Five of the six-production season titles have been announced with the final play — a world premiere to be directed by La Jolla artistic director Des McAnuff — coming later this month.
The season opener, Uncle Vanya, is a co-production with New Jersey's McCarter Theatre. The Anton Chekhov classic is newly adapted and directed by McCarter artistic director Emily Mann and will star Amanda Plummer in the role of Sonya. The play will run May 30-June 29.
Plummer (known for her off-kilter film portrayals in "Pulp Fiction" and "The Fisher King") has been nominated for a Tony in the Broadway productions of A Taste of Honey, Pygmalion and won a Tony for Agnes of God.
La Jolla's second slot is for the world premiere production of Fräulein Else, also a co-production. The Berkeley Repertory Theatre co-presents the Arthur Schnitzler-inspired work adapted by actress Francesca Faridany. Stephen Wadsworth directs the La Jolla staging set for a June 10-July 13 run.
The Country, by British playwright Martin Crimp, will make its American premiere at La Jolla, July 29-Aug. 31. Lisa Peterson helms the California run of the play which premiered at London’s Royal Court. Tina Landau, director of Broadway's revival of Bells Are Ringing, will helm the world premiere of Beauty. Penned by the director, the new work follows a young girl who comes of age and a young man in search of beauty as they cross the boundaries of time. Set to run Sept. 16-Oct. 19 at La Jolla, Beauty is touted as apropos for adults as well as children of nine years and up.
The final production of the 2003 season will team La Jolla Playhouse with the Aquila Theatre Company as the California venue presents the production of Comedy Of Errors. The production, seen in recently New York, reworks Shakespeare comedy in Robert Richmond and Peter Meineck's 1920's Aegean cartoon dream world. Comedy Of Errors plays Oct. 21-Nov. 23.
The Playhouse will also present a "Page To Stage" workshop production of Sarah Schulman's The Burning Deck, adapted from Honoré de Balzac's novel "Cousin Bette." The work is part of the Playhouses' new play development program, which is now in its third season. Past projects include I Am My Own Wife and I Think I Like Girls. The Burning Deck, runs July 8-July 27.
Subscription packages for La Jolla Playhouse's 2003 season are currently on sale through the box office by calling (858) 550-1010 or at the La Jolla website at www.lajollaplayhouse.com. Single tickets will go on sale on May 11.
