PITTSFIELD, MASS.: Barrington Stage Company has announced its 2016 season, featuring three world premieres.
“Barrington Stage is thrilled that our 2016 season will feature three world premieres, two of which we commissioned (Presto Change-O and American Son) and the third written by a musical theatre team (Broadway Bounty Hunter), who have been longtime friends and collaborators of the theatre,” said artistic director Julianne Boyd in a statement. “These plays/musicals, will be joined by some of the best work of an award-winning group of playwrights.”
The Boyd-Quinson Mainstage season begins with the world premiere of Christopher Demos-Brown’s American Son (June 17—July 9), about a recently estranged biracial couple who reunite at a police station after their son’s car is found. Boyd will direct.
Next will be Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance (July 15—Aug. 13), about a young couple whose love is challenged by bumbling policemen and fun-loving pirates. Joshua Bergasse will choreograph, and John Rando will direct.
Following will be Nina Raine’s Tribes (Aug. 18—Sept. 3), about a young man who was born deaf and raised by hearing parents and becomes introduced to the Deaf community when he falls in love with a woman who is losing her hearing. Jenn Thompson will direct.
Next is Mark St. Germain’s Camping with Henry and Tom (Oct. 5—Oct. 23), about a camping trip with Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and President Warren G. Harding, inspired by an actual event.
The St. Germain Theatre season begins with the world premiere of Presto Change-O (May 18—June 11), written by Eric Price with music by Joel Waggoner, about three generations of magicians who find themselves under the same roof for the first time in years. Marc Bruni will direct.
Following is David Lindsay-Abaire’s Kimberly Akimbo (June 16—July 9), about a teenager with a rare condition causing her body to age faster than normal. Rob Ruggiero will direct.
Finally, the world premiere of Broadway Bounty Hunter (Aug. 12—Sept. 3), written by Joe Iconis, Lance Rubin, and Jason SweetTooth Williams, will close out the St. Germain theatre season. The musical is about an unemployed 60-year-old actress who is tasked with capturing an ex-Broadway producer-turned-druglord. Leah Gardiner will direct.
