Old Globe shows Mark Olsen the love

Two world premiere plays, including one from the creator of the HBO series “Big Love,” are on tap for the Old Globe’s 2008-09 winter season in San Diego.

Mark V. Olsen’s “Cornelia” looks at the rise and fall of a political power couple with White House ambitions in 1970s Alabama: beauty queen Cornelia Folsom and Gov. George Wallace. The new play from the executive producer of “Big Love” will be seen on the mainstage May 21 through June 21, 2009.

The Old Globe’s season opens with “The Women,” Clare Boothe Luce’s 1936 classic about pampered socialites (Sept. 21-Oct. 26). Rounding out the mainstage offerings are the Globe’s 11th annual staging of “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (Nov. 20-Dec. 28), John Guare’s “Six Degrees of Separation” (Jan. 15-Feb. 15) and a production to be announced (March 6-April 26).

The world premiere of Itamar Moses’ seriocomic play “Back Back Back” (Sept. 25-Oct. 26), set in the world of professional baseball, leads off the Globe’s second stage productions. Mia McCullough’s “Since Africa” (Jan. 29-March 8, 2009), previously mounted by Mo’olelo Theater Company, follows. It explores a young Sudanese man’s efforts to acclimate to life in urban America. Also on the arena stage: the West Coast premiere of “Opus” (March 26-April 26) by Michael Hollinger, about the lives and loves of four renowned classical musicians; and the Arthur Miller classic “The Price” (May 14-June 14).

Due to construction of the Globe’s new facilities, “Back Back Back” and other second stage offerings will be presented in a newly created arena space at the San Diego Museum of Art’s James S. Copley Auditorium.

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lynne.heffley@latimes.com