Cool. Maybe WaterTower will get to re-use that old truck from its Grapes of Wrath. Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan in the Broadway production of Bonnie & Clyde.

This month is the 80th anniversary of the shooting deaths of West Dallas homies Bonnie and Clyde, ambushed by a posse in Bienville Parish, Louisiana May 23, 1934. So perhaps it’s not a coincidence that WaterTower Theatre has announced its new season will open this fall with the musical, Bonnie & Clyde. After trying out in La Jolla, the show closed quickly on Broadway last year — only 36 performances. But its music is by Frank Wildhorn, the composer who, in addition to writing the hit Jekyll & Hyde, has provided the music for several less-than-successful shows (Dracula, The Scarlet Pimpernel) that have found renewed life in tours and regional productions.

Other WaterTower shows include Manicures & Monuments, a new comedy by Dallas writer Vicki Caroline Cheatwood set in a nursing home. And the theater company will join forces with Fort Worth’s Stage West to co-produce the area premiere of The Explorer’s Club. It’s a spoof of an eccentric,  less-than-top-tier Victorian men’s club whose members persist in bringing their work with them (cobras, guinea pigs, etc.) and who promptly fall into crisis mode when a woman tries to join the fun.

Rounding out the season are a classic musical (Sweet Charity), a classic American drama (Arthur Miller’s All My Sons) and the regional premiere of The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical — a sequel to the original Great American Trailer Park Musical. And there’s, once again, WaterTower’s Out-of-the-Loop Fringe Festival.

Other good news: This is Terry Martin’s 15th season as producing artistic director, and there’s no price increases in either subscriptions or single tickets.

The full release:

WaterTower Theatre Announces its 2014-2015 Season of Five Main Stage Productions plus a new holiday show

Terry Martin Celebrates His 15th Season as Producing Artistic Director

The season includes two Regional Premieres, a co-production with Stage West, and a play by well known local playwright Vicki Cheatwood

Addison (TX) –Terry Martin, WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director, today announced the Company’s 2014-2015 Main Stage season at a special VIP Sneak Preview held at the Addison Theatre Centre in the Studio Theatre.

The season, which will be Terry Martin’s 15th season as Producing Artistic Director of WaterTower Theatre, opens with the musical biography of Texas’ most famed outlaws, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, Bonnie & Clyde (October 10 – November 2, 2014). The holiday show will be the Regional Premiere of The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical (December 5 – January 4, 2014). The season continues in early January with the Regional Premiere of a co-production with Stage West of The Explorers Club (January 16 – February 8, 2015), and then to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of playwright Arthur Miller, the Tony-winning play All My Sons (April 17 – May 10, 2015). The fourth Main Stage series show is a new a play by local playwright Vicki Caroline Cheatwood, Manicures & Monuments (June 5 – 28, 2015). The final production of the season will be the musical Sweet Charity (July 24 – August 16, 2015). The 14th annual Out of the Loop Fringe Festival will be held March 5– 15, 2015.

Directors for each production will be announced at a later date. All productions will be staged at the Addison Theatre Centre at 15650 Addison Road, Addison, Texas 75001.

There will be no price increase in subscriptions or single tickets for the 2014-2015 five Main Stage productions. Five-play season subscriptions range in price from $75 (Previews) to $150 (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee).

The renewal deadline for current subscribers to keep their same seats is July 3rd. Subscribers who renew by June 5th will receive a $25 gift certificate from Table 13 in Addison.

WaterTower Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of The Town of Addison, TACA, Texas Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Shubert Foundation. Production sponsors for the 2014 – 2015 Season include Frost Bank, Liberty Capital Bank, TACA, Rainmaker Advertising, Bob and Barbara Bigham: the Baylor Oral Health Foundation, the Pinnacle Family of Companies, Women of WaterTower Theatre, The WaterTower Theatre Board of Directors and Atmos Energy. The 2014-2015 Season is sponsored in part by the Town of Addison, The Shubert Foundation, The Nissan Foundation, TACA, the Texas Commission on the Arts and Women of WaterTower Theatre (WOW!).

THE 2014-2015 SEASON:

BONNIE & CLYDE

Book by Ivan Menchell

Lyrics by Don Black

Music by Frank Wildhorn

Sponsored by American Bank of Commerce, The Pinnacle Family of Companies, WaterTower Theatre Board of Directors.

This new musical blends the music of Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel) with the electrifying love story of two of Texas’ most famed outlaws. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were two dreamers that found their way into violent circumstances. Their adventurous story captured the attention of an entire nation!

Stuck in a dead-end job in depression era Texas, young Bonnie Parker falls for charismatic Clyde Barrow. Fearless, shameless, and alluring, their electrifying story of love, adventure, and crime captured the excited attention of an entire country. As their fame, notoriety — and body count — rise; the ill-fated lovers find themselves racing toward an inevitable end.

Recommended for mature audiences

 

WaterTower Theatre in collaboration with Stage West present

THE EXLORERS CLUB

By Nell Benjamin

Regional Premiere

Sponsored by Liberty Capital Bank, Million Air Dallas.

It’s London, 1879, and The Explorers Club is in crisis: a woman is campaigning for admittance; a savage has slapped Her Majesty, inciting a war; the Irish are probably Jewish and a beloved pet snake has swallowed a guinea pig. When an angry English Guard surrounds the club, what’s a gentleman explorer to do? Sit back and enjoy a brandy and cigar, naturally. This is the preposterous premise of Nell Benjamin’s madcap comedy that will have you bending over with laughter!

 

ALL MY SONS

By Arthur Miller

Sponsored by Atmos Energy.

Set in post-World War II, Arthur Miller’s landmark drama examines the relationships between fathers and sons and the price of living the American Dream. An explosive secret threatens to tear the family apart in this powerful play about the conflict between business ethics and taking responsibility for one’s actions.

Winner of the first Tony Award and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Play, All My Sons established Miller as a leading voice in the American theatre. Based on a true story.

 

MANICURES & MONUMENTS

By Vicki Caroline Cheatwood

Sponsored by TACA, The President’s Circle.

Local playwright Vicki Caroline Cheatwood brings us Manicures & Monuments, the hilarious and heartwarming tale of the residents of an Oklahoma nursing home and the young manicurist-in-training, Janann, who comes to volunteer. Janann soon clashes with former Army nurse Bailey, one of the elderly residents. Tempers flare as the two women collide in their struggle to understand each other, but eventually discover the true meaning of what it means to care for someone.

 

SWEET CHARITY

Book by Neil Simon

Music by Cy Coleman

Lyrics by Dorothy Fields

Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Plaiano

Produced for the Broadway Stage by Fryer, Carr and Harris

Conceived, Staged and Choreographed by Bob Fosse

Sponsored by Women of WaterTower Theatre

Charity Hope Valentine despite her job as a dancer at the seedy Fan-Dango Ballroom, is an eternal optimist who loves too much. She just happens to be the unluckiest romantic in New York City! The musical Sweet Charity is a warm, touching and humorous look at her trials and tribulations, as she repeatedly gives her heart, and her savings, to the wrong man. Adapted from Nights of Cabiria, a film by Federico Fellini, the musical Sweet Charity includes hits such as “Hey, Big Spender,” “Rhythm of Life,” and “If My Friends Could See Me Now.”

 

Season Extras:

THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK CHRISTMAS MUSICAL

Music & Lyrics by David Nehls

Book by Betsy Kelso

Season Extra

Those crazy characters from Armadillo Acres, North Florida’s premier mobile living community, are back this holiday season! Everyone’s filled with warmth and beer, but when a freak bout of amnesia strikes Darlene, the trailer park Scrooge, neighborly love is put to the test. Be on hand as Betty, Lin and Pickles jingle all the way with some new neighbors in an all-new, all-trailer-park holiday extravaganza. The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical is the sequel to the smash hit original The Great American Trailer Park Musical which WaterTower Theatre audiences remember well!

Contains adult language and content

 

OUT OF THE LOOP FRINGE FESTIVAL

March 5 -15, 2015

Season Extra

 

Sponsored by The Town of Addison and The Texas Commission on the Arts.

Media sponsors: TheaterJones and the Dallas Observer

 

Over the past 14 years, WaterTower Theatre has hosted more than 100 artists and companies in its nationally acclaimed 10-day fringe festival of music, dance and theatre. Now recognized as one of the most important fringe festivals in the country, the Out of the Loop Fringe Festival has been instrumental in providing a forum for new works, new artists and emerging voices in the arts.

 

SUBSCRIPTION SERIES:

WaterTower Theatre offers a host subscription options, in addition to the standard five-play, full series subscription (Bonnie and Clyde, The Explorers Club, All My Sons, Manicures & Monuments, Sweet Charity) offers the best seating and greatest discounts over individual tickets. Subscribers will be able to order individual tickets to The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical or a Loop Pass when they renew their subscription or order a new subscription. Continuing again next season are a number of fairly new series designed to enhance the theatre-goers experience:

Enhanced Theatre Experience Series:

Conversation with the Artists: a five-play series on all Wednesday nights and Sunday matinees that includes a post-show discussion with the actors.

Sampler Series: an introduction to theatre, three-play package that includes Bonnie and Clyde, The Explorers, Sweet Charity.

Design Your Own Series: this series provides the most flexibility of all of WaterTower Theatre’s subscription packages. Patrons can choose their own plays and dates creating a series specifically designed for their needs.

Student Subscription Series:

• A student subscription series will be offered, including a special student Design Your Own Series.

Hero’s Subscription:

• Men and women in uniform: fire, police, EMTs, veterans, current members of the armed forces and their immediate families will be offered a special subscription of 50% off any five-play subscription package (excluding DYO, special affinity programs, special miniseries).

 

SEASON OVERVIEW:

 

Bonnie & Clyde

October 10 – November 2, 2014

Previews: Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11

Pay What You Can: Sunday, Oct. 12

Opening Night: Monday, Oct. 13

 

The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical

December 5, 2014 – January 4, 2015.

Opening Night: Friday, Dec. 5, 2014

 

The Explorers Club

January 16 – February 8, 2015

Previews: Friday, Jan. 16 and Saturday, Jan. 17

Pay What You Can: Sunday, Jan. 18

Opening Night: Monday, Jan. 19

 

14th Out of the Loop Fringe Festival

March 5 – 15, 2015

 

All My Sons

April 17 – May 10, 2015

Previews: Friday, Apr. 17 and Saturday, April 18

Pay What You Can: Sunday, Apr. 19

Opening Night: Monday, Apr. 20

 

Manicures & Monuments

June 5 – 28, 2015

Previews: Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6

Pay What You Can: Sunday, June 7

Opening Night: Monday, June 8

 

Sweet Charity

July 24 – August 16, 2015

Previews: Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25

Pay What You Can: Sunday, July 26

Opening Night: Monday, July 27

 

2014-2015 Season Ticket Prices:

Five-play season subscriptions range in price from $75 (Previews) to $150 (Saturday evening/Sunday matinee).

2014-2015 Season Performance Schedule:

Performance Days Times

Wednesday 7:30 PM

Thursday 7:30 PM

Friday 8:00 PM

Saturday 8:00 PM

Sunday 2:00 PM

Preview Friday 8:00 PM

Preview Saturday 8:00 PM

Saturday Matinee* 2:00 PM

*on the third and fourth Saturday of the run only

**Opening Monday 7:30 PM

 

**Monday opening of five Main Stage series shows only, not the holiday show or Loop.

Ticket Information:

Current subscribers are able to renew their season subscriptions by mail, fax (972.450.6244) or by calling the Box Office at 972.450.6232. Online ordering for new subscriptions will be available in June.

New subscriptions are on sale now. However, seating will not be assigned until mid-July.

The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical and the 2015 Out of the Loop Fringe Festival are non-subscription events.

About Terry Martin

Multi-award winning Director Terry Martin celebrates his 15th season as Producing Artistic Director of WaterTower Theatre where he has overseen more than 79 productions. During the 2013-2014 season, he will direct the WaterTower Theatre production of Dogfight. In his role as WaterTower Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director, Terry oversees both the administrative and artistic aspects of the Company’s nearly $1.5 million annual operating budget.

Under his leadership WTT has grown from a small local theatre company to one of the leading regional theatres in Texas. While consistently maintaining the artistic integrity of the work WTT produces and gaining much critical acclaim, he has – through keen business acumen – managed to keep the theatre in the black and maintain a large paid capacity for the past many seasons.

Some of his more than 60 directing credits at WTT include The Grapes of Wrath, Putting it Together, On the Town, Spring Awakening, The Diary of Anne Frank, Smokey Joe’s Café, As You Like It, Almost, Maine, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Man of La Mancha, Humble Boy, The Crucible, Take Me Out, A Country Life (which he adapted from Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya and won the 2005 Rabin Award – Best New Play), Cabaret, It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues, Company, An Inspector Calls, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Laramie Project, You Can’t Take It With You, Book of Days, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2002 Rabin Award – Director of a Play), Sweeney Todd (2002 Rabin Award Nomination – Director of a Musical), Desire Under the Elms, Ravenscroft, Rockin’ Christmas Party (2000, 2001), Enter the Guardsman (2001 Rabin Award Nomination – Director of a Musical), Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill and Little Shop of Horrors (2000 Rabin Award Nomination – Director of a Musical) among others.

For Plano Repertory Theatre, he has directed Journey’s End (2000 Rabin Award – Director of a Play), Dracula, La Bête, Little Shop of Horrors and Pump Boys and Dinettes. Terry was named “Best Theater Director” in the Dallas Observer’s “Best of Dallas 2002.”

He has appeared on stage recently at WTT in Our Town, and previously in Blackbird (2008 Dallas Fort Worth Theatre Critics’ Forum Award), The Woman in Black, Dinner with Friends, The Guys, Bash: Latter-day Plays (2002 Rabin Award Nomination – Actor in a Play) and at PRT in The Only Thing Worse You Could Have Told Me… (1998 Rabin Award – Actor in a Play, 1998 Dallas Theater Critics Forum Award), The Woman in Black (2000 Rabin Award Nomination – Actor in a Play), and Lonely Planet.

After growing up in south Alabama, Terry spent 12 years in New York City working in theatre, television and film. While there, he directed and acted at The Village Theatre Company, Carnegie Hall Studios and Theatre at St. Marks as well as television appearances on ABC’s One Life to Live and NBC’s To Serve and Protect. He holds a BFA from the University of Alabama and has trained professionally with Sanford Meisner, Fred Kareman, Wynn Handman, Sally Johnson and Lehmann Byck. Terry presently teaches on-going acting classes in the Sanford Meisner Technique at WTT, as well as having served as Adjunct Professor of Acting at the University of Texas at Dallas.

About WaterTower Theatre:

WaterTower Theatre is one of the leading regional theatres in North Dallas and Texas. The Company’s 2014-2015 season will be its 18th season. It is consistently recognized for its artistic excellence by the Dallas Theatre League, Dallas/Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum, The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Observer, D Magazine and The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, among others. WaterTower Theatre has a subscription base of more than 2,020 subscribers and serves an audience of over 32,000 patrons annually.

 

WaterTower Theatre is 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non-profit organization as designate by the IRS. Like all arts organizations, WaterTower Theatre relies on both ticket income and donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, organization and government to produce world-class live professional theatre and offer community outreach and arts education programs. WaterTower Theatre is grateful for the support provided from The Town of Addison, TACA, The National Endowment for the Arts, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Schubert Foundation and the hundreds of individuals, corporations and foundations whose annual donations make live professional theatre possible in the Town of Addison to be enjoyed by all in North Texas.