Theatre--Season Schedule

As a part of their year-long focus on WOMEN IN THE ARTS, Cité Des Arts is pleased to announce the 2009 theatre schedule.

Educating Rita: March 5 – 21, 2009 (Thursday – Saturday)Educating Rita is an award-winning stage comedy by British playwright Willy Russell.The story follows the relationship during the course of a University semester, between Susan White, a young woman from Liverpool and working class hairdresser and Dr Frank Bryant, a middle-aged University lecturer. The play deals with England's class system, the shortcomings of institutional education, and the nature of self development.

The Miracle Worker: May 14 – 30, 2009 (Thursday – Saturday) The Miracle Worker, written by William Gibson, is the story of young Helen Keller, who is blind and deaf since infancy. She is frustrated by her inability to communicate and as a result, is subject to frequent violent and uncontrollable outbursts. Unable to deal with Helen, her terrified and helpless parents contact a school for the Blind and Annie Sullivan, a former student, is sent to their home to tutor the child. What ensues is a battle of wills as Annie breaks down Helen's walls of silence and darkness through persistence, love, and sheer stubbornness.

Crimes of the Heart: July 9 – 25, 2009 (Thursday – Saturday) Crimes of the Heart is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Beth Henley. At the core of this tragic comedy are the three Magrath sisters, Meg, Babe, and Lenny, who reunite at Old Granddaddy's home in Hazlehurst, Mississippi after Babe shoots her abusive husband. The trio was raised in a dysfunctional family with a penchant for ugly predicaments and each has endured her share of hardship and misery. Past resentments bubble to the surface as they're forced to deal with assorted relatives and past relationships while coping with the latest incident that has disrupted their lives. Each sister is forced to face the consequences of the "crimes of the heart" she has committed.

Wit: September 10 -19, 2009 (Thursday – Saturday) Wit is the first play written by American playwright Margaret Edson. The play focuses on the last hours of Dr Vivian Bearing, a university professor of English, who is dying of ovarian cancer. She recalls the initial diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic ovarian cancer from her oncologist, Dr Harvey Kelekian. Dr Kelekian then proposes an experimental chemotherapeutic treatment regimen consisting of eight rounds at full dosage. Vivian agrees to the treatment. Over the course of the play, Bearing assesses her own life through the intricacies of the English language, especially the use of wit and the metaphysical poetry of John Donne.

SEASON TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. The cost is $50.00, which is a savings of $10.00 off the total price of four regularly priced tickets. Please call Cité at 337-291-1122 to order your tickets now.