Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre Company has announced its 2016-17 slate. The 29th season will kick off in September with Arden co-founder Aaron Posner’s Stupid F*cking Bird, inspired by Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, with original songs by James Sugg. Posner will return to direct.
The season will also feature Matthew Lopez’s The Legend of Georgia McBride, about an Elvis impersonator-turned unwilling drag queen, which played an acclaimed run Off-Broadway last year. Directed by Emmanuelle Delpeche, the production will play October 10-November 27. To close out the year, Arden’s Children’s Theatre will present Peter Pan.
In 2017 Arden will stage another Off-Broadway hit, Annie Baker’s John, to be directed by Matthew Decker. This will be followed by a spring production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
In April 2017 Arden Children’s Theatre will present the world premiere of The Light Princess, adapted by Tony Lawton from the Scottish story by George MacDonald with music by Alex Bechtel. The new musical will tell the story of a teenager who has no gravity and floats in the air.
The final production of the season will be Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne and Arthur Laurents' celebrated musical Gypsy. Five-time Barrymore Award winner Mary Martello will star as Mama Rose.
For subscription packages call the Arden Box Office at (215) 922-1122, order online at ardentheatre.org, or visit the box office at 40 N. 2nd Street in Old City, Philadelphia.