The Clarence Brown Theatre kick off its nine-play lineup for the 2015/2016 Season on September 9. The performances include a gut-busting spoof of a Hitchcock thriller, a Steinbeck classic, two holiday productions, the World Premiere of a CBT-commissioned comedy, a Rodgers and Hammerstein masterpiece, and more. Season subscriptions are on sale now starting at just $115 and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 865-974-5161.

“We are very excited about our 2015/2016 Season which has offerings for every taste and, with each one, an opportunity for the kind of inspiration that only live performance can bring,” said Calvin MacLean, CBT Producing Artistic Director.

Season ticket holders enjoy several exclusive benefits, including free ticket exchanges, priority seating, up to 20% off regular single tickets and the opportunity to purchase additional tickets before they go on sale to the general public, special discounts at selected restaurants, and the inside scoop on special events before they are announced to the general public.

The 2015/2016 Season includes:
“The 39 Steps”
by Patrick Barlow
September 9 – 27, 2015
Clarence Brown Theatre
Directed by Kate Buckley

“Once this fun ride leaves the station, you don’t want to get off!” New York Daily News

A hilarious, high-speed spoof of Alfred Hitchcock’s silver-screen classic! Follow handsome hero Richard Hannay from London to the Scottish Highlands and back as he encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, devastatingly beautiful women.

With more than 100 characters brought to life by just four actors, this action-packed Tony award-winning comedy is fun for everyone from ages 9 to 99!

Corporate sponsors include Schaad Companies, Pilot Flying J, and Merrill Lynch. Media sponsors include WBIR, Comcast, Knoxville News Sentinel, WUOT, WUTK, Knoxville Mercury, B97.5 and The Daily Beacon.

“Of Mice and Men”
by John Steinbeck
September 30 – October 18, 2015
Directed by Paul Barnes
Carousel Theatre

“John Steinbeck’s adventure paints an inspirational portrait of the American spirit and a heartbreaking testament to the bonds of friendship.” American Theatre Wing

This classic follows two migrant workers during the 1930s dustbowl depression who drift from job to job across the farms and fields of California, holding fast to their friendship and dream of one day having an acre of land they can call their own.

The corporate sponsor is the Clayton Foundation. Media sponsors include WUOT, WUTK, Knoxville Mercury, Knoxville News Sentinel, and The Daily Beacon.

“Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play”
by Anne Washburn
October 28 – November 15, 2015
Directed by Casey Sams
Lab Theatre

“ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! When was the last time you saw a play so smart it made your head spin?” The New York Times

It’s the end of everything in contemporary America. A future without power! What will survive? In post-apocalyptic Northern California, a group of strangers bond by recreating an episode of “The Simpsons.” From this meeting, memories of Marge and Homer become the basis for shaping a new society as the play travels decades into the future.

Media sponsors include WUOT, WUTK, and The Daily Beacon.

“A Christmas Carol”
by Charles Dickens
Adapted for the stage by Dennis Elkins
November 25 – December 20, 2015
Directed by Micah-Shane Brewer
Clarence Brown Theatre

“Don’t miss this one….it’d be like celebrating the season without a Christmas tree or carols or gifts!” Knoxville News Sentinel

Whether you are continuing your annual family tradition or beginning a new one…join us as we tell the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly businessman who needs the intervention of a few spectral guides to show him the true meaning of Christmas. Featuring beautiful live music, wonderful costumes, and exciting stage effects, Dickens’ tale of hope and redemption reminds us all what’s really worth celebrating.

Corporate sponsors include Schaad Companies, Pilot Flying J, and the UT Medical Center. Media sponsors include WBIR, Comcast, Knoxville News Sentinel, WUOT, WUTK, Knoxville Mercury, B97.5 and The Daily Beacon.

“The Santaland Diaries”
by David Sedaris
Adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello
December 3 – 20, 2015
Directed by Jeff Stanley
Carousel Theatre

“80 solid minutes of legit laughs.” Sun Times

An unemployed, chemically dependent writer takes a job as a “helper elf” at Macy’s Santaland. Hear his tale of drunken Santas, screaming kids, and the un-wonderful insanity of the holidays. Sedaris’ cutting, sardonic wit is on full display in this one man show that is crazy funny! For mature elves only.

Media sponsors include WUOT, WUTK, Knoxville Mercury, Knoxville News Sentinel, and The Daily Beacon.

“Titus Andronicus”
by William Shakespeare
February 10 – 28, 2016
Directed by John Sipes
Clarence Brown Theatre

“…speaks across the centuries to the horrors of our own troubled times…” The Daily Telegraph

Is revenge justice? A victorious general returns home, having already lost many sons in the war, only to find political chaos and the emperor marrying his enemy. This sets into motion a cycle of violent and bloody revenge in which the general and his foe lose more than either one could ever imagine.

For mature audiences.

The corporate sponsor is Schaad Companies. Media sponsors include WBIR, Comcast, Knoxville News Sentinel, WUOT, WUTK, Knoxville Mercury, B97.5 and The Daily Beacon.

“A Lesson Before Dying”
by Earnest J. Gaines
Adapted by Romulus Linney
February 24 – March 13, 2016
Carousel Theatre

“The story’s wrenching power lies not in its outrage but in the almost inexplicable grace the characters must muster as their only resistance to being treated like lesser beings.” The New Yorker

It’s 1948 in a small plantation community in the heart of Cajun country. A young man, jailed for a murder he did not commit, will soon lose his life and has lost his self-respect. A young teacher, with most of his life ahead of him, has lost respect for the situation in which he lives. Both men teach each other the lessons they need to face their very different futures with dignity and strength.

The CBT is pleased to be partnering with the Knox County Public Library on a series of ancillary events associated with this production.

Media sponsors include WUOT, WUTK, Knoxville Mercury, Knoxville News Sentinel, and The Daily Beacon.
“The Open Hand” – A CBT-Commissioned World Premiere
by Rob Caisley
March 30 – April 17, 2016
Directed by Calvin MacLean
Lab Theatre

“Rob Caisley’s writing is brilliant, witty, and insightful…” New Jersey Stage

Suppose someone is overly generous to you…offering something you couldn’t possibly repay. Do you reject their generosity and risk offending them? Or do you accept the gift and then stew over what might be demanded in return? We’ve all heard the phrase, “It’s better to give than to receive.” But what dark secrets may be camouflaged by our human need to share with others? This CBT-commissioned satire ventures into this territory with wit and bite, observing the contemporary anxieties between those with means and those with hopes, dreams and disappointment.

Media sponsors include WUOT, WUTK and The Daily Beacon.

“South Pacific”
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
April 20 – May 8, 2016
Directed by Terry Silver-Alford
Clarence Brown Theatre

“A majestic spectacle.” - The New Yorker

From the haunting “Bali Ha’i” to the exquisite “Some Enchanted Evening,” this Rodgers & Hammerstein classic features some of the most beautiful music ever composed for the theatre. The Pulitzer Prize and 10-time Tony Award winner is set on a tropical island during World War II and tells the romantic tale of how the happiness of two couples is threatened by the realities of war and prejudice.

Corporate sponsors include Schaad Companies and the UT Federal Credit Union. Media sponsors include WBIR, Comcast, Knoxville News Sentinel, WUOT, WUTK, Knoxville Mercury, B97.5 and The Daily Beacon.

With a dual mission to train the next generation of theatre artists and to provide top quality professional theatre, like that of a teaching hospital, the Clarence Brown Theatre at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is one of only 12 academic LORT (League of Resident Theatre) institutions in the nation. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Calvin MacLean and Managing Director David B. Byrd, the CBT season runs from September through May and features nine productions ranging from musicals to drama.

For more information, tickets or accessibility accommodation requests including Open Captioning, ASL, and assistive technologies, please call the CBT Box Office at 865-974-5161 or visit us online at clarencebrowntheatre.com/access. Stay Connected to the Clarence Brown Theatre on Facebook (Clarence Brown Theatre), follow us on Twitter (@ClarenceBrown) (#CBT2015-2016) and view Clarence Brown videos on YouTube (Clarence Bro).