Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award-winning California Repertory Company returns to the Long Beach National Guard Armory with their 2008-2009 season which runs October 24, 2008 through May 9, 2009, and the collaboration between the National Guard and Cal Rep yields unexpected and innovative theatrical art.
The season opens with The Kentucky Cycle by Robert Schenkkan, a two-part epic drama running in repertory. In this intimate revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, three generations of a Kentucky family relive an eternal cycle of violence. Part 1 will run October 24 though December 13 and Part 2 will run October 31 through December 13, 2008. The second production in the Cal Rep season is a Robin Hood treatment of a Machiavellian story: King Elton John, conceived and directed by guest artist Matt Walker. This production boasts men in tights and oversized sunglasses where Shakespeare’s King John meets Elton. Walker’s witty syntheses of classic texts and popular music have received numerous accolades and his irreverent humor is a welcome addition to the Cal Rep vernacular. This musical pastiche runs February 20 through March 7, 2009.
Cal Rep continues its exploration of America with a piece conceived and directed by Cal Rep Artistic Director, Joanne Gordon. And the War Came is a drama dedicated to the men and women of the National Guard. This celebration of courage and fortitude runs April 24 through May 9, 2009.
Cal Rep at the Armory performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and one matinee on the last Saturday of each run at 2 p.m. The armory is located at 854 E. 7th Street, at the corner of Alamitos Street.
For tickets and information call (562) 985-5526 or visit www.calrep.org.
