BALTIMORE: Center Stage has announced the mainstage productions for its 2017-18 season, which will include six productions, with a world premiere by artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah.
The season will open with The Christians by Lucas Hnath (Sept. 7-8). The play takes place in a megachurch, where a pastor delivers a sermon that divides his congregation. Hana S. Sharif will direct.
The second production will be Shakespeare in Love, Lee Hall’s adaptation of the Oscar-winning film by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard (Oct. 19-Nov. 26). The play follows a young William Shakespeare, who meets a noblewoman who inspires Romeo & Juliet. Blake Robison will direct.
Following that, for the holidays, will be Lookingglass Alice, David Catlin’s adaptation of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (Nov. 30-Dec. 31). Jeremy B. Cohen will direct.
Next up will be Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau (Feb. 1-March 11, 2018). The play takes place in a car factory in Detroit, on the eve of the Great Recession. It will be featured as part of the Women’s Voices Theater Festival, a D.C.-wide festival of female playwrights. Nicole A. Watson will direct.
After that will be Ian Woolridge’s adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm (March 1-April 1, 2018). May Adrales will direct the allegorical tale about the rise of Stalinism.
The season will close with an untitled world premiere by Kwei-Armah, which will be a play with music (May 10-June 17, 2018).
The theatre will announce additional programming, including its touring productions, at a later date.
Center Stage was named the state theatre of Maryland in 1978, and produces world premieres and adventurous interpretations of established works.
