From reality show contestants to Burt Bacharach, The Old Globe's 2011-2012 season is stacked with new work, including four world premieres.
The premieres include the new musical "Some Lovers," with music by songman Burt Bacharach and book and lyrics by Steven Sater ("Spring Awakening"). It is based on the classic O'Henry short story, "The Gift of the Magi" and reunites estranged lovers.
Then there's Old Globe playwright-in-residence Matthew Lopez's latest play "Somewhere," about a family of dreamers in 1959 whose home is scheduled for demolition to make way for the construction of Lincoln Center. Also premiering is "The Recommendation," a drama in which a chance encounter with an accused felon puts the longtime friendship of two college roommates at risk.
The fourth world premiere is "Nobody Loves You," billed as an irreverent musical comedy about a grad student who tries to win back his girlfriend by participating in a reality show.
A west coast rather than a world premiere, but still quite a coup for the Globe, is the controversial, Tony-nominated musical "The Scottsboro Boys."
Filling out the season is the following: a musical revival of Richard O'Brien's "The Rocky Horror Show" (this launches the season in September), "Dividing the Estate" by Horton Foote, Eugene O'Neill's classic "Anna Christie" directed by Pulitzer winner David Auburn, and, of course, the holiday mainstay starring The Grinch.
The season also includes a special work commissioned by The Old Globe to celebrate the theater's 75th anniversary. "Odyssey" is a musical based on Homer's epic poem but set in San Diego. It will include San Diego history and performances by over 60 members of the San Diego community. It was conceived and directed by Lear deBessonet with music, lyrics and book by Todd Almond.
Additionally, The Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program will present Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," directed by Richard Seer.
You can find the dates when each of these will run here.
Meanwhile, the Globe's Shakespeare Festival begins on May 29th. The festival includes productions of "Much Ado About Nothing," "The Tempest," and "Amadeus." Adrian Noble returns as the Artistic Director of this year's festival and will direct "The Tempest" and "Amadeus."
