SAN DIEGO ARTS : Theater

Two original plays, a classic play, a musical and a contemporary comedy will comprise the Lamb’s Players Theatre’s 11th season that opens Friday with the late Larry Shue’s ubiquitous comedy, “The Foreigner.”

“The Foreigner” is an unlikely tale about a shy Englishman in the deep South who uncovers a string of intrigues because people think he does not understand English. The third production of this play staged in San Diego County during the past year, “The Foreigner” runs through April 17.

Lamb’s, a theater company in National City, will produce George Bernard Shaw’s classic drama, “St. Joan,” about the French maiden whose courage and faith changed the face of Europe, May 6-29.

Lamb’s Players will give the world premiere of the stage adaptation of Walter Wangerin Jr.’s award-winning novel, “The Book of the Dun Cow.” Kerry Cederberg and Robert Smyth have adapted Wangerin’s highly literate adventure fantasy for the theater in a production that runs June 24-July 24.

The other world premiere is “Kilts,” by former Lamb’s Player member David McFadzean. A story about a clash between a Scottish father and son, “Kilts” premieres Aug. 19 and continues through Sept. 11.

The season closes with the “Cotton Patch Gospel,” a southern fried musical treatment of the biblical “Gospel of Matthew.” Written by Tom Key and Russell Treyz with music by the late Harry Chapin, “The Cotton Patch Gospel” will play Oct. 7-Nov. 20.