Dallas — The just-announced 2019 season for Second Thought Theatre (STT), its 15th, has four productions: three regional premieres and one world premiere, the previously announced What We Were by Blake Hackler, a co-production with Fort Worth's Circle Theatre. Hackler, a faculty member at SMU, has had his works The Necessities and Enemies/People premiered at STT in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
The regional premieres are Nick Payne's Incognito, Cordelia Lynn's Lela & Co, and a double-header by one of the world's greatest living playwrights, Caryl Churchill: Drunk Enough to Say I Love You and Here We Go. Directors for the season are STT Artistic Director Alex Organ, Hackler, Kara-Lynn Vaeni, and Christie Vela.
Below is the complete press release from STT, with dates, descriptions, subscription info and more:
Only days after closing their landmark 14th season, Second Thought Theatre Artistic Director Alex Organ announced details for the company’s 2019 season this morning. The new season is comprised of three area premieres and one world premiere - also the company’s first co-production with Circle Theatre in Fort Worth. Selections include the semi-true story of the theft of Albert Einstein’s brain, a meditation on the courage, strength, and perseverance of women in conflict zones, a double header evening of Caryl Churchill, and the journey three sisters take to confront their abusive childhood. Season subscription and ticket information for STT’s 2019 season is available online at 2TT.co.
As their first four-show season in several years, 2018 saw STT continue their tradition of offering “pay-what-you-can” opportunities for more than a fourth of their performances. They also extended their partnership with Change the Perception DFW, who facilitated Community Conversation-style talkbacks after several performances of Revolt. She said. Revolt again. “The plays in our 2018 season were generally more political in nature, which seemed a natural response to this particular moment in history,” said STT Artistic Director. “The plays for next season feel more personal and less overtly political. By and large, these plays tell stories about how we are shaped by our experiences, and how the extraordinary human mind adapts to extraordinary circumstances.” 2019 will also bring new opportunities for partnerships as STT continues to produce plays that grapple with the difficulties and challenges of how humans choose to navigate a rapidly changing world.
The season begins with Incognito, the story of pathologist Thomas Harvey who, when presented with the opportunity to study one of world’s most powerful brains, couldn’t help but take it - literally. As Harvey embarks on a quest to understand the mind that understood the universe, playwright Nick Payne (Constellations) weaves his journey into a fabric of stories centered on understanding the secrets of the human mind. Incognito’s unbelievable true stories of love, murder, memory, and the fate of Albert Einstein’s brain reveal that, like the universe itself, the human mind remains a mystery. Incognito will feature STT Director of Operations Drew Wall (Empathitrax, Straight White Men, Belleville), and STT Artistic Director Alex Organ (Grounded, Cock, A Behanding in Spokane) will direct.
Following Incognito, Kara-Lynn Vaeni (Enemies/People) returns to direct Lela & Co by Cordelia Lynn. Lela is thirteen when her father accuses her of stealing a piece of cake hidden in the kitchen. She is fifteen when her husband steals her passport and hides it in his kitchen, hundreds of miles away. Separated from her childhood by the soldiers at the border of her country and the soldiers in the bedroom of her new home, Lela gains strength and wisdom that are hard-won and far beyond her years. Based on true stories from conflict zones all over the world, Lela & Co traces a precarious path from girlhood to womanhood and celebrates the resilience of those who make the journey.
Next is a special double feature of Caryl Churchill plays performed together in one evening of fearless, provocative theatre. Drunk Enough to Say I Love You marries the personal and political in an entirely new way when Guy, a man, is seduced by Sam, a country. Their torrid affair hits rocky terrain as Sam’s bloodlust becomes too much for Guy, but Sam is confident he’ll come crawling back. In Here We Go, Churchill goes universal, meditating on death, what precedes it, and what follows it. This brief but powerful ode to ephemerality is sure to stay with audiences long after the evening ends. Alex Organ will direct, and the plays will feature STT Artistic Associate Blake Hackler.
The fourth and final show of the season is What We Were, the third world premiere by Dallas-based artist Blake Hackler at Second Thought in as many years. Following 2017’s The Necessities and 2018’s Enemies/People, What We Were tells the story of Carlin, Nell, and Tessa, three sisters who suffered a childhood of abuse. Now adults, each lives in some degree of denial, but the lies are starting to become more unbearable than the truth. Spanning twenty years, What We Were traces the lives of the three women as they find their way back to each other. Directed by STT Artistic Associate Christie Vela and featuring Jenny Ledel, What We Were will be created as a co-production with Circle Theatre in Fort Worth.
Second Thought Theatre’s 2019 season will be presented as follows: Incognito (Jan. 30 – Feb. 23); Lela & Co (April 3 – 28); Drunk Enough to Say I Love You & Here We Go (June 5 – July 29); and What We Were (Aug. 28 – Sept. 21). All performances will take place at Bryant Hall next door to the Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd.
To learn more about STT’s 2019 season or how to purchase season subscriptions or single tickets, please visit 2tt.co. Season subscriptions can also be purchased by phone at 1-866-811-4111.
ABOUT SECOND THOUGHT THEATRE:
Second Thought Theatre (STT) provides an intimate and unique theatrical experience by empowering top local theater artists to take risks, and by showcasing writers who boldly tackle the difficult and demanding questions of our rapidly changing world.
2019 SEASON LINEUP
Incognito
By Nick Payne
Directed by STT Artistic Director Alex Organ
Jan. 30 – Feb. 23, 2018
When presented with the opportunity to study one of world’s most powerful brains, pathologist Thomas Harvey couldn’t help but take it - literally. As Harvey embarks on a quest to understand the mind that understood the universe, playwright Nick Payne (Constellations) weaves his journey into a fabric of stories centered on understanding the secrets of the human mind. Incognito’s unbelievable true stories of love, murder, memory, and the fate of Albert Einstein’s brain reveal that, like the universe itself, the human mind remains a mystery. Featuring STT Director of Operations Drew Wall.
Lela & Co
By Cordelia Lynn
Directed by Kara-Lynn Vaeni
April 3 – 27, 2018
Lela is thirteen when her father accuses her of stealing a piece of cake hidden in the kitchen. She is fifteen when her husband steals her passport and hides it in his kitchen, hundreds of miles away. Separated from her childhood by the soldiers at the border of her country and the soldiers in the bedroom of her new home, Lela gains strength and wisdom that are hard-won and far beyond her years. Based on true stories from conflict zones all over the world, Lela & Co traces a precarious path from girlhood to womanhood and celebrates the resilience of those who make the journey.
Pay-What-You-Can Previews – Wednesday 4/3; Thursday 4/4
PRESS OPENING – Friday 4/5
Regular Performances – Saturday 4/6, 4/13, 4/20; Thursday 4/11, 4/18, 4/25; Friday 4/12, 4/19, 4/26
Additional Pay-What-You-Can Performances – Monday 4/8, 4/15, 4/22
Closing Performance – Saturday 4/27
Drunk Enough to Say I Love You & Here We Go
By Caryl Churchill
Directed by STT Artistic Director Alex Organ
June 5 – July 29, 2018
Caryl Churchill is regarded as one of the greatest living playwrights, and not without reason. Second Thought is thrilled to present two of her short plays in one evening of fearless, provocative theatre. Drunk Enough to Say I Love You marries the personal and political in an entirely new way when Guy, a man, is seduced by Sam, a country. Their torrid affair hits rocky terrain as Sam’s bloodlust becomes too much for Guy, but Sam is confident he’ll come crawling back. In Here We Go, Churchill goes universal, meditating on death, what precedes it, and what follows it. This brief but powerful ode to ephemerality is sure to stay with audiences long after the evening ends. Featuring STT Artistic Associate Blake Hackler.
Pay-What-You-Can Previews – Wednesday 6/5 and Thursday 6/6
PRESS OPENING – Friday 6/7
Regular Performances – Saturday 6/8, 6/15, 6/22; Thursday 6/13, 6/20, 6/27; Friday 6/14, 6/21, 6/28
Additional Pay-What-You-Can Performances – Monday 6/10, 6/17, 6/24
Closing Performance – Saturday 6/29
What We Were
By Blake Hackler
World Premiere
Co-Production with Circle Theatre
Directed by STT Artistic Associate Christie Vela
Aug. 28 – Sept. 21, 2018
Following 2017’s The Necessities and 2018’s Enemies/People, Second Thought presents its third world premiere from acclaimed local playwright Blake Hackler. What We Were tells the story of Carlin, Nell, and Tessa, three sisters who suffered a childhood of abuse. Now adults, each lives in some degree of denial, but the lies are starting to become more unbearable than the truth. Spanning twenty years,What We Were traces the lives of the three women as they find their way back to each other. Featuring STT Artistic Associate Jenny Ledel.
Pay-What-You-Can Previews – Wednesday 8/28 and Thursday 8/29
PRESS OPENING – Friday 8/30
Regular Performances – Saturday 8/31, 9/7, 9/14; Thursday 9/5, 9/12, 9/19; Friday 9/6, 9/13, 9/20
Additional Pay-What-You-Can Performances – Monday 9/2, 9/9, 9/16
Closing Performance – Saturday 9/21 
Follow TheaterJones