New Village Theatre Kicks Off New Play Festival Today, 7/20; Full Season Announced

Executive Artistic Director Kristianne Kurner and New Village Arts Theatre have announced their twelfth season of award-winning, professional theatre in the Village of Carlsbad. The Twelfth Season focuses on some of the best American plays with San Diego's finest actors and singers and includes a return to the very popular Shakespeare in the Park.

The season includes two musicals, two Pulitzer Prize winners, and three classic American plays. NVA will also continue and grow its partnership with Playwrights Project, with two New Play Festivals featuring workshop productions of new work by San Diego playwrights. Directors include NVA Ensemble Members Kristianne Kurner, Manny Fernandes, Dana Case and Amanda Sitton, and making their debuts with New Village Arts will be ion theatre's Executive Artistic Director Claudio Raygoza, who will be directing ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, and San Diego actor and director Jason Heil, who will be directing PLAID TIDINGS.

SEASON 12 INCLUDES:

New Play Festival
July 20-22 & 27-29, 2012
A continuing collaboration with Playwrights Project of San Diego, NVA will produce two workshop productions of new plays by San Diego artists. The New Play Festival will happen twice a year: once in the summer and once in the winter.

Much Ado About Nothing
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Ensemble Member Kristianne Kurner
Featuring Ensemble Member Justin Lang with Max Macke and Durwood Murray
August 2-5 & 9-12, 2012
Shakespeare in the Park returns to the beautiful campus of Pacific Ridge School in southeast Carlsbad. MUCH ADO is a romantic comedy and Shakespeare's wittiest play. In this charming story, soldiers returning from war stop in to the estate of Leonato for relaxation, romance and rivalry. 

Next To Normal
By Tom Kitt & Brian Yorkey
Directed by Ensemble Member Manny Fernandes
Featuring Melissa Fernandes as Diana
September 8 – September 30
Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for drama, this groundbreaking musical stars Melissa Fernandes as Diana, a woman struggling with bi-polar disorder. This unforgettable rock musical examines mental illness and its affect on the family. Wait Until Dark

By Frederick Knott
Directed by Ensemble Member Dana Case
Featuring Ensemble Member and Actors Equity Member Daren Scott as Harry Roat
November 3 – November 25
A recently blinded woman is terrorized by a trio of thugs while they search for a heroin stuffed doll they believe is in her apartment. The woman takes charge of her fate in this classic 1960's thriller. As the lights go out in the theatre, the audience will jump out of their seats in fear.
 

Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings
By Stuart Ross
Directed by Jason Heil
December 8 - 24
Plaid Tidings – A Special Holiday Edition of Forever Plaid continues the story of the singing group whose lives were lost in an accident involving a busload of teens en route to see "The Ed Sullivan Show." This holiday favorite will be directed by Jason Heil, who appeared as one of the actors in the production at the Old Globe Theatre. Full of Christmas favorites such as "Mr. Santa," "Let It Snow" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Plaid Tidings is a holiday treat for the entire family.

New Play Festival
January 11-13, 2013

The Trip to Bountiful
By Horton Foote
Directed by Kristianne Kurner
Featuring Actors Equity Member Sylvia M'Lafi Thompson as Carrie Watts
February 9 – March 3, 2013
All Carrie Watts wants before she dies is to see her hometown of Bountiful, Texas one last time. Her son and daughter-in-law don't believe she should make the trip, so she heads out herself to make her dream come true. Starring the amazing actress Sylvia M'Lafi Thompson as Carrie Watts. Produced in honor of NVA Ensemble Member Sandra Ellis-Troy.  Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

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