Two Muses Theatre announces second season

WEST BLOOMFIELD - Two Muses Theatre, a nonprofit, professional theater based in West Bloomfield, will produce five shows for its 2012-13 season beginning in September: a world premiere written by a New York Times best-selling author, a holiday crowd-pleaser, a family theater production, a popular American comedy-drama, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning musical. While dedicated to providing opportunities for female artists, Two Muses Theatre offers something for everyone in its second season.

The season opens with the world premiere of "A Little Work" (Sept. 6-30), a cutting-edge comedy that bestselling author Anita Diamant ("The Red Tent") calls "a mash-up of 'Nip/Tuck' and 'The Man Who Came to Dinner.'" Director Diane Hill said, "It's an honor to be directing the world premiere of 'A Little Work.' Collaborating with such notable authors as Anita Diamant and Stephen McCauley ('The Object of My Affection') is exciting, both for Two Muses and local actors."

Two Muses' inaugural year culminates with the holiday crowd-pleaser "Greetings!" by Tom Dudzick, which the Los Angeles Times pegged, "a wonderful, wacky look at how cleverly a mixture of Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Age philosophy can - in the right hands - flick on the electricity." Directed by Barbie Weisserman, performances begin the day after Thanksgiving and continue through Dec. 16.

In February, Two Muses will present "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" by Tom McCabe, a clever combination of "The Three Little Pigs" and "Little Red Riding Hood," with the big bad wolf stuck between the two stories. Director Nancy Cooper said, "This is a play that children of all ages (including adults!) will enjoy." Performances will take place on weekends Feb. 9 through 24.

The fourth production of the season will be the comedy-drama "Steel Magnolias" by Robert Harling on April 5-28. Most people are familiar with the play that was made popular by a 1989 movie with Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, and Julia Roberts. Co-founder Barbie Weisserman said, "It's a fun play set in a Southern beauty parlor that was an obvious choice for Two Muses with its cast of six women and its hilarious repartee."

Two Muses will end its season with the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical "Next to Normal" by Tom Kitt, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. It's the story of Diana, a suburban mother struggling with manic depression, and the effect that her illness has on her family. Performances will be June 7-30.

Performances this season will be on Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as Sunday afternoons, except for the children's theater production, which will be presented on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Detailed performance schedules are available on the Two Muses Theatre website.

Two Muses Theatre performs in the 160-seat theater inside the Barnes & Noble Booksellers, located at 6800 Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield (south of Maple). There is ample free parking and handicap accessibility.

Individual tickets range from $15 to $25 with discounts for seniors and students.

For tickets and information, please call 248-850-9919 or visit www.twomusestheatre.org.

About Two Muses Theatre
Founded in November 2011 by Diane Hill and Barbie Amann Weisserman, Two Muses Theatre is a nonprofit, professional theater dedicated to increasing opportunities for female artists and artisans. All funds raised from performances and educational workshops go directly into maintaining the theater.