Seacoast theaters unveil their schedules for 2011-2012 season

When summer winds down, theater season gears up at venues across the Seacoast. Original and repertory shows have been announced throughout the fall and beyond.

The Players’ Ring, located on Marcy Street in Portsmouth, has already launched its 20th season with “At My Window.” Written by first-time playwright Kathleen Cavalaro and directed by Brian Kelly, the drama follows the unlikely relationship of a man (E. Christopher Clark) and woman (Elizabeth Locke) who meet at vulnerable points in their lives. It runs through Sept. 18.

The Ring’s main stage season continues through next spring with “Orson’s Shadow” (Phylloxera Productions) from Sept. 23 to Oct. 9, “The Lobby” (Doc & Annalee Productions) from Oct. 14 to 30, “Elephant Hunt” (Traubert Productions) from Nov. 4 to 20, “Not on this Night” (Dream On Productions) from Nov. 25 to Dec. 4, “A Christmas Carol” (The Players’ Ring) from Dec. 9 to 23, “Is There Fat in That?” (Good Theater Company) from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1, “A Night of Comedy” (Darwin’s Waiting Room) from Jan. 6 to 22, “Body” (Just Say Love Productions) from Jan 27 to Feb. 12, “Twelve Angry Men” (Brownwater Productions) from Feb. 17 to March 4, “An Evening Of...” (John Herman & Friends) from March 9 to 25, “Detritus” (2046 Productions and Matt Kingsbury) from March 30 to April 15, “Animal Farm” (Generic Theater) from April 20 to May 6, “Wit” (Back Alley Productions) from May 11 to 27, and “Timon of Athens” (The Players’ Ring) from June 1 to 17.

The Garrison Players’ upcoming season includes comedy, mystery and drama, starting with the comedic mystery “The Butler Did It,” directed by Megan Davenport Karas, from Oct. 7 to 22. Subsequent productions include the Sherlock Holmes mystery “The Hound of Baskervilles,” directed by Chris MacEachern, from Nov. 18 to Dec. 4; the one-woman show “A Very Ida Christmas,” by Susan Poulin, from Dec. 17 to 19; the family drama “I Remember Mama,” directed by Carol Seely, from March 16 to 31; and the modern comedy “6 Rms Riv Vu,” directed by Donna Phofolos, from May 18 to 27. The theater is located on Portland Avenue in Rollinsford.

New Hampshire Theatre Project, headquartered at West End Studio Theatre on Islington Street in Portsmouth, will host two main stage and two studio productions in its 2011-’12 season. The main stage season begins with “Faith Healer,” by Brian Friel, from Nov. 11 to 27. Then comes William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” from Jan. 6 to 22. The studio productions include “Dreaming Again,” by NHTP director Genevieve Aichele, from April 13 to 15, and Sophocles’ “Antigone” from May 18 to 27.

Pontine Theatre, the dramatic vision of artistic directors Greg Gathers and M. Marguerite Mathews, has five productions lined up over the coming months. The first is “Just Kids,” by Sean Lewis, from Oct. 28 to 30. Then comes Pontine’s production of “A Christmas Carol” from Dec. 9 to 11, followed by “The Little Farm Show,” by Tannis Kowalchuk and Brad Krumholz, from Jan. 27 to 29; Mud Time Theater’s “The Nine Questions” and “Mildred Taken Crazy” from March 9 to 11; and Pontine’s premiere of “Cap’n Simeon’s Store & Other Stories” from April 27 to May 13. Pontine, too, operates out of West End Studio Theatre in Portsmouth.

Harbor Light Stage, helmed by artistic director Kent Stephens, has a number of theatric events planned this fall, including several play readings in the upper gallery of the Kittery Art Association on Coleman Avenue. The first is Joel Drake Johnson’s “Four Places” on Sept. 19, followed by Richard Dresser’s “Augusta” on Oct. 17. Harbor Light’s main stage production of “Tuesdays with Morrie” will be held at The Music Hall Loft on Congress Street in Portsmouth from Nov. 4 to 20. The play readings continue with David Harrower’s “Blackbird” on Nov. 14 and assorted poems, stories and songs in “Ragpicker’s Dream” on Dec. 12.

The Seacoast Repertory Theatre on Bow Street in Portsmouth won’t launch its next season until late March, but they do have a couple of shows lined up this fall. The Rep will present “Cabaret,” a pre-World War II-era musical set in Germany, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 23, and its annual production of “A Christmas Carol” from Dec. 2 to 24.

For more information, visit www.playersring.org, www.garrisonplayers.org, www.nhtheatreproject.wordpress.com, www.pontine.org, www.harborlightstage.org, or www.seacoastrep.org.