The season consists of Four Regional Premieres,
a Stephen Sondheim classic, a musical tribute to an American Legend and
two plays by leading female playwrights

Terry Martin, WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director, today announced details of the Company’s 2016-2017 20th Anniversary Main Stage Season.  The 5-show subscription season, planned by Martin, includes four Regional Premieres. Highlights of the season include a Stephen Sondheim classic, a musical tribute to American music legend Johnny Cash, two plays by leading female playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Karen Zacarías, plus a holiday extra. 
"I have had the privilege and honor to call this theatre my artistic home for 17 glorious years," said Martin. "My heart is full of pride with all that we have accomplished.  I am thrilled to leave the community with a 20th Anniversary season that I feel is a wonderful representation of what WaterTower Theatre has always been about -- true celebration of the art of theatre."

"Over the past 17 years, I've had the enormous pleasure of producing more than 150 plays (and directing over 60 myself) casting hundreds of some of the most talented actors, designers, directors and  working with the hardest working production crew and administrative staff one person could ever be blessed with," continued Martin.

"I'm proud of our 2016-2017 Season," continued Martin.  "It exemplifies everything that I've tried to create here at WaterTower Theatre:  plays that tell all sorts of different stories and celebrate who we are as a human race."

The season opens with the Regional Premiere of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash  (October 7 - 30, 2016), created by Richard Maltby Jr., conceived by William Meade, with orchestrations by Steven Bishop and Jeff Lisenby. Ring of Fire pays tribute to the legendary Johnny Cash, and his iconic music. The season continues with the Regional Premiere of Silent Sky(January 20 – February 12, 2017), a new play by Lauren Gunderson, which tells the story of Henrietta Leavitt, a brilliant and headstrong pioneer at the dawn of modern astronomy. Following, is the Regional Premiere of The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens, and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord(April 14 – May 7, 2017) by Scott Carter (Executive Producer of Real Time with Bill Maher). This whip-smart comedy examines what happens when great men of history are forced to repeat it. Up next is the Regional Premier of Native Gardens (June 2 - 25, 2017) a new comedy by Karen Zacarías, one of the country's leading Latina playwrights. The final production will be the iconic Stephen Sondheim musical, Sunday in the Park with George (July 28 – August 20, 2017). 

The 5-show subscription package can be enhanced with the addition of the hilarious holiday extra, Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold (December 2 - 23, 2016) by Maripat Donovan with Marc Silvia and Jane Morris.

Directors for each production will be announced at a later date.  All productions will be staged at the Addison Theatre Centre at 15650 Addison Road, Addison, Texas 75001.

In general, there will be no price increase in single tickets for the 2016-2017 five Canterbury Family Main Stage productions; however, some price adjustments have been made to better align the consistency of ticket prices: the Sunday matinee price has been lowered and the Saturday matinee price has been raised to match the weekday (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) price of $30. The five-play season subscriptions range in price from $75 (Previews) to $150 (Saturday evening). The renewal deadline for current subscribers to keep their same seats is July 22nd. Subscribers who renew by June 26th will have a chance to win a $50 Gift Card to nearby restaurant and local favorite Antonio Ristorante.   

WaterTower Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of our Season Sponsors including The Town of Addison, TACA, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Shubert Foundation, The Canterbury Family, Don and Barbara Daseke, Janice and Jimmy Niemann.  Production Sponsors for the 2016-2017 Season include, Barbara and Bob Bigham: Baylor Oral Health Foundation, Pinnacle, Relax The Back, Million Air Dallas, FastSigns Carrollton, The Corporate Council, Women of WaterTower Theatre, and The WaterTower Theatre Board of Directors. 

THE 2016-2017 SEASON:

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash
October 7 - 30, 2016
Created by Richard Maltby Jr., Conceived by William Meade, Orchestrations by Steven Bishop and Jeff Lisenby
Sponsored, in part, by FastSigns Carrollton, Pinnacle, Relax the Back Addison.

This unique musical explores love, faith, success, and struggle, using the iconic songbook of Johnny Cash.  Featuring his most memorable songs, a company of five actor/musicians celebrate the life of “the Man in Black” with his trademark strength, humor, and honesty.  Perennial hits such as “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Ring of Fire,” and “I Walk The Line" combine to show the journey of every man and woman’s walk between hope and despair. Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash is an experience sure to lift your heart and stir your soul. 

“It shines a light on the simple beginnings that gave [Cash] an indelible authenticity.” – Los Angeles Times

 

Silent Sky
January 20 - February 12, 2017
A new play by Lauren Gunderson
Sponsored, in part, by Atmos Energy

This new play by Lauren Gundersonblends humor and romance in a riveting exploration of the life and career of celebrated astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt (1868-1921), who fearlessly asserted herself in the male-driven, turn-of-the-century world of science and academia. A true story of discovery, Silent Sky invites us to join Leavitt and the real women "computers" working at the dawn of modern astronomy as they explore the magic of the universe in what is an historic journey of love, science and determination. 

“A luminously beautiful play… a lovingly crafted period piece that imagines Leavitt’s inner world against the backdrop of World War I, Einstein’s discoveries and the suffragette movement... Bottom line: Heavenly.”
—Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens, and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord

April 14 - May 7, 2017
By Scott Carter

A Founding Father, a Victorian novelist, and a Russian revolutionary walk into a… stop if you’ve heard this one. Join us for a laugh-out-loud, whip-smart new comedy as Discord takes the third U.S. President, the author of A Christmas Carol, and the author of War and Peace, locks them in a room with ‘no exit’, and has them hash out their views of scripture and the true meaning of existence.  A blistering battle of wits from Scott Carter, Executive Producer of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, this perceptive new comedy examines what happens when great men of history are forced to repeat it. 

“…an entertaining and intellectually stimulating 90 minutes…” –Chicago Tribune

 

Native Gardens
June 2 - 25, 2017
A new comedy by Karen Zacarías
Gardens and cultures clash, turning friendly neighbors into feuding enemies in this funny Regional Premiere, written by Karen Zacharias, one of the most prominent Latina playwrights working today.  Pablo, a high-powered lawyer, and doctoral candidate Tania, his very pregnant wife, are realizing the American dream when they purchase a house next door to community stalwarts Virginia and Frank. But a disagreement over a longstanding fence line soon spirals into an all-out war of taste, class, privilege and entitlement. The hilarious results guarantee no one comes out smelling like a rose.
"With all the ugly rhetoric surrounding the immigration debate... Native Gardens offers a message of hope and common ground." 
—Cincinnati Journal News

 

Sunday in the Park with George
July 28 - August 20, 2017
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine 
Sponsored, in part, by Women of WaterTower Theatre, Million Air Dallas.

Inspired by the painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” by French Impressionist Georges Seurat, Sunday in the Park with George, the dazzling musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, two of the greatest musical theatre artists of our time, brings art to vibrant life. George is an obsessive painter who risks it all, including his relationship with his lover Dot, to complete his latest masterpiece. A century later, George’s great-grandson is working as an artist in New York City. In search of inspiration, he soon discovers that the answer to his future is painted clearly in his past.

"Sondheim's best musical..."
—Times of London

 

Holiday Extra! 

Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold

December 2 - 23, 2016
by Maripat Donovan with Marc Silvia and Jane Morris

It’s “CSI: Bethlehem” in this holiday mystery extravaganza, from the author of Late Nite Catechism, as Sister takes on the mystery that has intrigued historians throughout the ages – whatever happened to the Magi’s gold?   With gifts galore and bundles of laughs, Sister’s Christmas Catechism is sure to become the newest addition to your holiday traditions.

 

SUBSCRIPTION SERIES:

WaterTower Theatre offers a host of subscription options, in addition to the standard Five-play, full series subscription (Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, Silent Sky, The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens, and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord, Native Gardens, Sunday in the Park with George) which offers the best seating and greatest discounts over individual tickets. Subscribers will be able to order tickets to the Holiday Extra, (Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold) when they renew their subscription or order a new subscription. Continuing again next season are the following series designed to enhance the theatre-goers experience: 

ENHANCED THEATRE EXPERIENCE SERIES:

Conversation with the Artists:
A five-play series on all Wednesday nights and Sunday matinees that includes a post-show discussion with the actors.

Sampler Series: A or B
An introduction to theatre, this three-show package has two options:
Sampler Series A: Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, Silent Sky, Native Gardens
Sampler Series B: The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens, and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord,
   Native Gardens, Sunday in the Park with George

Design Your Own Series: 
This series provides the most flexibility of all of WaterTower Theatre’s subscription packages. Patrons can choose their own plays and dates, creating a series specifically designed for their needs.  Design Your Own subscriptions do not go on sale until September, 2016.

Teachers' Night: 
This new series will give teachers an inside look at our productions with pre- and post-show talks specifically created for teachers. These talks will allow and encourage teachers to take what they experience on our stage back to their classroom. There are three shows in this series: Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens, and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord, and Silent Sky.
The dates are Oct. 12, Jan. 25 and Apr. 19.  The cost for this subscription is $60 per person.

Student Subscription Series: 
A student subscription series will be offered, including a special student Design Your Own Series.

Hero’s Subscription:
Firefighters, police officers, EMTs, veterans and members of the armed forces and their immediate families will be offered a special subscription of 50% off any five-play subscription package (excluding DYO, special affinity programs, and special miniseries).

 

SEASON OVERVIEW:
Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash
October 7 – 30, 2016
Previews:  Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8
Pay What You Can:  Sunday, Oct. 9
Opening Night: Monday, Oct. 10

Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold
December 2 - December 23, 2016
Opening Night:  Friday, Dec. 2

Silent Sky
January 20 – February 12, 2017
Previews: Friday, Jan. 20 and Saturday, Jan. 21
Pay What You Can:  Sunday, Jan. 22
Opening Night: Monday, Jan. 23

The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens, and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord
April 14 – May 7, 2017
Previews: Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15
Pay What You Can: Sunday, April 16
Opening Night: Monday, April 17

Native Gardens
June 2 – 25, 2017
Previews:  Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3
Pay What You Can: Sunday, June 4
Opening Night: Monday, June 5

Sunday in the Park with George
July 28 –August 20 2017
Previews:  Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29
Pay What You Can: Sunday, July 30
Opening Night:  Monday, July 31

2016-2017 Season Ticket Prices:

Five-play season subscriptions range in price from $75 (Previews) to $150 (Saturday evening). 

 

 

2016-2017 Season Performance Schedule:

Performance Days	Times
Wednesday	7:30 PM
Thursday	7:30 PM
Friday	8:00 PM
Saturday	8:00 PM
Sunday	2:00 PM
Preview Friday	8:00 PM
Preview Saturday	8:00 PM
Saturday Matinee*	2:00 PM
*on the third and fourth Saturday of the run only
Opening Monday**	7:30 PM
**Monday opening of five Main Stage series shows only

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ticket Information:
Current subscribers are able to renew their season subscriptions by mail, fax (972.450.6244) or by calling the Box Office at 972.450.6232.  Online ordering for new subscriptions will be available in June.

New subscriptions are on sale now.  However, seating will not be assigned until late July.