A world premiere musical, Shakespeare classics and San Diego favorites are a few of the many pieces that will make up The Old Globe's 2017 to 2018 season.
“Our 2017–2018 Season is as varied and exciting as any I’ve had the privilege to present,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein in a statement. “The lineup includes everything that makes The Old Globe one of this country’s preeminent theatres: Broadway-caliber musical theatre, sumptuously produced classics, and powerful and innovative world premieres, all created by artists who are working at the very top-rank of the contemporary American and international theatre. It’s also a diverse season, in every sense."
The season will kick off in September with the world premiere musical "Benny & Joon", based on the beloved 1993 offbeat romantic comedy.
The musical, with a book by Kirsten Guenther, music by Nolan Gasser and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, follows auto mechanic Benny and his eclectic sister Joon. The musical will run from Sept. 7 to Oct. 22.
A second world-premiere play -- with live music -- will open next spring at the Globe. "American Mariachi", by José Cruz González, transports audiences back to 1970s, when two cousins start an all-girl mariachi band.
Following the 2016 success of her last play, playwright Anna Ziegler returns to the Globe next year for the world premiere of "The Wanderers". The funny and mysterious new drama, commissioned by the Globe, explores the hidden ties between two couples. The play will run from April 5 to May 6, 2018.
A new adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's best-selling novel "A Thousand Splendid Suns" will come to life in a new play, written by Ursula Rani Sarma. The play is directed by Carey Perloff in association with American Conservatory Theater. It will run from May 13 to June 17, 2018.
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Two classic revivals will take over the winter part of the Globe's new season. "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "Uncle Vanya" will play in January to March, and February to March, respectively. "Uncle Vanya" is a Globe-commissioned world premiere translation by Richard Nelson, Richard Pevear, and Larissa Volokhonsky.
Audiences seeking out Shakespeare in the next year will have two options. The fourth "Globe for All Tour" will bring the playwright's "Twelfth Night" to audiences across the County in October and November. In November, the Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program will present the classic "Romeo and Juliet".
Also filling out the season: "Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!", returning for its 20th annual production, "The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey", a tour-de-force one man show by playwright James Lecesne, Karen Zacarias's "Native Gardens", developed at the 2017 Powers New Voices Festival, and the U.S. premiere of "Dr. Seuss's The Lorax".
