LOCAL

Constellation Stage & Screen offers original plays, premiere performances for 2023-24

Carol Kugler
The Herald-Times
"Anne of Green Gables," a new play by Catherine Bush was performed by Constellation Stage & Screen as part of its first season in 2022-23.

World premiere performances and some magic are coming to Bloomington as part of Constellation Stage & Screen's 2023-24 season, which begins in September and include seven main performances and its first magic show.

In its second theatrical season, Constellation Stage & Screen has once again developed original plays. Last season, it was "The Grown-Ups." This year, Constellation will present the world premiere of rock musical, "The Break," a Constellation original play "Alex Gold: Stuck on Repeat," a new original play, "Webster's Bitch," and its first magic show with Simon Coronel in "Glitches in Reality."

"Half are new works and a couple are world premieres," said Cassie Hakken, marketing director of Constellation Stage & Screen. "We are proud and excited about the amount of support we've gotten in the first year, and ready to get the second season underway."

Unique to Constellation: Rock musical 'The Break'

New rock musical, "The Break," was written by people who had previously worked with Constellation, Hakken said. Constellation staff "picked up after the first draft and helped develop the first production."

"The Break" will be performed at the Waldron Auditorium June 6-23, 2024. The music is by Michael Kooman and book and lyrics by Christopher Dimond, creators of "The Enlightenment of Percival Von Schmutz." Kooman's work includes songs for the Netflix series "Ridley Jones," and he is known for his musical "Romantics Anonymous." The local production also is a romantic comedy with a couple, Sam and Charlie, taking a 30-day break before their pending wedding.

From 2022-23 season:Faith, family, winning: 'American Fast' brings them together in sports drama about basketball, making choices

Constellation's classroom comedy: 'Alex Gold: Stuck on Repeat'

"Alex Gold: Stuck on Repeat" is a Constellation original and the company's first commissioned play for young audiences about Alex, who needs to repeat the sixth grade and surrounds himself with friends (the audience) to help him succeed this time. The one-of-a-kind classroom comedy will be on stage April 26-May 12, 2024, at the Waldron Auditorium and will have improv and audience participation.

Social media and the dictionary: 'Webster's Bitch'

Another Constellation original, "Webster's Bitch," by Jaqueline Bircher, deals with an internet uprising over gender and obscenity in the age of social media after an editor-in-chief at Webster's Dictionary uses some unexpected profanity. It will be performed Jan. 25-Feb. 11, 2024, at the Ted Jones Playhouse.

Last production of 2022-23 season: 'The Moon and the Sea'

The first year's performances will conclude with new musical "The Moon and the Sea," running June 8-25 at the Waldron Auditorium.

There will be no main performances in the summer months, but there will be summer camps for youth that run the end of May through July. As summer wanes and schools reopen, there will be a variety of special events and film screening series.

2023-24 season opener: 'Holmes & Watson'

The 2023-24 production season will begin with "Holmes & Watson" Sept. 7-24 at the Waldron Auditorium. Yes, it's a Sherlock Holmes tale about Dr. Watson investigating three inmates on an island. The three claim to be Holmes after his death.

"Elf the Musical" was one of the performances by Constellation Stage & Screen in its 2022-23 theatrical season.

Pay What You Will Thursdays, ticket programs return

Season tickets for Constellation's 2023-24 performances are already on sale. The "Pay What You Will Thursdays" allow patrons to purchase tickets for the price they are willing to pay. Single tickets go on sale to the public on July 12. For more about tickets, go to SeeConstellation.org/Subscribe.

The 2023-24 Constellation performance schedule

Constellation Stage and Screen is the name of the new company that's formed with the merger of Bloomington Playwrights Project, Cardinal Stage and Pigasus Institute.
  • Sept. 7-24: "Holmes & Watson," at the Waldron Auditorium, 122 S. Walnut St. Recommended for ages 13 and older.
  • Oct. 20-Nov. 5: "Curious George: The Golden Meatball," the first in the Constellation for Kids series, at the Waldron Auditorium. "The Man in the Hat" and George the monkey are on a mission to save the Golden Meatball Contest in Rome.
  • Nov. 9-12: "Glitches in Reality," a magic show by Simon Coronel, at the Ted Jones Playhouse, 107 W. Ninth St.
  • Dec. 14-31: "Matilda the Musical," a Broadway music based on Roald Dahl's book about a sharp-minded girl with a vivid imagination and a love for books, at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. For ages 5 and older.
  • Jan. 25-Feb. 11, 2024: "Webster's Bitch," at the Ted Jones Playhouse. Recommended for ages 16 and older.
  • March 21-April 7, 2024: "The Play that Goes Wrong," a slapstick farce about opening night of "The Murder at Haversham Manor," at the Waldron Auditorium. Recommended for ages 8 and older.
  • April 26-May 12, 2024: "Alex Gold: Stuck on Repeat," at the Waldron Auditorium.
  • June 6-23, 2024: "The Break," a new rock musical, at the Waldron Auditorium. For ages 18 and older.