I Hate Hamlet – March 2009

By Paul Rudnick

Directed by James Hough Neilson

Paul Rudnick’s 1991 dramatic comedy revolves around a discontented TV actor, Andrew Rally, who has just arrived at his new apartment in New York City. Rally, a native of Los Angeles, is more than a little put off by the Gothic trappings of the old brownstone. The fact that the apartment once belonged to the legendary actor, John Barrymore, does little to dissipate Rally's reservations. He is doubly disturbed, as he is soon to perform the difficult part of Hamlet, the role made famous by Barrymore - and he is to do it on stage, away from the glitter of Hollywood. Doubts about his ability to play the classics begin to arise and he desperately needs assistance. And assistance arrives from an unexpected quarter

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The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – May 2009

Music and lyrics by William Finn Book by Rachel Sheinkin

Directed by Kimberley Shaw

Described by the New York Times as "i-r-r-e-s-i-s-t-i-b-l-e" and "o-u-t-r-a-g-e-o-u-s-l-y funny",

this Tony-award winning musical follows the fortunes of six adolescents (played by adults) competing in the final stages of the Putnam County spelling competition. As these socially-awkward over-achievers learn about winning and losing, they are supported (or not) by equally idiosyncratic grown-ups.

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The History Boys – July 2009

By Alan Bennet

Directed by Beverley Jackson-Hooper

Written by one of the UK's best modern writers, The History Boys follows an unruly bunch of sharp, talented, witty British school-boys in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university.

A maverick English teacher and the young and shrewd supply teacher, with opposing viewpoints on education, engage in a battle to get the boys into Oxford and Cambridge Universities. With a headmaster obsessed with results, a history teacher who thinks he's a fool and the anarchy of adolescence, this play raises questions about history and how you teach it; about education and its purpose.

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The Talented Mr Ripley – September 2009

By Phyllis Nagy based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith

Directed by John Milson

The Talented Mr. Ripley is a subversive, psychological thriller.

Tom Ripley is an enigmatic, insignificant-looking but charming conman who has aspirations to wealth and social status by any means possible.

A perfect opportunity arises, when wealthy Chicago socialite Herbert Greenleaf, mistaking him for one of his son's old school friends, bankrolls him to travel to Italy where Greenleaf Jnr has been living the high life with his beautiful girlfriend for the past 2 years. (more…)

Ruthless! – November 2009

Music by Marvin Laird; Book & Lyrics by Joel Paley

Directed by Tyler Jones

In an hilariously satirical look at show business, Ruthless is a musical about talent, overwhelming ambition and how to deal with obstacles that stand in the way. Showbiz is show biz, even when the production in question is a third-grade play. Tina Denmark is the talented junior who will do anything (and we mean ANYTHING!) for the lead in the up-coming school play. When the overbearing and pompous diva, Sylvia St. Croix, offers to become Tina's agent, events start to get out of hand.

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