Season Programme July - December 2007

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Downstage Theatre
Season Programme
JULY – DECEMBER 2007

As Downstage moves from strength to strength in 2007, join us for our July to December Season full of extraordinary people, outstanding plays and astonishing performances.

Downstage is proud to bring you a plethora of entertainment starting with Jennifer Ward-Leyland as a dazzling incarnation of Marlene Dietrich in Falling in Love Again followed by Roger and Pip Hall’s hilarious and nostalgic celebration of NZ parenthood Who Needs Sleep Anyway? George Henare and Ray Henwood return as the irresistible octogenarians in the beloved I’m Not Rappaport and we celebrate Christmas with the outrageous and witty musical comedy Urinetown The Musical.

All you might wish from a sensational season of quality theatre!

FALLING IN AGAIN
27 Jul – 4 Aug

Singing sensation Jennifer Ward-Lealand brings us a dazzling evening of cabaret and glamour.

Jennifer brings to life the sultry performances of screen goddess Marlene Dietrich, with sizzling physicality. Wearing recreations of Dietrich’s exquisite gowns, she invites you to relive the glamour and seductive charm of this legendary icon. Accompanied by pianist Grant Winterburn and bassist Aaron Coddell, she will perform songs from Dietrich’s films and recordings in Marlene’s distinctive style, including the enduring favourites You’re the Cream in My Coffee, Falling in Love Again and Makin’ Whoopee.

‘Ward-Lealand is glorious as Marlene. She sings, she is calculating and coquettish. She cracks one-liners with cruel glee.’ NZ Herald

Music Director - Grant Winterburn
Featuring - Jennifer Ward-Leyland, Grant Winterburn and Aaron Coddell

WHO NEEDS SLEEP ANYWAY?
Written by Roger Hall and Pip Hall

18Aug – 22 Sep

Our best-known and most successful playwright, Roger Hall, joins forces with daughter Pip for the first time to create this comedy celebration of 100 years of bringing up babies in NZ.

In turns hilarious, wonderful and emotional this play delights and entertains. Commissioned by Plunket, Who Needs Sleep Anyway? is a song of exultation for the parents and Plunket nurses without whom generations of New Zealanders would not be quite so hale and hearty.

Join us for a fun filled evening of frolics and frivolity, hysterics and history, songs and satire in this joyful celebration of our heritage.

Director - Susan Wilson
Featuring - Jennifer Ludlam, Bruce Phillips, Jane Waddell, Peter Hambleton, Paul McLaughlin, Mel Dodge, Simon Vincent and Nick Dunbar

Almost A Bird Theatre Collective presents a Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Graduation Production of

ANGELS IN AMERICA
Part I: Millennium Approaches
By Tony Kushner
29 Sep – 6 Oct

1993 Tony Award Best Play

ALMOST A BIRD Theatre Collective proudly presents Tony Kushner’s masterpiece Angels in America. Set in New York during the conservative mid 1980s; a former drag queen diagnosed with AIDS, his arm chair philosopher lover, a Valium addicted housewife, her gay Mormon husband and a heavenly host of Angels are set on a rollercoaster collision course.

If God has abandoned his responsibilities and the Angels are calling out for mortal guidance – what can our characters do but make their own decisions on freedom, sexuality, politics and religion. The universe is about to change, but in which direction?

Director - Willem Wassenaar
Featuring - Byron Coll, Colleen Davis, Dan Musgrove, Sophie Roberts, Anya Tate-Manning, Asalemo Tofete, Matt Whelan, Martyn Wood

I'M NOT RAPPAPORT
By Herb Gardner
13 Oct – 10 Nov

1986 Tony Award Best Play

I’m Not Rappaport is an Award winning, inspirational celebration of the lunacy and levity of life, following two of the most captivating characters you've ever met. Set in a secluded spot in Manhattan's Central Park, two octogenarians are determined to fight off all attempts to put them out to pasture. You can’t keep a feisty old man down!

Nat is a lifelong radical constantly fighting injustice (real or imagined), a quick-witted trickster; he has a new plan and a new identity for every occasion. The other half of this unconventional pair is Midge, a quiet and proud man--a former champion boxer now fighting to keep both a job and his peace of mind. That is, if Nat would just leave him alone.

Together, they relive their glory years, comically tilt at the injustices around them and dream the dreams of younger men again. George Henare (Nat) and Ray Henwood (Midge) return as the irresistible due duo, twenty years after their sell-out Downstage season in 1987.

Director - Steven Ray
Featuring - George Henare and Ray Henwood

URINETOWN – THE MUSICAL
By Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis
17 Nov – 22 Dec

2002 Tony Award Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score

Don’t let the title put you off! Urinetown The Musical is a must-see laugh a minute treat.

In a Gotham- like town somewhere, fantastical, yet strangely familiar - a twenty-year drought causes private toilets to be outlawed and people may only relieve themselves in public facilities – spend a penny to spend a penny. But the poor revolt, led by lantern-jawed idealist, Bobby Strong whose conviction is that no one ought to have to pee at someone else’s convenience!

Subversive and sassy, Urinetown brilliantly satirises the kind of ecological crises which are destined to dominate the 21st century. At the same time, it pokes cheerful fun at all the clichés of Broadway musicals, whilst cashing in on their best bits. You’ve got to go!

‘Urinetown is hilarious, simply the most galvanizing theatre experience in town.’ New York Times

Director - Catherine Downes Music Director - Tim Solly
Featuring - George Henare, Amy Straker, Kristian Lavercombe, Rima te Wiatia, Jason Kennedy, Julian Wilson, Brooke Williams, Kali Kopae

Playmarket, Downstage and Downstage Theatre Society announce the
ELEVENTH ANNUAL ADAM PLAYREADINGS
26 Aug - 16 Sept, Sundays at 3.00pm

Four New Zealand works of excellence never previously seen on the Wellington stage. The aim of the play readings is to provide a bridge between new New Zealand plays and their eventual production on the stage, assisting in both their development and promotion. Each play is matched with top professional actors and directors, who will spend two days rehearsing and presenting each play.

The Trial - Adapted by Dean Parker
A brilliant adaptation of Franz Kafka’ s classic story by a leading playwright Josef K awakens one morning and finds he’s being arrested - no one however will reveal what his crime is.

The Curative - Adapted by Tony McCaffrey
William Lonsdale is chained to the wall of a filthy room in the "incurables wing" in London's infamous Bedlam at the turn of the 19th century. He doesn't know how he got there or if he will ever get out.

Caustic – Written by Thomas Sainsbury
A major and provocative work by one of this country’s most exciting new playwrights.

The Love Wrangler – Written by Ryan McFadyen
This powerful piece of magic realism is set in a future post-greenhouse affected city, where water levels have risen to leave the inhabitants of an apartment building marooned

All readings start at 3pm and are followed by a talkback session on the play. The dates for specific plays and directors will be available soon at www.downstage.co.nz

Downstage Theatre and Box Office Information

Bookings - 04 801 6946 or www.downstage.co.nz

Downstage Theatre and Box Office
12 Cambridge Tce (cnr Courtenay Pl & Cambridge Tce)
PO Box 9441, Wellington
Phone 04 801 6946 | Fax 04 801 6948
General Enquiries Email theatre@downstage.co.nz

Ticket Prices
Premium $39 (Urinetown $43)
Concessions/Groups 8+ $30 (Urinetown $35)
Members $29 (Urinetown $34)
Preview $20 (Urinetown $25)
Students $28/$18 Standby (Urinetown $30/$20)
School Parties $15 per person and Children Under12 $10

$20 Previews - Our $20 previews have been so successful that we have added another $20 performance for all Downstage shows. All seats are $20 the day before the opening date of each show and the first Tuesday of each season.

www.downstage.co.nz

ENDS

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