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| 2008-2009 Season | Get tickets |
By JAMES HEBERT
The birthplace of “Jersey Boys” will take audiences to another rock 'n' roll area code this summer, as La Jolla Playhouse stages the musical “Memphis.”
The show, with music by keyboardist David Bryan of the band Bon Jovi, is the sixth and final production to be announced for the theater's 2008-09 subscription season. (Two shows that will be part of the theater's “The Edge” series – not part of the subscription season – are yet to be unveiled.)
Christopher Ashley, the Playhouse's new artistic director, will direct “Memphis,” a version of which was first staged in 2003 at North Shore Music Theatre near Boston. The La Jolla show, produced with Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, begins previews Aug. 19 and opens Sept. 3.
Its story centers on what transpires when a white radio DJ starts spinning discs by African-American artists. Ashley has described it in part as a tale of “how white people stole black music.”
Bryan, a newcomer to musical theater, is teamed with lyricist and book writer Joe DiPietro, who wrote the book to the Broadway jukebox musical “All Shook Up” and co-wrote the off-Broadway hit “I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.” (Both Bryan and DiPietro happen to be Jersey boys.)
The full Playhouse season:
“33 Variations,” April 8-May 4.
“The Night Watcher,” July 1-27.
“Memphis,” Aug. 19-Sept. 3.
“The Third Story,” Sept. 16-Oct. 19.
“Tobacco Road,” Sept. 30-Oct. 26.
“Xanadu,” Nov. 11-Dec. 21.
2008/2009 SEASON
"33 Variations"
April 8 - May 4, 2008
Mandell Weiss Theatre
West Coast Premiere
The celebrated tale of Beethoven's "33 Variations on a Waltz." Written and Directed by Moises Kaufman
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven. In Association with Tectonic Theatre Project.
"The Night Watcher"
July 1 - July 27, 2008
Mandell Weiss Forum
An engaging one-woman performance about the nuttiness of life.
"Memphis"
Aug 19-Sep. 3
"The Third Story"
September 16 - October 19, 2008
Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre
From the La Jolla Playhouse website (we couldn't say it better...or clearer): "Take the queen of the mob, a chilly scientist, a romantic fairytale set in a Russian forest and a botched science experiment with seven nipples and a chemical dependency, and you have The Third Story." Interesting, indeed. Written by and Starring Charles Busch. Directed by Carl Andress.
"Tobacco Road"
September 30 - October 26, 2008
Mandell Weiss Forum
This searing and modern production promises to astound a new generation with its emotionally gripping and glaringly truthful look at humanity.
From the novel "Tobacco Road" by Erskine Caldwell. Adapted by Jack Kirkland. Directed by David Schweizer.
"Xanadu"
November 11 - December 21, 2008
Mandell Weiss Theatre
Greek muse, Cleo, descends from Mt. Olympus to California on a quest to inspire the first ROLLER DISCO...hey, it’s 1980. Book by Douglas Carter Beane. Music and Lyrics by John Farrar & Jeff Lynne.
Directed by Christopher Ashley
Reader reviews
Average reader rating:
3 Reader Reviews
Top Notch Regional Theater in San Diego!!!
I've been a subscriber at La Jolla Playhouse for a while now - and this is one of the best seasons to date! 33 Variations was excellent, Night Watcher was incredibly moving... and Memphis? Well.. it really rocks the house!
This is the first time I'm going back to see as how a 2nd time. Truly, wonderful musical.
I'm excited for the rest of this eclectic theatre's season. La Jolla Playhouse is one of the best reasons to live in San Diego!
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Caution - Terrible place - Horrible Show
What a horrible place. So unfriendly and rude. And the current show "Memphis" is abysmal. I just returned from NYC and Broadway. This show will never make it there
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By intruder77 on 9/21/2008
He must be, as said in the Producers, a Certified Public Hole. This place is wonderful. Memphis is fantastic, as is third story. Friendliest and most kind crative staff in town. Jwwcpa has another agenda besides writing a review.
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