The 2012 season for Fort Worth's Stolen Shakespeare Guild has been announced. As with 2011, there are five full productions, including a musical from the first half of the 20th century (or at based on an early musical), a title from Jane Austen (the third in Stolen Shakes' Austen trilogy) and three from Willy Shakes. Two of those are familiar, and one is not so much, and not attributed to the Bard, although its authorshop has been in question.
One of the big changes is its annual festival, with two works running in repertory, is moving from the summer to the fall.
Here's the full lineup (descriptions are from Stolen Shakes' news release):
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Feb. 10-19, 2012
After a shipwreck, twin siblings Viola and Sebastian wash up on the shores of Ilyria. Viola, disguised as a man named Cesario, takes up service with the Duke Orsino, who is madly in love with the Lady Olivia. But Olivia is in Mourning over her brother's death, so Orsino sends Cesario over as an emissary of Love, except that Olivia falls for Viola! And so begins the Great Bard's delightful comedy of romance and confused identities.
Emma by Jane Austen
March 23–April 1
We have presented Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility and now to conclude our Jane Austen Trilogy is Emma! Matchmaker Emma Woodhouse has just moved on to her newest "project"—a sweet, but modest girl named Harriet Smith. Having played matchmaker for her long-time nanny, vivacious Emma is determined to find Harriet an impressive suitor in spite of her lacking social standing. But as Emma becomes entangled in the romantic lives of her friends and acquaintances, she unwittingly falls in love with the least likely of bachelors in this lighthearted take of gossip, matrimony, and misunderstanding.
Crazy For You with Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershin, Book by Ken Ludwig
Aug. 17-Sept. 2
This is the story of Bobby Child, a well-to-do 1930s playboy, who's dream in life is to dance. And despite the serious efforts of his mother and soon-to-be-ex-fiancee, Bobby achieves his dream! Memorable Gershwin tunes include "I Can't Be Bothered Now," "Bidin' My Time," "I Got Rhythm," "Naughty Baby," "They Can't Take That Away from Me," "But Not for Me," "Nice Work if You Can Get It," "Embraceable You" and "Someone to Watch Over Me." It's a high energy comedy which includes mistaken identity, plot twists, fabulous dance numbers and classic Gershwin music.
Stolen Shakespeare Fall Festival, "Merriment and Magic," featuring:
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Oct. 26-Nov. 10
When two pairs of star-crossed lovers, a troop of inept amateur actors, a feuding pair of supernatural sprites and a love potion gone awry all come together in an enchanted moonlit forest, the result is an unequalled mixture of entertainment and enchantment.
The Birth Of Merlin "From the Shakespeare Apocrypha" by William Rowley and William Shakespeare
Nov. 2-11
The title page of the first quarto edition (1662) of this Jacobean play ascribes it to "William Shakespear and William Rowley." Although Rowly's authorship has been confirmed, the internal evidence suggesting a possible collaboration with Shakespeare is inconclusive. The Birth of Merlin draws from history, romance, and the pastoral tradition, by combining chronicle accounts of the Anglo-Saxon war prior to the advent of King Arthur and Merlin's miraculous birth and prophecies.
Go to www.stolenshakespeareguild.org or call 866-811-4111 to buy tickets. All performances are at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center in the Sanders Theatre, 1300 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107. Tickets and Season Packages are listed below. 
