Always a surprise in the theater world! This year, ArtsWest isn’t waiting till its big “new-season announcement” event to actually announce the lineup. Monday night is the event; the lineup just hit the inbox. Read on!

Here’s the news release with the lineup:

For the ArtsWest 2012-2013 season, Artistic Director Christopher Zinovitch has announced a selection of plays, beginning in September with a fast-paced irreverent rock musical about the country we live in – a Broadway blockbuster that received Tony Award© nominations, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and two Drama Desk nominations. The holiday season will have audiences dancing in the aisles with a mix of rockin’ holiday hits in a fond salute to 1960’s girl groups. Audiences will then travel from Liverpool to Greece with a middle-aged, working class housewife in a classic comic masterpiece. The season’s fourth play, another recent Broadway blockbuster, exposes the fundamental truths that result when opposing views of family and friends collide. We’ll close out the season watching genius at work as Beethoven and a musicologist examine the creative process against a background of passion and parenthood.

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September 19 – October 20, 2012
Northwest Premiere
BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON
Book by Alex Timbers, Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman
Directed by Christopher Zinovitch, Musical Direction by Kim Dare

Fresh from its Tony Award© nominated 2011 run on Broadway, this comedic audacious mix of historical fact and fiction surrounding America’s controversial seventh president — the man who invented the Democratic Party, drove the Indians west, and ultimately doubled the size of our nation — blends outrageous comedy, anarchic theatricality and a rock score. “Bloody entertaining” (New York Daily News); “Insanely funny!”(Time Out); “A wildly exhilarating theatrical ride.” (Backstage). Appropriate for ages 16+.

CAST: Cindy Bradder (Elizabeth, etc.), Kody Bringman (Andrew Jackson), Justin Carrell (John Calhoun, etc.), EmilyRose Frasca (Female Soloist, etc.), Morgan Gwilym-Tso (Lyncota), Lindsey Hedberg (Female Soloist, etc), Justin Huertas (Male Soloist, John Quincy Adams, etc), Brian Lange (Andrew Senior, Henry Clay, etc.), Alex Lathum (Guitars, etc), Ryan McCabe (James Monroe, etc.), Meg McLynn (Rachel Jackson, etc), Jeff Orton (Black Fox, etc), Mandy Price (Story Teller, etc), Rob Scherzer (Martin Van Burien, etc), Zac Stowell (Drums, etc.) William Williams (Guitar, etc)

Produced with special arrangement with Musical Theater International

****

November 23 – December 30, 2012
Seattle Premiere
THE WINTER WONDERETTES
Book, Music and Lyrics by Rodger Bean
Directed by Troy Wageman, Musical Direction by Kim Dare

It’s Christmas, 1968 – get ready for songs, songs, and more songs. Take a nostalgic trip through the late 50’s & early 60’s when the Marvelous Wonderettes, Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy, are asked to entertain at the Holiday Party for Harper’s Hardware. While the girls decorate the hardware store, turning it into a winter wonderland, Mr. Harper, dressed as Santa Claus, goes missing, and the employees’ holiday bonus envelopes may bring surprises. “The perfect Christmas revue! Crackles with energy and joy!” (LA Weekly) Appropriate for all ages.

CAST: Kate Jaeger, Trish LaGrua, Lindsey Larsen, Erin Sprow

Produced with special arrangement with Steele Spring Productions

****

January 23 – February 16, 2013
SHIRLEY VALENTINE
by Willy Russell
Directed by Christopher Zinovitch

A Laurence Olivier Award winner for Best New Comedy in 1988 and Tony Award© nominee for Best Play. This one-woman show is filled with gems of wisdom, a good dose of laughter and a lot of poignancy. The story follows a middle-aged Liverpool housewife who finds herself in the rut of her dull daily life and in a loveless relationship. When her best friend wins a trip for two to Greece, she packs her bags, leaves a note on the kitchen table, and sets off on a “Mamma Mia” style adventure in search of her own life and soul. Heather Hawkins will return to ArtsWest to play the title role. Appropriate for ages 14+.

CAST: Heather Hawkins (Shirley)

Produced with special arrangement with Samuel French Play Services Inc.

****

March 13 – April 6, 2013
Northwest Premiere
NEXT FALL
by Geoffrey Nauffts
Directed by Cindy Bradder

Ben Brantley (New York Times) called Next Fall an “artful, thoughtful and very moving story.” Luke believes in God. Adam believes in everything else. It’s an examination of faith, commitment and unconditional love – with sharp humor and unflinching honesty. Not a typical love story, this timely and compelling new American play forces us all to examine what it means to “believe” and what it might cost us if we don’t. “It contains the kind of quips that prompt not one but two waves of laughter. This is rare.” (David Finkle, Huffington Post). 2010 Tony Award© nominee. Appropriate for ages 16+.

CAST: Christopher Zinovitch (Adam), David Traylor (Luke), Kate Jaeger (Holly), Daniel Stoltenberg (Brandon), Patricia Haines-Ainsworth (Arlene), Paul Custodio (Butch)

Produced with special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, INC.

****

May 1 – 25, 2013

33 VARIATIONS
Northwest Premiere
By Moises Kauffman
Directed by Christopher Zinovitch

A mother coming to terms with her daughter. A composer coming to terms with his genius. And, even though they’re separated by 200 years, these two people share an obsession that might, even just for a moment, make time stand still. Drama, memory and music combine to transport you from present-day New York to nineteenth-century Austria in this extraordinary American play about passion, parenthood and the moments of beauty that can transform a life. Nominated for 5 Tony Awards©. “Not to be missed” (New York Magazine). Appropriate for ages 16+.

CAST: Jody Mc Coy (Dr. Katherine Brandt), Lindsey Larsen (Clara Brandt), Matthew Gilbert (Ludwig Von Beethoven), Anton Schindler (Mike Spee), James Lyle (Anton Diabelli), Mark Tyler Miller (Mike Clark), Ruth Mc Ree (Dr. Gertrude Ladenburger)

Produced with special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, INC.

Subscriptions to the full five-play season go on sale on April 4th at $159 – $200 for general audiences, $140 for seniors – at ArtsWest Box Office, (206) 938-0339.