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IRRESISTIBLE COMEDY BAD DATESBY THERESA REBECK DIRECTED BY JAN.26-FEB.25 JESSICA STONE AVENUE OF THE ARTS HUNTINGTON AVENUE THEATRE Seasonal cocktails, handmade pasta, perfectly cooked steaks & fresh seafood, expertly prepared using the nest ingredients. At Davio’s, it’s all about the guest. CONTENTS JANUARY–FEBRUARY2018 7 THE PROGRAM 10 PLAYWRIGHT THERESA REBECK PLUS: 04 Backstage by Olivia J. Kiers 14 About the Company 10 34 Patron Services 35 Emergency Exits 38 Guide to Local Theatre 44 Boston Dining Guide 46 Dining Out: Top of the Hub 38 theatrebill STAFF Publishing services are provided by Theatrebill, a pub- lication of New Venture Media Group LLC, publisher of President/Publisher: Tim Montgomery Panorama: The Official Guide to Boston, 560 Harrison Ave., Suite 412, Boston, MA 02118, 857-366-8131. Art Director: Scott Roberto Associate Art Director: Laura Jarvis Assistant Editor: Olivia J. Kiers WARNING: The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device Vice President Publishing: Rita A. Fucillo for such photographing or sound recording inside Vice President Advertising: Jacolyn Ann Firestone this theatre, without the written permission of the Senior Account Executive: Annie Farrell management, is prohibited by law. Violators may be Senior Account Executive: Abe Dewing punished by ejection and violations may render the offender liable for money damages. Chief Operating Officer: Tyler J. Montgomery Business Manager: Melissa J. O’Reilly FIRE NOTICE: The exit indicated by a red light and sign nearest to the seat you occupy is the shortest route to the street. In the event of fire or other emer- gencies do not run—WALK TO THAT EXIT. To advertise in Theatrebill, call 857-366-8131 or e-mail [email protected]. HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY 3 BACKSTAGE BEHIND THE SCENES IN LOCAL AND NATIONAL THEATRE BY OLIVIA J. KIERS Gala Season in Beantown Cambridge YMCA. For more information, visit The New Year has barely begun and winter still longwoodplayers.org. holds New England in its icy grip, yet already Later this upcoming spring, the Huntington Boston’s theatre devotees are marking their cal- Theatre Company’s Spotlight Spectacular endars as gala season begins to heat up. occurs on May 7 at Boston Center for the Arts’ Established in 1998, The Longwood Cyclorama. This year’s honorees include trustee Players celebrate two decades of commu- Neal Balkowitsch and director Liesl Tommy, who nity development and cultural enrichment in will be presented with the prestigious Wimberly Greater Boston at its annual cabaret fundraiser Award. Notable for entertainment provided by on February 3. “A Night at the Cabaret” takes theatre luminaries and for attracting glamorous place at Chelsea Theatre Works, home to The attendees, the Spotlight Spectacular always lives up Longwood Players’ current season in CTW’s to its name. For tickets, go to huntingtontheatre.org. brand-new black box theatre. Previously, The Longwood Players performed at the A New Season for Hub Theatre Company The Hub Theatre Company of Boston announced the three plays that comprise its sixth season. Sam Shepard’s tale of sibling rivalry between a Hollywood screenwriter and his thieving older brother, True West, kicks off the 2018 season in April. July sees the Boston premiere of Lauren Gunderson’s comedy The Taming, about a Miss America pageant con- testant with political ambitions that draws inspiration from Shakespeare’s The Taming of IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Trustee Neal Balkowitsch the Shrew. Finally, the Tony Award-winning (above left) and director Liesl Tommy (right) are the honorees at the Huntington Theatre Company’s prequel to J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, Peter and the 2018 Spotlight Spectacular fundraising gala at Starcatcher, ends the season in November. For Boston Center for the Arts’ Cyclorama (top). more details, go to hubtheatreboston.org. 4 BAD DATES BACKSTAGE(continued) More Opera in Boston Boston is becoming a burgeoning hub for all things opera, especially when it comes to the development of exciting new operatic proj- ects. In December, the American Modern Opera Company (AMOC) held its first-ever public appearance at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge. The inaugural Run AMOC! Festival of new works by AMOC company members premiered three pieces. A Study on Effort matched the music of Bach and Westhoff in a collaboration between dancer- MEN WITH A PLAN: Artistic directors Matthew choreographer Bobbi Jene Smith and violinist Aucoin (pictured above left) and Zack Winokur (above right) helm American Modern Opera and poet Keir GoGwilt. Cage Match featured a Company, a new Boston-based opera troupe. series of duets between pianists, violinists, and baritones in music by Telemann, Donati, Wolff, troupe, new-music ensemble and artists’ col- and Monteverdi, as well as an original piece lective” that will focus on producing bound- by AMOC artistic director Matthew Aucoin. ary-breaking projects. Aucoin explained Finally, Were You There invited the audience to that, “for [AMOC], the essence of opera is participate in a theatrical presentation of hymns to be the field where all artistic disciplines and spirituals on themes of police brutality and collide.” The company will be in residence black lives lost. at Harvard University in February, before With no permanent home, AMOC traveling to New York and San Francisco. describes itself as “at once a traveling theatre Visit runningamoc.org for details. WHAT’S ON STAGE in January Our picks for the hottest plays and musicals on local stages this month MALA ROAD SHOW HUNTINGTON LYRIC STAGE COMPANY THEATRE COMPANY January 12–February 11 January 6–February 4 Stephen Sondheim’s lat- Huntington Playwright- est musical is inspired in-Residence Melinda by the true-life stories Lopez (pictured) of the Mizner brothers’ remounts her one- fortune-seeking journeys woman show of a across America, from the mother-daughter rela- Klondike gold rush to a tionship tested during an Florida real-estate boom. epic Boston snowstorm. Refer to listing, page 41. Refer to listing, page 41. Paul Marotta 20,000 LEAGUES SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE UNDER THE SEA SPEAKEASY STAGE COMPANY IMAGINARY BEASTS January 12–February 10 January 13–Februray 4 The New England premiere of the stage adaptation of the Conceived by artistic director Matthew Woods, this family- Academy Award-winning film features mistaken identities, friendly, steampunk-inspired re-imagining of the Jules courtly intrigue and a young William Shakespeare. Refer to Verne classic features sea monsters, laughs and plenty of listing, page 41. audience participation. Refer to listing, page 42. HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY 5 Art New England New Art ArtARTIST NewRESIDENCIES ASHLEY BRYANEngland CENSORSHIP RISD’S NATURE LAB AT 80 C ONTEMPORARY January/February 2018 • Vol. 39 issue 1 issue 39 Vol. • 2018 January/February A RT JANUARY/ AND FEBRUARY 2018 $5.95 US C $7.00 Canada ULTURE Critical. Compelling. Contemporary. Don’t miss a thing! Stay connected to New England’s unrivalled arts scene. Subscribers receive six issues per year and are invited to exclusive art salons, exhibitions, and openingsTo Subscribe: visit artnewengland.com HUNTINGTON throughout New England. THEATRE ON THE COVER: Jamie Roux, Lenny Bruce, 2011, oil pastel on paper, 14 x 17". Courtesy of the artist. COMPANY AVENUE OF THE ARTS & SOUTH END Available by subscription, on newsstands everywhere, and at special art events throughout the region. HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY AVENUE OF THE ARTS & SOUTH END PETER DUBOIS AlexanderScenic Dodge Design NORMA JEAN CALDERWOOD BAD DATES ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MICHAEL MASO MANAGING DIRECTOR Alaine Alldaffer Directedby by Casting Costume Design Theresa Rebeck Sarah Laux Jessica Stone Production Stage Manager Lighting Design Emily F. McMullen David J. Weiner Bad Dates Sound Design Drew Levy Stage Manager is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Jeremiah Mullane HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY 7 STANTEC ARCHITECTURE STANTEC Draft rendering of the Huntington Avenue redevelopment project. HUNTINGTON AVENUE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT WINS APPROVAL On December 14, 2017 the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) voted to approve the proposed redevelopment of 254-264 Huntington Avenue, which includes the renovation of the Huntington Avenue Theatre and the theatre’s support wing, as well as a new apartment building next to the theatre. This approval sets in motion a gathering spaces, an expansive donation by commercial developers second floor lobby that will double QMG Huntington LLC of the historic as an event space and intimate Huntington Avenue Theatre and performance venue, and more its support wing to the Huntington restrooms! The Huntington will Theatre Company for its ownership expand its programming to provide in perpetuity. It will also lead to the year-round activity in the theatre creation of a new, 14,000 square feet and lobbies, and will make these of cultural space expanding the theatre new spaces available for use by at the base of their apartment building, the community. with a 100-year lease for the price of $1. This critical moment would not have The Huntington will be responsible been possible without our deep and for outfitting the new contemporary loyal community of supporters. We space, which will serve as the are excited to fulfill our bold dream, Huntington Avenue Theatre’s new and we hope we can continue to entrance and will provide public count on your support until it is amenities including increased fully realized. SKELETON For the latest