A dramatic newsletter e-mailed to friends of the theatre on July 28 lead with the dire news that "TheaterWorks is closing." The "closing" refers to a two-week unpaid furlong for all TheaterWorks employees in order to weather the current financial climate that has shuttered numerous regional theatres across the country.

TheaterWorks founder and executive director Steve Campo stated that the company will continue to keep patrons informed of the company's challenges through a series of updates on the TheaterWorks website. Following the August hiatus, the 2008-2009 season will conclude with David Mamet's American Buffalo starring Andrew Benator (Sept. 11-Oct. 18).

The company has also revealed the 2009-2010 season line-up including Joe Calarco's adaptation of Shakespeare's R & J (Nov. 12-Dec. 20); David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow (Jan. 22-March 7, 2010); Neil LaBute's Reasons to Be Pretty (April 9-May 16, 2010); Conor McPherson's Port Authority (June 11-July 25, 2010) and Ida Mae Holland's From the Mississippi Delta (Sept. 10-Oct. 17, 2010).

The official website also hints at the addition of Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps as part of the 2009-2010 programming. An announcement is forthcoming.

For more information visit the TheaterWorks website at theaterworkshartford.org.