Thursday, January 17, 2013

Press Pass | New Jerusalem

Big Idea shines brilliantly with David Ives' masterpiece New Jerusalem: The Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza at Talmud Torah Congregation: Amsterdam, July 27, 1656.


"...a stunning piece about ideas that break convention..." 
- Maxwell Mckee, SN&R

Sacramento News & Review

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

2013 Begins!

The Big Idea 2013 Season begins and we're sure it's something that you don't want to miss out on!

Big Idea 2013 Season: Face the Tyrant.

New Jerusalem: The Interrogation of Baruch De Spinoza At Talmud Torah Congregation: Amsterdam, July 27, 1656 
by David Ives. 
January 11 - February 9

One philosopher's progressive theories of divinity threaten to destroy an entire community.  This brilliant young man is presented with an unimaginable dilemma: be true to himself or face excommunication from his religion and in the process lose his family, his culture, and the woman he loves.


As You Like It by William Shakespeare, 
Adapted by Brian Harrower
March 1 - 30

All the world's a stage, including Arden Park, where Rosalind flees in a desperate attempt to save her life after a coup deposes her father.  Homeless and in disguise, she wanders through the urban wilderness, encountering a wacky assortment of colorful vagabonds and discovering love, laughter, and unexpected compassion along the way.  Happy endings abound in this modern version of one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies.


Private Eyes by Steven Dietz 
April 26 - May 25

Who can you trust?  Matthew's wife, Lisa, may be having an affair with Adrian, a British theatre director.  Or perhaps the affair is part of a play being rehearsed.  Or perhaps Matthew has imagined all of it simply to have something to report to Frank, his therapist.  And who is Cory - the mysterious woman who seems to shadow the others?  Nothing is as it seems in this hilarious "relationship thriller" about love, lust and the power of deception. 

 A Contemporary American's Guide to a Successful Marriage 
c. 1959 by Robert Bastron
June 14 - July 13

It's the late 1950s.  It is a time of innocence and overly-helpful public service announcements; where all a young woman needs to be blissfully happy is a husband, a home, and a baby to love.  Or so we were told.  Hilarity ensues as two young couples embark on their lives together aided by the ever present, but perhaps misguided advice of one eager public service announcer.


The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh
August 2 - 31

The untimely death of Wee Thomas the cat brings a heartbroken Irish freedom fighter with "anger management issues" home to say farewell.  His search for those responsible for his beloved feline's demise leads to a series of violent and bloody reprisals.  Uproarious, over-the-top, and unmistakably Irish, this play will have you simultaneously falling out of your seat with laughter and cringing in horror.

Lonesome Hollow by Lee Blessing
September 27 - October 26

In the not too distant future, a photographer of artistic nudes is sentenced to an open-ended imprisonment in a state run "penal village" for sexual offenders.  Seeking to find peace among a community of rapists and child molesters, he builds a Zen labyrinth under the watchful eye of a sympathetic guard.  With shades of Hawthorne, Guantanamo Bay, and A Clockwork Orange, this darkly thoughtful play explores the dangers of society's desperate quest for a sense of security.


Outrage by Itamar Moses
November 15 - December 14

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."  A time-bending roller-coaster ride through history, Outrage deftly moves between Ancient Greece, the Inquisition, Nazi Germany and modern day academia.  Outrage examines the price people pay for staying true to their principles in the face of vicious oppression and reminds us that the revolutionary of one era may become the tyrant of the next.

2013 Ticket Info:           
All “Thrifty Thursday” show tickets: $10
Advance ONLINE ticket sales: General Admission tickets: $16 | SARTA/Senior/Student tickets: $14
All Tickets sold AT THE DOOR: General Admission tickets: $20 | SARTA/Senior/Student tickets: $18
Season Tickets: $70
Flex Passes: 4-show ($52); 6-show ($78)
Gift Certificates available!

www.bigideatheatre.com