The 24th season, which runs June 27-Aug. 3, will include new plays by Eric Bogosian and Eve Ensler, a new musical by the creators of Spring Awakening and a one-man show penned by former "Saturday Night Live" writer Alan Zweibel.
1+1 is the title of the new work from actor-playwright Eric Bogosian, who can be seen on NBC's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Mark Brokaw, currently represented on Broadway with the new musical Cry-Baby, will direct the production, which runs July 1-13. 1+1, which is recommended for mature audiences, asks these questions: "How far can you go to get what you want? Are you responsible for other people's actions? When do you stop being good?"
Finks, a new play by Joe Gilford, is the latest addition to the summer schedule and will run July 23-Aug. 3. Based on true events from the lives of Gilford's parents, Jack and Madeline Gilford, the work is described as such: "In the summer of 1952, a stand-up comic on the verge of a big TV breakthrough and an actress/activist meet and fall in love. But the House Committee on Un-American Activities is about to present the terrible choice that tests not only their love, but the friendships, loyalties, and convictions of a generation."
Singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik and playwright Steven Sater, the duo responsible for the Tony-winning musical Spring Awakening, will debut their latest effort, Nero, in the Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film. The musical, described as "a black-comic tale of the bad-boy Emperor who fiddles as all faith in his country burns," will be presented as a concert reading July 11-13. Daniel Kramer directs.
David Rossmer and Dan Lipton's new musical Notes to MariAnne will also be seen in the Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film, running July 18-20. The musical, which was part of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's Music Theatre Conference in July 2007, is described as such: "A modern musical fairytale about a brother and sister torn apart by their dark past, and reunited by undying love. A haunting tapestry of hope and loss woven together by an emotionally rich book and a gorgeous popular score." Jeremy Dobrish directs. Alan Zweibel's The History of Me will be presented as part of Powerhouse's Inside Look! series (July 18-20 in the Susan Stein Shiva Theater). The series will also include Horsedreams, a new work from Dael Orlandersmith, who was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Yellowman. Orlandersmith's latest play will be directed by Gordon Edelstein and will run July 25-27. The Inside Look! series will conclude with Stephen Belber's Fault Lines, Aug. 2-3 in the Martel. The new work explores "the tortured integrity of reaching age 40 — and what it means for men to be friends."
Ten plays will be featured during the two free Powerhouse Readings Festivals. Readings Festival 1, June 27-29, will include Bernard Weinraub's Above the Fold, Michael Weller's Beast, Anton Dudley's Moving On, Eve Ensler's O.P.C. and Claire Chafee's Whisper from the Book of Etiquette. Readings Festival 2, Aug. 1-3, will boast Deborah Haggis' Enough, Andrea Stolowitz's Knowing Cairo, Ronan Noone's Little Black Dress, Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros' Mean Time and John Patrick Shanley's Veronica.
Subscriptions for the summer season are now on sale; individual tickets will be available beginning June 4. For more information visit powerhouse.vassar.edu or call (845) 437-7235 or (845) 437-5599.
