

The Wedding Singer (March 9-31, 2012, Auditorium)

This Tony Award-winning musical makes its Eastern Iowa debut! Adapted from the Adam Sandler movie about a wedding singer who flies into a rage after his own fiancée leaves him at the altar, this romantic comedy features big hair, big musical numbers and plenty of references to the 1980s, as well as a comical story about finding the right one to grow old with.

Five Women Wearing The Same Dress (April 13-May 5, Studio)

Five reluctant and identically-clad bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom during a wedding reception at a Knoxville, Tenn. estate. As the afternoon wears on, the five women – each of whom has her own reason for avoiding the party below – discover a common bond in this irreverent comedy by the playwright who brought us Six Feet Under and American Beauty.

Alice In Wonderland (April 27-May 19, 2012, Auditorium)

An original adaptation of the classic story about what happens when young Alice follows a white rabbit, disappears down his rabbit hole and enters the merry, topsy-turvy world of Wonderland. This play is geared to young audiences. Script adapted by Jason Alberty of Cedar Rapids.

On Golden Pond (June 22-July 1, Studio)

The love story of Ethel and Norman Thayer, who are returning to their summer home for the 48th year. They are visited by their divorced, middle-aged daughter and her dentist fiancé, who then leave their teenage son behind with the Thayers for the summer. This classic story will be presented as a Readers Theatre production.

Hairspray (July 6-28, 2012, Auditorium)

An acclaimed musical set in 1960s Baltimore, where change is in the air as plus-size heroine Tracy Turnblad and her passion for dancing win a spot on the local dance program, “The Corny Collins Show.” Overnight she finds herself transformed from outsider to teen celebrity. Can she vanquish the program’s reigning princess, integrate the TV show and find true love without mussing her hair?

For more information about Theatre Cedar Rapids or about ticketing, call (319) 366-8591 or visit www.theatrecr.org.