Mad Cow reveals its 2018-19 season lineup
Mad Cow Theatre’s 2018-19 season will include two fan-favorite musicals and multiple plays never before given local productions. Female writers worked on half the season’s productions. The theater is announcing its 10-show lineup today.
Here’s a chronological look at what’s in store:
The Royal Family, Sept. 21-Oct. 14: This 1920s comedy by Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman follows a celebrity family equally famous and outrageous. In recent years, Mad Cow has produced Kaufman’s “You Can’t Take It With You” and “Animal Crackers.” Rapture, Blister, Burn,
Oct. 26-Nov. 18: Four women dive into a freewheeling and consciousness-raising conversation in Gina Gionfriddo’s martini-laced comedy with bite. The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Nov. 30-Dec. 23: Rupert Holmes’ musical whodunit, the 1986 best musical Tony winner, lets the audience vote to decide who committed a crime. There’s a reason for that: Charles Dickens left his novel “Drood,” the musical’s source material, unfinished.
Hand to God, Jan. 18-Feb. 10, 2019: Robert Askins’ dark comedy tackles sex, sinners and sock puppets when a Texan boy finds his life taken over by evil forces, while his mother struggles with her own dark urges.
Gloria: Feb. 15-March 10, 2019: In this new play about the magazine industry, an employee’s sinister actions throw the entire workplace into chaos. Branden Jacob-Jenkins wrote the comic drama.
Top Girls, March 29-April 21, 2019: This groundbreaking 1982 play by Caryl Churchill delves into what it really means to be a successful woman in today’s world — raising questions about feminism and compassion along the way.
Once, June 7-30, 2019: An Irish musician about to give up his dreams meets a Czech pianist in this quirky and enchanting romance. Based on a 2007 film, “Once” won the 2012 Tony award for best musical. Known especially for the song “Falling Slowly,” the show was written by Enda
Walsh, with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. Outside Mullingar, June 21-July 14, 2019: The Irish theme continues with this work by John Patrick Shanley (“Doubt.”) The romantic comedy-drama focuses on shy Anthony and romantic Rosemary, neighboring farmers, and demonstrates that it’s never too late to take a chance on love.
Heartbreak House, Aug. 9-Sept. 1, 2019: Playwright George Bernard Shaw warns what happens to a society when its people fall prey to self-indulgence and indifference in this classic and complex play.
Fade, Aug. 23-Sept. 15, 2019: A Latina TV writer starts using stories she hears from a janitor in her scripts in Tanya Saracho’s comedy about status and heritage.
Subscriptions come in six-, 10- or 16-ticket packages and range from $198-$464. Mad Cow Theatre is at 54 W. Church St., Orlando. For more information, go to madcowtheatre.com or call 407-297-8788.