American Stage, St. Pete’s renowned theater company, has recently announced its highly-anticipated 46th season, and theater enthusiasts are in for a surprise with the lineup. The 2023-24 schedule is bringing some new school excitement to the Burg, with a modern lineup of performances punctuated by a beloved classic for the American Stage in the Park series next April. (Learn more here about this year’s American Stage in the Park performances, currently showing Ragtime: The Musical.)
The upcoming season at American Stage (full lineup below) is set to showcase almost entirely contemporary shows, though not without a touch of classic magic, as the company will be performing Disney’s Beauty and the Beast musical in the spring of ’24 as part of its annual al fresco shows at Demens Landing Park. This outdoor production is expected to draw a large audience to enjoy the beloved tale under the stars.
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American Stage’s Producing Artistic Director, Helen R. Murray, expressed her excitement about the season’s theme of powerful stories and the diverse voices that will take the stage. “It’s only new if you haven’t seen it before – just like a movie or a restaurant you haven’t tried yet. Remember that at one time Hamlet was a new play,” Murray shared.
The season will kick off in October with the play Indecent, directed by Murray herself, which is famous for its portrayal of God’s of Vengeance, known for featuring the first lesbian kiss on Broadway. Patrick A. Jackson will also make his directorial debut at American Stage with acts of faith, bringing a fresh perspective to the stage in November and December.
One of the highlights of the season will be The Figs, a witty fairytale comedy by playwright Doug Robinson. The Figs was recently featured at the Lift Every Voice New Play Festival in March, receiving rave reviews for its joy and playfulness, and is set to close out the season.
In addition to the mainstage productions, American Stage will also be introducing a new arm of the company called “Beyond the Stage,” which will bring art, life, and performance to off-site spaces in Pinellas. More details about this exciting venture will be revealed in July.
To make theater more accessible, American Stage is offering monthly payment options for season packages, and a special deal for first-time subscribers called the “First Time First Look Membership,” allowing patrons to enjoy all six shows of the season, including the musical, at a discounted rate.
With its fresh and contemporary lineup, American Stage’s 46th season promises to be a captivating and inclusive experience for theater-goers in St. Petersburg and beyond. Full lineup and show descriptions below. Learn more at americanstage.org.
The Shows:
Indecent by Paula Vogel
Directed by Helen R. Murray
Dates: October 4-29, 2023
“A love story worth fighting for.”
Description: A play that recounts the fiery controversy that a lesbian kiss in the 1923 play, God of Vengeance sparked, Indecent is a love story at its core. A brothel owner’s daughter and a sex worker discover passion on stage, and our more-than-disapproving characters are what make the rest of this play, well, indecent. A deeply moving and hopeful play inspired by the true events stands as a grounding work of Jewish culture, we hope you’ll see what all the talk is about.
acts of faith by David Yee
directed by Patrick Arthur Jackson
Dates: Nov 21- Dec 17, 2023
“A story about the eternal struggle between good and evil.”
Description: From the African Copperbelt to the backwoods of Canada, ‘acts of faith follows a young woman named Faith who gets mistaken for a prophet. When a revered religious leader attempts to take advantage of her plight, she begins using her ‘gift’ to right wrongs and punish the wicked. Far from home, Faith will come up against the ultimate test of her convictions in a final confrontation between sin and sainthood, morality and godliness all held in this subversive and witty new play.
The Chinese Lady by Lloyd Suh
Directed by Greg Keng Strasser
Dates: January 31- February 25, 2024
“A story that reminds us history isn’t always black and white.”
Description: Her feet are bound, her freedom is non-existent, the first Chinese woman to step foot in America was treated as a sideshow act in the darkest parts of the 1800s. The Chinese Lady is anything but dark, told with winking humor and forthrightness, it follows the story of 16-year-old Afong Moy, who was immediately put on display for a paying public once she arrived in New York. A beguiling look into this wild journey and the human urge to belong.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in the Park
Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Book by Linda Wolverton
Directed by Kenny Moten
Dates: April 3- May 5, 2024
“A story that asks us to define what beauty really is.”
Description: Talking teapots and clocks, an emotionally-stunted beast, a whimsical princess – you know the story. American Stage’s Park show is the Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast. Per tradition,The beast is ‘really’ a young prince spellbound to appear as a monster due to his shallow ways, and if he and Belle can fall in love, like really in love, he’ll be free. But as most Disney fairytales go, there’s a time crunch. Singalong with us in the park.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Book by John Cameron Mitchell Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask
Directed by Kirsten Kelly
Dates: May 15- June 17, 2024
“A story of defiant self-expression.”
Description: Welcome to a euphoric night on a rock ‘n’ roll rollercoaster with our transgender icon and protagonist Hedwig – a hedonistic genderqueer anti-heroine seemingly hellbent on destruction. This darkly humorous self-love story, powered by a live band, epic rock music and hard-hitting lyrics, explores gender identity, acceptance and the freedom to be whoever you want to be. This multi-Tony award winning show will leave you begging for more. And catch an additional week of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the grunge alleway venue that is Jannus Live!
The Figs by Doug Robinson
Directed by Helen R. Murray
Dates: July 10- August 4, 2024
“A story about kindness and the reward it brings.”
The king that rules the magical, ludicrous, kingdom of The Figs is quite actually addicted to figs, mah lord. His more publicly well-received daughter is in love with an inn-keeper in a sort of star-crossed lovers situation. A set of friends – human and swan – are on a journey thrown into existence by the royal family’s insanity. All the while, our wily and multiple identity-sporting storyteller keeps us on a track that feels like the “Shrek” universe on an acid trip. But really, this is a story of kindness and what we’ll sacrifice for love. Sometimes stories exist just for the sake of telling stories. World premiere!
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