New York Stage and Film has unveiled a host of works from theatrical notables that will be developed at the company's 2024 summer season at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Among those bringing new work to the series are Margaret Cho, Amber Ruffin, Jim Dale, Adam Chanler-Berat, Grace McLean, Bryce Pinkham, Rona Siddiqui, and more.
Cho will bring a new solo show titled Mommy, A One Woman Cho, featuring additional material by Leah Nanako Winkler. Described in press notes as "a work of fiction," the piece will see the comedian sharing all of the things she wishes her mother had actually said. Leigh Silverman and Seonjae Kim are co-directing, with the presentation set for July 19 at Fusco Recital Hall.
Ruffin's new project is a musical titled Bigfoot, about a small town whose mayor blames all problems on the famously elusive creature rather than his own ineptitude. Ruffin is directing and has penned the lyrics to David Schmoll (Second City)'s music, and is co-writing the book with Mystery Science Theater 3000's Kevin Sciretta. The presentation is set for July 21 at the Nelly Goletti Theatre.
Game Night, a dance and spoken word piece following seven friends who gather for a night of games that may change their friend group's future, will be presented July 26 and 27 in the Nelly Goletti Theatre. The piece is co-created by Shanessa Sweeney and Ray Mercer, with Sweeney writing the piece, Bongi Duma providing music, and Mercer choreographing. Rufus Bonds, Jr. is directing.
Kate Douglas is working with director Kate Whoriskey on Tulipa, in which its title character (to be played by Jessica Hecht) explores what truly nourishes us against the Dionysian backdrop of 17th century Tulipmania. Stephanie Crousillat will also be in the cast, with the presentation set for August 1 at Fusco Recital Hall.
Maylis deKarangal's novel Réparer les Vivants is getting a musical adaptation with The Heart, to be presented August 2-3 at the Nelly Goletti Theatre. The piece features a book and additional lyrics by The Great Gatsby scribe Kait Kerrigan and music and lyrics by Anne Eisendrath and Ian Eisendrath. Christopher Ashley (Come From Away) is directing the work, which tracks 24 hours in the life of a dying man's heart and a woman who gets a second chance at life. The cast will include Heidi Blickenstaff (Jagged Little Pill), Miguel Cervantes (Hamilton), Drew Gehling (Almost Famous), Gizel Jimenez (Cornelia Street), Jay Armstrong Johnson (Parade), Taylor Iman Jones (Six: The Musical), Zachary Noah Piser (KPOP), and Wren Rivera, with additional casting to be announced.
Adam Chanler-Berat and Grace McLean will develop After Peter August 3 in Fusco Recital Hall. Chanler-Berat and McLean have penned the new work, which will feature music and lyrics by McLean and direction by Tyler Thomas. After Peter follows a theatremaker working to finish a piece after her collaborator dies suddenly. The cast is set to include Kyle Beltran (American Rust) and Marin Ireland (Spain), along with musician Erica Swindell.
The season will close with Dignity, Always, Dignity, co-created by Zack Fine, Bryce Pinkham, Kirya Traber, and Rona Siddiqui. Pinkham will star in the work, in which a literally washed-up performer attempts to put up one last show before rising waters swallow him up while stranded on a deserted island. The presentation will be given August 4 at Fusco Recital Hall.
Also planned for the upcoming season are a new solo show written and performed by Jim Dale, Living With Laughter (July 18); Well Well Well, a Brant Russell-penned play about the line between love and enabling, to be directed by Jaki Bradley (July 20); Delta Rae's The Ninth Woman, directed by Logan Vaughn and centered on Puritan witch trials (July 20); Kate Walbert's Genius, directed by Sheryl Kaller and set at a dinner party between two artist couples (July 25); Ngozi Anyanwu's the monsters, a story of love between siblings and MMA (July 27); and Stacy Osei-Kuffour's Basement, IL, about a Midwestern family's alleged buried secret (July 28);
“This is a remarkable time to be supporting storytellers and their new works,” says Interim Artistic Director Liz Carlson in a statement, “especially those who are mining the depths of their curiosities and quandaries of the world with the rigor and heart of the 2024 Summer Season community. This year, we invite our audiences to embrace challenging questions, unrelenting dreams, and tremendous joy in these developing stories that are bound to make an imprint on our vast and complicated culture. We look forward to welcoming our entire community to Marist’s riverfront campus once again.”
For tickets and more information, visit NewYorkStageandFilm.org.
