A thrilling and theatrical array of classic and contemporary works highlight Temple Theaters’ upcoming 2007-2008 40th Anniversary season, befitting the celebration of four distinguished decades of exemplary theater performance, professional training and scholarship at Temple University. The Department of Theater pays tribute to our proud tradition of artistic and academic excellence by fielding a season of works ranging from Shakespeare to Saroyan to Sondheim; dynamic restagings of iconic American masterworks to premieres of cutting-edge, contemporary dramas. The highly anticipated 40th Anniversary Season of Temple Theaters, which will also include a free-to-the-public Second Season, begins on October 3, 2007 and will run though April 26, 2008.

The season begins with a provocative world premier: In Conflict, based on Yvonne Latty’s acclaimed book of first-person interviews with Iraq War veterans adapted for the stage and directed by nationally recognized, award-winning director Douglas C. Wager, who serves as Temple’s resident Artistic Director. In Conflict is a searing portrait of Iraq War veterans speaking out on duty, loss, and the fight to stay alive amid one of the most controversial conflicts in modern American history. This world-premiere docudrama, sure to raise important wartime commentary, will be staged at Randall Theater, October 3rd – 13th.

Things take a decidedly more musical turn with a startlingly original new staging of Sondheim’s contemporary classic Into the Woods, the first of two Tomlinson Theater mainstage productions this season. The inventive Tony-winning book and score, by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim respectively, has been refreshingly re-envisioned by the director for last season’s acclaimed production of Ragtime, the Musical and new Temple Theater faculty member Peter Reynolds, with sets and costumes by award-winning faculty designer Marie Anne Chiment. Into the Woods employs beloved childhood characters such as Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel, among others, as it considers the long-held concept of “happily ever after” through the retelling of classic fairy tales. It will premiere at Tomlinson Theater on October 25th and run through November 4th.

Next, the season returns to Randall Theater for the third production, a new staging of William Saroyan’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork The Time of Your Life.

This production, directed by Donna Snow, Head of Acting for Temple’s Department of Theater, has the distinction of specifically commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Temple Theaters: Four decades ago, The Time of Your Life was first staged at Temple University as part of its inaugural theater season in 1967-68. The timeless humanity of Saroyan’s beautiful story leaps to theatrical life in the close intimacy of Randall Theater. There, we are transported to Nick’s waterfront saloon circa 1939, a misfit harbor for drifters and dreamers who suddenly find their lives awakened by the sublime intervention of a mysterious lush named Joe. The Time of Your Life will once again grace the Temple Theaters stage November 14th – December 1st.

The New Year brings three strikingly different works to the 2007-2008 40th Anniversary Season. First among them is The Darker Face of Earth, a Philadelphia premier staging of the acclaimed play by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Rita Dove. The play, directed by lauded playwright, actor and Temple faculty member Charles Dumas, artfully reinvents the story of Oedipus through the account of a slave revolt in pre-Civil War South Carolina. The Darker Face of Earth, affected by Dove’s lyrical evocation of the tragic consequences of interracial love, will play Randall Theater, February 6th –16th.

In March, Shakespeare takes to Tomlinson Theater for a thrilling evening with The Merchant of Venice, undoubtedly one of The Bard’s most popular—and controversial—plays. Dignity, betrayal, love, and vengeance mark the exploits of legendary moneylender Shylock and the ever-resourceful heiress Portia, vividly conceived by director Dan Kern, Head of Temple’s Graduate Directing Program, and his design team in this masterful new staging of a powerful Shakespeare classic. The Merchant of Venice will be presented March 19th – 29th in the largeness of Tomlinson Theater.

To celebrate the culmination of our 2007-2008 40th Anniversary Season, Temple will present a joyfully wicked comedy, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, from Oscar-winning writer Alan Ball (American Beauty). This hilarious and heartfelt romp takes us to Knoxville, Tennessee where a besieged group of flustered bridesmaids hide in an upstairs bedroom angsting over the daunting challenges of being a modern American girl. Five Women Wearing the Same Dress will mark the Temple University debut of award-winning director, and Theater Department Chair, Roberta Sloan in Randall Theater, April 16th – 26th.

In addition to the Main Stage productions, Temple Theaters offers Second Season, a free-to-the-public venue for emerging voices in the dramatic arts. Second Season brings together more than 200 talented undergraduate and graduate Theater students, as well as distinguished members of Temple’s faculty and staff, to celebrate and promote the works of the gifted young artists and distinguished recognized artists. To kick things off, Second Season will present New Voices: The 20th Annual Young Playwrights Festival which will present staged readings of prize-winning works from the annual Philadelphia Young Playwrights competition. Produced by Temple lecturer David Ingram, New Voices will play Tomlinson Theater, September 27th – 29th.

Other highlights of the Second Season include: the world premier Staged Reading of celebrated novelist Leslie Epstein’s new play San Remo Drive, directed by Roberta Sloan (Rehearsal Hall, January 31st – February 2nd); a staging of the exciting new play, Vigils by Noah Haidle, a Philadelphia premier directed by MFA Graduate Directing student Brenna Geffers (Randall Theater, October 22nd – 24th); and adaptation of Alexander Pushkin’s famed short story The Queen of Spades, a world premier, adapted for the stage and directed by MFA Graduate Directing student Armina LaManna (Randall Theater, February 25th – 27th).

Also in Second Season: Poetry in Motion, directed by Temple faculty member Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon (Randall Theater, December 5th – 6th, May 7th – 8th); Staged Selections from the Playwriting Class, also directed by Williams-Witherspoon (Randall Theater, December 7th and May 9th); and a One-Act Play Festival produced by Donna Snow in cooperation with the Acting Emphasis Thesis students (Randall Theater, April 30th – May 3rd).

Performances for the Main Season of the Temple Theaters 2007-2008 40th Anniversary Season are presented in the Tomlinson and Randall Theaters at Temple University Main Campus at cross-streets 13th and Norris. For additional information on the Main Season, as well as Second Season, please call 215-204-1334 or email at theater@temple.edu.

To purchase tickets, please call the Temple Theaters Information Line at 1-800-298-4200 or visit us on the internet at www.liacourascenter.com. A season subscription for six shows is $85 per person (general admission); single-ticket prices are $20. ‘Park and Play Package’ offers 2 subscriptions for all six shows with parking for $200 total. Discounts available for seniors, students, and Temple employees.