Cleage, ‘Bring It On' premieres at Alliance Theatre in ‘10-'11

Six world premieres, including Atlanta playwright Pearl Cleage's romantic comedy "The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years" and "Bring It On: The Musical," are highlights of the Alliance Theatre's 2010-11 season.

The just-announced lineup also includes the Tony-winning "August: Osage County" and "Sammy & Me," a biography-musical about Sammy Davis Jr.

The 11-production season finds the Alliance in a particularly singin', dancin' mood, including five musicals, two of them comprising the Alliance Children's Theatre series.

One musical that didn't make the cut, at least for 2010-'11, was the Stephen King-John Mellencamp collaboration "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County."

Several music, theater and King-related sites have reported in recent weeks that the collaboration, which the Alliance originally announced for its 2008-'09 season and then delayed in April 2008, would be part of the new lineup. In a January post, King's official site reported that the show was to open September, and detailed the recording of an accompanying three-CD set of the entire script, music and songs by artists including Elvis Costello, Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow and Neko Case. "The casting of the Atlanta stage presentation is also underway," the King blog reported.

But Alliance spokesman Robert Saxon dismissed such reports, saying, "The Alliance Theatre has never officially announced ‘Ghost Brothers of Darkland County' as a musical that would be produced in the 2010-11 season."

Here's what will be on the boards on the Alliance mainstage and smaller Hertz Stage:

Mainstage

"The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years," focusing on six African-American debutantes in Montgomery, Ala. The Cleage premiere is being produced in association with Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

"Bring It On: The Musical," set at the National Cheerleading Championships and borrowing the title of the popular movie series, but with an original libretto by Tony-winning "Avenue Q" author Jeff Whitty and music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda ("In the Heights").

"August: Osage County," Tracy Letts' dark comedy.

Another show to be announced (but not “Ghost Brothers”).

Hertz Stage

"Sammy & Me," with Eric Jordan Young (King Herod from the Alliance hit "Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL") detailing his Davis obsession.

"Carapace," world premiere drama by David Robinson, seventh winner of the Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition.

"Spoon Lake Blues," a new comedy by Josh Tobiessen.

Holidays

"The Second City: Miracle on 1280 Peachtree Street," the third Atlanta-set comedy revue at the Alliance by the Chicago troupe.

"A Christmas Carol," back for its 21st production.

Families

"Middle School the musical," an "improvisational survival guide for tweenagers."

"HONK!" a musical based on "The Ugly Duckling."