The leaves may be falling outside, but inside ArtsWest Gallery & Playhouse, everything is coming into bloom.
On Wednesday, September 21, we kicked off the 2016-2017 season with our annual Volunteer Appreciation Night and a preview of our Season Premiere: Richard Eyre’s brilliant new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts.
That evening, as a wave of friendly faces passed through the doors, we reflected on our profound connection with the community that supports us – without the help of volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to create bold, imaginative and daring theater experiences year after year.
On that note: Ghosts. Our season premiere – a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s 1882 classic – is truly daring theatre. So much so, in fact, that England’s official censor banned it from public performance. In 2013, acclaimed director Richard Eyre has brought Ghosts roaring back to life in a poetic new adaptation, and now it is on stage at ArtsWest – under Mathew Wright’s incredible direction, it is a production theater fans cannot miss.
To celebrate opening night, we had delectable treats for our guests, including champagne, cupcakes by Stuffed Cakes, and after-show pizza and drinks at Pizzeria Credo. When the performance ended, we were thrilled to see our excitement for Ghosts matched by the audience: after a standing ovation, praise started pouring in on social media – Facebook fan Michael said Ghosts was an example of “brilliant, engaging theater from beginning to end,” and another Facebook fan, Mary, said she appreciated the “intimacy of the set design” and thought that “the lighting was quite spectacular.” We, of course, are inclined to agree.
We encourage you to follow their lead and experience Ghosts for yourself and discover why this remarkable piece of theater has moved people so deeply for over a century.
Get tickets and learn more.
Starring Suzanne Bouchard, Noah Racey, John Coons, and Sophia Franzella, Paul Shapiro, and directed by Mathew Wright.