Boston Theatre Works has announced that the company's 2006-2007 season will include: the 2004 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning, "I Am My Own Wife;" the New England premiere of the 2004 Obie Award winning "A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant," by Kyle Jarrow; a new production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream;" and the world premiere of "The Tattooed Girl" by acclaimed author Joyce Carole Oates.

The schedule is as follows:

September 14-October 8, 2006
Zero Arrow Theatre
The season kicks off in September with the regional premiere (by a local resident company) of "I Am My Own Wife" written by Doug Wright. Described by The New York Times as “...nothing short of breathtaking” and “a true tour de force,” the one-man play will star American Repertory Theatre company actor Thomas Derrah. Directed by BTW Artistic Director, Jason Southerland, the piece is presented by special arrangement with A.R.T. at Zero Arrow Theatre.

Inspired by interviews conducted by the playwright over several years, "Wife" shares the fascinating story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German transvestite who managed to survive the Nazi onslaught as well as the following repressive Communist regime. Derrah will plays 35 characters, including the controversial figure herself as well as the American writer who became intrigued with her.

November 24-December 16, 2006
Boston Center for the Arts
The season continues in December with the regional premiere of the 2004 Obie Award-winning "A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant" by Kyle Jarrow (author of this season's musical comedy, "Gorilla Man"). This tongue-in-cheek holiday pageant devoted to the life of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, was dubbed “an instant cult classic!” by The Los Angeles Times.

Presented at Boston Center for the Arts, the jubilant cast of children will celebrate the controversial religion in uplifting pageantry and song. The actual teachings of The Church of Scientology are explained and dissected against the candy-colored backdrop of a traditional nativity play. Avant-garde performance art and children's theater meet in one of the funniest and most perplexing holiday shows. The New York Times called this piece “a blueprint for a young generation that prefers its irony delivered with not a wink but a blank stare.”

February 1-March 3, 2007
Boston Center for the Arts
In February, Boston Theatre Works continues its tradition of producing contemporary Shakespeare. Fresh off the critical hit "Othello" (nominated for 2 Elliot Norton Awards), BTW will present a new production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Several "Othello" cast members are expected to return for this classic romantic comedy, where passionate lovers, ham-handed actors, and spirits of the fairy world cross paths -- discovering the transformative power of love. Shakespeare's reflection on human experience, reminds one that there are important facets of humanity that are both non-rational and beyond control.

April 26-May 19, 2007
Boston Center for the Arts
BTW closes out the main stage season with the world premiere of a revised version of "The Tattooed Girl," by the ever-prolific author Joyce Carol Oates. Adapted from her 2004 novel, Ms. Oates has been developing the script with BTW and will workshop it this fall.

Of the novel, The New York Times wrote: “Ms. Oates' keen eye for psychological detail seems to be fully engaged.” With a masterful balance of dark suspense and surprising tenderness, "The Tattooed Girl" probes the contemporary tragedy of ethnic hatred and challenges our accepted limits of desire. Oates is the #1 bestselling author of We Were the Mulvaneys and Blonde.

In addition to the mainstage season, BTW continues developing new work with the 9th installment of the weeklong summer festival of new plays, BTW Unbound 2007. Over the years, BTW has developed new work by more than 50 artists including Emily Mann, Joyce Carol Oates and Kyle Jarrow.

“I'm extremely pleased by the dynamic mix of work we're able to offer next season,” said Southerland. “We're honored that Joyce Carol Oates has chosen Boston Theatre Works as the place to nurture her latest play and also excited to partner with the American Repertory Theatre and use their beautiful new facility. We're also thrilled to continue working with Kyle Jarrow. He is young and hip and extremely talented.”

Season subscriptions are available at www.BostonTheatreWorks.com or by calling 617-728-4321.

-- OnStage Boston

06/24/06