WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS.: Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced its 2017 summer season at its two performance spaces on Williams College campus. The lineup features four world premieres, a new musical, and the first production of a festival commissioned artist.
“We are excited to share these productions—many of them homegrown at the festival—with our loyal patrons, who join us summer after summer to experience the rare and special magic that happens in Williamstown,” said artistic director Mandy Greenfield in a statement. “This summer, hundreds of theatre artists—expressing the full talent and diversity of our country—will converge in Williamstown to bring life to our 63rd season.”
The mainstage season will begin with Jen Silverman’s The Roommate (June 27–July 16), a comedy about a woman who opens up her Midwestern home to a roommate from New York City. S. Epatha Merkerson and Jane Kaczmarek will star, and Mike Donahue will direct.
Next will be Sarah Ruhl’s The Clean House (July 19–29), a comedy about two sisters who suddenly find themselves enmeshed in each other’s lives. Jessica Hecht will star, and Rebecca Taichman will direct.
Following with be A Legendary Romance (August 3-20), with music and lyrics by Geoff Morrow and book by Timothy Prager. The musical centers on a forgotten film producer, haunted by his past choices as he considers approving the release of his abandoned cinematic masterpiece. Lonny Price will direct.
All four of this season’s Nikos Stage productions have been commissioned by or developed at Williamstown Theatre Festival. The Nikos season will begin with the world premiere of Jason Kim’s play The Model American (June 28–July 9), which follows Gabriel, a young, gay Colombian man, as he finds friendship, love and ambition in the U.S. Danny Sharron will direct.
Next is the world premiere of Where Storms Are Born (July 12-23) by Harrison David Rivers, about a mother trying to help herself and her son through the grief of losing her elder child. Myra Lucretia Taylor will star, and Liesl Tommy will direct.
Following will be the world premiere of Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow (July 26–August 6), a contemporary adaptation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters by Halley Feiffer. Trip Cullman will direct.
The summer will close with Actually (August 9-20), by Anna Ziegler, a co-world premiere with Geffen Playhouse, about two freshmen at Princeton University who spend a night together and find the course of their lives altered. Lileana Blain-Cruz will direct.
Founded in 1955, Williamstown Theatre Festival brings directors, designers, playwrights, and performers to the Berkshires each summer to produce and develop classic plays and new works.
