The plays include an interpretation of Horton Foote's The Trip To Bountiful with an all African-American cast, and Charming Billy, adapted by Round House artistic director Blake Robison from Bethesda author Alice McDermott's novel.

Here is Round House Theatre's 2010-2011 season at a glance:

The Talented Mr. Ripley 

U.S. Regional Premiere 

By Phyllis Nagy


Adapted from the novel by Patricia Highsmith

Sept. 8-26

Directed by Blake Robison

"Enigmatic conman Tom Ripley is determined to gain wealth and social status by any means possible. The perfect opportunity arises when American financier Herbert Greenleaf sends him to Italy to track down his son, who has been living the high life there with his beautiful girlfriend. His mission takes on a sinister twist as the lives of Ripley and young Richard Greenleaf become inextricably entwined."

Ameriville 

Area Premiere 

By Universes (Steven Sapp, Mildred Ruiz, Gamal Chasten, Ninja - aka William Ruiz) 

Oct. 20-Nov. 7 "The Universes performance ensemble makes its exclusive DC area appearance in a theatrical tour-de-force that was a hit at the renowned Humana Festival and has won raves across the country. An explosive fusion of storytelling and the infectious rhythms of jazz, Gospel, and hip-hop, Ameriville puts the state of the Union under a microscope – politics, history, race, poverty, and government – examining our country through the lens of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

An ensemble of multi-disciplined writers and performers, Universes' work is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. Deftly weaving humor, song, and powerful performances, Ameriville says, 'Here's the situation. Now…what do you think?'"

A Wrinkle in Time

Area Premiere 

By John Glore

From the novel by Madeline L'Engle

Directed by Casey Sams

Dec. 1-26

"Before Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, there was Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, the original youth sci-fi classic. On a dark and stormy night, the eccentric Mrs. Whatsit arrives at the home of Meg Murry, a tomboy who doesn't fit in at her New England high school. Meg's scientist father vanished over two years ago, under mysterious circumstances. Aided by Mrs. Whatsit and her friends, Meg, her gifted brother Charles Wallace, and her friend Calvin are transported through time and space on a mission to rescue their father from the evil forces that hold him prisoner on another planet."

Charming Billy

World Premiere

Adapted and directed by Blake Robison

From the novel by Bethesda author Alice McDermott

Feb. 2-20, 2011


"In a small Bronx bar, a funeral party has gathered to honor Billy Lynch. Through the night, his friends and family weave together the tale of a husband, lover, dreamer, and storyteller, but also that of a hopeless drunk whose immense charm was but a veil over a lifetime of secrets and all-consuming sorrow. Charming Billy is a masterful look at how a community can pin its dreams to one man, and how good intentions can be as destructive as the truth they were meant to hide."

The Trip To Bountiful
By Horton Foote
Directed by Timothy Douglas
March 16 - April 3, 2011

"Trapped in a cramped Houston apartment with her soft-spoken son and self-absorbed daughter-in-law, widow Carrie Watts dreams of returning to her home in the small Gulf Coast town of Bountiful, where she grew up and raised her own family. Fearing that she's an imposition and chafing under her daughter-in-law's watchful eye, she steals away with her latest pension check and heads home in the journey of a lifetime. The results are both brilliantly life-affirming and heartbreaking in one of legendary playwright Horton Foote's most beloved works."

Amadeus
By Peter Shaffer
Directed by David Muse
May 11-June 5, 2011

"When your hard-earned fame has been surpassed by a brilliantly gifted, though potty-mouthed, golden boy, what can you do but smile to his face while secretly plotting his downfall? Peter Shaffer's Amadeus, winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Play, and the Academy Award for Best Picture, depicts the flamboyant genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as seen through the eyes of his desperately jealous contemporary, composer Antonio Salieri."

The Round House Theatre is located at 4545 East-West Highway 
in Bethesda, MD. For more information visit www.roundhousetheatre.org.