Phoenix Stage Company Announces 2013 Season

The 's 2013 Season was announced on August 18 at "A Terrific 2s Party" celebrating the theatre's second anniversary and held at the Rubber Avenue theatre. The October 13 performance of A Bad Year for Tomatoes (which takes the place of the postponed Cabaret) will mark the 200th performance to be presented on their stage. The partners in the Phoenix proudly announced that they have been selected by the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT,) an organization of over 700 theatres nationwide, to be one of ten theatres to produce a new play. This honor will receive national coverage.

The theatre will also host the first annual Ovation Awards, a red carpet event to be held in November. In the tradition of the Halo Awards, nominees initially will come from plays produced at the Phoenix during the year from June to the past June. Awards will be given for best actor and actress and the like.

The anniversary party included a Signature Dessert Cook-off which had nineteen entries submitted by attendees. The judges were Ed Bassett, Joshua Luszczak () and myself and I can can assure you that we tasted every one of the wonderful desserts, with the identity of the chefs kept hidden from us. After much deliberation, we ultimately decideded to award first place to the Butterfinger brownies made by Chris Ryan, who is currently rehearsing his eighth production at Phoenix Stage. Second place went to the Oreo cake made by Tori Richnavsky ("M'Lynn" in ) and third place was awarded to the key lime pie made by Anna McClintock ("Sheby" in .)

The announced 2013 season is as follows:

Murder at the Prop Table 
by the Phoenix Stage's own Ed Bassett
New Works Series January 19 through February 2

Sketch Comedy Night - To Be Named
by Ed Bassett and Tim Phillips
An evening of songs, comedy and laughter - all about relationships from beginning to end
February 15 and 16 at 8:00 pm

Cabaret
Rescheduled from last season
A musical set in 1920's Berlin
March 16 through March 30

Arsenic and Old Lace
A comedy by Joseph Kesselring
April 20 through May 3

One Act Festival
Three days of original one acts
New Works Series
May 17 through May 19

The Red Velvet Cake War
A Southern-fried comedy by the authors of The Hallelujah Girls Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten
June 15 through June 23

Just Around the Bend
An original musical by E. Carl Gallmeyer
New Works Series July 19 through July 28

Suite Surrender
A lovenote to the classic farces of the 30s and 40s by Michael McKeever
August 10 through August 24

Sweeney Todd
Book by Hugh Wheeler Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
September 14 through September 28

Sketch Comedy Night - To Be Named
by Ed Bassett and Tim Phillips
An evening of song, comedy and laughter
October 4 and 5

Master Class
by Terrance McNally
October 19 through November 2

Nuncrackers
Book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin
The Nunsense Christmas Musical
November 29 through December 14

The Sketch Comedy Nights will include a Cabaret night after the Saturday night performances.

Season subscriptions available by calling (203) 632-8546
Phoenix Stage Company is located at 686 Rubber Avenue Naugatuck CT 06770
www.phoenixstagecompany.org

Ed Bassett appeared on Backstage with Johnny O to discuss the new season. Click to listen to the podcast.