Douglas Theatre sets its lineup

The Kirk Douglas Theatre’s 2007-08 season will include portraits of two presidents, a play about a devastating Bolivian earthquake, delivered in Spanish with English supertitles, and an off-Broadway hit solo performance about a drama teacher’s experiences in a beleaguered New York City high school. Plus David Mamet, tardy pass in hand, offering his first musical.

The presidential plays are world premieres. “Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson,” (Jan. 20-Feb. 17, 2008), written by Alex Timbers, with songs by Michael Friedman, is billed as an irreverent rock musical about the man on the $20 bill, tracing his rise from frontier origins to the presidency, with military triumphs over the British and atrocities against the Seminoles and Cherokees along the way.

In “Of Equal Measure” (July 9-27, 2008), commissioned by the Douglas’ parent, Center Theatre Group, Tanya Barfield looks at Woodrow Wilson’s presidency from the viewpoint of a black stenographer working in the White House for an idealistic but racist administration.

A third world premiere is Mamet’s “A Waitress in Yellowstone” (May 18-June 8, 2008), originally announced for the current season but held over so the playwright could try to lure an as-yet unnamed and unsigned lead actress. “I think we’re going to get who we want,” Artistic Director Michael Ritchie said Thursday.

The show concerns a waitress and mom who catches a congressman stealing her tips and reports him to the police.

The play in Spanish -- a rarity for an American regional theater -- is “En un Sol Amarillo -- Memorias de un Temblor” (In a Yellow Sun -- Memories of an Earthquake), (Oct. 28-Nov. 25, 2007). Performed by the Bolivian company Teatro de los Andes, it’s co-presented by CTG and the annual International Latino Theatre Festival of Los Angeles.

“It’s a unique theater piece, and obviously in this town, a play in Spanish, as well as the story line, made a great mix for us,” Ritchie said.

Also featured are West Coast premieres of two solo shows: Matt Stax’s “Clay” (Sept. 19-Oct. 14, 2007) is about a teen who escapes family woes through the hip-hop poetry scene; Nilaja Sun arrives on her tour of the acclaimed “No Child ... “ (March 7-April 13, 2008), documenting her attempt to coax a play out of kids in a failing Bronx high school.

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