Ensemble Theatre Explores Responsibility With Its 2020 Season

Entering its 13th year of production, The Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga will be exploring the nature of responsibility in its 2020 season. “We like to pick a theme to help streamline the choices of what we want to produce, but also to give purpose to what we are doing as an organization,” says Founder Garry Lee Posey.  “The theatre we excel at creating has always been purpose-driven.  We want to impart messages that are personal, relatable, and accessible for both our artists and the audiences.” 

Since July 2007 with the inaugural production of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America: Millenium Approaches, ETC has produced over 75 productions along with six short play festivals.  They have partnered with various other nonprofits in creating unique experiences that enrich the cultural landscape of Chattanooga.

This year will be no different as ETC partners with the Chattanooga Autism Center in the creating and launching of The Spectrum Playhouse.  The program will center around a summer theatre and performance camp for individuals on the Autism Spectrum and will feature a kick-off event in March with an original devised performance called Shades of a Spectrum. 

“This program grew from a partnership created in 2019 where ETC and CAC met in preparation for producing The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and having an open-auditions call specifically for neuro-diverse actors,” said Mr. Posey. 

Review for the shows: 

Opening the 2020 season in February will be Assassins.  Assassins is the first Sondheim ETC has produced and explores the responsibility of citizenship.  This historical presentation of the presidential-assassination-attempts up through Reagan paints individuals who feel compelled by a greater responsibility to take an action that is morally reprehensible, regardless of political preferences.  “We see this as a highly relevant discussion given the current political climate and upcoming elections,” said Mr. Posey.

Following Assassins is Byrony Lavery’s three person play Frozen.  This play looks at the responsibility of one’s actions and how those actions can have a far reaching and unintended effect.  “How does one’s psychology factor into the responsibilities of criminals is the surface theme of Lavery’s play," said Mr. Posey. "But moving beyond that, it explores the responsibility of forgiveness, the responsibility of knowledge and science and how it can be both damaging and revelatory." 

Fnishing up the first half of the 2020 season will be the relatively new musical The Bridges of Madison County, which is based off the book of the same name.  Written by prolific music theatre composer Jason Robert Brown with a book by Marsha Norman, the musical takes a look at the responsibility of commitment.  “The book and the music are both so strong and evocative, the plot is ripe with surprises and the characters each possess such a depth that we actually felt responsible to share it with the Chattanooga community,” said Mr. Posey. 

The second half of the 2020 season will kick off with Eurydice, a play by Sarah Ruhl that reimagines the myth of Orpheus from the perspective of his wife Eurydice. “Thematically we are suggesting that Ruhl’s play looks at the responsibility of relationships, such as between spouses or family members,” said Mr. Posey, “we get to flex our creative muscles quite a bit with this one -- which is a necessary responsibility ETC has for staying relevant.” 

Following Eurydice is Adam Rapp’s The Wolf in the River.  “A very dark and gripping play that examines the responsibility of an audience,” suggests Mr. Posey.  Rapp’s play concerns itself with an individual trying to escape a toxic environment.  “Every day of our lives we are an audience to someone who is manufacturing a story in order to hide the pain that is their reality.  What if we saw that reality?  Would we be more inclined to intervene?” Posey questions. 

ETC will close its season with a musical that uses the words of Gertrude Stein for the lyrics set to music by composer Stephen Flaherty.  Loving, Repeating is a fascinating romp through the world of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.  Stein’s work is full of word play and nuance, toying with both the definition and grammatical usage of popular words and phrases.  “The central conceit of the play involves a lecture that Stein gave at the University of Chicago," said Mr. Posey. "Stein owned a responsibility to language.  Language is the basis of story.  Stories are the responsibilities of theatre artists." 

More information about the cast, the directors and the performance dates can be found by visiting the newly redesigned website at www.ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com, visiting the Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga Facebook page or emailing ensemble.theatre.chattanooga@gmail.com.  Tickets can be purchased for the season opener Assassins by visiting the following link: www.artful.ly/store/events/19824