Two of HotCity's founders, artistic director Marty Stanberry and Donna Parrone

HotCity Theatre - which, unlike a lot of theaters, counts its seasons according to the calendar year - has scheduled mainstage offerings for 2010 that include a brand-new play and a provocative modern drama.

The season opens with “Why Torture Is Wrong and the People Who Love Them” (Feb. 12-27), a political satire by Christopher Durang (a prolific writer who’s probably best known for “Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You”). Marty Stanberry, HotCity’s artistic director, will direct this comedy about a bride who suspects that the War on Terror has hit home. 

“The Sinker,” the play that recently won HotCity’s new play competition, may have a new title before it opens its run (May 7-22). Written by Jami Brandli, the play deals with a charming young writer deeply, truly loved by both his agent and his best buddy from childhood. When the two of them discover one of the writer’s students, his manuscript and a gun in his apartment, things fall apart fast. Annamaria Pileggi directs the production, a world premiere.

Peter Schaeffer’s “Equus” (Sept. 10-25) is almost 40 years old, but it retains its provocative reputation partly because of its subject, a terrible crime that victimizes horses, and partly because of a celebrated, though brief, nude scene. Doug Finlayson will direct this production of “Equus,” a Tony-winning drama that explores civilization and its inevitable discontents.

The season will conclude with Allison Moore’s “Slasher” (Dec. 3-18), about an actress who hopes her role in a low-budget movie will be a big break. But her mother, horrified by the movie’s politics, will do anything to stop the filming - anything. Chuck Harper directs.

HotCity performs at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand Boulevard. Tickets are $25, with discounts for students and older adults. For more information, visit hotcitytheatre.org or call 314-289-4060.