The company announced the six-play lineup for its 2006-2007 season, which will culminate in a "40th Anniversary Legacy Production" of Claire Chafee's 1993 hit show Why We Have a Body, which returns to the Magic.
"We have so much to celebrate," stated artistic director Chris Smith in the announcement. "Forty years is a very long time for any non-profit, but for a theatre company that specializes in new works, it's miraculous. The caliber of artists involved in our anniversary season says volumes about Magic's four decades of devotion to playwrights."
The anniversary celebrations will also feature special collaborative productions including American Conservatory Theater's Luminescence Dating, a new play by Carey Perloff (November-December 2006), Z Space Studios and Jonathan Reinis Productions' Citizen Josh, a solo show by Josh Kornbluth (May-June 2007) and "CineMAGIC," a film series featuring movies made from Magic plays.
The Magic Theatre's 2006-07 season (subject to change) is as follows:
Amy Glazer directs the Bay Area premiere of Sam Shepard's drama about a rural Wisconsin farming couple out of touch with the world of politics who find themselves in trouble "when a salesman shows up at their door selling patriotic paraphernalia."
Elaine May directs this evening of three short comedies by herself and Jan Mirochek: Mirochek's Killing Trotsky about a misunderstood playwright, May's George is Dead about a newly-widowed, pampered socialite and a new May play still in the works.
Magic's new plays series presents three world premieres in rotating repertory: Pleasure and Pain by Chantal Bilodeau (directed by Jessica Heidt), Rust by Kirsten Greenidge (directed by Raelle Myrick-Hodges) and 'Bot by C. Michèle Kaplan (directed by Chris Smith).
Loretta Greco directs this production of Claire Chafee's play which will repeat its previous run's history and transfer to New York City's Women's Project after playing at the Magic. The work follows the stories of two sisters, one who tries to "reclaim her past from their absent mother" and one who "must find peace in the arms of her hesitant girlfriend." Subscriptions to the Magic Theatre, Fort Mason Center (Building D) in San Francisco, CA are available by calling (415) 441-8822. Single tickets go on sale Aug. 7. For more information, visit the Magic Theatre website at www.magictheatre.org.