The event's artistic director, Jeff Cohen, has devoted much of his producing endeavors to the downtown theatrical scene, having produced the Drama Desk-winning The Tribeca Playhouse Stage-Door Canteen, a USO-style show starring Broadway headliners who entertained Ground Zero rescue and construction workers who were literally rebuilding New York in the months following 9/11.
Three eclectic offerings will run in repertory-like fashion through the month of August. They include Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, which the producers have selected for its suitability to the Seaport and its historical setting.
The cast for Twelfth Night includes Stephen Largay as Sir Toby Belch. Largay was last scene in Broadway's award-winning The Last Night of Ballyhoo. Also confirmed for the production are Mari Howells, Margaret Nichols, James Rana, Jesse Gavin and Adam Hirsch.
In addition, the Worth Street Theater Company's popular Snapshots one-act series will be on hand for the Summer Theatre Festival in Snapshots '07, which features two world premieres by Clay McCleod Chapman: Bridesmaid and The Interstate and On.
Snapshots '07 will also see festival artistic director Jeff Cohen's In These Times – scenes from the aftermath of September 11, a meditation on the effects of the September 11 attacks on the people of New York and, specifically, those in the downtown community. On the lighter end of the festival will be the Late Night Comedy series, which will play host to New York's up-and-coming comedic talents as well as established favorites each Saturday night during the festival's run.
Running Aug. 2-26, the schedule for the Seaport Summer Theatre Festival follows:
•Twelfth Night – Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2PM.
•Snapshots '07 – Fridays and Sundays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 3PM.
•Late Night Comedy – Saturday nights at 11 PM.
The performances will take place at S-P-A-C-E Gallery and Performance Space 207a Front Street at Beekman Street, South Street Seaport, NYC.
Tickets are $18 per show, or all three shows for a special Festival Pass of $30. Tickets can be purchased by calling (212)868-4444 or by visiting www.smarttix.com.
