Between June 6-Sept. 2, five productions will play, starting with a yet-to-be named recent Broadway play.
Bleeding Kansas (Aug. 1-11) is the name of the world premiere drama in the season. Set on the American frontier, it "will take audiences back to 1856 and a hard-livin', hard-drinkin' time before Kansas became a state," according to season notes. "As homesteading farmers fight the elements to start a new life, a violent battle over ideology explodes around them. Abolitionists and pro-slavery factions descend on the territory, and a fledgling nation takes a dangerous step towards civil war."
Hangar artistic director Kevin Moriarty will direct the new script by Kathryn Walat, whose play Know Dog was presented in the Wedge in 2002 and whose play for young audiences, Androcles and the Lion was commissioned and produced the Hangar Theatre as a School Tour production in 2004.
"Kate is one of the most dynamic and exciting emerging playwrights working in the American theatre," Moriarty stated. "In this fresh new play, Kate revisits a vital moment in American history to tell an original story about political conviction, moral belief, and love of country, all told with her unique sense of humor, dramatic action and sharp insight into real people. Bleeding Kansas will be a play that will entertain our audiences and have [audiences] grappling with and talking about its characters and ideas long after they've left the theatre."
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (June 21-July 7) and Hair (beginning July 12) will complete the season. The season kicks off on June 6 with the regional premiere of a recent Broadway play from an award-winning playwright.
"We're excited to be the first theatre in the region to share this exciting play, fresh from its Broadway run, with our audience," said Moriarty. "Unfortunately, we can't announce the title until Feb. 1. All I can say is that this script features beautiful writing, complicated and compelling characters, and a surprising story. I'm certain our audience will be fully engaged by this wonderful play."
On Aug. 15, the Hangar finishes up the summer "by rummaging through the classics of literature with All the Great Books (abridged)," from the creators of two past hit comedies at the Hangar — The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) and The Complete History of America (abridged). The three-man show "is a goofy, pratfall-filled, whirlwind tour of 86 classic books." Performances play to Sept. 2.
Subscription packages for the Hangar Theatre's 2007 Mainstage season are currently available by calling (607) 273-8588, or visiting www.hangartheatre.org.
Single tickets for the 2007 season will go on sale on May 1 at the Ticket Center at Clinton House.
