PlayMakers Repertory Company takes audiences into the darker reaches of the forest with two tales of magic and transformation in the theater’s annual rotating repertory event. The professional theater in residence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill performs “Into the Woods” by Tony Award-winner Stephen Sondheim and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare Nov. 1 to Dec. 7.
Special events associated with the productions begin Oct. 13.
“Into the Woods,” a multiple Tony Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, reveals the shadow side of classic fairytales by the Brothers Grimm. Producing Artistic Director Joseph Haj directs the play, and Mark Hartman is music director. Lisa Brescia will be featured as The Witch.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” reputed to be the theater’s first “fairy tale,” weaves together a trio of stories set in a magical wood. “Midsummer” is directed by Shana Cooper, fresh from her production of the Bard’s magical comedy at California Shakespeare Theater.
PlayMakers performances will be in the Paul Green Theatre in UNC’s department for dramatic art on Country Club Road. Show times will be 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and on Sundays, Nov. 2, 16, 23, 30 and Dec.7, and 2 p.m. on Saturdays (except Nov. 1) and Sundays (except Nov. 2.) There are no performances Nov. 15, 27 or 29. There are opportunities to see the two plays on the same day on Nov. 8 and 22 and Dec.6.
For more information and tickets, call (919) 962-PLAY (7529) or visit www.playmakersrep.org. Tickets start at $15 and may be purchased as part of PlayMakers’ 2014-2015 subscription packages.
In conjunction with the plays, UNC’s Program in the Humanities and Human Values will host “Table Talk: A Journey Inside Sondheim’s ‘Into the Woods,’” 6 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Rizzo Conference Center in Chapel Hill. The event pairs a four-course meal with stimulating conversation. Tickets are $80. Pre-registration is required. For information or to register, visit http://humanities.unc.edu/register/ or call (919) 962-1544.
PlayMakers will host “The Vision Series-Directors in Conversation,” a behind-the-scenes free preview with directors Haj and Cooper, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 22 in the Paul Green Theatre. Reservations are appreciated. Call PlayMakers’ box office at (919) 962-7529 to RSVP.
Other special events will include:
- Oct. 13, 6 p.m.: a discussion with the directors and cast at McIntyre’s Books, Fearrington Village, Pittsboro;
- Nov. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7: preview performances at 7:30 p.m.;
- Nov. 8: opening day performances of “Woods” at 2 p.m. and “Dream” at 7:30 p.m.;
- Nov. 11 (“Woods”) and 18 (“Dream”): all-access performances, with sign language interpretation and audio description;
- Nov. 12 and 30 (“Woods”) and 19 and 23 (“Dream”): free post-show discussions with the creative team;
- Nov. 22 (“Woods”) and 23 (“Dream”): open captioned performances; and,
- Dec. 6 (“Woods”) and 7 (“Dream”): free post-show “Mindplay” discussions sponsored by the North Carolina Psychoanalytic Society.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has recognized PlayMakers, based in the College of Arts and Sciences, with a $50,000 “Art Works” grant to support the plays and accompanying outreach activities. An additional $25,000 grant from the NEA in partnership with Arts Midwest supports the production and educational programs for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” This award is part of the “Shakespeare for a New Generation” program supporting Shakespeare productions and related educational activities by professional theater companies.
