The upcoming season will kick off with the New York premiere of Edward Albee's Peter and Jerry Oct. 19. The production, which premiered in 2004 at Hartford Stage, features two Albee one-acts: Zoo Story and Homelife. Pam MacKinnon, who directed the Hartford engagement, will repeat her work for Manhattan audiences, and the cast is scheduled to include Bill Pullman, Dallas Roberts and Johanna Day; the latter starred in the Hartford run.
In 1958's Zoo Story, Albee penned the meeting of two strangers — the middle-of-the road Peter and the younger Jerry — in New York City's Central Park. With Homelife, the playwright revisited Peter and delves into the character's morning (on the same day before he goes off to the park) spent with his wife, Ann.
Michael Greif, who received a 2007 Tony nomination for his direction of Grey Gardens, will direct the second offering of the Second Stage Season, the new musical Next to Normal. The musical, which was formerly titled Feeling Electric, features music by High Fidelity’s Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. The industry paper says the musical concerns "a suburban family confronting a long-hidden skeleton in the closet."
Beau Willimon's Farragut North will be the third offering of the Second Stage season. A reading of Willimon's politically themed play was recently held in New York. That reading, according to the New York Post, featured film actor Jake Gyllenhaal as well as Tony winner Denis O'Hare, Mark Blum, Jessica Hecht and Alison Pill. James Lapine directed the reading, which, according to the Post, cast Gyllenhaal as "a young, idealistic communications director who works for an inspiring, though unorthodox, presidential candidate. During the campaign, his career is done in by more seasoned politicos who thrive on poisonous partisan politics, dirty tricks and back-stabbing." The play's title takes its name from the Washington, D.C. subway station that is situated near K Street, where several lobbyists work. No casting has been announced for the Second Stage run.
The Second Stage season will conclude with a revival of Some Americans Abroad. Gordon Edelstein will direct Richard Nelson's comedy, which played the Vivian Beaumont Theater April 25, 1990-June 17, 1990. Second Stage is currently presenting Eurydice, Sarah Ruhl's re-imagining of the classic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Directed by Les Waters, the play will run through July 21.
The company also continues its annual Uptown Festival with Marisa Wegrzyn's The Butcher of Baraboo (through June 30) and Josh Tobiessen's Election Day (July 16-Aug. 18) at the McGinn/Cazale Theater.
Second Stage is located in Manhattan at 307 West 43rd Street (just off Eighth Avenue). For more information, visit 2st.com.
