The Chameleon Theatre Circle is proud to announce our Twelfth Season, with all productions taking place at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center.
Paper Dolls by Timothy Braatz, Directed by G.J. Clayburn
September 18 - October 3, 2009
Johnny, a papier-mâché artist ,lives with his girlfriend, Millie, who supports him financially but doesn’t appreciate his artistic vision. Millie and two friends are arrested at a death penalty protest, sparking an argument, among these four comfortable white Americans, about racial stereotypes and the sincerity and effectiveness of liberal protest, and inspiring Johnny to begin a sculpture about John Brown, the nineteenth-century abolitionist who chose dramatic action over polite protest. When Millie insists that Johnny tear down the sculpture (which is in her living room) Johnny walks out, then returns with a better idea. To raise awareness about injustice in the judicial system, he begins building sculptures of real people unfairly sentenced, including Harlan Russell, an African American death row inmate who may be innocent. This is a play about art, race, and how far well-meaning people will or will not go to uphold their ideals and challenge injustice.
Reefer Madness by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, Directed by Phil Gonzales
October 30-November 22, 2009
This musical satire opens in the 1930s with The Lecturer informing the audience of the new drug menace "Marihuana," which threatens the American way of life. His warnings are reinforced by The Placard Girl who throughout the play holds up large signs that clearly state the moral of what we've just seen. From his podium, The Lecturer warns us that action must be taken immediately, before the U.S.A. succumbs to the Demon Weed.
Sylvia by A.R. Gurney, Directed by Mishia Burns Edwards
December 4-20, 2009
Greg and Kate have moved to Manhattan after twenty-two years of child-raising in the suburbs. Greg brings home a dog he found bearing only the name "Sylvia" on her name tag. A street-smart mixture of Lab and Poodle, Sylvia becomes a major bone of contention between husband and wife. To Kate, Sylvia becomes a rival for affection, and Sylvia thinks Kate just doesn’t understand the relationship between man and dog. The marriage is put in serious jeopardy until, after a series of hilarious and touching complications, Greg and Kate learn to compromise, and Sylvia becomes a valued part of their lives.
Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl, Directed by Barbe Marshall
January 22-February 7, 2010
Eurydice retells the myth of Orpheus from the perspective of Eurydice, his wife. Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. With contemporary characters, ingenious plot twists, and breathtaking visual effects, the play is a fresh look at a timeless love story.
The Underpants by Steve Martin, Directed by Frank Blomgren
February 26-March 14, 2010
Louise, wife to ruthless pragmatic government clerk Theo, accidently managed to drop her drawers at the Kaiser’s parade, thus becoming the talk of a thrillingly scandalized town. It seems that every man in Germany, except Theo, now wants to bunk up with her.
Suburb by David Javerbaum and Robert Cohen, Directed by Garrick Dietze
April 9-May 2, 2010
For all the books, movies and sitcoms that have either eulogized or vilified them, the suburbs have been largely ignored by musical theater — until now. Suburb is a musical that takes an insightful, witty, and nuanced view of the world of the lawnmower, the barbecue, and the mall, exploring Suburb’s rites and rituals with a four-person chorus and four main characters.