The show is part the 2006 summer season of New York Stage and Film, located at the Powerhouse Theatre on the grounds of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Prairie is a musical by the all-female team of composer Rachel Portman, lyricist Donna DiNovelli and librettist Beth Henley. Francesca Zambello directs the show based on the popular books about a pioneer family in the Dakotas.

Edelman is the Tony-nominated star of such Broadway shows as 1776 and Wonderful Town. Blickenstaff is one of the stars of the Off-Broadway show [title of show], which returns to the Vineyard Theatre on July 14.

Also in the cast are John Antony, Kim Brownell, Sara Chase, Vincent Durante, Jessie Goldberg, Wendy Hill, Laura Jordan, Betsy Morgan, Sean Palmer, Anna Pasolini, Amanda Sprecher, Devon Talbott and Todd Thurston.

The NYS&F season began June 28 with Daisy Foote's Bhutan. Tasha Lawrence, Sarah Lord, Amy Redford and Jedadiah Schultz starred. Evan Yionoulis directed. The play by the When They Speak of Rita author is about a 15-year-old who dreams of Bhutan but is hampered by her unstable family.

NYS&F's 2004 season reaped remarkable benefits. Among the presentations—all of which subsequently traveled to New York, or were announced for future New York productions—were Doubt by John Patrick Shanley, The Argument by Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros and Fran's Bed by James Lapine.

NYS&F's biggest success of last season was John Patrick Shanley's Defiance, which went from a workshop at Vassar to a full production at Manhattan Theatre Club.

Additionally, three shows given readings at the 2005 festival have seen New York productions during the 2005-06 season: Manic Flight Reaction by Sarah Schulman; Jayson With a Y by Darci Picoult; and The Busy World Is Hushed by Keith Bunin.