Buntport Theater Company, the creative black box theater group that made national news for its outdoor pandemic show about giant grasshoppers, has dropped its 21st season lineup, including old favorites and new surprises.
This year, to make its programming more accessible to everyone who wants to enjoy it, Buntport is implementing a pay-what-you-can ticketing system for all company shows this season. They'll also waive the rental fee to other creatives for the use of their theater space.
The group just closed its 20th season, which included a mix of outdoor shows and online programming. In a press release today, company member Samantha Schmitz said that thanks to ticket sales and generous donations, Buntport has so far managed to make it through the pandemic.
"Buntport fared comparatively very well during the pandemic. We continued as much outdoor, live programming as possible, and, like many companies, created virtual work as well," Schmitz said. "During down time, the five of us have spent a lot of time discussing how to best support the community upon opening, and we feel it is incredibly important to remove as many barriers as possible for both the people making art and the people who want to enjoy it."
The company will no longer be doing Third Tuesdays each month. Instead, to encourage people to more regularly use the space, they'll be doing off-night programming, and host regular shows of Buntport's classic true storytelling shows The Narrators and We Still Like You each month.
Here's what you can expect from Buntport this year, COVID allowing:
- Cabaret De Profundis Or How To Sing While Ugly Crying, a new show featuring composer and musician Nathan Hall. The show was originally set to open in March of 2020, but was shut down due to COVID. Last winter, Buntport released a digital version of the play adapted for film, and this fall, the show will finally make its stage debut. October 28, 2021-November 13, 2021.
- Middle Aged People Sitting in Boxes, an old Buntport favorite with a self-explanatory plot. December 10, 2021-December 12, 2021.
- Tommy Lee Jones Goes to Opera Alone, another Buntport classic. A near life size puppet version of the actor sits in a diner, enjoying pie and telling stories with the help of his waitress and a couple of salt shakers. January 28, 2022-February 19, 2022.
- A surprise debut production that will mark Buntport's 50th full-length original production (Cabaret De Profundis is the 49th). Buntport plans to release more details about the show closer to its premiere. April 8, 2022-April 30, 2022.
Buntport's 2021-2021 season launches this October. For a full list of shows, you can go to the Buntport Theater Company website.
