POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.: Vassar and New York Stage and Film has announced the works in its 2017 Powerhouse season. Every summer, the institutions come together to present fully staged productions of new plays and workshop presentations of new plays and musicals. The season will run June 23-July 30.
“We are thrilled to partner with Vassar to produce our 33rd Powerhouse summer season of new works-in-progress,” said Johanna Pfaelzer, artistic director of New York Stage and Film, in a statement . “The last several years at Powerhouse have been especially fertile ground for the development of some of the most exciting new works for the American theatre. We look forward to providing this summer’s lineup of artists—an incredible collection of Powerhouse alums and first-timers—a rigorous and protected artistic community in which their work can flourish and prepare for the next step in its journey.”
The first production will be Sacred Valley by Josh Radnor (June 29-July 9). The comedy is about close friends Narby and Natalie, whose relationship is upended when Natalie’s husband leaves her. Sheryl Kaller will direct.
The second production will be Good Men Wanted by Kevin Armento (July 20-July 30). The play is about a group of women who disguise themselves as men to fight in the Civil War. Jaki Bradley will direct and Ani Taj will choreograph.
The season will include workshop presentations of three new musicals: Stilyaki by Lisa Kron and Peter Lerman, and directed by Michael Mayer (June 23-25); This Ain’t No Disco by Stephen Trask, Peter Yanowitz, and Rick Elice, and directed by Trip Cullman (June 30-July 2); and The Secret Life of Bees by Lynn Nottage, Duncan Sheik, and Susan Birkenhead, and directed by Sam Gold (July 27-29).
There will also be workshop presentations of two plays: The Great Leap by Lauren Yee (July 7-9), and Hang Man by Stacy Osei-Kuffour, and directed by Leah C. Gardiner (July 28-30).
Powerhouse has also announced most of the lineup for the annual readings festival of new plays (June 23-25 and July 21-23). The works are:
- Amy and the Orphans by Lindsey Ferrentino, directed by Scott Ellis
- Little Orphan Danny by Dan Finnerty, directed by Sean Daniels
- Ironweed by William Kennedy and Jodie Markell, directed by Jodie Markell
- Paris, Actors by Hamish Linklater
- Serious Moonlight by Adrienne Shelly, coadapted by Liz Tuccillo and Andy Ostroy
- Jane Says by Diana Son
- Kid Prince and Pablo by Brian Quijada
Finally, as part of the Powerhouse Theater Training Program, young actors will collaborate with professional playwrights and directors on the following productions: Hamlet, adapted and directed by Emily Mendelsohn (July 14-16) and Cymbeline, adapted and directed by Andrew Willis Woodward (July 21-23). They will also perform in workshop productions of 12 Ophelias (a play with broken songs) by Caridad Svich, directed by Heidi Handelsman (July 23-24); the One Act Plays Festival (July 26); and Not, Not, Not, Not, Not Enough Oxygen by Caryl Churchill (July 28).
Every summer, Vassar College and New York Stage and Film come together to present Powerhouse Theater, which allows nationally renowned artists to develop work at an eight-week residency on the Vassar campus.
