Opening the season will be the Ginger Rogers musical Backwards in High Heels, Sept. 10-Oct. 2 in Tucson and Oct. 7-24 in Phoenix. Lynnette Barkley and Christopher McGovern created the work that uses original and classic songs to tell the story of the famous dancer. The engagement is a co-production with the Asolo Theatre, The Cleveland Playhouse and San Jose Repertory Theatre.

Lou Bellamy will stage August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, running Oct. 16-Nov. 6 in Tucson and Nov. 11-28 in Phoenix. Jevetta Steele will star as the "Mother of the Blues" in the co-production with the Penumbra Theatre at the Guthrie Theater.

Woody Guthrie's American Song, conceived and adapted by Peter Glazer, will explore the musical legacy of the American performer. Randal Myler will direct the work that runs Nov. 27-Dec. 18 in Tucson and Dec. 30, 2010, through Jan. 16, 2011, in Phoenix.

ATC commissioned Ella and Tuesdays with Morrie playwright Hatcher to pen Ten Chimneys, which will run Jan. 22-Feb. 12, 2011, in Tucson and Feb. 17-March 6, 2011, in Phoenix. The play imagines stage veterans Lunt and Fontanne rehearsing and researching Chekhov's The Seagull at their Wisconsin estate when a young actress named Uta Hagen arrives.

Following will be Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers, running Feb. 26-March 19, 2011, in Tucson and March 24-April 10, 2011, in Phoenix. Samantha K. Wyer will stage the award-winning play about two boys who learn about life and family when their father sends them to live with their iron-willed grandmother. For the final work of the season, ATC artistic director David Ira Goldstein will stage a revival of Charles Ludlam's comedy The Mystery of Irma Vep, reuniting ATC actors Bob Sorenson and R. Hamilton Wright. The fast-paced, quick-change mystery will run April 9-30, 2011, in Tucson and May 5-22, 2011, in Phoenix.

As a special offering, ATC will also host the Guthrie Theatre and the Acting Company's production of Shakespeare's classic Romeo and Juliet Nov. 4-7, 2010, in Phoenix, and Nov. 11-14, 2010, in Tucson.

Tucson performances take place at the Temple of Music and Art (330 S. Scott Avenue); call the box office at (520) 622-2823. Phoenix performances take place at the Herberger Theater Center (222 E. Monroe Street); call the box office at (602) 256-6995.

Visit www.arizonatheatre.org for more information.