Tulsa’s American Theatre Company announces 2017-2018 season

American Theatre Company announces their 2017-2018 season, the 48th, of five exciting shows. The season consists of three Tony Award winning shows with a total ten Tony’s among them.

Leading off the season is Fun Home by Allison Bechdel. A fresh and brilliantly told memoir from a cult favorite graphic novel artist, it is marked by gothic twists, a family funeral home, sexual angst and great books.

Successful middle-aged cartoonist Alison Bechdel recalls two time periods in her life. The first is her childhood, around age 10 (small Alison), when she struggles against her father Bruce's obsessive demands and begins to identify her inchoate sexuality. The second is her first year in college (medium Alison), when she begins her first relationship.

ATC’s own A Christmas Carol,by Robert Odle and Richard Averill, returns for the 41st year. Dickens’ heartwarming story offers hope through the tale of one lonely humbug who is given the rare chance to change his life and find his heart. It’s a story of generosity, family and good will.

Leading off the New Year is The Humans by Stephen Karam.It’s Thanksgiving and the Blake family gathers at the run-down Manhattan apartment in Chinatown of Brigid Blake and her boyfriend. Brigid's parents arrive from their home in Scranton, Pa., to have dinner with Brigid and their other adult daughter.

Brigid is a musician and Aimee is a lawyer living in Philadelphia. Aimee has recently broken up with her girlfriend and has developed an intestinal ailment. The parents are unhappy that their daughters have left home and abandoned their religion. Family members must deal with "aging, illness and a changing economy".

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee arrives in May. Albee’s classic drama is about a bitter, aging couple who, with the help of alcohol, use a young couple to fuel anguish and emotional pain towards each other.

George and Martha stumble home from a faculty party. Right away we get the sense that they're not the happiest couple in the world – in fact they seem to be rather bitter. Martha informs George that a young couple, Nick and Honey, are coming over for after-party drinks. The doorbell chimes and the scene is set for alcohol, agony and some serious emotional devastation.

Closing out the season on the lawn and under the stars at Philbrook is Shakespeare’s The Tempest.TheTempest is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place by using illusion and skillful manipulation.

He conjures up a storm, the eponymous tempest, to lure his usurping brother Antonio and complicit King Alonso of Naples to the island. There, his machinations bring about the revelation of Antonio's lowly nature, the redemption of the King and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso's son, Ferdinand. Blankets, a lawn chair and a picnic basket are encouraged.

The American Theatre Company is located at 308 S. Lansing in Tulsa, OK 74101. For more information call (918) 747-9494 or visit AmericanTheatreCompany.org.

Copyright 2017 The Gayly – April 13, 2017 @ 1:20 p.m.