Theatre Institute at Sage plans shows
2017-18 season on tap
TROY, N.Y. >> The Theatre Institute at Sage announced its 2017-18 season of six shows, titled Celebrate the Difference!
Established in February 2011, the Theatre Institute at Sage is dedicated to providing quality live theatre and arts-in-education programming to Capital Region youth, educators and residents.
“Through our season this year, we look at the stories, struggles and successes of people who don’t always fit in,” a press release from the institute said. “At TIS, we know the way to overcome adversity is to come together. We do this by creating theatre with our team of talented students.”
Students who work at The Theatre Institute at Sage are meant to learn the value of teamwork, meeting deadlines and recognizing the multiplicity of talents it takes to put an excellent work of theatre onstage.
The Theatre Institute at Sage invites its audience to join in celebrating differences throughout its upcoming theatrical season.
The first show, a wellknown, wild and wise musical, will be directed by Leigh Strimbeck, who recently directed “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” and also directed “Spring Awakening.” This surprise musical, to be announced later this spring, will run from Oct. 6-17 in the Meader Little Theater.
The Theatre Institute at Sage will offer two shows this holiday season. For more mature audiences is “Santaland Diaries,” written by David Sedaris and adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello. This work is based on the true chronicles of David Sedaris’ experience as Crumpet the Elf in Macy’s Santaland display. This cult classic riffs on a few of Sedaris’ truly odd encounters with his fellow man during the height of the holiday crunch. “Santaland Diaries” will run from Nov. 24 to 26 in the Meader Little Theater.
“A Christmas Carol,” directed by Associate Professor David Baecker, is the institute’s holiday show for the whole family. This new adaptation of the Dickens classic was adapted by Theatre Institute at Sage artist in residence David Bunce, and is designed to bring nineteenth-century London to life. All are invited to join Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, and of course, Ebenezer Scrooge on a fantastical journey through Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Enjoy the timeless message of hope, peace, and love in Charles Dickens’ classic masterpiece. “A Christmas Carol” will run from Dec. 1 to 14 in the Schacht Theater.
The Theatre Institute at Sage will begin 2018 with “The Giver.” Adapted by Eric Coble from Lowis Lowry’s Newberry Awardwinning book of the same name, this production will be directed by David Bunce. “The Giver” tells the story of Jonas, whose world is perfect. Everything is under control and safe. There is no war or fear or pain. There are also no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12, he is assigned the special role of Receiver of Memories. Jonas goes to work with the Giver to receive and keep the memories of the community. “The Giver” is the only person who holds the memories of real pain and real joy. Now Jonas will learn the truth about life — and the hypocrisy of his utopian world. “The Giver” will run from Feb. 8 to 16, 2018 in the Schacht Theater.
In April, Theatre Institute at Sage will present “Tribes” by Nina Raine, directed by David Baecker. Billy was born deaf into a comically dysfunctional hearing family. He was raised inside its fiercely idiosyncratic and politically incorrect cocoon. He has adapted brilliantly to his family’s unconventional ways, but they’ve never bothered to return the favor. It’s not until he meets Sylvia, a young woman on the brink of deafness, that he finally understands what it means to be understood. “Tribes” will play in the Meader Little Theater from April 13 to 22, 2018.
For the last show of the season, the Theatre Institute at Sage will once again bring “Backbeard: A New Musical.” This musical has just been named a Grand Jury Selection of the New York Musical Festival’s Next Link Project and will be staged in New York City this summer. This rollicking musical tells the tale of Backbeard, the hairiest pirate who ever lived, and his quest to answer the question, “How should a pirate look?” When a rowdy birthday party ruins his clothes, a pair of persuasive tailors convince him to try a vibrant new outfit of patterned trousers, a colorful coat, and a pig. Now the fearsome pirate must face his greatest challenge: winning the acceptance of the Pirate Council, the townspeople, and even his own crew, in a high-spirited story of courage, acceptance, and standing up for who you are. “Backbeard: A New Musical” will run from May 31 to June 14, 2018 in the Schacht Theater.
More information about the Theatre Institute at Sage and its upcoming productions is available at theatre.sage.edu.