The Hope Summer Repertory Theatre (HSRT) will open its second show of the year with ?Art' at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 25 on the DeWitt Theatre mainstage.
The Hope Summer Repertory Theatre (HSRT) will open its second show of the year with ?Art' at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 25 on the DeWitt Theatre mainstage.
Winner of the 1998 Tony Award for Best Play and the 1996 Olivier Award for Best Comedy, ?Art' is a dazzling comedy that deals with more than the question of art. At the center of the play is the relationship of three men as played out around a painting – a very expensive all-white painting.
Serge purchases the painting, which his friend Marc thinks is a joke. Serge says Marc does not have the sophistication necessary to appreciate the work, while a third friend, Yvan, tries to mediate between the two. It is a play that features rapid-fire language and great laughs.
HSRT pulls out all the stops with three comedy favorites appearing on stage together. James Saba plays the owner of the painting, Serge, while David Colacci challenges him as Marc. Dana Snyder enters the fray as a peacemaker with his own set of problems in the character of Yvan.
All three equity artists come from New York but have become West Michigan favorites with their range of roles over the past several years with HSRT.
Working with all this talent is Obie-award winning director Tom Bullard, who returns to HSRT for his 13th year. Even HSRT producing director Mary Schakel gets in the act by designing the costumes, which is how she started with the company 32 years ago.
The show opens at 8 p.m. on June 25, with additional evening shows on June 26, 29, July 1, 7, 13, 16, 20, 28, and August 2 and 13. While at the box office, be sure to reserve tickets for the other great HSRT mainstage shows, including the musical "Bye Bye Birdie," George Bernard Shaw's comedy "Arms and the Man" and HSRT's own creation "G.I. Jive." HSRT's "second stage" show is a funny and touching look at Little League baseball coaches in "Rounding Third," while Holland's Park Theatre is home to HSRT's popular cabaret offering, "All Night Diner." The Children's Performance Troupe is presenting Jon Scieszka's "The Stinky Cheese Man" and Louis Sachar's "Sideways Stories from Wayside School."
The ticket office is located in the DeWitt Center, on the Hope College campus, at the corner of 12th Street and Columbia Avenue in Holland. Prices range from $8-$25 for musicals, and $8-$18 for plays. Season coupons, ranging from $42-$60 are also available. Ticket office hours are 10 a.m-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and one hour before all showtimes. Tickets may also be purchased by calling 616-395-7890.