New Riverland Community College theatre director Lindsey Duoos Williams announced the theatre department’s 2011-2012 season today. The season includes a beloved classical musical, an exciting contemporary drama, a Pulitzer Prize winner and an old-fashioned comedy.

The season opens October 7 with The Fantasticks. Billed as the longest running musical in the world, with book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt, The Fantasticks tells the story of a boy, a girl and the family feud invented by their parents to make sure the two children fall in love. The score, filled with classic songs like “Try to Remember,” “Much More,” and “They Were You,” helps create a timeless fable of love that is both nostalgic and universal. This musical is appropriate for all ages.

“The Fantasticks is the perfect way to kick off our season,” says Williams.  “The fact that the show is still thriving in New York after over fifty years is a testament to how strongly it resonates with audiences.  I’m excited to bring The Fantasticks back to Austin for those who remember it from the past, as well as to introduce it to a brand new audience via our students.”

Called “a new, exciting, and unique voice in American Theater,” Annie Weisman’s poignant satire, Be Aggressive paints a resonant picture of adolescence and its challenges. The play opening in November is best suited for audiences 14 and older due to language and adult content.

Glamour, romance, intrigue and laughs become the ingredients for February’s comedy, Ring Round the Moon by Jean Anouilh and adapted by Christopher Fry. This witty comic tale promises fun for all ages.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award for Best Musical, the Broadway phenomenon RENT finishes out the Riverland season in April. Considered a modern day classic, RENT is a ground-breaking musical that resonates across generations and reminds us there’s “No Day But Today.” With a book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, RENT is recommended for audiences 14 and older.

Williams said, “I think that this season provides a wide range of challenges for our students.  It’s a good mix of contemporary works with classics, and comedies alongside dramas.  There’s truly something for everyone.”

Season Ticket subscriptions to Riverland’s 2011/2012 season are $45 and are on sale now through October 16.  To purchase a season ticket or to receive more information, call the Riverland Theatre Box Office at (507) 433-0595, or visit the Web site and download the brochure at www.riverland.edu/theatre. Sale for individual tickets to The Fantasticks go on sale starting Sept. 6 and continue Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and one hour before performances. Individual Ticket prices for The Fantasticks and RENT are $15, and $12 for Be Aggressive and Ring Round the Moon. Riverland students receive two free tickets to each performance.

Riverland’s Theatre Department is a high-energy performance-oriented program. Plays produced vary from classical tragedy to modern comedy and from full-scale large cast musicals in intimate small cast plays. Students are encouraged to get involved in all areas of theatre production including, but not limited to, acting, stage managing, set building and painting. Strong academic offerings provide challenges in and out of the classroom.

The 2011-2012 Court Theatre Season Up-Close:

The Fantasticks

Book and Lyrics by Tom Jones, Music by Harvey Schmidt

The longest-running musical in the world returns to Austin!  The Fantasticks tells the story of a boy, a girl, and the family feud their parents have invented to make sure that their children fall in love.  With an unforgettable score filled with classic songs such as “Try to Remember,” “Much More,” and “They Were You,” The Fantasticks is a timeless fable of love that is both nostalgic and universal.

October 7-16, 2011

Appropriate for all ages.

Be Aggressive

By Annie Weisman

Vista del Sol, California is paradise.

But when seventeen-year-old Laura’s mother is killed in a car crash, her world turns upside-down.  Struggling to both take care of her family and keep her spot on the varsity cheer squad, Laura turns to a new friend, Leslie, who thinks she has the answer: driving cross-country to attend an exclusive cheerleading camp.  Called “a new, exciting, and unique voice in the American theatre,” Annie Weisman’s poignant satire paints a resonant picture of adolescence and its challenges.

November 16-20, 2011

Suggested for ages 14 and older due to language and adult content.

Ring Round the Moon

By Jean Anouilh, Adapted by Christopher Fry

Glamour, romance, intrigue, and laughs!  This enchanting and witty comic tale centers on wealthy twin brothers: Frederic, who is shy and sensitive, and Hugo, who is aggressive and scheming.  To prevent Frederic from entering into a loveless marriage, Hugo devises a plan to save him. The result is a clever mix of comedy and drama, filled with mistaken identities, misguided love affairs, and an unexpected happy ending.

February 15-19, 2012

Appropriate for all ages.

RENT

Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Musical, the Broadway phenomenon RENT has become a modern-day classic.  Set in New York’s East Village in the 1990s, RENT follows a year in the life of a group of friends struggling to make it in the big city.  With an unforgettable rock score (including the iconic song “Seasons of Love”) and a story that resonates across generations, RENT is a ground-breaking musical that reminds us there’s “No Day But Today.”

April 20-29, 2012

Suggested for ages 14 and older due to language and adult content.

Curtain times for all evening theatre performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and matinees begin at 2 p.m.

Riverland Theatre strives to provide quality productions that are entertaining and challenging to both the audience and the artists. Because we reach such a diverse audience, some audience members may find some subject matter, language, or situations objectionable. If patrons are concerned about a specific production, they are encouraged to become familiar with the material before attending the performance.

Audition Information for The Fantasticks and Be Aggressive:

Auditions for the first two productions,  The Fantasticks and Be Aggressive, will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, August 23 and 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. Those auditioning for The Fantasticks are asked to prepare a traditional musical theatre song no longer than one minute in length. Bring sheet music in the correct key. An accompanist will be available. Those auditioning for Be Aggressive will be asked to read from the script. Although Riverland students are given priority in casting, auditions for The Fantasticks is open to the public.