Go BEYOND THE PAGE - 01/27/11
Stephen Metcalfe and
Playwrights Project's Chelsea Whitmore and Playwrights Project invite you to go Beyond the Page with a series of discussion forums surrounding the creation of new plays. These forums will follow performances of Cygnet Theatre's World Premiere of The Tragedy of Commons by Stephen Metcalfe on Feb. 2, 9 and 16. Forums are hosted by Playwrights Project
Beyond the Page
DATES AND PANELISTS
- Wednesday, Feb. 2nd:
What makes a good play? . . . What to consider in revising your script
- Wednesday, Feb. 9th:
Getting your new play produced
- Wednesday, Feb. 16th:
The possibilities and pitfalls of writing about places you know!
 Panelists include:
Stephen Metcalfe
Shirley Fishman
Deborah Salzer
Seema Sueko
Ruff Yeager
Tim West
More TBA ...
Forums follow the performance of The Tragedy of the Commons
Forums are FREE (with purchase of The Tragedy of the Commons ticket)
Cygnet recieves 7 San Diego Critic's Circle Awards - 01/10/11
 Cygnet was honored with 7 Craig Noel Awards at the 2010 San Diego Critics Circle Awards held Monday, January 10 at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, San Diego, in La Jolla.
Sweeney Todd was one of the big winners of the evening receiving multiple awards for Outstanding Resident Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Sean Murray and James Vasquez), Outstanding Musical Direction (Charlie Reuter), and Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Female (Deborah Gilmour Smith).
Private Lives was also awarded multiple honors including Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Female (Shana Wride), Outstanding Lighting Design (Eric Lotze), Outstanding Scenic Design (Andy Hull).
Actor Steve Gunderson was awarded Actor of the Year for his body of work in 2010 which included Judge Terpin in Cygnet's Sweeney Todd along with performances in Hairspray at San Diego Rep, Into the Woods at New Village Arts, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Old Globe.
This year's award show also featured the first recipient of the Sandra Ellis-Troy Scholarship named for beloved the San Diego actor and Cygnet Resident Artist. The first scholarship was awarded to Victoria Matthews.
Cygnet congratulates all the winners and nominees. Thank you to all of the artists, crew, staff and supporters who helped make 2010 such an exciting year at the Old Town Theatre.
20/20 Sale - 01/07/11
 CYGNET's 20/20 SALE RETURNS!
JANUARY 14-16, 2011
Take advantage of great savings. For 3 days only, Cygnet will offera limited number of seats for each remaining performance in our 2010/2011 season at JUST $20!* That's up to 60% off of the regular ticket price. There will be a minimum of 20 seats per performance date offered. But beware, this sale price is only good for 3 days, Jan 14-16, and only while supplies last.
Tickets will be available for:
THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS • CABARET • OUR TOWN
There will also be discounts available on 3-Play subscription packages.
For more informtion call the box office at 619-337-1525 or visit our website.
*Limit of 6 tickets per order. Not valid on previously purchased tickets or in conjunction with other offers. Tickets must be purchased between Jan 14-16. Sale price does not apply to special events. Offer expires 1/16/11.
Meet Zuzu - 12/15/10
 Here's your chance to meet Karolyn Grimes, who played Zuzu in the original Frank Capra film of It's a Wonderful Life. Ms. Grimes will attend the show on Dec 30 and participate in a Q and A following the performance. She will also have memorabilia available for purchase prior to the performance.
At the tender age of 4, Karolyn Grimes began memorizing lines and acting in the fantasy world of cinema. She worked with film legends John Wayne, Cary Grant, Bing Crosby, Loretta Young, Fred MacMurray, Betty Grable, Danny Kaye and, of course, Jimmy Stewart. She already had appeared in four films when the part of Zuzu came along. It was just another small part, but one that has made an indelible imprint on the American consciousness.
2008/2009 Subscriptions Packages Now Available - 05/11/08
 TWO GREAT VENUES! ONE GREAT SEASON!
Season Subscriptions are now available for the 2008/2009 Season. Now is your opportunity to reserve the best seats at both our Rolando and Old Town venues and save up to 40% off of the regular ticket price. Cygnet offers three great packages to choose from.
Choose a 6-Play package and catch all 6 productions* of our upcoming season at a savings of up to 40% off of the regular ticket price.
Choose a 4-Play packages and select any 4 plays from regular season* at a savings of up to 30% off the regular ticket price.
Need more flexibility? Choose a Flex Pack ad receive 6 tickets which can be used for any production of the up coming season in any combination.
Season Subscribers also receive the first chance to purchase tickets to our Holiday Shows, A Christmas Carol and It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at a savings of $10 off per ticket.
Click here for prices and to download an order form or contact the box office at 619-337-1525 and order your subscription today.
*6-Play and 4-Play packages do not include Holiday Shows.
Old Town Theatre Campaign Announced - 05/10/08
 Cygnet Theatre Company has announced the public phase of its $975,000 campaign to finance renovations to the Old Town Theatre facility, according to Ellen Cherin, president of the company’s Board of Trustees.
The company’s contract with the State of California requires Cygnet to provide $375,000 in renovations over the span of the ten-year agreement. However, the board felt that amount would be insufficient to bring the Old Town building up to Cygnet’s artistic standards.
Renovations will include larger restrooms that are ADA compliant, new state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, and cosmetic upgrades of the seating, carpets, lobby and building exterior.
"Since the decision was made to raise funds for these purposes, we have been able to raise over $600,000 just by quietly talking with our supporters," said Bill Schmidt, executive director. "We’re now confident that our goal, which includes an amount for bridge funding, is within reach and we are ready to go public with our needs."
Renovation work will begin immediately following Cygnet's production of A Little Night Music. The newly-renovated theatre is scheduled to re-open in late November with a holiday presentation of the classic A Christmas Carol. The Victorian theme of the play will echo the new look of the theatre.
Artistic Director Sean Murray adds, "We believe that our efforts at the Old Town Theatre will reinstate it as a destination for local San Diego residents as well as for park visitors. Bringing a full season of theatrical productions back into the park should have a major positive impact on the Old Town community." 
2008-2009 Season Announced - 03/11/08
Cygnet Theatre Company's Artistic Director Sean Murray and Executive Director Bill Schmidt are pleased to announce the 2008/9 Season. The new season, which will be Cygnet's first full season producing shows in both the Rolando/College Theatre and the newly acquired Old Town Theatre, will feature a west coast premieres in The Receptionist by Adam Bock, two Southern California premieres in Love Song by John Kolvenbach and Dying City by Christopher Shinn, and the San Diego premiere of the 2006 Tony Award winning play The History Boys by Alan Bennett. The season will close with Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's Assassins, winner of five Tony awards including Best Revival of a Musical. In addition to the six-play season, Cygnet will offer two Holiday Shows. The holiday favorite It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play will return to the Rolando/College Theatre, while a new holiday tradition will begin in Old Town with Sean Murray's adaptation of A Christmas Carol.
"We are very excited to venture into our sixth season with the addition of The Old Town Theatre in the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park to our wonderful Rolando/College space," said Murray. "Producing in each of these two very different theatres will give us the opportunity to present productions that can stretch our possibilities, open up our horizons and provide a richer and more thrilling theatre-going experience."
The first two productions of the 2008/9 season will be performed in Cygnet's Rolando/College Theatre while the Old Town Theatre undergoes renovations. The renovations, set to begin following Cygnet's current production of A Little Night Music, will include bringing the building up to current ADA standards, increasing the restroom capacity, removing the old carpet, replacing the worn seating and performing many other cosmetic upgrades to enhance the overall patron experience. Cygnet will reopen the Old Town Theatre in November with A Christmas Carol. Following that, productions will alternate between the two venues.
The new season will also introduce a change in the performance schedule. Beginning next season, Cygnet will offer performances on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm. The added performances will provide patrons more opportunities for greater savings and added flexibility.
For more information regarding subscriptions please contact the box office at 619-337-1525 or visit www.cygnettheatre.com.
Performances are Wednesdays at 7:30 pm, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm and 7pm. There will be no Wednesday performances during previews.
August Wilson readings postponed - 02/18/08
One Performance Still Scheduled
Cygnet Theatre Company and the San Diego Black Ensemble have postponed their scheduled readings of the plays of August Wilson at Cygnet Theatre. The readings will be rescheduled for a later date which is still to be determined.
The postponement will not effect the following reading:
Two Trains Running will be presented at the Malcolm X Library on Tuesday, February 26 at 6:30pm. The Malcolm X Library is located at 5148 Market St., San Diego, CA 92114. Donations requested. Proceeds to benefit the library's Children's Book Fund. For more information call (619) 527-3405.
A Little Night Music to be performed in Old Town - 01/16/08
Cygnet Theatre Company has announced that the upcoming production of A Little Night Music will be performed at the newly acquired Old Town Theatre. Cygnet Theatre decided to move the Stephen Sondheim musical to Old Town Theatre to take advantage of the larger dressing room and backstage space that the musical requires. It will also allow Cygnet to introduce the venue to its patrons.
Subscription packages are currently available for the remaining three shows of the 2007-08 Season - Fences, A Little Night Music and A Number. Single tickets for the A Little Night Music will go on sale beginning February 4th at noon.
Contact the Box Office at 619-337-1525 for more information.
Cygnet honored with Five Patt - 01/15/08
 Cygnet Theatre with honored with five awards at the 11th annual Patt
Cygnet leases the Old Town Theatre - 01/04/08
Cygnet Theatre Company is thrilled to announce that we have reached an agreement with the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation on a ten-year lease of the Old Town Theatre located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.
Sean Murray, Cygnet's Artistic Director, said, "The revival of Old Town Theatre as our new additional venue is so exciting on many levels.
Yellowman headlines Union-Tribune's top ten theatre productions of 2007. - 12/23/07
 Communicating Doors also makes list.
Two Cygnet productions made the Union-Tribune's annual list of top theatre productions. Both productions were directed by Esther Emery who also had a third production on the list, Moxie's Devil Dog Six which she co-directed with Jennifer Eve Thorn. Emery will be directing the upcoming production of A Number which opens in May at Cygnet.
Below is the article from the U-T
A simple walk across a stage captured a play's high drama
- ANNE MARIE WELSH , San Diego Union-Tribune
"Yellowman" by Dael Orlandersmith - Jan. 13, 2007; Cygnet Theatre
You knew when you left director Esther Emery's staging of Dael Orlandersmith's "Yellowman" that this potent production would linger in the mind long after the haunting close. And it did.
Exquisitely directed, sensuous and sympathetic in its designs, and beautifully acted by Monique Gaffney and Mark Broadnax, "Yellowman" explored a love affair doomed by the corrosive effects of intra-racial prejudice.
Visually, there was Nick Fouch's set, a simple, earth-hued backdrop with a crack slashed across its middle through which Eric Lotze's intense, saturated lighting peeped. And dramatically, the piece ranged from lyrical incantation to playful scenes for Alma and Eugene as teens to bruising confrontations of Eugene and his darker-complexioned father or harrowing encounters of Alma and her alcoholic mother.
But what keeps the piece so memorable nearly a year later was not just such fraught imagery or high drama. It was the contrasting release one felt when Gaffney's Alma escaped the baking heat and hard facts of black-on-black prejudice in coastal South Carolina for Hunter College.
In a single jaunty walk across the Cygnet space, the vibrant polyglot world of Manhattan seemed to open up for her - and us - as her skirt swished and hips swiveled in rhythms evoking various ethnic neighborhoods. That's all that happened - the tilt of a hip and chin, the rustle of a skirt, a new musical riff in George Ye's piano-laden sound design and you knew Alma was free. Gaffney carefully calibrated that walking, for she's a well-trained dancer as well as an actor.
We heard bits from salsa legend Hector Lavoe, Otis Redding, gospel piano, some Miles Davis and what Ye labeled in a much later conversation "my personal stuff, a big weave of things."
Unconsciously we sensed that in experiencing the multiculturalism of New York, Alma cracked open the racial code that had separated her, with her deep ebony skin, from Obama-like Eugene. In that moment, a star-crossed lover briefly lived free.
TOP 10 THEATER PRODUCTIONS
1. "Yellowman" by Dael Orlandersmith, directed by Esther Emery at Cygnet, Jan. 13.
2. "Bell, Book and Candle" by John van Druten, directed by Darko Tresnjak at the Old Globe, Aug. 9.
3. "A Catered Affair" by Harvey Fierstein and John Bucchino, directed by John Doyle at the Old Globe, Sept. 30.
4. "Crimes of the Heart" by Beth Henley, directed by Dana Case at New Village Arts, Feb. 11.
5. "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare with Lucas Hall, directed by Darko Tresnjak at the Old Globe, June 30.
6. "Devil Dog Six" by Mary Fengar Gale, directed by Jennifer Eve Thorn and Esther Emery at Moxie, June 17.
7. "The Adding Machine" by Elmer Rice, directed by Daniel Aukin at La Jolla Playhouse, Sept. 16.
8. "Communicating Doors" by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Esther Emery at Cygnet, Aug. 25.
9. "Measure for Measure" by William Shakespeare, directed by Paul Mullins at the Old Globe, July 7.
10. "after the quake" adapted by Frank Galati from two stories by Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, directed by Galati at La Jolla Playhouse, July 29.
Cygnet hits the airwaves! - 12/20/07
 Listen to interviews and select scenes from recent radio appearances on SignOnRadio and KPBS featuring director Sean Murray, Sound Artisit Scott Paulson and actors Tom Andrew, Brenda Dodge, Jonathan Dunn-Rankin, Veronica Murphy and Trevor Hollingsworth. Click Here to listen.
Cygnet tops San Diego Magazine's Theatre Year in Review - 12/04/07
Excerpt from 'Year in Rewind'
by Don Braunagel - San Diego Magazine, December 2007
This year was especially rich in such shows, and nowhere more so than at Cygnet, arguably the local Theater of the Year. The team of artistic director Sean Murray and managing director Bill Schmidt produced a schedule with no weak spots and three knockouts - Yellowman, Arcadia and Communicating Doors - two of which were precisely directed by Esther Emery. Yellowman delineated the racial hierarchy among African-Americans, and Doors was a tone-perfect version of Alan Ayckbourn's time-tripping adventure. Arcadia was a Murray-directed reprise of the multilayered Tom Stoppard work Murray previously staged at North Coast Rep.
To read the full article visit San Diego Magazine
Rosina Reynolds Stars in Arcadia with Daughter Kate! - 06/19/07
 San Diego Favorite Rosina Reynolds stars in Tom Stoppard's elegant comedy Arcadia. Among the other cast members is her daughter Kate. Rosina has directed her daughter in many plays; however, this will be the first production the two will perform together. Kate, who just recently received her degree from Yale in theatre studies, has returned home to perform in Arcadia with her mother. After Arcadia, Kate plans to move to New York to pursue her acting career.
2007-2008 Season Announced! - 04/11/07
 Cygnet Theatre has announced its 2007-2008 Season. The fifth season will bring three San Diego Premieres, a Broadway Musical Masterpieces, the return of a holiday classic, and two tales of suspense.
First up is Tom Stoppard's Arcadia featuring Rosina Reynolds, Jim Chovick (right), and Glynn Bedington. Next is Communicating Doors by Alan Ayckbourn. Just in time for Halloween is the suspense tale, Turn of the Screw. January will bring Fences, which will be followed by A Little Night Music. A Number will close the season.
And don't miss the holiday classic It's a Wonderful Life and Ron Choularton in St. Nicholas.
Cygnet Recognized for Outstanding Achievement - 01/31/05
Cygnet Theatre was recently honored for artistic achievement by the San Diego Critic's Circle and the KPBS Patte Awards in separate gala evenings.
On January 10, critic, Pat Launer, singled out Eric Lotze for his imaginative and stunning lighting design for the backwoods comedy, Escanaba in da Moonlight. David McBean was recognized for his tour-de-force performance in Fully Committed. Artistic director, Sean Murray was recognized for ''directing and designing Cygnet Theatre's entire six play season.'' Our production of the silent-movie opera, Bed and Sofa was named Outstanding Production.
Last evening, at the San Diego Critic's Circle Awards, held in the beautiful auditorium of the Natural History Museum, Cygnet Theatre was honored with seven awards.
Honoring Escanaba in da Moonlight, George Ye was recognized for his sound design, an eery and clever mix of animal noises, space craft, a moving original score and a forty second sound effect of some very notorious wind. Murray received recognition for his design of the over-stuffed deer hunter's cabin.
McBean was again recognized for outstanding solo-performance for Fully Committed.
Bed and Sofa was honored with four awards. Actors Eric Anderson and Julie Jacobs were named for outstanding male and female actors in a musical. Murray received recognition for outstanding direction of a musical and Bed and Sofa was named for outstanding Musical Revival.
Cygnet Theatre is extremely humble to be recognized for our work this past year. It is a true honor to be a part of San Diego's amazingly vibrant theatre community. All of the actors, directors and designers who have worked at our theatre are true artists and we value them and respect them more than we can ever say. We thank them for their hard, dedicated and delightful work with us. They all deserve recognition and we applaud them as we look foward to the rest of our current season. We hope to live up to the honors bestowed on our company.
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