The Garfield Center for the Arts (GCA) in Chestertown is pleased to announce its 2016 season of theatrical productions. Presented by the GCA and directed by a group of talented local directors, this season offers a variety of shows – comedy, drama, a musical, some locally written productions, and children’s programs – Playmakers in July and MUSICAMP in August.
The season opens February 12 with Voices of Freedom, written and directed by Tamika Hall. As part of the GCA’s celebration of Black History month, this play delivers, in a dramatic context, an oral history by former slaves. Performances will be February 12 and 13.
The following weekend, the GCA will launch into Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged), written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winfield, and directed by Melissa McGlynn. This whirling dervish of a comedy attempts to present all of the Bard’s plays in two acts. McGlynn will be joined on stage by an all-star cast, including the irrepressible Jen Friedman.
For those who love musical theater, director (and GCA Theater Manager) Tess Hogans brings the Lerner and Lowe classic My Fair Lady to the stage for three weekends, starting April 15 and running through May 1.
The Garfield’s own ten-minute play festival, known affectionately as Short Attention Span Theatre, (SAST), now in its twelfth season, has an extended three-weekend run from June 24th to July 10th. An audience favorite, SAST features the local talents of dozens of directors, writers and actors.
Director Bonnie Hill returns to the GCA in October with Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1967, the original Broadway cast featured Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy in this intense “drawing room drama.”
Closing the 2016 season, director Mark Sullivan will bring The 39 Steps to the Garfield stage from December 2 to 18. Written by Patrick Barlow, adapted from the novel by John Buchan, this comedic who-done-it is not to be confused with the 1935 Hitchcock thriller of the same name. This adaptation opened in London and promptly won the Lawrence Olivier Award for Best Comedy of 2007.
In addition to these outstanding theatrical productions, the Garfield Center offers a variety of musical concerts, including the Mardi Gras Dance Concert on February 6, the Chestertown Jazz Festival in September, and the popular Blues at the Garfield Series. Blues artists include the soulful blues harmonicist John Nemeth on April 8, and master guitarist Albert Cummings with his band on May 13.
The Garfield Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization whose mission is “to invigorate the cultural life of our community by nurturing, celebrating and supporting arts and artists through performance and education.” For more information, please visit www.GarfieldCenter.org, or call the box office at 410 810 2060. The Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theatre is located at 210 High Street, Chestertown, MD, 21620.
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