Great Lakes Theater opens their Cleveland season with ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Twelfth Night’
As in seasons past, Great Lakes Theater will once again dazzle Cleveland audiences as they open their 2016-2017 season at the Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square with a Tony Award –winning musical classic and a Shakespeare romantic comedy performed in rotating repertory. This GLT season openers will run from September 23 through October 30, 2016 and will feature the Broadway classic “My Fair Lady” and Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
“My Fair Lady” has book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner with Music by Frederick Loewe and is Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion and is presented through arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc. The Great Lakes Theater production will be directed by Victoria Bussert. Drew Barr will direct the production of Shakespeare’s classic comedy, “Twelfth Night.”
Confirmed bachelor and highly opinionated linguistic professor Henry Higgins is challenged by his colleague that he cannot convert a street wise Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a woman of high society. Higgins takes on the challenge not realizing the transformation that Eliza will make in him. This endearing musical contains some of Broadway’s most famous and favorite tunes including “I Could Have Danced All Night” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” “The Rain In Spain,” “On The Street Where You Live” and “Get Me To The Church On Time.”
In Shakespeare’s enchanting comedy “Twelfth Night” all hope seems lost during a horrendous shipwreck that separates young Viola from her twin brother. Making her way to the exotic island, Illyria, her misfortune turns into a chance for romance. In order to survive, she disguises herself as a boy messenger and ends up in the employment of an island inhabitant. In classic Shakespearian style, misplace affections combined with gender bending disguises and misunderstood intentions abound as Viola becomes a romantic interest to a woman her employer has sent to woo her.
Great Lakes Theater holds their performances in the Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square that features a variety of seating opportunities that include traditional theater seats, club chairs, lounge and bar seating, banquette couches and private box seating. With a total configuration limited to 550 seats no audience member is further from the performance than twelve rows.
Great Lakes Theater also offers theater patrons an Experience Enhancement Programming that is organized by day of the week.
Salon Thursday features a pre-show discussion that starts one hour prior to curtain and features a Great Lakes Theater artist associated with the current production (October 6, 13, 21 & 27).
Happy Hour Friday begins ninety minutes prior to the performance and allows audience members a chance to gather and enjoy appetizers or beverages that are for sale in the Hanna Theatre bar and lounge area (Offered September 23, 20 & October 7, 14, 21 & 28). Nightcap Night Saturdays encourages audience members to linger after the performance in order to meet with the show’s artistic company in the Hanna Lounge area. The bar will remain open for ninety minutes following the Nightcap Night Saturday performance (Offered October 8, 15, 22 & 29). Ice Cream Social Sundays includes a lively pre-show discussion with Great Lakes Theatre’s Artistic Director, Charles Fee along with the Director of the current production. Ice Cream will be offered at every performance during the Fall Repertory and will be offered at half price on Ice Cream Social Sundays (Offered October 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30).
Directors Nights takes place prior to the Friday preview performances and is a lively pre-show discussion with Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee along with the Director of the current production (Offered September 23 & 30).
Playnotes Pre-Show Discussion features a guest scholar prior to Saturday’s matinee performances that includes an in depth look into the content and history of each play (Offered October 8, 15, 22 & 29).
All Great Lakes Theater performances begin with the doors opening ninety minutes before curtain giving audience members the opportunity to observe pre-show preparations of GLT’s actors and technical staff such as stage combat rehearsals, dance calls, prop/scenic pre-sets, technical cue rehearsals and actor warm-ups.
This coming season, Great Lakes Theatre continues its <I>New Deal<I/> pricing initiative with adult tickets beginning at $15 and student tickets for any seat at any performance priced at $13.
The price of single performance tickets range from $15 to $80 with student tickets available for $13. Tickets may be purchased by calling (216) 241-6000 by ordering online by going to http://www.playhousesquare.org/ or by stopping by the Playhouse Square Ticket Office located in the outer lobby of the State Theatre. Groups of ten or more save up to 25% by calling (216) 241-5490 x322.