THEATER LATTÉ DA ANNOUNCES 2022-2023 SEASON, A CELEBRATION OF 25 YEARS OF ADVENTUROUS MUSICAL THEATER
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Regina Marie Williams stars in HELLO, DOLLY! as part of Theater Latté Da’s 25 Anniversary Season, Photo by Lucas Wells.
Highlights of the musical theater company’s 25th anniversary season include Stephen Sondheim’s cult-classic MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, the world premiere of a new holiday tradition, CHRISTMAS AT THE LOCAL, a re-imagining of HELLO, DOLLY! starring Regina Marie Williams, the World Premiere of Harrison David Rivers’ and Ted Shen’s WE SHALL SOMEDAY, and the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL.
(MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL) Theater Latté Da (Peter Rothstein, Artistic Director; Elisa Spencer-Kaplan, Managing Director) today announces its 25th Anniversary Season. The award-winning company will launch a series of productions that encompass the organization’s continued commitment to producing new and boldly re-imagined musical theater. The 2022-2023 season begins with the late Stephen Sondheim’s MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG; the world premiere of a new holiday tradition, CHRISTMAS AT THE LOCAL; a re-imagined production of HELLO, DOLLY! starring Regina Marie Williams as Dolly Levi, the world premiere of Harrison David Rivers’ and Ted Shen’s WE SHALL SOMEDAY, the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL, and the annual NEXT FESTIVAL, dedicated to the development of new musicals and plays-with-music. ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 will embark on a national tour during the holiday season.
“Anniversaries are a wonderful time to pause, to celebrate our collective history, but we have chosen instead to look forward, and to celebrate our collective future: we will launch two world premieres, boldly re-imagine work from the musical theater canon, and continue our rigorous interpretation of the work of revolutionary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim,” shares founding artistic director Peter Rothstein.
“We are proud to be presenting our most ambitious season ever this year–one that will enable us to reach more audience members, employ more Minnesota theatermakers than ever before, and extend our impact both locally and nationally,” shares Managing Director Elisa Spencer-Kaplan.
A champion of the works of Stephen Sondheim, Theater Latté Da opens the season with the the late musical theater giant’s MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (September 21 - October 30, 2022), with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. This production marks Latte Da’s tenth production of Sondheim’s work, and will be directed by Peter Rothstein with music direction by Jason Hansen.
This innovative musical about a group of friends spans three decades, spooling backwards from their present-day lives to the optimistic beginning of their friendship. The cult classic blends the excitement and humor of a backstage musical with the poignancy of regrets and reconciliations – featuring some of Stephen Sondheim’s most celebrated and personal songs including “Not a Day Goes By” and “Our Time.” The production stars Vie Boheme, Reese Britts, Dylan Frederick, Becca Hart and Britta Ollmann.
During the holiday season, Theater Latté Da brings the World Premiere of CHRISTMAS AT THE LOCAL (November 29 – Jan 1, 2023) to the Ritz Theater. Developed as part of NEXT, TLD’s new works program, the piece features Dylan Thomas’ beloved poem A Child’s Christmas in Wales about his snow-filled, boyhood memories with music by Celtic composers Cerys Matthews and Mason Neely, as well as “The Longing for Amazing Peace” with music by Chastity Brown and lyrics by Dr. Maya Angelou. The production will be directed by Larissa Kokernot and Peter Rothstein with music direction by Jason Hansen.
On a cold winter’s night, a group of locals gather to raise a glass and play a tune, calling forth the spirit of the holidays through story and song. Voices blend, memories are rekindled, and a bit of mystery hangs in the air. Theater Latté Da stages the world premiere of this rollicking new celebration of the season. The production stars Phinehas Bynum, Joy Dolo, and Bradley Greenwald.
In January, a boldly re-imagined staging of the Broadway classic HELLO, DOLLY! (February 1 - March 19, 2023) will explode onto the Ritz Theater stage. This beloved Tony Award-winning musical comedy with book by Michael Stewart, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, based on the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder stars Regina Maria Williams as Dolly Levi. Directed and choreographed by Kelli Foster Warder. Music direction by Sanford Moore. Starring Regina Marie Williams, Reed Sigmund and Sally Wingert.
Business woman and matchmaker extraordinaire Dolly Levi is determined to make everyone’s lives richer and happier–including her own! Regina Marie Williams stars as Dolly in Kelli Foster Warder’s bold re-imagining of this beloved musical comedy, featuring some of the American musical theater’s most memorable songs.
In the spring, Theater Latté Da will stage the WORLD PREMIERE of WE SHALL SOMEDAY (April 19 - May 14, 2023). This new musical with book and lyrics by Harrison David Rivers (Five Points, To Let Go and Fall) and music and additional lyrics by Ted Shen will be directed by Kelli Foster Warder.
The roots of resistance and resilience run deep in three generations of a Black family grappling with inequality, violence and oppression. This intimate new musical, featuring three actors in tour de force performances, asks us to contemplate the cycle of racism in America and how we might commit to creating real change.
“I am excited to work with and feature some fantastic Minnesota artists this season–Regina Marie Williams in HELLO, DOLLY! and Harrison David Rivers’ WE SHALL SOMEDAY. I’m looking forward to exploring both a classic musical re-imagined and a new work–both with themes important for today,” shares Associate Artistic Director & Director of Impact Kelli Foster Warder.
Season 25 concludes with the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL, (June 7 - July 16, 2023) music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. Peter Rothstein directs with music direction by Jason Hansen. The production will be choreographed by Kyle Weiler, who recently completed a four-year run in the National and Broadway companies of HAMILTON.
A family determined to balance sanity and happiness against the gale force winds of mental illness finds strength in their commitment to love each other through their pain. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for drama, this groundbreaking musical is an insightful and deeply moving look at a modern family, and raises the rafters with its Tony Award-winning score. Starring Erin Capello, Audrey Mojica, and Matt Riehle.
Theater Latté Da continues its robust commitment to new work with their NEXT FESTIVAL in Summer 2023. The festival showcases three new works that stretch the boundaries of musical storytelling, where audience members are invited into the ground floor of the creative process.
ALL IS CALM: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 will embark on a national tour in November 2022. Created and directed by Peter Rothstein, with vocal arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach, this moving ode to peace has become a modern holiday classic. Visit alliscalm.org for tour dates and locations.
Season tickets are currently on sale; packages start at $150. Call the box office at 612-339-3003 or purchase online at Latteda.org.
SEASON 25
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by George Furth
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Directed by Peter Rothstein
Music Direction by Jason Hansen
Starring Vie Boheme, Reese Britts, Dylan Frederick, Becca Hart and Britta Ollmann
September 21 - October 30, 2022
CHRISTMAS AT THE LOCAL (World Premiere)
Featuring Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales
Composed by Cerys Matthews and Mason Neely
and “The Longing for Amazing Peace”*
Music by Chastity Brown and Lyrics by Dr. Maya Angelou
Directed by Larissa Kokernot and Peter Rothstein
Music Direction by Jason Hansen
Starring Phinehas Bynum, Joy Dolo and Bradley Greenwald
November 29, 2022 - January 1, 2023
HELLO, DOLLY!
Book by Michael Stewart
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman
Based on the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder
Directed and Choreographed by Kelli Foster Warder
Music Direction by Sanford Moore
Starring Reed Sigmund, Regina Marie Williams and Sally Wingert
February 1 - March 19, 2023
WE SHALL SOMEDAY (World Premiere)
Book and Lyrics by Harrison David Rivers
Music and Additional Lyrics by Ted Shen
Directed by Kelli Foster Warder
Starring Ronnie Allen
April 19 - May 14, 2023
NEXT TO NORMAL
Music by Tom Kitt
Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
Directed by Peter Rothstein
Music Direction by Jason Hansen
Choreography by Kyle Weiler
Starring Erin Capello, Audrey Mojica and Matt Riehle
June 7 - July 16, 2023
NEXT FESTIVAL 2023 (Season Add-on)
Summer 2023
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