Playwright Romulus Linney returns to NY's Theater for the New City with Gint, the world premiere of his American adaptation of Ibsen's epic Peer Gynt, Feb. 12 - March 8. The adaptation, commisioned by Theater for the New City, transports Ibsen's extravagant masterpiece from the world of Norwegian folklore to the Applachian Mountains, utilizing the legends, myth and language of the Blue Ridge Mountain people of a century ago.

Linney's two-act, two-hour abridgement of the tale, takes its hero, (renamed Pete Gint) seriously, but omits much of what Ibsen said never meant to be staged. Fantastical scenic descriptions like Ibsen's Desert scene and Troll scene are created with the imagery of language rather than lavish scenic design.

Linney will direct the production, as he has in all his past productions at Theatre for the New City including: Spain, True Crimes, Three Poets, and Heathen Valley.

Actors in the cast include: David Van Pelt, Christine Parks, Susan Ericksen, Christopher Roberts, Rebecca Harris, Christopher Cappiello, Heather Mann, Bill Cwikowski and T. Cat Ford. Set design is by Mark Marcante, lighting design is by Jon D. Andreadakis, costume design is by Jonathan Green.

Gint will be playing at NY's Theater for the New City, Feb. 12 - March 8, for reservations call (212) 254-1109.

-- By Sean McGrath