(BRISTOL, PA) -- Bristol Riverside Theatre (BRT) will present four productions for its 2022-23 mainstage season, including one world premiere and one Philadelphia premiere. The season offers theater lovers an award-winning classic, a hilarious adaptation of a cult favorite film, and daring new stories full of laughs, surprises, and drama. Whether audiences are looking to reconnect with an old favorite or discover an exciting new production, BRT’s new mainstage season provides plenty of reasons to return to this 36-year old cultural institution.
“While we love producing theater that prods and challenges our audiences, what everyone needs right now is a season of laughs and good music,” said Ken Kaissar, Co-Producing Director of BRT. “When audiences come together to enjoy art, it becomes a transcendent, life-affirming experience. I think our community needs that, and that’s what folks will experience at BRT this season.”
Throughout BRT’s 2022/23 season, audiences can look forward to madcap stories where characters seem to thrive on chaos. In A Leg Up, Charles’ future rests on the new XR3000, an intelligent prosthetic leg designed for the US Senator who is running for president. Unfortunately, his mistress announces she’s pregnant, his business partner has her eye on his wife, and the Senator is having an affair with the leg designer, and it’s not even lunchtime yet! Directed by BRT’s Co-Producing Director Amy Kaissar, this witty and outlandish story by Ken Kaissar is a new comedy for the 21st century. Initially slated for its world premiere in 2019/20, A Leg Up was developed through BRT’s new play development program America Rising. A Leg Up runs September 20 to October 9, 2022.
The season’s second show will be familiar to fans of the board game-turned-cult classic film, Clue, based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn and written by Sandy Rustin. In this hilarious murder mystery adaptation, the guests, under different aliases, are invited to an unusual dinner party at Boddy Manor, only to discover that the host is dead upon their arrival. The zany group of would-be suspects must race to reveal the identity of the murderer before the body count stacks up in this classic whodunnit. BRT’s presentation of Clue is directed by Ken Kaissar. Clue runs November 1-20, 2022.
In Cabaret, characters must adapt quickly as the world around them falls into chaos. John Kander and Fredd Ebb’s Tony Award-winning musical features one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, dazzling audiences since its debut in 1966. The story follows Cliff Bradshaw, an American writer who arrives in 1929 Berlin looking for inspiration for his novel and instead falls in love with a star burlesque performer, Sally Bowles, at the sleazy Kit Kat Club. The decadent nightlife they have fallen into quickly comes under threat, however, as the nascent rise of the Nazi Party continues to grow in strength by the day. Keith Baker, BRT’s former artistic director of over 25 years, returns to direct after having to cancel the production in the 2019/20 season due to COVID. Cabaret runs from March 21, 2023, to April 16, 2023.
BRT’s final show of the season will be the Philadelphia premiere of Chicken & Biscuits, written by Douglas Lyons. Rivaling sisters, Baneatta and Beverley, are burying their father, but it’s the non-stop family drama that might be the death of them. Beverly, a single mother to an impatient teenage daughter, is determined to show off her blessings to the congregation gathered to pay respect to her late father. Meanwhile, Baneatta’s youngest son brings his white, Jewish boyfriend to the service but quickly gets swept up in the proceedings after a mysterious guest reveals a family secret. Variety hailed Lyons’ 2021 Broadway production as “A feast of Black joy, love, and laughter.” The Philadelphia premiere of Chicken & Biscuits will be directed by Tyrone L. Robinson and runs from May 16, 2023 to June 4, 2023.
Each of BRT’s productions will offer guests special pre- and post-show engagements, included with the price of the ticket, for guests to create a special night out. Opening Night performances are followed by catered receptions where folks can revel over that night’s show. At Friday Festivals, BRT patrons can enjoy complimentary beer and appetizers before the first Friday of each production. Looking for a midweek wind down? Every second Wednesday of a show begins at 6:30pm with Wine Down Wednesday, where audiences are served crudité, desserts, and wine. Every third Thursday, known as Thirsty Thursday, includes an hour of complimentary snacks and beer. Tickets and subscriptions for BRT’s 2022/23 mainstage season are available at brtstage.org or by calling 215-785-0100.
Since 1986, Bristol Riverside Theatre (BRT) has continued to bring acclaimed theatre to Bucks County. The theatre is the recipient of over 71 Barrymore Award nominations. Now under the direction of Producing Directors Amy and Ken Kaissar and General Manager David J. Abers, the theatre serves as a cultural hub for the community. In addition to its mainstage productions, BRT offers the William Penn Bank Summer Music Fest, the holiday tradition An American Christmas Songbook concert, the new play development series, America Rising, the summer theatre arts camp ArtRageous, and a range of education programs for local youth.
