2012-13 Season

Long before reality TV competitions and rotating red chairs, there was only one man who had “The Voice:” The Chairman of the Board. Just say the name “Frank”, and everyone knows you mean the one, the only, ol’ Blue Eyes himself – Frank Sinatra. Our first cabaret of the year is an endearing musical tribute to the man who has provided the soundtrack to our lives for over 60 years. Featuring 56 of Sinatra’s greatest hits including, “Strangers in the Night,” “Chicago,” and, of course, “New York, New York,” MY WAY is an evening of unforgettable music that proves that “The Best is Yet to Come.”

It is Passover, 1865. The Civil War has just ended and the annual celebration of freedom from bondage is being observed in Jewish homes across the country. Confederate officer Caleb DeLeon returns to his ruined plantation only to find his family missing and two former slaves, Simon and John, remaining. As the three men wait for the family's return, they wrestle with their shared past relationship as master and slave, digging up long-buried family secrets along the way. Slavery and war, they discover, warp even good men's souls. THE WHIPPING MAN is a bold and compelling new work that won the 2011 Playwriting Award by the NY Outer Critics Circle.

The Tony Award winning comedy thriller THE 39 STEPS comes to Farmers Alley Theatre fresh off its long runs on Broadway and the West End! Based on the Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name, this fast-paced murder/mystery is filled with ingenuity, zaniness and enough costume changes to fill a Miss America pageant. Imagine an intriguing spy story in the fashion of Monty Python where four actors play over 150 characters! THE 39 STEPS also packs in allusions and references to the great Hitchcock classics of the past like Vertigo, Rear Window, and North By Northwest. Winner of the 2008 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience, THE 39 STEPS is one night at the theatre you won’t soon forget.

This June, Farmers Alley Theatre is proud to present the Pulitzer Prize Winning Drama and Tony Award Winner, NEXT TO NORMAL. To the outside world, the Goodman family seems to have it all. A nice house, good jobs, and two perfect kids. But look closer and you’ll see a family teetering on the edge of disaster. This contemporary musical is an emotional powerhouse addressing such issues as grief, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban life. With provocative lyrics and a thrilling score, NEXT TO NORMAL examines how far two parents will go to keep themselves sane and their family intact. Featuring a stellar cast and an amazing creative staff, NEXT TO NORMAL promises to be the musical event of the year.

SH-BOOM! Take another trip to Springfield and meet the Crooning Crabcakes, the boys banned from the Marvelous Wonderettes’ prom, who enter the Big Whopper Radio contest to realize their dreams of making it to the big time! Trouble comes in the form of Lois, a former Springfield High Song Leader, who arrives to put some polish on the group, but who also broke loveable Eugene's heart years before. While Eugene falls apart, Denny, Wally and Skip fall in love—and hilarious heartaches ensue! Featuring “Earth Angel,” “Unchained Melody,” “Only You,” and 20 more doo-wop hits, LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, performed in our cabaret setting, will leave you laughing, singing and cheering. If you liked The Marvelous Wonderettes, you’ll love LIFE COULD BE A DREAM!