Hartford Stage presents new plays by Crimes of the Heart scribe Beth Henley, American Voices Playwright in Residence Jorge Ignacio Cortinas, actress Patricia Wettig and more for its "Brand:NEW Fall Festival of New Works," Sept. 15-26. The annual event will take place during the run of Connecticut company's mainstage production of The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue (which plays Sept. 1-Oct. 2).
The schedule of "Brand:NEW 2005" is as follows:
Sept. 14 at 7:30 PM - Scream Through A Smile - by the winners of the Write On! Teenage Playwriting Competition Sept. 15 at 7:30 PM - Seeing the Elephant - a comedy by JT Rogers (Madagascar), directed by Gus Reyes Sept. 16 at 8:00 PM - Jesus Hates Me - a dark comedy by Wayne Lemon (head writer for "Grace Under Fire") Sept. 17 at Noon - Four Spirits - a Civil Rights drama by Sena Jeter Naslund and Elaine Hughes, directed by Jeremy B. Cohen Sept. 17 at 4 PM - My Andy - a biographical drama about Andy Warhol and his mother by Patricia Wettig ("thirtysomething" actress) Sept. 18 at 4 PM - Dark Yellow a new drama by Julia Jordan (Boy) Sept. 19 at 7:30 PM - TO DiE FOR - a dark comedy by Joyce Maynard (based on the her novel which inspired the film), with stage concept by Brian Swibel Sept. 21 - 7:30 PMExposed - a Hollywood-set drama by Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart, The Miss Firecracker Contest) Sept. 22 at 7:30 PM - Bird in the Hand by Jorge Ignacio Cortinas (Savage Acts) Sept. 23 at 8:00 PM - 100 Saints You Should Know - a drama by Kate Fodor (Hannah and Martin) Sept. 24 at 12:00 PM - Lullaby - a dark comedy with songs by Michael Elyanow (The Idiot Box) Sept. 24 at 4:00 PM - Antebellum 1930s Atlanta-set work by Robert O'Hara featuring Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose (Caroline, or Change Sept. 24 at 8:00 PM - Cradle of Man - a dark comedy by Melanie Marnich (The Sparrow Project), directed by Michael John Garces This year's festival also features an "Open Rehearsal" of last year's "Brand: NEW" show Floyd and Clea Under The Western Sky, Sept. 24 at 4 PM. The work — featuring music by Jonathan Kreisberg with a book and lyrics by David Cale — made its world premiere at Chicago's Goodman Theatre and will be presented at Hartford's mainstage, Oct. 13-Nov. 13 under director Michael Wilson. And a "Playwrights Panel" with participants Elizabeth Egloff, Jorge Ignacio Cortinas, Kate Fodor, Michael Elyanow, Melanie Marnich, Robert O'Hara and moderator Jeremy B. Cohen will take place Sept. 25 at 11 AM.
Festival Passes are on sale now for the "Brand:NEW" readings ($30 for Hartford Stage Subscribers and $40 for Non-subscribers) by calling (860) 527-5151. For more information, visit www.hartfordstage.org.
