Along with everything else going on tonight, we were at ArtsWest for a special event announcing the six productions that will comprise its 2010-2011 season – and celebrating what’s under way in this season (the clip above is from its next show, “Tell Me on a Sunday,” with Danielle Barnum singing and Kim Dare on piano for tonight’s mini-preview). We published the 2010-2011 announcements on Twitter as they happened – but if you weren’t following along, here’s the quick list:

“Reasons to be Pretty” by Neil LaBute
“Evil Dead: The Musical“ – beware the “splatter zone”!
“A Tuna Christmas” (the holiday show – no “Plaid Tidings” this year)
“Emilie: La Marquise Du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight“ by Lauren Gunderson
“Distracted“ by Lisa Loomer
“Shipwrecked“ by Donald Margulies

ArtsWest leader Alan Harrison told the theater full of fans that it’s going to be a “rollercoaster” season – in a good way. More on that, on the shows, and on special ticket deals, ahead (added early Tuesday am).

The announcement event began with a discussion, in ArtsWest’s popular “On Stage” format, about the current production, “Sunlight” (which continues through April 3). Director Christopher Zinovitch and cast member Karen Nelsen talked not just about the challenge of doing the play, but also the challenge of preparing for it – they revealed casting the four actors took two and a half months, with 100 people auditioning.

Then – the preview of Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s one-woman show “Tell Me on a Sunday,” with the musical number in the clip atop this story; it runs April 28-May 23. Harrison described “Tell Me” as seldom produced; in the ensuing conversation between co-director Zinovitch and star Barnum, they drew major laughter when he said he’d “wanted to do (this show) since 1989” and she interjected “when I was 4 years old!” Though Barnum is the entirety of the acting cast, she will share the stage with musicians, and multimedia displays are planned to help tell the story.

Finally, the night’s Act 3, if you will … the unveiling of next season’s productions, five of which are Seattle premieres (the sixth, Harrison explained, hasn’t been performed here before – but for various reasons cannot officially be called a “Seattle premiere”). He prefaced it all with an explanation of ArtsWest’s goals and successes, saying the organization is not about “art for art’s sake”:

For all but one of the productions, he brought out a key player for a chat – usually the director. For “reasons to be pretty,” Katjana Vadeboncoeur talked about the uncomfortable incident at the heart of the story:

That will kick off the ArtsWest 2010-2011 season in early September. The “rollercoaster” variety of the entire slate was suggested by the cover of the program handed to attendees at the event:

The “massive amounts of blood” refers to “Evil Dead: The Musical,” a spoof of the campy horror-movie series – albeit with so much faux blood, Harrison warned the first three rows would be a “splatter zone.” The run for this musical will include Halloween, and some late-night (11 pm) curtain times are promised along the way.

On to the winter holiday season, when the popular “Plaid Tidings” will NOT be performed this year – instead, it’s “A Tuna Christmas,” which Harrison described as family-friendly. Mary Beth Dagg will direct. It’s a sequel to the classic “Greater Tuna,” about the misadventures of folks in Tuna, TX.

Then to the 2011 half of the season – starting with “Emilie.” Harrison explained, “We’re very lucky to get this play … it’s about the struggle between the heart and the head.” As director Susanna Wilson demonstrated while reading a scene from the play, the longtime lover of philosopher Voltaire is seen in an ostensible after-life, following her untimely death in childbirth; she marks dueling tallies for love and philosophy, while trying to determine what life really had been all about.

“Distracted” fast-forwards into the now – centering on a family’s trials and tribulations regarding a son who might have ADHD, and whether he should be medicated for it. The word “rollercoaster” returned here in Harrison’s description.

And then the season will end with what the ArtsWest leaders call a “crackup” — Zinovitch directing “Shipwrecked” by Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Margulies – subtitled “The amazing adventures of Louis de Rougemont as told by himself.”

To the nitty-gritty of how much $ it’ll cost you to enjoy all those shows – Harrison detailed the standard $159 season ticket followed by some special deals: $48 season tickets for 25 and under, $147 for those over 65. And for $100 over the regular season-ticket price, you can buy a season ticket for six Fridays – not necessarily the first Fridays in a run — that will each include a special party event. They’re hoping fans will follow the advice on the back of last night’s program:

This was truly an announcement event – ArtsWest wasn’t even going to put out a news release (for the media who WEREN’T there) until sometime today – but when that’s out, we’ll add it, since it’ll have a few more details including complete run dates. You can also watch ArtsWest’s website at artswest.org.
ADDED 11:40 AM: Here’s that official news release, just out of our e-mail inbox:

ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery announced its 2010-2011 Season of plays last night in a live event at the theater. Featured in the upcoming season are 5 Seattle premieres including 2009 Tony Award nominee reasons to be pretty; Evil Dead: The Musical; Emilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight; Distracted; and Shipwrecked! An Entertainment. In addition, ArtsWest will be presenting the comic romp A Tuna Christmas over the winter holidays.

“I am so excited about this coming season,” said ArtsWest executive director Alan Harrison . “This will be my sixth season, and it’s replete with fantasy, thrills and chills, and spectacular stories. And again, we’re producing a bevy of Seattle premieres.”

“In fact,” Harrison continued, “we’ve taken on a heavy dose of risk with these seasons of plays that are new to Seattle . But these are the plays that fit our mission. We produce conversation, and in doing so, offer everyone the chance to dig in to the sumptuous buffet of issues in the world around us. It’s harrowing, especially in this economy, but after 3 straight years of record-breaking ticket sales, I know our lively, boisterous fan base has clearly identified ArtsWest as the place to see risky, daring work. In the past, those fans have mostly come from West Seattle . Not any more — we have gained a huge audience of people who used to pay a lot more to see plays downtown and in Seattle Center . What can I say? The plays are great, the price is reasonable, the parking is basically free, and they make beer across the street – what more could you possibly want?”

“The next season is full of adventure,” said Christopher Zinovitch, ArtsWest’s theater and education director, now entering his tenth season at ArtsWest. “These shows demand intensity and focus, and our three-quarter thrust, 149-seat theater is the perfect space for this kind of surreal spectatorship.”

“The audience can’t run and hide here. We want to evoke a visceral experience with each of these shows, whether it’s the audience getting squirted by fake blood in Evil Dead: The Musical or experiencing the pain and the joy of a woman ahead of her time in Emilie.”

Zinovitch emphasized that “We’re doing work that can’t be seen on the big or small screens. This particular roster of plays must be experienced live, and I am looking forward to facilitating just that.”

The plays.

ArtsWest kicks off its 2010-2011 season with Neil LaBute’s reasons to be pretty, directed by Katjana Vadeboncoeur, playing September 8 through October 2, 2010. reasons to be pretty was nominated for the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play of the Year. Greg’s tight-knit social circle is thrown into turmoil when his offhand remarks about a female coworker’s pretty face and his own girlfriend Steph’s lack thereof get back to Steph. But that’s just the beginning. Greg’s best buddy, Kent, and Kent ’s wife, Carly, also enter into the picture, and the emotional equation becomes exponentially more complicated. As their relationships crumble, the four friends are forced to confront a sea of deceit, infidelity, and betrayed trust in their journey to answer that oh-so-American question: How much is pretty worth? Adult language, themes, and situations. Recommended for ages 17 and older.

“Unquestionably, reasons to be pretty is a highlight of the season. A superb, satisfying play and Neil LaBute’s most compassionate, appealing work to date.” – Associated Press

“The best new Broadway play of the season!” – TIME Magazine

Next ArtsWest presents the Seattle Premiere of Evil Dead: The Musical, directed by Christopher Zinovitch. Book & Lyrics by George Reinblatt, music by George Reinblatt, Frank Cipolla, Melissa Morris, and Christopher Bond. Musical Direction by Kim Dare. This hilarious live stage show takes all the elements of the cult classic horror films Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, and Army of Darkness then combines them to make one of the craziest theatrical experiences of all time. Five college students go to an abandoned cabin in the woods, and accidentally unleash an evil force that turns them all into demons. It’s all up to Ash (a housewares employee, turned demon killing hero), and his trusty chainsaw to save the day. Blood flies. Limbs are dismembered. Demons tell jokes… and all is set to music. If you liked Bat Boy, you’ll love Evil Dead! Adult language, themes, graphic comedic scenes with lots and lots and lots of blood. Recommended for ages 15 and older.

“It was fantastic! Zombies that sing and dance…it doesn’t get any better than that!”

– Craig Ferguson, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS)

“The next Rocky Horror Show!” – The New York Times

This holiday season ArtsWest brings a real treat, A Tuna Christmas running December 1 through December 24, 2010, directed by MaryBeth Dagg. Come spend the holidays with your favorite citizens of Tuna, Texas and make some new friends while you’re there. Two fabulous performers, along with some split-second costume changes, portray all 24 citizens of Texas ‘ third smallest town, where the Lion’s Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies. It’s 24 hours before Christmas and all comic hell breaks loose as the delightfully eccentric characters attempt to cope with seasonal traumas such as a disaster prone little theatre production of A Christmas Carol and a yard decorating contest that is being sabotaged by a mysterious Christmas phantom! Bring the family and join in the holiday fun! Recommended for ages 9 and older.

“A comic masterpiece!” – ABC-TV

“Delivers a stockingful of laughs!” – Houston Chronicle

Coming January 26 through February 20, 2011 is the passionate and brilliant play, Emilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Susanna Wilson. Passionate. Brilliant. Defiant. Tonight, 18th century scientific genius Emilie du Châtelet is back and determined to answer the question she died with: love or philosophy, head or heart? In this highly theatrical rediscovery of one of history’s most intriguing women, Emilie defends her life and loves; and ends up with both a formula and a legacy that permeates history. Part biography, part sex romp through science, part historical re-imagining, Emilie promises to engage you in the romantic fight of her life. Adult themes. Recommended for ages 15 and older.

“Lauren Gunderson possesses an antic imagination that seeks to invent its own rules. As soon as we’re drawn in, she shakes us and whisks us 10 or 15 paces ahead. A work of historical fiction, the play has much in it that is current and true, particularly the difficulty that brainy women have in gaining acceptance from their male peers and balancing intellectual ambition with emotional hunger.” – Los Angeles Times.

“There’s no denying that Lauren Gunderson is one of the most formidably talented voices to emerge in years.” – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

After a fantastic run on Broadway Distracted makes its Seattle Premiere, directed by Christopher Zinovitch, at ArtsWest from March 9 through April 2, 2011. Jesse is nine. Jesse can’t focus. Mama helps. Dad ignores. The teacher scolds, the neighbors gossip, the psychiatrists prescribe, the audience laughs, but…NO ONE LISTENS. Welcome to Lisa Loomer’s (The Waiting Room) darkly comic Distracted, a story about a multi-tasking mom taking on the culture of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Her quixotic husband is in denial, leaving her to take on accepted science and mythic homeopathy all by herself. Fast paced, disarmingly funny, and direct from a wildly successful run on Broadway, this is a riveting gaze at parenting, childhood, and looking for fast answers in the age of Ritalin. Adult language and themes. Recommended for ages 15 and older.

“«««« A chronically entertaining comedy!” – New York Daily News

“Focus, people! Distracted is superb!” – Associated Press

Last, but certainly not least is the dazzling new play Shipwrecked! An Entertainment – The Amazing Adventures Of Louis De Rougemont (As Told By Himself) by Donald Margulies and directed by Christopher Zinovitch, playing from April 27 – May 21, 2011. In Shipwrecked!, three performers enact a dazzling adventure tale using the simple magic of the theater. In tones somewhere between storybook narrator and sideshow barker, a middle-aged charmer named Louis de Rougemont unfolds a tale of sailing to a South Seas paradise to dive for pearls, evade monsters of the deep, and survive for decades among the natives. Two other actors not only play all the remaining roles, from a crusty sea captain to a trusty dog, they also create a world of live sound effects that bring the globe-spanning story to life. Written by the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Collected Stories and Dinner with Friends, this raucous fantasy challenges audiences to think about the delicate dance between truth and fiction – are the lives we lead enough to make a mark on the world, and in the grand scheme of things, does that matter? Recommended for ages 9 and older.

“Shipwrecked! is a literate romp!” – Los Angeles Times