Giving politics a spin

Steven Barkhimer stars as a maniacal campaign manager in Zeitgeist Stage Company's production of "Spin." (Richard hall/silverline images)

In an election year with a seemingly never-ending campaign, does David Miller, artistic director of Zeitgeist Stage, worry about audience burnout when putting politics onstage?

The answer is no. "I think people are fascinated with what goes on behind the scenes," says Miller, director of "Spin," which is making its New England premiere at the Boston Center for the Arts' Black Box Theatre through May 10. "Just look at the reaction to [former New York governor] Eliot Spitzer's sex scandal."

In "Spin," playwright Robert William Sherwood follows a US presidential hopeful, Henry Champlain, as his campaign is nearly derailed when an opponent's staff learns of a potentially devastating scandal involving Champlain's wife.

Champlain's caffeine-driven campaign manager "will do anything to get his guy elected," says Miller. "I read the play three years ago, and it had [actor] Steven Barkhimer's name written all over it."

Zeitgeist Stage makes an effort to find provocative theater, which Miller says is always a risk. "When we mounted 'Stuff Happens,' I was worried people had Iraq-war fatigue," he says, "but that production got a tremendous response and was a bona fide hit for us. I think audiences are looking for a perspective on the circus that has become political campaigning."

Coming after other recent political productions - "The Missionary Position" at Merrimack Repertory Theatre and Theatre on Fire's "7 [expletives]" - ticket sales for "Spin" are picking up this week with positive reviews, Miller says.

He adds that the figure of the maniacal campaign manager seems particularly fitting at a time when voters are questioning the sincerity of every move candidates make. "This guy tries to get his candidate to divorce his wife," Miller says, "because he's convinced the election is more important than family. He also asks the wife if she can cry, and if not, he can teach her."

Tickets: $35. 617-933-8600, bostontheatrescene.com.

Season announcements

Theaters all over the Boston area are announcing their upcoming seasons. Gloucester Stage Company opens its 29th season with "Billy Bishop Goes to War" (June 5-22), followed by "The Enigma Variations" (June 26-July 13); Lee Blessing's "Going to St. Ives" (July 17-Aug. 3), featuring Lindsay Crouse and Jacqui Parker; "Doubt" (Aug. 7-24) starring Nancy E. Carroll; and "The Woman in Black: A Ghost Play" (Aug. 28-Sept. 14), directed by American Repertory Theatre actress Karen MacDonald. Tickets: $30-$35.

In addition, Gloucester Stage will host a new play-reading series that will include "The Threshing Floor" (July 6), written and performed by James Ijames; "Sow and Weep" (July 27) by Nitzan Halperin, with Carroll and Anne Gottlieb; "The Hotel Plays" (Aug. 17) by Israel Horovitz, with Ted Reinstein of WCVB's "Chronicle"; and "His Master's Voice" (Sept. 7), directed by David Wheeler, featuring his son Lewis. Suggested donation: $20. 978-281-4433, gloucesterstage.org.

Down in Hyannis, the Cape Playhouse celebrates its 82d season with "Marc Salem's Mind Games" (June 23-July 5); the musical "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine" (July 7-19); "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (July 21-Aug. 2); "Leader of the Pack" (Aug. 4-16), a musical about songwriter Ellie Greenwich; Garson Kanin's "Born Yesterday" (Aug. 18-30); and "The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith" (Sept. 1-13). Tickets: $25-$50. 877-385-3911, capeplayhouse.com.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell's 30th-anniversary season opens with "The Fantasticks" Oct. 16-Nov. 9, followed by David Hare's two-character play "Skylight" (Nov. 20-Dec. 14); Richard Dresser's "A View of the Harbor" (Jan. 8-Feb. 1); Bob Clyman's thriller "Tranced" (Feb. 12-March 8); Theresa Rebeck's comedy "Bad Dates" (March 19-April 12); and Eugene O'Neill's "A Moon for the Misbegotten" (April 23-May 17). Information: 978-654-4678, merrimackrep.org.

Stoneham Theatre's ninth season includes "Pageant" (Sept. 11-Oct. 5); the US premiere of "How Many Miles to Basra?" (Oct. 30-Nov. 9); a stage version of "It's a Wonderful Life" (Nov. 28-Dec. 21); "A Year With Frog and Toad" (Feb. 26-March 15), based on the children's stories by Arnold Lobel; William Inge's "Picnic" (April 2-19); "Strangers on a Train" (May 7-24), adapted from the Patricia Highsmith novel by Craig Warner; and "And Now Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Judy Garland" (June 4-28), starring Kathy St. George. Tickets: $20-$40. 781-729-2200, stonehamtheatre.org.

Wheelock Family Theatre will present George Bernard Shaw's "Saint Joan" Oct. 31-Nov. 30 starring teenage sensation Andrea Ross, followed by the musical "Annie" (Jan. 30-March 1) and E.B. White's classic "Charlotte's Web" (April 10-May 9). 617-879-2300, wheelock.edu/wft.