ST. PAUL, MINN.: Park Square Theatre has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring nine productions centered on female stories. The season is the last to be curated by longtime artistic director Richard Cook, who will retire in September after 43 years at the theatre.
“Whether gently humorous or intentionally challenging, these stories explore our human resilience and the many ways we help support and push each other to be our best,” said Cook in a statement. “Gender parity, diversity, equity, and inclusion are strong tenets of our Generations Forward strategic plan, which frames this season—onstage and off.”
The season will start with Sometimes There’s Wine (Sept. 14-Oct. 14), a women-driven comedy written and performed by Shanan Custer and Carolyn Pool.
Next up will be The Agitators (Sept. 21-Pct. 28), by Mat Smart, about the enduring and often tempestuous friendship between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Signe V. Harriday will direct.
Following will be George Brant’s Marie and Rosetta (Nov. 23-Dec. 30), about the lives and careers of gospel duo Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight. Wendy Knox will direct.
The season will continue with Theatre Coup d’Etat’s production of Antigone (Feb. 1-March 3, 2019), a devised adaptation of Sophocles’ tragedy. Meagan Kedrowski will design and direct.
Next will be Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth (Feb. 7-March 3, 2019), a coproduction with Girl Friday Productions, a satire about a family escaping a slew of end-of-the-world disasters. Joel Sass will design and direct.
Following will be Heaven (May 31-June 23, 2019), created and directed by Joe Chvala, a musical about the photographer Peter Adamson’s journey to save his translator’s wife during the Bosnian War. The musical will feature music by Chan Poling and full-ensemble street dancing.
The season will continue with the world premiere of Jefferson Township Sparkling Junior Talent Pageant (June 14-July 28, 2019), with book, music, and lyrics by Keith Hovis. The musical satire follows a group of women who reunite for a rematch of the local pageant, which was permanently ended after a contestant died onstage. Associate artistic director Laura Leffler will direct.
Next will be Agatha Christie’s Rule of Thumb (July 12-Aug. 25, 2019), a play with three one-act murder mysteries.
The season will conclude with a yet to be announced show (April 19-May 19, 2019), which will be a coproduction with PRIME Productions.
In addition to the season programming, Park Square Theatre will present 146 student matinees of Of Mice and Men, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet, and The Diary of Anne Frank.
Park Square Theatre, founded in 1975, produces contemporary plays and engages one of the nation’s largest teen theatre audiences.
