The Mainstage season will kick off with the world premiere of a new comedy by Alena Smith. Entitled The New Sincerity, the production will run May 26-June 14 under the direction of Bob Balaban. "In today’s world, balancing politics, love and the quest for success (along with one’s social media presence) can get complicated," according to press notes. "When her ambitious literary circle gets involved with a rowdy Occupy-style movement, young journalist Rose Spencer finds herself in a love triangle where it’s hard to tell the difference between sincere action and skillful self-promotion."
Jerry Sterner's Other People's Money will follow, running June 23-July 26. Directed by Lonny Price and starring Jason Alexander, the production is described as such: "It’s the good ‘bad old days’ of 1987, the later Reagan years, when all was fair in love and business. Lawrence Garfinkle is an expert at buying up undervalued companies and liquidating them for a profit, and he’s the kind of guy you love to hate. But will he win in his newest attempt at domination when he comes up against a surprising adversary, the brilliant and beautiful lawyer Kate Sullivan? Suspenseful and funny, this greed-filled drama is as timely and titillating today as it was when it first premiered."
The Mainstage season culminates with the award-winning musical Grey Gardens, which features music by Scott Frankel, lyrics by Michael Korie and a book by Doug Wright. Directed by by Michael Wilson, performances are scheduled for Aug. 4-30. Based on the 1975 documentary by Albert and David Maysles, the musical, according to press notes, "tells the story of Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, the eccentric aunt and cousin of Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis. Set in 1941 and 1973 at the Bouvier mansion in East Hampton, this bold musical follows a mother and daughter on their hilarious and heartbreaking journey from glamorous aristocrats to notorious recluses in a crumbling house filled with memory and cats."
“I am thrilled to announce the full summer Mainstage season at Bay Street,” said artistic director Scott Schwartz in a statement. “These three works are portraits of America, explorations of our need for social and financial success. They are stories about how love factors into this need, and struggles with it. They are visions of different eras in our country, but all speak to today through the times in which they’re set. We are proud to offer our audience a world premiere as part of the season, continuing our commitment to making Bay Street a center for new works for the theater. And we are delighted to welcome the distinguished and dazzling artists Jason Alexander, Bob Balaban, Lonny Price, Alena Smith, and Michael Wilson to our stage.”
To purchase a 2015 Mainstage Season subscription, log on to www.baystreet.org or call the Box Office at (631) 725-9500.
