The Obie-winning company's first offering is Constitutional Convention, a politically-themed opening-night celebration where "teams of artists will propose new legislation that you will have the chance to vote on… or veto." The 8 PM performance of is free and open to the public.
Summerworks' dramatic offerings get underway with Ann Marie Healy's Gentleman Caller (June 8-14). Press notes for Gentleman Caller state, "The days are so hot and the nights so long and that damn war just keeps going on and on. An aged ingénue, a failed go-getter, and a maid with real big dreams sit and wait and wonder: When will he call? Oh let it be soon. Soon around here is just not soon enough..."
Brooke O'Harra (Drum Of The Waves Of Horikawa) stages the work that features a cast comprising Hannah Cabell, Beth Hoyt, Meg MacCary, and Hubert Point-Du Jour. The creative team includes Peter Ksander and Andreea Mincic (production design), Tara Webb (costume design) and Ian Antonio and Russell Greenbergg (sound design).
Vendetta Chrome, by Sally Oswald and directed by Alexis Poledouris, will follow, playing June 15-21. "It's the 90's. The 1890's. And poor Vendetta has always been a bit behind the rest of the girls in her elocution class. But now it's up to her to save her school, her family, and herself - and it's all in the dance moves," production notes state.
The company includes Tracee Chimo, Lisa Rafaella Clair, Ginger Eckert, Rebecca Hart, Caroline Tamas, Ariana Venturi, Sam Breslin Wright and Jenny Seastone Stern. Designing Vendetta are Jason Simms (set design), Gina Scherr (lighting design), Jessica Pabst (costume design) and Tracy Bersley (choreography). The final Summerworks offering is Sigrid Gilmer's Slavey (June 22-28): "In a not so distant future, Nora and Robert find themselves climbing the steep social ladder of the super rich – big promotion, bigger house, and a brand new slave. But when growing pains kick in and consumer and consumed find themselves on unexpected sides of the table it can only mean one thing – big trouble."
Robert O'Hara directs a cast including Spencer Scott Barros, Glenn Cruz, Amanda Duarte, Tim Frank, Hasani Issa, Jocelyn Kuritsky, Edward Nattenberg, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Gita Reddy and Paco Tolson. The creative team comprises Caleb Levengood (set design), Raquel Davis (lighting design), Clint Ramos (costume design) and Daniel Odham (sound design).
Tickets, priced $18, are available by phoning (212) 352-3101 or by visiting www.clubbedthumb.org.
All Summerworks 2008 performances take place at the Ohio Theatre, located at 66 Wooster Street in Manhattan.
