Dynamic six-show lineup offers fresh adaptations of modern classics, landmarks of contemporary theatre, and new voices in American playwriting.
(April 24, 2023,| Baltimore, MD) Everyman is thrilled to announce its 2023/2024 season. This season, you can anticipate a wide-ranging and exciting lineup of plays including two fresh takes on classics, two comedies, an East Coast premiere, three Baltimore premieres, and an iconic murder mystery for the holidays! These plays offer new perspectives that celebrate the past, present, and future. Everyman’s Resident Company of Artists will bring their artistry to every performance, creating unforgettable moments on stage.
“Next Season is classic Everyman,” says Founder, Artistic Director Vincent M. Lancisi, “All six plays are great stories told over centuries from many perspectives. There are landmark plays, dramas, two comedies, and a new play to thrill audiences. This is what regional theatre is all about. We combine plays that have withstood the test of time and alongside them offer new works by important voices in the American Theatre.”
The 2023/2024 season opens with the East Coast premiere of a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s timeless classic A Doll’s House, adapted and directed by Joanie Schultz (September 3- October 1). Joanie’s reimagined classic invites audiences to engage with themes of gender, power, and identity, while holding true to the playwright’s original intentions. The play follows the story of Nora, a young wife and mother, who appears to have a perfect life with her husband, Torvald. However, Nora has been keeping a secret from her husband that threatens to unravel her entire world. When we lose ourselves to the expectations of the roles we fulfill, how long before we must slam the door to find ourselves again?
A Doll’s House is followed by the Baltimore premiere of The Chinese Lady by Lloyd Suh, (October 22- November 19) inspired by the true story of Afong May, the first Chinese woman to step foot in America in 1834. This play follows her to New York, where she is destined to become a living curiosity in a museum. As she becomes well-known as a commodified oddity, she struggles to maintain her sense of self and her connection to her heritage. This powerful, moving, and often humorous tribute to a woman who spent her life trying to bridge the gap between East and West serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for understanding across cultural divides.
As winter approaches, patrons will be treated to a classic murder mystery that inspired the iconic Hitchcock film: Dial M Murder (December 3-December 31). From the original Frederick Knott play, this new adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher will be directed by Founding Artistic Director, Vincent M. Lancisi. This thrilling and suspenseful play is layered with dialogue and unexpected plot twists for a modern exploration of greed, power, and manipulation and will keep audiences on the edge of their seats until the very end.
At the start of the new year in January, Everyman will produce its fifth Lynn Nottage play with Crumbs From The Table Of Joy (January 28-February 25). This poignant and gripping story shows what it means to find strength in unity, as 17-year-old Ernestine Crump adjusts to her new life in 1950s Brooklyn after the passing of her mother. Amidst navigating her grief, she finds herself, both physically and spiritually, in an unfamiliar place where odds seem stacked against her. Caught between her father’s spirituality and her aunt’s activism, she learns to find her own definition of the American Dream. This poignant and gripping story shows what it means to find strength in unity. Directed by Reginald L. Douglas (Crying on Television and Berta, Berta).
Next is The Book Club Play (March 17-April 14) by Karen Zacarías and directed by Laura Kepley (Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.). This Baltimore Premiere and Helen Hayes Award- winning comedy from the popular DC-based playwright is neatly bound with equal parts humor and charm. This hilarious play follows Ana and her friends whose book club becomes the subject of a legendary documentarian. All appears to be going as planned until an unexpected new member throws the group’s dynamics into chaos.
The Book Club Play is a playful testament to the power of literature and its ability to bring people together. By the end, you will feel like you are a member of the book club yourself.
Closing out the season is a vibrant and provocative take on the William Shakespeare classic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (May 12-June 9) directed by Everyman Associate Artistic Director, Noah Himmelstein (Book of Joseph, The Skin Of Our Teeth). With its memorable characters and witty dialogue, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a timeless masterpiece that continues to captivate audiences. Whether you are a fan of The Bard or simply looking for a light-hearted escape into a world of spectacle and fantasy, you will not be disappointed this season.
Everyman invites audiences to step into different perspectives and see the world from new angles. Each play offers a unique vantage point that challenges assumptions and expands horizons, featuring Everyman’s unique Resident Company and signature high production value.
Subscriptions Offer Even More Value
Everyman continues to offer a variety of subscription packages to suit patrons’ evolving needs and preferences, ranging from the traditional model of an assigned seat on a specific day to the newly enhanced Flex Subscription that enables patrons to purchase the season in advance (and enjoy savings) but choose show dates later.
“As we planned subscriptions for this season, we wanted to focus on flexibility and removing barriers to access for patrons. Our lifestyles and schedules have shifted these past few years and we want to be sure we’re providing flexibility for those changes at Everyman, as well as creatively addressing barriers that might keep people from coming to the theatre,” states Managing Director, Marissa LaRose. “We’ve kept traditional subscription packages but have also enhanced our Flex Subscription for shifting schedules and have made our Childcare Matinee performances available on subscription for those who can benefit from Everyman handling childcare while they enjoy a show.”
The upcoming season at Everyman will also feature an extra weekday matinee at 11am for every show. This will offer even more opportunities to enjoy live theatre with colleagues, social clubs, friends, or family during the week. Tuesday and Wednesday weekday matinees are perfect for spicing up lunch breaks or treating kids to art and culture on school breaks. Saturday and Sunday matinees will continue at the traditional 2pm time slot throughout the season. The Sunday Childcare Matinee series returns, with the added ability to pre-purchase seats for the whole season and register kids (ages 3-12) for fun and educational childcare programming during performances. Best of all, subscribers this year will not only secure a ticket to each show of the season but also receive a special one-time bonus ticket (on select packages) to bring a friend to the theatre.
Subscriptions start at only $213 and are available by visiting www.everymantheatre.org or calling 410.752.2208. Box office hours are Monday – Friday from 10AM until 5PM, and Saturdays from 10am until 4PM. Single tickets for the season will go on sale this summer.
In addition to Childcare Matinees, Everyman Theatre’s department of Education and Community Engagement also offers seasonal classes and other opportunities for lifelong learners from 3 to 93 — to discover their inner creativity. Everyman’s dynamic classes stir the imagination, expand artistic expression, and deepen theatrical skills for all. Live events, innovative in-person and digital content, and programs that ensure space for the whole family are all part of the offerings, all season long. This summer, in-person Summer Camp is back! Everyman makes scholarship opportunities available for every onsite class offered if tuition is a barrier. Email the staff at education@everymantheatre.org for all the exciting details.
Everyman Theatre’s 2023/2024 season is sponsored by Gallagher, Evelius, and Jones, LLP and is supported in part by grants from The Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org), The Citizens of Baltimore County, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts.
ABOUT EVERYMAN THEATRE
Everyman Theatre is a professional Equity theatre company celebrating the actor, with a Resident Company of artists from the Baltimore/DC area. Founded in 1990 by Vincent M. Lancisi, the theatre is dedicated to engaging the audience through a shared experience between actor and audience seeking connection and emotional truth in performance. Everyman is committed to presenting high-quality plays that are affordable and accessible to everyone. The theatre strives to engage, inspire, and transform artists, audiences, and communities through theatre of the highest artistic standards and is committed to embodying the promise of its name, Everyman Theatre. Everyman Theatre is a proud member of the Bromo Tower Arts and Entertainment District, the Market Center Merchants Association, and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance. Lancisi partners with Managing Director Marissa LaRose in leading the organization.
Everyman Theatre stands in solidarity with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and AAPI communities and is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive atmosphere at every level of our organization. To learn more, visit our website at Everyman C.A.R.E.S.
Questions?
Corey Frier-Ritsch
cfrier@everymantheatre.org