Exclusive: Bickford Theatre unveils 2007-08 season
The Bickford Theatre leaked its plans for next season to Jersey Stages, and we're only too happy to spread the leak. Artistic director Eric Hafen has unveiled an ambitious and interesting course for his professional Equity theater, which is connected to the Morris Museum in Morris Township.
The Bickford doesn't get a lot of press outside of Morris County, but Hafen has built a loyal following and draws a larger crowd than most of professional theaters in the Garden State. Next season, Hafen hopes to expand his base with a humor-heavy season, which will expand from four to five productions and feature a new series of Saturday matinees.
The theater’s A La Carte Series will be replaced with a new Special Concert Series, which will again include its popular Holiday Spectacular.
The season in capsule:
Sept. 20 to Oct. 14: “The Owl and the Pussycat.” The 1964 Broadway hit better known as 1970 movie with Ryan O'Neal and Barbra Streisand as an uptight, would-be author who complains about the lady of the evening (Babs) woorking out of the apartment below him. When she is evicted, she winds up at his doorstep, leading to yet another onstage odd-coupling.
Nov. 15 to Dec. 9: “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” John Bishop’s 1987 Broadway comic-thriller. The creative team responsible for a recent Broadway flop reassembles for a backer’s audition of their new show at a private estate. Then with the storms, the murders, the mystery, the bumbling police inspector, the swiveling bookcase - no cliche is safe in this sendup of 1940s-era murder-mystery movies.
Jan. 24 to Feb. 17: “Almost Maine.” Former George Street Playhouse associate artistic director Wendy Liscow directs the New Jersey premiere of John Carini’s recent Off-Broadway comedy hit. On a Friday night in the middle of winter, the residents of a small, mythical town in far northern Maine, played by four actors, are falling in and out of love at an alarming rate. It is described as a “charming midwinter night’s dream.”
March 27 to April 20: “Rounding Third.” Richard Dresser’s two-character comedy about Little League coaches with opposing philosophies, and unmatched sets of emotional baggage, has been making the rounds in New Jersey for a few years now. Now, frequent leading man Duncan M. Rogers takes a turn at directing at the Bickford.
May 22 to June 15: “With and Without.” Hafen is set to direct Jeffrey Sweet’s comedy about sex and friendship. Mark and Shelly plan a relaxing weekend with their married friends, Jill and Russ, at a lakeside cabin. But when Jill arrives without her husband, Shelly and Mark try to save the weekend, while Jill meets another man. The situation is complicated by the fact that Jill and Mark were once a couple, and Shelly introduced her to Russ. What compromises are we willing to make with the truth to keep even the strongest relationships from coming apart?
Five shows, five comedies? Hafen points out that humor is onl a part of "Musical Comedy Murders" and "Almost Maine," but there is some strategic planning in his choices.
"We took a poll and got back about 400 responses, which is astonishing," Hafen said. "I gave them six choices, classic comedy, contemporary comedy, musical, musical-comedy, classic drama and contemporary drama. The first two choices were overwhelmingly contemporary comedy and classic comedy. I think right now, with the state of things, people just want to be entertained."
Hafen also brings in strongactors, ranging from familiar regional vetrans such as Rogers, Clark Carmichael, Liz Zazzi, Harriet Tangucci and JC Hoyt, to New York actors such as Julian Brightman, to rising local artists such as Gerard Lebeda of Bound Brook.
Meanwhile, construction continues on the expansion of the theater lobby, part of a multi-million-dollar expansion of the Morris Museum, at 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morris Township. Subscription packages are now available and range from $110 to $130. Individual tickets go on sale Aug. 15. For more information, call the box office at (973) 971-3706.

Follow-up questions for the class
"Rounding Third" has had two recent professional productions in Northern NJ (and a few more on the amateur circuit), partly because it's a good play, partly because with two actors and one set, it's a budget-saver. Is Hafen making a mistake trodding down a well-worn path or is this the kind of crowd-pleaser that's a sure bet to put fannies in the seats? (At least Hafen had the sense to stage it at the beginning of baseball season). A good question for the artistic directors in the audience.
And did anyone besides me see "Rounding Third" at both Centenary College and Tri-State Actor's Theatre in Sussex? Which one did you like better?

Non Sequiter
Does anyone know where I can get a good deal on size 14 golf shoes? I should also point out that I'm left-handed.