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ON STAGE LBJ sequel, musical topped OSF choices for 2014 season Comment By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 19, 2014 at 5:23 PM Updated Nov 19, 2014 at 6:00 PM By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 19, 2014 at 5:23 PM Updated Nov 19, 2014 at 6:00 PM » Social News A new play about President Lyndon Baines Johnson by Robert Schenkkan and a revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's popular musical "Into the Woods" packed people into seats at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival during the 2014 season. Schenkkan's "The Great Society," a sequel to the 2012 hit "All the Way," filled 100 percent of the seats available in its July 23 to Nov. 1 run in the OSF's Angus Bowmer Theatre. The often-revived "Into the Woods" was close behind, filling 98 percent of the seats in the Allen Elizabethan Theatre, which has roughly double the capacity of the Bowmer. For the year, the festival's 79th, 11 productions were seen by 397,743 playgoers in a season that spanned 8-1/2 months. That represented a slight drop from last year's attendance of 405,328, which was the OSF's third highest ever, trailing only 2010's 414,000 and 2009's 410,000. But OSF Media and Communications Manager Amy Richard said OSF actually filled a higher percentage of its available seats this year — 88 percent versus 87 percent last year. The apparent discrepancy stems from a reduction in capacity, with fewer seats being available because of the different seating configurations used in the intimate Thomas Theatre in staging different plays. The festival reported total ticket revenues of $21 million for the year, an increase of 7.8 percent over last year. "It was a good season," Richard said. "We made budget. We sold a lot of tickets. And we only had to cancel one act of one play." That was the second act of "Into the Woods" when forest fires were burning across Southern Oregon and Northern California, and smoke reached unhealthful levels. Once again the festival's success with commissions and newer plays seemed to disprove the old notion that audiences don't want to see new work. Close behind "The Great Society" were the newish "Water by the Spoonful," at 96 percent of capacity, and the world premiere of "Family Album," a play about middle-aged musicians questioning their lives and choices, which filled 94 percent of its seats. Executive Director Cynthia Rider in a statement called the season "amazing and thrilling." Artistic Director Bill Rauch called it "tremendously eclectic." Rauch directed OSF actor Jack Willis as LBJ in 2012's "All the Way" and this year's "The Great Society," both products of the American Revolutions history project he initiated at OSF to commission new work based on themes from American history. Rauch directed Bryan Cranston, the star of TV's "Breaking Bad," in the play’s run at American Repertory Theatre in Boston in fall 2013, and Cranston continued in the role on Broadway and received a Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. The play also took the Tony for best play of 2014 on Broadway. It was the first OSF commission to open on Broadway and win a Tony. "The Great Society" was commissioned by and co-produced with Seattle Repertory Theatre, and the two plays will perform in repertory at Seattle Rep from now through January 2015. All productions of "All the Way" and "The Great Society" have been directed by Rauch. "The Cocoanuts," a revival of the Marx Brothers classic, played to 95 percent of capacity in the Bowmer. Also in the Bowmer, "A Wrinkle in Time," based on the children's book by Madeleine L'Engle, played to 93 percent of capacity. A lesser-known Lorraine Hansberry play, "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window," did 77 percent in the Bowmer. Shakespeare's rollicking "The Comedy of Errors" filled 97 percent of available seats in the Thomas Theatre. In the outdoor Allen, Shakespeare's "Richard III" played to 80 percent of capacity. The Bard's "The Tempest" did 83 percent in the Bowmer, and his "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" did a disappointing 67 percent in the Allen. "People are making choices," Richard said. "It ('Two Gentlemen') often went against "The Tempest" and "Comedy of Errors." OSF productions are also finding a home on the road, traveling to other theaters. American Revolutions commission "Party People," created by UNIVERSES and produced at OSF in 2012, is playing at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Another OSF commission, Naomi Wallace’s "The Liquid Plain," will open at the off-Broadway Signature Theatre in New York City in the spring, and this season's OSF production of "Into the Woods" will travel to The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif. Preparations for the 2015 season are well under way. Member ticket sales started this week. Preview performances will begin Feb. 20, and opening weekend is Feb. 27. Bill Varble writes about arts and entertainment for the Mail Tribune. He can be reached at [email protected]. By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 19, 2014 at 5:23 PM Updated Nov 19, 2014 at 6:00 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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