Thursday, June 28, 2007
A+E

Coming attractions

A look ahead at the impending theater season

Cybill Shepherd stars in the Alliance’s production of “Curvy Widow” later this year. CREDIT: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

BY BERT OSBORNE

Sure, there’s still a month or so left in the 2006-‘07 theater season, but it’s never too early to start planning ahead. From recent Pulitzer Prize winners (“Rabbit Hole,” “Doubt,” “Proof”) to ancient history (“The Trojan War,” “Eurydice,” “The Persians”)—from original new plays by Atlantans Pearl Cleage (“A Song for Coretta”), Steve Yockey (“Octopus”) and John Ammerman (“Slapping Bernhard”) to famous literary dramas (“Great Expectations,” “Of Mice and Men”) and popular musicals (“Godspell,” “Annie Get Your Gun”)—local theatergoers have a lot to look forward to. Several groups are still finalizing their plans; meanwhile, here’s a selective list:

7 STAGES
“A Song for Coretta,” Jan. 17-Feb. 17; “In the Solitude of the Cotton Fields,” April 24-May 18. www.7stages.org.

ACTOR’S EXPRESS
“Dark Play, or: Stories for Boys,” Sept. 9-Oct. 6; “The Fantasticks,” Oct. 28-Nov. 24; “Octopus,” Jan. 27-Feb. 23; “When Something Wonderful Ends,” March 16-April 12; “Piece,” May 4-31; “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” June 22-July 19. www.actors-express.com.

ALLIANCE THEATRE
On the Alliance Stage: “The Women of Brewster Place,” Sept. 5-30; “Sleuth,” Oct. 10-Nov. 4; “A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 30-Dec. 24; “Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies,” Jan. 9-Feb. 10; “Doubt,” April 2-May 4.

On the Hertz Stage: “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,” Sept. 21-Oct. 28; “Curvy Widow,” Nov. 25-Dec. 16; “In the Red and Brown Water” Feb. 1-24; “Eurydice,” March 14-April 13. www.alliancetheatre.org.

ART STATION
“A Broadway Christmas Carol,” Nov. 30-Dec. 23; “O’Henry” and “The Gift of the Magi,” Dec. 4-23; “The Lady With All the Answers,” Feb. 22-March 9; “Five Course Love,” April 18-May 10; “Bingo,” July 18-Aug. 17. www.artstation.org.

ATLANTA SHAKESPEARE
“The Taming of the Shrew,” “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and “Love’s Labours Lost” in repertory, Aug. 9-Sept. 2; “Lettice and Lovage,” Sept.; “Macbeth,” Oct.; “King John,” Nov.; “A Christmas Carol,” Dec.; “Twelfth Night,” Jan.; “Romeo and Juliet,” Feb.; “Of Mice and Men,” March; “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” April; “Much Ado About Nothing,” May. www.shakespearetavern.com.

GEORGIA ENSEMBLE
“God’s Man in Texas,” Sept. 6-23; “Season’s Greetings,” Nov. 8-25; “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks,” Jan. 3-20; “Great Expectations,” Feb. 21-March 9; “Triple Espresso,” March 27-April 13. www.get.org.

JEWISH THEATRE OF THE SOUTH
“Comparing Books,” Oct. 10-Nov. 4; “Hula-Hoopin’ Hannah and Her Hanukkah Adventure,” Nov. 23-Dec. 9; “Hard Love,” Jan. 23-Feb. 17; “The Last Schwartz,” April 30-May 25. www.jplay.org.

RED CLAY THEATRE
“It Had to be You,” Aug. 24-Sept. 22; “Driving Miss Daisy,” Oct. 18-Nov. 11; “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Dec. 6-23; “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Jan. 25-Feb. 18; “Runaway Bride,” March 6-April 20. www.redclaytheatrearts.com.

STAGE DOOR PLAYERS
“Broadway Bound,” Sept. 21-Oct. 14; “Home for the Holidays, 2007,” Nov. 23-Dec. 16; “Breaking Legs,” Jan. 18-Feb. 10; “The World Goes ‘Round,” March 14-April 13; “The Cocktail Hour,” May 16-June 8; “Pete ‘n’ Keely,” July 11-Aug. 10. www.stagedoorplayers.net.

SYNCHRONICITY PERFORMANCE GROUP
“My Name is Rachel Corrie,” Sept. 7-Oct. 7; “Angela’s Mixtape,” Feb. 15-March 16; “Expecting Isabel,” April 18-May 18. www.synchrotheatre.com.

THEATER EMORY
“The Trojan War,” Oct. 4-14; “Slapping Bernhard,” Nov. 8-18; “What I Heard About Iraq” and “Bury the Dead” in repertory, Feb. 13-29. www.theater.emory.edu.

THEATRE IN THE SQUARE
On the Mainstage: “The Persians,” Aug. 12-Sept. 23; “Rabbit Hole,” Sept. 30-Nov. 11; “Sanders Family Christmas,” Nov. 18-Dec. 30; “Room Service,” Jan. 6-Feb. 24; “The Belle of Amherst,” March 12-April 20; “The Poetry of Pizza,” April 27-June 8.

On the Alley Stage: “Sweet Apple Christmas,” Nov. 11-Dec. 30; “Blue Door,” Feb. 17-March 16; “The Little Dog Laughed,” March 30-April 27. www.theatreinthesquare.com.

THEATRICAL OUTFIT
“To Kill a Mockingbird,” Sept. 12-Oct. 7; “Gee’s Bend,” Nov. 7-Dec. 2; “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Dec. 7-23; “Southern Comfort,” Feb. 6-17; “Pure Confidence,” March 5-30; “Godspell,” April 16-May 11. www.theatricaloutfit.org.