Letter from the Directors
Change and challenge are a fact of life. We can fight them or embrace them, but we ignore them at our peril. Rarely has a society faced the level of change and uncertainty staring at us right now. Especially here in California, the economy, technology and cultural identity are constantly and tumultuously evolving. Our place in the world and even the future of our environment are uncertain. The arts, theatre in particular, have been society's tool for interpreting and understanding an ever-changing world, from the Greeks to the most recent off-Broadway drama.
At Solano College Theatre, we accept the reality of change and embrace our role in interpreting it and giving it context. That is our responsibility as entertainers and as educators-of our students, ourselves and our community- and we take it very seriously. A big part of this is an ability to change ourselves. We must be willing to try new ideas in the classroom, on stage and in our operations which address the change going on around us.
All of which is an admittedly grandiose way of introducing a season filled with change. Last year the theme of our plays was transformation. This year, we are taking the next step and changing ourselves, as well. The only constant is our commitment to the highest quality in everything we do. Beyond that, everything is up for grabs. New ideas; new ways of doing things; different perspectives and voices. Turning the world upside down:
Noises Off is pure farce. It takes Murphy's Law to a hysterically funny extreme, creating a topsy turvey world in which the only certainties are the potential for disaster and the determination to carry on no matter what.
Assassins looks at the outsiders who can not cope with change. It offers an unflattering but compelling look at nine Americans who tried to make their own reality with a gun. This darkly funny musical ultimately celebrates the strength and resiliency of the American people and our institutions.
In Seussical, the Musical, we see the world through the fun house mirror of Dr. Seuss' most beloved characters, including the Cat in the Hat and Horton the Elephant. Sometimes it is through the fantastic that we can clearly see the simple and basic.
Identity is fluid and uncertain in The Talented Mr. Ripley. With the grace of a chameleon, Tom Ripley recreates himself again and again in this provocative thriller.
'Doing things by the book' takes on a whole new meaning in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Defining the modern musical comedy, H2$ turns corporate America on its head, with riotous results.
Professor Harold Hill takes a little bit from all of our shows-he is chameleon and businessman, outsider and mirror. Through him, The Music Man gives us a gentle, funny portrait of America in its adolescence (with 76 trombones included at no extra charge).
As we said, the change is not limited to the stage. Take a look at our new subscription package. We reinvented it to give you the ultimate power of choice. Select only those shows that you want to see, whether they be the edgy, adult drama or the family-friendly, Broadway classics. You'll also receive the best prices and benefits. We came up with a slew of events and opportunities available only to you. Some are, admittedly, educational, but mostly we came up with stuff that we thought would be a lot of fun. We hope you will agree and join us for everything.
- Chris Guptil, Managing Director
- George Maguire, Artistic Director
