The Purple Rose Theatre Company just announced its lineup for the 2012-13 season, which will feature two world premieres and two plays by award-winning playwrights.

The theatre company’s 22nd professional season will include: "Superior Donuts" by Tracy Letts; the world premiere of "The Meaning of Almost Everything" by Jeff Daniels; "33 Variations" by Moises Kaufman; and the world premiere of "Miles & Ellie" by Don Zolidis (whose play "White Buffalo" premiered at the Rose earlier this year).

Eight discount previews will begin each run, followed by press opening night during the second week of each engagement. Regular performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., with Saturday matinees at 3 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m., with added performance dates to be announced. All performances will be held at The Purple Rose Theatre at 137 Park Street in Chelsea.

Here are the theater's descriptions:

• "Superior Donuts," by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Letts ("August: Osage County"), kicks off the season. This comedy-drama, set in one of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods, explores the unlikely friendship between a burned-out doughnut shop owner and his young, idealistic new employee. "Superior Donuts" will have a thirteen-week engagement from Thursday, September 20 to Saturday, December 15.

Randolph Mantooth (Los Angeles, Calif.) will star as doughnut shop owner Arthur Przybyszewski. Mantooth has been a working television, film and theatre actor for 40 years, and is best known for his starring role in NBC’s series “Emergency!” in the 1970s. Directed by Guy Sanville, the "Doughnuts" cast also includes Ryan Carlson (Clinton Township), David Daoust (Lansing), Alex Leydenfrost (Ann Arbor), Brian Marable (Detroit), Michelle Mountain (Grass Lake), Michael Brian Ogden (Berkley), Sandy Ryder (Ann Arbor), and Lynch Travis (Dearborn).

• "The Meaning of Almost Everything" pushes the bounds of dramatic realism with this hilarious and sometimes painful exploration of the human condition. A world premiere comedy by PRTC founder Jeff Daniels, this show questions the nature of our world and the absurdity of it all.

"The Meaning" will run for nine weeks from Thursday, January 10 through Saturday, March 9. Directed by Guy Sanville, the cast will feature Matt Gwynn (Ypsilanti) and Nate Mitchell (Novi).

• Kaufman’s "33 Variations" bridges past and present as musicologist Katherine Brandt struggles to solve the mystery behind her professional passion: Beethoven’s oft overlooked “Diabelli Variations.” As she races against time, Katherine not only discovers the true nature of Beethoven’s work, but gains insight into the other mystery in her life: her daughter.

"33 Variations" will have a ten-week engagement from Thursday, March 28 through Saturday, June 1. Directed by Guy Sanville, the cast will feature Michelle Mountain (Grass Lake) as Katherine Brandt, David Bendena (Chelsea), Daniel Britt (Hamilton, Ohio), Richard McWilliams (Dayton, Ohio), Michael Brian Ogden (Berkley), Jan Radcliff (Farmington Hills) and Melanie Reihing (Toledo, Ohio).

• "Miles & Ellie" is the second PRTC premiere by Don Zolidis following the production of his award-winning play "White Buffalo." This romantic comedy about young love gone wrong will ask if it’s possible to get a second chance at your first love.

"Miles & Ellie" will run for eleven weeks from Thursday, June 20 through Saturday, August 31. Directed by Guy Sanville, the cast will feature Rusty Mewha (Plymouth), Michelle Mountain (Grass Lake), Rhiannon Ragland (Flint), Bill Simmons (Indianapolis, Ind.), and Cheryl Turski (Royal Oak).

Tickets for groups of 12 or more are available for puchase now. PRTC donors can purchase tickets approximately two months before each show opens with tickets going on sale to the general public two weeks later. Ticket reservations can be made by calling The Purple Rose Theatre Company Box Office at 734-433-7673 or online at www.purplerosetheatre.org.