The lauded election drama Continental Divide — which topped many year-end lists — will play at the southern California stage, May 25-Aug. 1, while the Gozzi work is set to run Sept. 28-Oct. 31. Four shows (including a new musical, two plays and a Page to Stage project) are yet to be announced.
Tony Taccone — who directed the world premiere co-production at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Berkeley Repertory Theatre — will once again direct the work for La Jolla audiences. The work comprises the two plays, Daughters of the Revolution and Mothers Against, which can be seen in either order.
British playwright Edgar (Pentecost, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby) explores American politics through both sides of a gubernatorial race — a subject not lost on California audiences.
Daughters of the Revolution concerns Democrat Michael Bern, a former radical, who learns that the political collective he once belonged to has come under the scrutiny of the FBI. The development threatens to affect his career and marriage.
Mothers Against focuses on Republican candidate Sheldon Vine, who prepares for the big debate in the heated election. A leaning libertarian, he struggles with his advisors, his family and himself over how to run his campaign. Romanian director Nona Ciobanu will direct the commedia dell'arte fairy tale The Love of Three Oranges penned by Gozzi in 1761. In the work, hypochondriac Prince Tartaglia needs a lifesaving good laugh but his cousin and her lover are plotting against him with an evil witch. The wicked Fata Morgana accidentally makes the prince laugh, then casts a curse upon him, making him fall in love with three oranges.
Italian playwright Gozzi’s plays include Turandot, The Green Bird and The King Stag. La Jolla previously produced Gozzi’s The Green Bird, directed by Tony Award winner Julie Taymor, in its 1996 season.
Subscriptions are available by calling (858) 550-1010. Single tickets will go on sale on May 2. For more information, visit the La Jolla website at www.lajollaplayhouse.com.
