Park Square Theatre will lean on newer works in 2013-14 — what artistic director Richard Cook calls "a true 21st-century season." There is a caveat: some of the scripts are new adaptations of old plays.
Director Joel Sass opens the season, Sept. 20-Oct. 6, with the area premiere of "Good People" by David Lindsay-Abaire. The play is about a jobless woman and her successful boyfriend navigating the economic divide. James Denton, the erstwhile "Desperate Housewives" actor who has moved to the Twin Cities area, will star along with Virginia Burke and Angela Timberman. Lindsay-Abaire won the Pulitzer for "The Rabbit Hole."
A regional premiere of "Mary T. and Lizzy K." by Tazewell Thompson follows, Oct. 18-Nov. 10. It is about the relationship between Mary Todd Lincoln and her confidant, the former slave Elizabeth Keckley. Thompson, a longtime director and writer, was commissioned by Arena Stage in 2001 to write the play. Cook will direct and Linda Kelsey will play Mrs. Lincoln.
Joseph Vass, who helped create "The Soul of Gershwin" for Park Square, returns with "Words By ... Ira Gershwin and the Great American Songbook," running Dec. 6-29. The previous show focused on George; this musical play gets to the lesser-known but longer-lived brother.
Amy Rummenie, co-artistic director of Walking Shadow Theatre, makes her Park Square directing debut with "The School for Lies," Jan. 17-Feb. 2. Playwright David Ives ("Venus in Fur") adapted the script from Molière's "The Misanthrope."
In a similar vein, Edmond Rostand's "Cyrano" has been given a new translation and adaptation by Michael Hollinger and Aaron Posner. Joe Chvala will direct the lyrical tale, which runs March 21-April 6. J.C. Cutler, who portrayed painter Mark Rothko in "Red" last fall at Park Square, will play the eloquent and dashing swordsman.
From May 2-18, Park Square will produce "Behind the Eye" by Minneapolis playwright Carson Kreitzer. Leah Cooper will direct the show, which focuses on Lee Miller, the model, World War II photographer and artistic muse.
The season concludes June 6-July 13 with "The RED BOX, a Nero Wolfe Mystery." This is a world premiere commission directed by Peter Moore. Playwright Joseph Goodrich adapted the script from Rex Stout's novel.
For information, call 651-291-7005 or parksquaretheatre.org
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