Goat: it's what's for theater

My little sister would call us brag-a-docious, but whatever, we totally predicted the AtticRep’s kick-ass ’08/ ’09 season. Seer and Current contributor (and Trinity prof) Tom Jenkins can say what he wants about AR mulling over Edward Albee’s The Goat long before he ever pitched it in last year’s Fall Arts Guide feature “Produce This!”, but we know he’s just being classy (although we have some incriminating goat-pix that suggest otherwise).

And though my personal submission for consideration wasn’t chosen (Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love , with its central incest, would have been perfect for AR’s self-proclaimed “Season of Taboos”), it’s clear 1 Trinity Place’s theaters heart Mr. (sort of) Jessica Lange, too: Attic’s got True West going up in December, while the Trinity University Speech and Drama department will present Icarus’ Mother and Action in February.

Whether or not we’re really clairvoyant, AR, as usual, has exceptional, challenging, original, and new-to-SA fare planned out for us. See atticrep.org for more.

Here’s the full lowdown from their press release:

(Yes, Messrs. Rick Frederick and Andy Thornton are playing brothers again. Not that we’re complaining.)

True West by Sam Shepard

December 4-21, 2008

Sam Shepard's classic American contemporary drama. True West deconstructs the myth of the American Dream through a pair of quarrelling brothers, each laying claim to the "true" spirit-and promise-of the American West. By turns naturalistic and poetic, True West lays bare the myths not only of American families, but of an American nation. The play runs December 4 through December 21, 2008 and will star Rick Frederick (Lincolnesque, Fat Pig, One for the Road) and Andy Thornton (Lincolnesque) as the brothers. David Connelly directs.

Forum Theatre Project 2009

"Borders and Walls"

March 12-15, 2009

This play is an original work exploring border relations in Texas.  The play will be created by a group of San Antonio theatre artists, Trinity University students and community members.  The piece will be formed and presented in the style of Augusto Boal's community-based theatre and audience discussion is part of the production.  It is to be directed by Roberto Prestigiacomo.

The Goat or Who is Sylvia?  by Edward Albee

May 14-31, 2009

Critic Helen Thomson describes the play as follows:  "With The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, Edward Albee has certainly made good his promise to stir up theatre-goers. The play crosses boundaries of all kinds and raises issues that are so remote from our everyday experiences, we don't even talk about them. If you thought there was nothing left to reveal about sex, then perhaps you haven't given bestiality enough consideration."   Tim Hedgepeth directs the San Antonio premiere of this shocking, provocative play.

Blackbird by David Harrower

 July 9-26, 2009

"Scottish playwright David Harrower has bravely chosen to address and dissect a taboo subject that even his characters dare not name.  That he has done so with remarkable sensitivity and minimal prurience is much to his credit." -British Theatre Guide. Directed by Stacey Connelly, will feature David Connelly (Back of the Throat), who has performed on Broadway with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.  The production is a San Antonio premiere.