Blackfriars Theatre has announced its
2015-16 season, the first under new Artistic and Managing Director Danny
Hoskins. John Haldoupis, who has operated as the
theater’s artistic director for 35 years, will retire on June 30, at the end of
the 2014-15 season. Hoskins will take over on July 1.

Blackfriars will host a farewell
event for Haldoupis on Saturday, May 30, in the Xerox
Auditorium (100 South Clinton Avenue). Tickets are $35-$50.

The announcement of Blackfriars’ 66th
season was accompanied by the tagline “There’s something more…,” signaling
several new partnerships with Rochester organizations, one more show in the
theatre’s subscription series, and two new season events.

Following the theater’s summer production, jukebox musical
“Beehive, The 60s Musical” (July 10 through July 19), the 2015-16 season will
open with the Aaron Sorkin-penned “A Few Good Men” (September 4 through September 26).

Then the dramatic comedy “Annapurna” by Sharr
White will make its regional premiere October 23 through November 8. Set for
the holidays (December 11 through January 3), Ken Ludwig’s satirical “The
Game’s Afoot, or Holmes for the Holidays” finds Broadway star William Gillette,
known for his role as Sherlock Holmes, donning the deerstalker cap to solve a
murder mystery.

On January 29 through February 14, Blackfriars
will host the world premiere of PUSH Physical Theatre’s “Jekyll & Hyde.” The movement performance company has adapted Robert Louis Stevenson’s “The
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” into what is sure to be a captivating,
intriguing, and physically challenging retelling.

The season continues March 11 through March 26 with David
Auburn’s drama, “Proof,” which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award
for Best Play in 2001. Closing the season is the regional premiere of
“Heathers, the Musical” (May 6 through May 22). The stage adaption of the 1989 dark
cult classic will be directed by Danny Hoskins.

Along with PUSH Physical Theatre, next season will also see Blackfriars collaborating with several Rochester groups. On
April 9, Blackfriars and Writers & Books will
present the first Upstate NY 24-Hour Musical Theatre Festival. Modeled after
the 24-Hour Plays in New York City, the festival will prompt teams to create, write,
compose, rehearse, direct, and stage brand new, 10-to-15-minute musicals.

In collaboration with Unleashed! Improv
and Canary in a Coal Mine, Blackfriars will premiere the
Blackfriars Comedy Series, a full season of long-form
improv, original themed comedy specials, and sketch
comedy.

Blackfriars has also partnered with
RIT’s Department of Performing Arts and Visual Culture to create a
Design/Stagecraft internship during the 2015-16 season. And the theater is
working with Nazareth College’s Visual Communication Design Program to create
the season’s logos and poster designs for its seven productions.

The Hourglass Play Reading Series will also return for
another season in-residence. The group will offer four readings during the
season: 3 p.m. on Saturdays, November 7, December 19, February 6, and May 21.

For the first time, Blackfriars is
offering various subscription packages: a full, six-show season subscription
(regular: $138-$180; senior: $126-$168); a three-show flex pass subscription
($90); a four-show flex pass subscription ($120); and a show-day pass for last-minute
reservations to all six shows ($135). Also for the first time, all subscription
options will be available online at blackfriars.org. Tickets also available by
phone at 454-1260.

Season single tickets will go on sale August 1.

This article appears in Apr 1-7, 2015.