Imaginary Beasts Explores
"Once Upon A . . ."
For 2013-2014 Season

Imaginary Beasts' 2013-2014 season, "Once Upon A . . . ," will explore the inherent darkness in fairy tales. The Beasts will tackle modern revisions of classic stories, including a world premiere by a local playwright and actor.

In addition to its regular season productions, Imaginary Beasts will also debut two new programs: The Incubator, a development ground for devising and developing new work in a studio environment; and Wee Beasties, a companion program to its season productions offering family-friendly matinees related to the main stage shows.

The 2013-2014 season marks Imaginary Beasts third year as an at the Boston Center for the Arts. All productions will take place at the Plaza Black Box Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts.

The season kicks off October 4 - 26 with "Hairy Tales," an innovative staging of Angela Carter’s radio plays. Directed by Artistic Director Matthew Woods, the company will use its signature physical style to transport audiences into Carter’s unsettling and irreverent imagination. "Sleeping Beauty" becomes a Gothic tale of blood lust in "Vampirella," and in "The Company of Wolves," Little Red Riding Hood discovers the beast within. To complement this adults-only exploration, Wee Beasties will offer family friendly matinees of Carter’s comic romp, "Puss In Boots," directed by company member and fringe favorite Michael Underhill.

From January 10 – February 1, 2014, the Beasts will present its annual Winter Panto, a traditional form of British entertainment that offers comedic fun for the whole family. While the form is ubiquitous throughout Great Britain, Imaginary Beasts is one of the few American theatre companies to present a Panto annually.

This year, the Beasts will introduce its original take on "Rumpelstiltskin," written and directed by Matthew Woods. Panto depicts the timeless struggle between good and evil through a hilarious vaudevillian lens, with cross-dressing heroes (the Dame is always a man and the Principal Boy played by a young woman), topical references, and pop music thrown in for fun. Adults and children alike will enjoy this rollicking rendition of a timeless classic.

The season concludes with the world premiere of Boston-based playwright and actor Poornima Kirby’s "Mystery Play" (working title). Hints of Hansel & Gretel lurk beneath the surface of this dark, but redemptive play filled with loss, yearning, and transformation. The company will develop this piece throughout the year, presenting staged readings, open workshops, and more, inviting audiences into the process so they can experience the journey of this new work from conception through final production. The production will play March 28 – April 19, however workshops will begin in October and continue throughout the year.

For information, visit www.imaginarybeasts.org.