Soho Rep Season Includes Annie Baker Premiere, Works By David Adjmi and Marius von Mayenburg

By Adam Hetrick
13 Sep 2011

Annie Baker
Annie Baker
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Soho Rep will debut a new adaptation of Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, by Circle Mirror Transformation playwright Annie Baker, as part of its 2011-2012 season, which will also include works by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and David Adjmi.

Led by artistic director Sarah Benson, Soho Rep will open its season with Elective Affinities, the solo play by Stunning playwright Adjmi. The work was first presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2005, and will begin performances Nov. 17. It's described as "a unique site-specific event inviting audiences into the apartment of a witty octogenarian offering a funny & savage portrait of cultured life."

Former Soho Rep artistic director Daniel Aukin (4000 Miles, This) will direct the New York premiere of German playwright Marius von Mayenburg's The Ugly One, which will begin Jan. 26, 2012. Here's how the play is billed: "'You are ugly. It's a fact. I can't believe you didn't know.' Lette designs widgets by day and goes home to a loving wife at night. Everything’s completely normal, until one day he learns the truth."

Circle Mirror Transformation cast member Reed Birney, who also appeared in Blasted at Soho Rep, will step into the title role of Baker's adaptation of Uncle Vanya, which Sam Gold (Circle Mirror…, A Small Fire) will stage in June 2012.

Soho Rep will also develop The Octoroon, by Neighbors playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins as part of its Writer/Director Lab. The work was seen a previous developmental production at PS 122 in 2010. Playwrights also developing works this season include Sylvan Oswald (Profanity) and Jenny Schwartz (Somewhere Fun). Schwartz will do-direct the Lab with Ken Rus Schmoll (Middletown).

For tickets visit SohoRep. Soho Rep is located at 46 Walker Street in Manhattan.