The Raleigh Little Theatre 2007-2008 Season

Presenting the 2007-2008 season of shows at Raleigh Little Theatre:

Baba Yaga and the Black Sunflower

By Carol Korty
Presented by: RLT's Teens on Stage

July 13-22, 2007
Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre (General Admission Seating)

This original tale is based on traditional Russian stories about Baba Yaga, an ancient sorceress with iron teeth who lives in a hut built on chicken legs. It is the story of Maryushka, a young orphan girl, and her struggle to find her place in the world. Misunderstood and rejected by her village, she journeys deep into the forest to the home of Baba Yaga, where both her wit and will are tested. Songs inspired by the folk music of Russia and Lithuania enrich the tale.

Director: Linda O'Day Young
Auditions: March 5, 2006

Urinetown

Music & Lyrics by Mark Hollmann
Book & Lyrics by Greg Kotis

August 3-26, 2007
Cantey V. Sutton Theatre (Reserved Seating)

Musical. An earnest fable of love, greed and revolution set in a town plagued by drought. A simple enough plot, complete with villain, hero and romance: a malevolent corporation controls the town's public amenities; the president's daughter falls in love with the leader of a pee-for-free rebellion. All of this, according to Little Sally, the show's ragamuffin philosopher, is a bad subject for a musical (and so is its title), but it's outrageous fun and "you gotta go!" Drawing from West Side Story and Les Miserables among others, the show spoofs the great American musical. Winner of 3 Tony Awards, 3 Outer Critic's Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards and 2 Obie Awards.

Director: Haskell Fitz-Simons
Auditions: June 11-12, Callbacks: June 16

Intimate Apparel

By Lynn Nottage

Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre (General Admission Seating)
September 7-23, 2007

The time is 1905, the place New York City, where Esther, a black seamstress, fashions intimate apparel for ladies from all walks of life. Its theme is love: love yearned for and denied, love misplaced, as in the case of Miss Esther and Mr. Marks - who are deeply in love but will never be able to speak of it - love betrayed, and the love of craft and beauty.

Director: Linda O'Day Young
Auditions: July 23 & 24, Callbacks: July 28

The Battle of Shallowford

By Ed Simpson

Cantey V. Sutton Theatre (Reserved Seating)
October 5-21, 2007

Ed Simpson's play is an endearing story about what happens when the residents of the small town of Shallowford (based on Lewisville, NC) believe Orson Welles' radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds" to be legitimate news. They fall hook, line and sinker, and grab their pitchforks and hunting rifles, and run out to do battle with the invading Martians and save the world.

Director: Haskell Fitz-Simons
Auditions: August 20-21, Callbacks: August 25

The Reluctant Dragon

Adapted by Mary Hall Surface from the book by Kenneth Grahame.

Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre (General Admission Seating)
November 2-18, 2007

A magical, humorous story about friendship. Glaston, a young shepherd who dreams of being a brave knight, finds Sydney, a real live dragon, in his pasture. Much to his surprise, Glaston learns that dragons are not fire-breathing monsters at all, but are peaceful creatures who like cheese and very bad poetry. Unfortunately the town has already summoned St. George to slay the dragon. Glaston must convince St. George that violence is not the answer and there are other options than fighting.

Director: Kathleen Rudolph
Auditions: September 10-11, Callbacks: September 15

Cinderella

Based on a Fairy Tale by Charles Perrault
Adaptation/Lyrics by Jim Eiler
Music by Jim Eiler & Jeanne Bargy.

Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts Fletcher Theater (Reserved Seating)
December 7-16, 2007

When it's time to deck those halls, head to downtown Raleigh where the beautiful lass-who-lost-her-slipper makes her 24th annual appearance in hopes of finding her Prince Charming. RLT's visually stunning holiday production has been delighting audiences in the Triangle area for generations. Combining elegant costumes and scenery, with song, dance, conniving step-relatives and resourceful fairy-folk, Cinderella brings just the right mixture of comedy and romance to add the sparkle of magic to your holiday season.

Director: Haskell Fitz-Simons
Auditions: October 8-9, Calbacks: October 13

Epic Proportions

By Larry Coen and David Crane

Cantey V. Sutton Theatre (Reserved Seating)
February 8-24, 2008

Two brothers, Benny and Phil, go to the Arizona desert to be extras in the huge 1930's Biblical epic "Exeunt Omnes." Things move very quickly in this riotous comedy and before you know it, Phil is directing the movie and Benny is starring in it. Along the way there are gladiator battles, the Ten Plagues and a cast of thousands portrayed by four other actors.

Director: Rod Rich
Auditions: December 10-11, Callbacks: December 15

The Trip to Bountiful

By Horton Foote

Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre (General Admission Seating)
March 7-23, 2008

Trapped in a three-room Houston apartment shared with her son and daughter-in-law, Carrie Watts dreams of visiting Bountiful, the Gulf Coast town where she grew up and raised her own family. She steals away with her latest pension check, and although her trip is doomed by the family's call to the police, the sheriff who tracks her down at the bus station carries her on out to her old homestead. Her trip reaches a bittersweet end, but it proves to have been a journey of the heart worth taking.

Director: Haskell Fitz-Simons
Auditions: January 14-15, Callbacks: January 19

Peter Pan

Story by J. M. Barrie
Adapted for the Stage by Timothy Mason
New music composed by Hiram Titus

Cantey V. Sutton Theatre (Reserved Seating)
April 11-27, 2008

Musical. The adventures of the "boy who wouldn't grow up" begin in the Darling nursery where Mr. and Mrs. Darling have tucked their children into bed. Peter Pan and Tinkerbell fly in through the open window and whisk the excited Wendy, Michael and John out into the night. Off they go to the island of Neverland where they encounter the Lost Boys, the exotic princess Tiger Lily, the dreadful Captain Hook and his band of pirates.

Director: Linda O'Day Young
Auditions: February 11 & 12, 2008

Zany Umbrella Circus: The Enchanted Toy Box

RLT’s Louise “Scottie” Stephenson Amphitheatre (General Admission Seating)
May 9-11, 2008

Acrobatic performers create a spectacular outdoor show about a master toymaker whose whimsical collection of toys comes to life. Extraordinary family entertainment. Visit the concessions area or bring your own picnic for a family outing in the RLT. Replacing the originally scheduled Paperhand Puppet Intervention production.

Radio Gals

Book, Music and Lyrics by Mike Craver and Mark Hardwick.

Cantey V. Sutton Theatre (Reserved Seating)
May 30-June 22, 2008

Musical. From the creators of Pump Boys and Dinnettes comes a lively, nostalgia-dipped musical, with old-time musical numbers and country humor. It is a warm spring day in 1928. From her parlor in Cedar Ridge, Arkansas, Hazel Hunt broadcasts her own radio station: a daily fare of inspirational and popular tunes, gossip, funnies, recipes, classified ads, sports scores, and fan mail from her mailbag. However, due to Hazel's habit of "channel wandering," her broadcasts are not always so local, to which listeners as far away as Montreal can testify. Enter O. B. Abbott, Federal Radio Inspector, intent on rescuing the airwaves from Hazel, claiming that workmen have been receiving the WGAL radio signal in a tunnel under the Hudson River, and accusing Hazel of being a "gypsy of the ether!"

Director: Haskell Fitz-Simons
Auditions: April 7-8, Callbacks: April 12

Raleigh Little Theatre thanks its 2007-2008 Season Sponsors