Reno Arts News

BRÜKA THEATRE 32nd SEASON:TRANSCENDENCE
2024-10-01 00:00 - 2025-07-31 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles) | Bruka Theatre, 99 N Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89501, United States
BRÜKA THEATRE 32nd SEASON:TRANSCENDENCE
Brüka Theatre announces its 32nd Season of live theatre: Transcendence. Season tickets are officially on sale September 1, 2024 at: http://www.bruka.org. This early opportunity to purchase Brüka Season Tickets helps fund the opening of the Brüka season while giving our Season Ticket holders lots of perks, savings and includes advanced ticket reservations before tickets go on sale to the general public, an invitation to our annual Martini Party, tickets to our Theatre For Children Production and for our BIGGEST little Theatre Festival – in January, 2025. In addition, for our Patron Gold Season Ticket Holders – special seating of their choice and a souvenir Bruka cozy cup. Each production enjoys an opening night reception and a talkback on the final matinee of each show.
Bruka’s 31st season opens with THE BABY “The Bizarre 70’s Cult Horror/Comedy, Live On Stage!” The Baby is written by Dan Spurgeon based on the screenplay of The Baby by Abe Polsky and directed by Michael Grimm. The Baby was originally produced by The Visceral Company and had its world premiere on June 12, 2013 as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. “A satiric production of the 1973 film, a demented, often campy, psychological thriller, with elements of macabre horror and an extreme twist ending.” – Bonnie Priever, Tolucan Times. Andrew Moore from Mad Theatrics calls it “A loving farce of an obscure and obscene film”. The Baby opens Brüka’s 31st season on Friday, October 4, 2023 followed by an opening night reception. Individual tickets for The Baby go on sale on September 5, 2024. EXPLICIT THEATRE WARNING.
November brings a weekend performance of the original short plays: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE HUMAN KIND. Humans have never been so human as in this collection of five comedic and/or bittersweet short plays by local playwright Bob Gabrielli. A door-to-door encounter goes off the rails in one neighborhood exchange. Sparks fly for two lonely hearts at the local blood bank while a wife and husband engage in an annual review of their marriage. Meanwhile, an aging tennis player forges an unexpected connection with a ball girl while it’s a Darwinian survival of the fittest for the volunteers at a local food bank. An evening of humans being humans: How could it not be entertaining? This show enjoys three performances November 8, 9 @ 7:30 and a Sunday Matinee on November 10 @ 2 PM.
THE BUTTCRACKER is back at Brüka as we celebrate the holidays with this original parody of the classic Nutcracker and twist it into a cross between Little Miss Sunshine and Dance Moms. Audiences vote for the winner in the collectable LITTLE MISS BUTTCRACKER playing Friday, December 6 through December 22, 2024. Not for ballet purists or those with tight slippers. Recommended: 12 years and up.
January, 2024 brings the 13th BIGGEST little THEATRE & NEW WORKS FESTIVAL. The local centric festival features a variety of local playwrights and theatre artists performing and/or reading a diversity of work over a four day period. Submissions for shows will open on September 10, 2024. The festival plays January 17 – 20, 2024
The new year brings back EVERY BRILLIANT THING written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe. After last year’s sold out performances and cancellation due to weather, the show opens on January 31st in sub-Brüka for just 6 performances. Holly Natwora directs Mary Bennett as they revisit this interactive performance about getting to the other side of grief with a list that takes on a life of its own. A beautiful and revelatory play about depression and the lengths we will go to for those we love. “[A] heart-wrenching, hilarious play…One of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression—and possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see, full stop…There is something tough being confronted here—the guilt of not being able to make those we love happy—and it is explored with unflinching honesty.” —The Guardian (UK)
In March of 2025, Rodney Hurst, director of holiday favorite Weber Family Christmas and who graced the Brüka stage in Kinky Boots, ThreePenny Opera and more now direct’s this dark comedy that was one of three finalists for the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; MISS WITHERSPOON written by the remarkable Christopher Durang. Durang, known for his works of outrageous and often absurd comedy, passed away in April of 2024. In the story of Miss Witherspoon, when life becomes just too frightful to endure, Veronica opts out for eternal peace. Instead, she finds herself in the Bardo (Tibetan Buddhist netherworld) with an overly cheery spirit guide who forces her to reincarnate in a dizzying array of roles, from trailer-park infant to fractious golden retriever. “Miss Witherspoon is a quirky black comedy about reincarnation, altering the course of world events…and Rex Harrison.” – Playbill. Miss Witherspoon plays March 7 – 23, 2024.
Stacey Spain, exceptional local theatre artist and Executive Director of Our Center is Brüka Theatre’s Playwright In Residence for the 2024/25 season. Stacey’s work Crazy F*&%ing Kincaids will be workshopped and presented to audiences on April 4, 5 at 7:30 PM and April 6 for a 2 PM matinee. Originally produced at Brüka’s Biggest Little Theater Festival in 2020 this new edition is a full length play with two additional characters. A dreamscape that explores the cost of betrayal and the power of love. A brother and sister discovering secrets and learning to trust after a death in the family. Sometimes truth is not the kindest option. Language and themes make this an ADULT PERFORMANCE.
In April and May of 2025, Brüka Theatre presents – BRÜKALTON – A REGENCY ERA PARODY that stumbles into greatness one mistake at a time. This original play takes on the world’s of Jane Austen and Bridgerton in a spoof on Regency Classicism. Dive deep into the struggles of meaningful, nonsexual encounters that simmer with tension, witty, subtle dialogue and romantic nonsense. Brükalton – A Regency Era Parody plays April 25 through May 17, 2025.
Brüka’s 32nd season concludes with RIDE THE CYCLONE. This hilarious and outlandish musical glimpses the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir that are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other — the chance to return to life. RIDE THE CYCLONE is an outrageous musical about life & limbo directed by Rose Sambrano with Mary Bennett. Opening June 27 and plays through July 19, 2025.
Brüka’s Theatre For Children returns this season with THE PARAMOUNT & SOMETIMES WILDY RIDICULOUS HISTORY OF NEVADA – LEGENDS a whimsical, wild & abridged journey through the history of Nevada. Our original Brüka Theatre For Children productions integrate theatre, history, science and social studies and tour throughout Nevada as part of The Pioneer Youth Program Roster.
Also for the youth, Brüka holds their YOUTH THEATRE WORKSHOP INTENSIVE from JULY 22 through AUGUST 3, 2024 for ages 11 – 16 with intern opportunities available.
This year’s theme “TRANSCENDENCE”- takes our audiences beyond ordinary limitations and moves our stage stories beyond physical needs and realities. The shows this season use the magic of theatre to open the mind and heart to fantastical possibilities, that take the mind past everyday stresses while appreciating the journeys and stories of others in which we sometimes see ourselves. With our 32nd season, we hope to inspire your imagination beyond life’s struggles with humor, empathy, limbo and appreciating life everyday. With the addition of our new space at Brüka’s Studio 44, we will also offer new workshops, community opportunities, ways to box office and enjoy our theatrical books store and a conversation.
If you are associated with a local charity that you believe in and would fit with our season line-up, please reach out to marybruka@gmail.com and we will do our best to access and serve the needs while we enhance the experiences of the organizations.
TICKET INFORMATION
Artist Night Tickets must be purchased in advance to receive a discount of our regularly priced tickets. Opening Night ticket holders are invited to a post show reception and opportunity to meet the artists. Ticket prices reflect some of the additional costs. Season Tickets are available online @ https://brukatheatre.simpletix.com/ (Under – Memberships) or call the box office @ 775-323-3221 or email: boxofficebruka@gmail.com
OPPORTUNITIES Brüka is also looking for actors, crew, production associates, artists and volunteers for the coming season. Stay apprised of our announcements, classes, shows and auditions on our facebook page, or sign up for our online newsletter at: http://www.bruka.org. If you are interested in a show or season sponsorship contact: marybruka@gmail.com.
RESERVATIONS are available in person through the Brüka Box Office (775) 323-3221, online at http://www.bruka.org or at our new Brüka Studio 44 located next door to Bruka on First Street at 44 W. First St. Our box office hours open Thursday through Saturday from 4 – 7 PM and on occasional Wednesdays. We are closed on most holidays. Our 2024/2025 Season Tickets are on sale beginning September 1, 2024. Individual tickets go on sale the Monday after the previous show closes. Check us out at http://www.bruka.org.
All Brüka mainstage evening shows begin at 7:30 PM. Matinees begin at 2:00 PM. Doors open 30 minutes before curtain time. There is NO late seating and all ticket sales are final.
PARKING
We suggest convenient parking in the Court Street parking lot across from The Pioneer Theater and walking across the new Virginia Street Bridge to Brüka, FREE after 5:00 PM and all day Saturday and Sundays. We also validate parking at the Parking Gallery on First and Sierra Street.
LOCATION Brüka Theatre is located at 99 N. Virginia Street at the corner of First and Virginia Streets in downtown Reno next to the Virginia Street Bridge.
ABOUT BRÜKA THEATRE Brüka Theatre celebrates its 32nd season of live theatre in downtown Reno – Transcendence is the theme for the 2024/2025 season. As an artistic leader in the region, Brüka is recognized for innovative productions, exceptionally talented artists and an acclaimed Theatre for Children touring series since its founding in 1992. Central to Brüka is the commitment to the re-investigation of contemporary and classic plays and developing new plays within Brüka’s Artistic Collective, a group that includes winners of the Nevada Arts Council and Sierra Arts Foundation artist grants and nine local best actor honors. Brüka was named “Best Theatre Company” by Reno News and Review for twenty-one years. Brüka is a non-equity, small, not-for-profit member theater company and is a constituent of the national TCG (Theatre Communications Group). Brüka Theatre has produced hundreds of live shows in our downtown Reno location. Sign up for our newsletter by going to our website at http://www.bruka.org.

THE ACTOR WORKOUT - 5 ONGOING CLASSES Workshop Led By: MARY BENNETT
2024-11-04 00:00 - 23:59, 2024-11-18 00:00 - 23:59, 2024-11-25 00:00 - 23:59 | Bruka Theatre, 99 N Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89501, United States
THE ACTOR WORKOUT – 5 ONGOING CLASSES
Workshop Led By: MARY BENNETT
Dates: MONDAYS OCT 21, 28, NOV 4 , 18, 25 2024
Times 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM
Ages: 16 and Up (If 15 or younger – please email with interest to marybruka@gmail.com)
CLASS FEE: CLASS FEE: $10 DROP-IN EACH DAY OR $30 FOR ALL 5
SIGN UP: https://www.bruka.org/boxoffice OR CALL: 775-323-3221
Brüka Theatre is now hosting workshops in our new Bruka Studio 44. These workshops have a focus on the art of theatre and are built to invigorate, share tools, strategies and concepts while inspiring, connecting and engaging participants in a live, supportive and inclusive environment led by professional artists. The workshops will be open to the first 14 participants and will be accessible to the participants if any special needs are required. Workshops will take place at Bruka Studio 44 at 44 W. 1st Street, Reno, NV 89501. The first workshop, The Actor Workout is led by Producing Artistic Director Mary Bennett. This “Drop In” workshop gives actors and creators a one hour theatrical workout using improvisation, physical theatre, scene tools and mindfulness.
The Actor’s Workout – The focus is on invigorating the actor and creator using a base of improv games, stage movement, warm up and ensemble work to bring inspiration, tools and stimulate the actor to move forward into stage work to create dynamic creation and performance. Due to the nature of the workshop, you may do a drop in or sign up for all five. This workshop is made possible by a grant from The Nevada Arts Council.
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE BY CREDIT CARD ONLINE @ https://www.bruka.org/boxoffice
AVAILABLE BY CASH OR CHECK THROUGH BRUKA 775-323-3221
RESERVATIONS – In person or by phone through the Brüka Box Office (775) 323-3221. Online at http://www.bruka.org or at Bruka Studio 44 @ 44 W. First Street, Reno. Our box office is open Fridays and Saturdays in September 2024. Come by Studio 44 for tickets, including Season Tickets, browsing or purchasing from our theatrical library and Bruka Merchandise.
PARKING – Court Street parking lot across from The Pioneer Theater. FREE after 5:00 PM on weekdays and NO CHARGE on weekends. We validate 5-hour parking at the Parking Gallery on First and Sierra Street. Fee is $1 for the first 5 hours and $3 for every additional hour.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Mary Bennett: Mary is currently the Producing Artistic Director of Brüka Theatre in Reno and The Carson City Ghost Walk. As a professional theatre artist she is a renaissance person creating as an actor/playwright/director/producer/theatre maker. Her one woman original show: Dorothy Parker … Shivering and Sighing won Best of The San Francisco Fringe Festival and toured nationally. Stage Training and Performance include: The American Conservatory Theatre – San Francisco, Bay Area TheatreSports (BATS), Dell Arte’ International Theatre Company, New York Stage & Film, B Street Theatre, Brüka Theatre, GLM Theatre Company, The Reno Philharmonic, Reno Jazz Orchestra, Sierra Nevada Ballet, New York Stage & Film, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and The Missoula Children’s Theatre. Mary is an Equity Actor and Kennedy Center trained teaching artist working as an artist in residence with Nevada Arts Council and Sierra Arts Foundation and an arts integration specialist and was awarded the Sierra Arts Foundation Grant (2022) in Performing Arts.
ABOUT BRÜKA THEATRE – Brüka Theatre celebrates its 32nd season of live theatre in downtown Reno – Transcendence is the theme for the 2024/2025 season. As an artistic leader in the region, Brüka is recognized for innovative productions, exceptionally talented artists and an acclaimed Theatre for Children touring series since its founding in 1992. Central to Brüka is the commitment to the re-investigation of contemporary and classic plays and developing new plays within Brüka’s Artistic Collective, a group that includes winners of the Nevada Arts Council and Sierra Arts Foundation artist grants and nine local best actor honors. Brüka was named “Best Theatre Company” by Reno News and Review for twenty-one years. Brüka is a non-equity, small, not-for-profit member theater company and is a constituent of the national TCG (Theatre Communications Group). Brüka Theatre has produced hundreds of live shows in our downtown Reno location. Sign up for our newsletter by going to our website at http://www.bruka.org.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE HUMAN KIND
2024-11-08 00:00 - 2024-11-10 23:59 | Bruka Theatre, 99 N Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89501, United States
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE HUMAN KIND
Written & Directed By Bob Gabrielli
Humans Have Never Been So Human As In This Collection Of Five Short Comedic Plays
November 8 & 9 @ 7:30 PM Matinee November 10 @ 2 PM followed by a Talk Back with the Author/Director & Cast General admission: $20. Admission for Students/Seniors/Military: $15. All tickets are $25 at the door.
Reno, NV. The second show of Bruka’s 32nd season features a November weekend run of five original short plays, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE HUMAN KIND, by local playwright Bob Gabrielli. A door-to-door encounter goes off the rails in one neighborhood exchange. Sparks fly for two lonely hearts at a blood donation center while a husband and wife’s annual review of their marriage turns on a dime. Meanwhile, an aging tennis player forges an unexpected connection with a ball girl while it’s a Darwinian survival of the fittest for the volunteers at a food bank event. An evening of humans being their most human: How could it not be entertaining? This show enjoys three performances: November 8, 9 @ 7:30 and a Sunday Matinee on November 10 @ 2 PM. Friday night’s show is followed by a post show reception with the company in Bruka Studio 44.
Gabrielli premiered four of these short plays at Bruka Theatre’s BIGGEST little Theatre Festival. Each year our festival features local productions submitted and produced by the artists themselves in a safe and supportive environment. Submissions open November 1 for our January 2025 festival.
SHOW TIMES – All Brüka mainstage evening shows begin at 7:30 PM. Matinees begin at 2:00 PM. Doors open 30 minutes before curtain time. The Sunday matinee on November 10 is followed by a talkback with the company and audience.
PRICES – General admission: $20. Admission for Students/Seniors/Military: $15. All tickets are $25 at the door. Additional Ticket fees will be incurred on all online and phone ticket transactions. All sales are final. Ticket exchanges incur a $3.66 per ticket fee, space permitting. There is NO late seating.
RESERVATIONS – In person or by phone through the Brüka Box Office (775) 323-3221. Online at http://www.bruka.org or at Bruka Studio 44 @ 44 W. First Street, Reno. Our box office is open Tuesday, Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays from 4-6 in October 2024. Come by Studio 44 for tickets, including Season Tickets, browsing or purchasing from our theatrical library and Bruka Merchandise.
PARKING – Court Street parking lot across from The Pioneer Theater. FREE after 5:00 PM on weekdays and NO CHARGE on weekends. We validate 5-hour parking at the Parking Gallery on First and Sierra Street. Fee is $1 for the first 5 hours and $3 for every additional hour.
SEASON TICKETS – Season tickets are still available at: http://www.bruka.org. This early opportunity to purchase Brüka Season Tickets helps fund the opening of the Brüka season while giving our Season Ticket holders lots of perks, savings and includes advanced ticket reservations before tickets go on sale to the general public, an invitation to our annual Martini Party, tickets to our Theatre For Children Production and for our BIGGEST little Theatre Festival – in January, 2025. In addition, for our Patron Gold Season Ticket Holders – special seating of their choice and a souvenir Bruka cozy cup. Each production enjoys an opening night reception and a talkback on the final matinee of each show.
ABOUT BRÜKA THEATRE – Brüka Theatre celebrates its 32nd season of live theatre in downtown Reno – Transcendence is the theme for the 2024/2025 season. As an artistic leader in the region, Brüka is recognized for innovative productions, exceptionally talented artists and an acclaimed Theatre for Children touring series since its founding in 1992. Central to Brüka is the commitment to the re-investigation of contemporary and classic plays and developing new plays within Brüka’s Artistic Collective, a group that includes winners of the Nevada Arts Council and Sierra Arts Foundation artist grants and nine local best actor honors. Brüka was named “Best Theatre Company” by Reno News and Review for twenty-one years. Brüka is a non-equity, small, not-for-profit member theater company and is a constituent of the national TCG (Theatre Communications Group). Brüka Theatre has produced hundreds of live shows in our downtown Reno location. Sign up for our newsletter by going to our website at http://www.bruka.org.
ABOUT THE CREATOR – BOB GABRIELLI – Reno native Bob Gabrielli has written/acted/ directed in local theater off and on for more than 45 years. Some of his favorite roles at Reno Little Theater (RLT) have been in Henry V, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Clybourne Park, August Osage County, The Humans and Native Gardens. He also directed his full-length script Excerpts at RLT. In 2023, Bob appeared in Brüka’s production of When Churchyards Yawn. In recent years, Bob has incubated his ten-minute plays in Bruka’s annual BIGGEST little Theatre Festival. These are the plays that make up Close Encounters of the Human Kind.

Legally Blonde
2024-11-08 00:00 - 2024-11-24 23:59 | Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St., Carson City, NV, 89701, United States
A fabulously fun, award-winning musical based on the acclaimed movie! Legally Blonde The Musical follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams.
Action-packed and bursting with explosive songs and dances –
this musical is so much fun, it should be illegal!
Accompanied by a full, professional orchestra.

The Laramie Project
2024-11-10 13:30 | Redfield Studio Theatre, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV, 89557, United States
In October 1998, a twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten, and left tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming. His bloody, bruised, and battered body was not discovered until the next day, and he died several days later in an area hospital. His name was Matthew Shepard, and he was the victim of this assault because he was gay. Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project made six trips to Laramie over the course of a year and a half, in the aftermath of the beating and during the trial of the two young men accused of killing Shepard. They conducted more than 200 interviews with the people of the town. Some people interviewed were directly connected to the case, while others were citizens of Laramie, and the breadth of the reactions to the crime is fascinating. Kaufman and Tectonic Theater members have constructed a deeply moving theatrical experience from these interviews and their own experiences in Laramie.

Fall Dance Festival 2024
2024-11-23 19:30 - 2024-11-24 19:30 | Redfield Proscenium Theatre, Church Fine Arts, 1335 N Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89512, United States
The Fall Dance Festival is an annual dance concert featuring the innovative choreography of our student artists. Choreographers have each conceived, designed, and directed their works for presentation on the Redfield Proscenium stage. A diverse show of creative talent not to be missed!
