Great Lakes Theater

2 Shakespeares, Les Mis Headline Next Season

Charles Fee, producing artistic director of Great Lakes Theater (GLT) in Cleveland, has unveiled an ambitious, five-production array of classics to headline the company's 2014–2015 season. GLT's 53rd year is scheduled to run from Sept. 2014 through April 2015 at PlayhouseSquare's Hanna and Ohio Theatres.

GLT will commence its 2014–2015 season with William Shakespeare's battle of the sexes, The Merry Wives of Windsor, presented in rotating repertory with Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonbert's Tony Award–winning musical epic, Les Misérables (Sept. 26–Nov. 9). The company's annual production of Dickens' holiday classic, A Christmas Carol (Nov. 29–Dec.23) will bisect the season. In the spring, GLT will present the classic thriller, Dial “M” for Murder by Frederick Knott (Feb. 27–March 22), followed by Shakespeare's magical romance, The Tempest (April 4–19).

Tracy Young, who most recently directed GLT's acclaimed productions of The Imaginary Invalid and The Taming of the Shrew, will return to direct the company's season-opening production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Conversely, a decorated GLT veteran and resident artist, Victoria Bussert, will celebrate her 28th year at GLT when she helms the company's production of Les Misérables. During the holiday season, longtime artistic company member Sara Bruner will return to stage GLT's annual production of A Christmas Carol. The directors of Dial “M” for Murder and The Tempest will be named at a later date.

Great Lakes Theater's 2014–2015 season is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Generous season support is also provided by The Cleveland Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council.

Four of the company's 2014–2015 season offerings (The Merry Wives of Windsor, Les Misérables, Dial “M” for Murder and The Tempest), will take place in GLT's revolutionary, audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, while A Christmas Carol will remain in its traditional Ohio Theatre setting.

GLT's award-winning home at the Hanna Theatre features a unique thrust stage configuration where the audience surrounds the performance, affording attendees a uniquely intimate theater experience in which no seat is farther than 12 rows from the stage. At the Hanna, patrons select from a variety of seating opportunities that include traditional seats, club chairs, lounge/bar seats, banquette couches, and private box seating. Boasting a fully flexible hydraulic stage, state-of-the-art theatrical systems, and a visionary “Great Room”–inspired design concept that integrates the artist and audience into a single unified environment, Great Lakes Theater's Hanna home is one of the most innovative theaters in the country.

The Hanna's doors always open 90 minutes before each show, allowing patrons to observe the complete preshow preparation process of GLT's actors and technical staff. Elements such as stage combat rehearsals, dance calls, prop/scenic presets, technical cue rehearsals, and actor warm-ups will be conducted in full view of patrons, offering GLT audiences an unhampered glimpse into the theatrical process. Other ongoing special events are Salon Thursdays, in which patrons may grab a beverage and enjoy a 30-minute preshow discussion with a GLT artist an hour before the curtain; Happy Hour Fridays as the Hanna opens at 6 p.m. with beverages and appetizers on sale at the Hanna's bar and lounge; Nightcap Saturdays, with the Hanna's lounge open 90 minutes following the show; Ice Cream Social Sundays with half-price ice cream available before the show or at intermission; Director's Night, featuring a preshow discussion with the artistic director and the director of the show an hour before curtain; and Playnotes, a preshow introduction to the content of the show before Saturday matinees at 12:30 p.m.

Subscriptions to GLT's 2014–2015 season are on sale now. An adult subscription to Great Lakes Theater starts as low as $138. Student subscriptions begin at $39. For complete information, patrons should call 216-664-6064 or visit the Great Lakes Theater website. Single tickets will go on sale in August. Regular–priced adult single tickets will range from $15–$70. Regular-priced student/youth tickets for the Hanna Theatre are $13 ($26 for A Christmas Carol in the Ohio Theatre) and will be available for all performances. Further details and pricing specifics for single performance tickets will be announced in August.

Febraury 24, 2014

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