The musical Hearts Are Wild, with music and lyrics by George Griggs and book by Darrah Cloud, premieres Jan. 26-Feb. 19, 2006, under Brigden's direction.
In it, "Steve thinks he's a regular guy with an average life, but there's nothing normal about that rock band that's suddenly following him around, playing the soundtrack to his life. When unusual events begin happening to Steve, his heart starts to pound to a new and wild beat, and his ordinary wife's extraordinary gift — a gun once owned by Elvis — may seal his destiny in unforeseeable ways."
The original score is full of "catchy rock, pop and country tunes."
Michael Hollinger's Opus will be presented in Pittsburgh March 17-April 9, 2006, in a world-premiere co-production with Arden Theatre Company of Philadelphia.
The play focuses on an all-male world-class string quartet whose "mentally-imbalanced violist mysteriously disappears before a high-profile televised performance at the White House." The men take a chance on "a gifted but inexperienced young woman, and is forced to confront the dynamics of harmony, dissonance, and playing off-key." Opus is billed as "a highly theatrical and elegantly written psychological portrait of five passionate musicians whose search for artistic perfection brings them face-to-face with the fleeting nature of both art and life."
Playwright Michael Hollinger’s works include City Theatre audience favorites Red Herring and Incorruptible.
Also in the upcoming season will be Regina Taylor's play with gospel music, Crowns ; John Belluso's Pyretown, about romance in the context of healthcare and disability; Alan Bennett's collection of six one-actor short plays, Talking Heads, presented in repertory with two programs of three monologues each at alternating performances; Mitch Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher's Tuesdays With Morrie; and a "special add-on show," May 4-28, 2006, Steven Dietz's Pittsburgh-set Honus and Me, adapted from the novel by Dan Gutman, about "little leaguer Joey Stoshack and the magical things that happen when he finds the most valuable baseball card in the world — the T-206 Honus Wagner.
For information, call (412) 431-CITY or visit www.citytheatrecompany.org.
