Tucson theaters are beginning to roll out their 2018-19 seasons, and it looks as though we’ve got some old friends returning, and some new ones coming in. Here are the latest companies to unveil upcoming seasons:
Broadway in Tucson
Speaking of old friends, “Les Misérables” returns Sept. 4-9. This is the rejiggered 2010 “Les Miz,” trotted out to celebrate the musical’s 25th anniversary. Same songs, but projections are used to transport audiences to the streets — and sewers — of Paris.
Broadway in Tucson is also bringing in Bartlett’s Sher’s much-lauded version of “Fiddler on the Roof” — though Arizona Theatre Company’s 2016 production of it was so stunning it’s hard to imagine anything much better. That’s slated for April 9-14, 2019.
The musical “Waitress” (Dec. 4-9) will be new to the Old Pueblo; it’s based on the movie of the same name. Also new to us is “Something Rotten” (Feb. 5-10) about the Bottom brothers, who are desperately trying to compete with their contemporary, William Shakespeare, and “On Your Feet!” (Nov. 13-18), the musical based on Emilio and Gloria Estefan. And just in case you’ve never seen one of the six trillion productions that have come our way since it premiered in 1981, you can catch “Cats” April 30-May 5, 2019. Season tickets are $138-$570 for the six-show series. 1-866-821-2929 or broadwayintucson.com.
The Rogue Theatre
The company opens its 2018-19 season with Bertolt Brecht’s “Galileo,” based on the life of the astronomer (Sept. 6-23). It hasn’t been on a Tucson stage for some time.
The second show of the season is Simon Stephens “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” (Nov. 1-18). The 2012 play is based on the Mark Haddon book about a young boy on the autism spectrum.
Also planned for next season is Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” (Jan. 10-27), “The Secret in the Wings (Feb. 28-March 17) by the pretty brilliant Mary Zimmerman, and Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” (April 25-May 12, 2019). The 1953 play about the Salem witch trials was Miller’s allegorical response to McCarthyism. It seems particularly relevant right now. Season tickets are $175. 551-2053 or theroguetheatre.org.
Winding Road Theater Ensemble
The company celebrates 10 years next season. It will open with David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Good People” (Oct. 25-Nov. 11) about an out-of-work single mother raising a disabled child and her long-ago boyfriend, who has a much more upscale life.
The comedy “Stupid F#!*ng Bird” (Jan. 24-Feb. 10) by Aaron Posner is a contemporary adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull.
And the third show of Winding Road’s season is the company’s “Eight 10s in Tucson,” eight original 10-minute plays in one night (April 25-May 3, 2019).
Season tickets are $65. 401-3626. Windingroadtheater.org.
Invisible Theatre
“The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey,” James Lecesne’s play about a young teen who goes missing (Sept. 4-16), opens the company’s season — one with plenty of new-to-us plays.
Next up will be Keith Budin’s “The Busy World is Hushed” (Oct. 23-Nov. 4), about a mother, son and the man he falls in love with.
Broadway performer Jim Brochu stops in town Jan. 12-13 to perform “Zero Hour,” about the acting legend Zero Mostel (Jan. 12-13). “Dancing Lessons” by Mark St. Germain is about a young man with Asperger’s who wants to learn to dance (Feb. 5-17). And finishing out the season will be Susan Miller’s “20th Century Blues” (April 23-May 5, 2019). There will be one other play in the season, but it has not yet been announced.
Season tickets are $165. 882-9721 or http://invisibletheatre.com.
