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Gina McKee, Richard Clothier, and William Postlethwaite in Florian Zeller's "The Mother," adapted by Christopher Hampton, at London's Tricycle Theatre in 2016. (Photo by Tristram Kenton)
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Atlantic Theater Sets 4 World Premieres for 2018-19 Season

The season will include the world premiere musical ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ by Lynn Nottage, Duncan Sheik, and Susan Birkenhead.

By American Theatre Editors

NEW YORK CITY: Atlantic Theater Company has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring four world premiere productions.

The season will start with the world premiere of Donja R. Love’s Fireflies (Sept. 26-Nov. 11), about a Southern couple’s marriage, which is threatened as they fight for Civil Rights in the wake of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963. The play is the second part of a trilogy; the first part, Sugar in Our Wounds, will be produced at Manhattan Theatre Club. Saheem Ali will direct.

Next will be the world premiere of Blue Ridge (Dec. 12-Jan. 27, 2019), by Abby Rosebrock, about a progressive high school teacher in Southern Appalachia who is sentenced to six months at a church-sponsored halfway house after retaliating against her boss. Marin Ireland will star, and Taibi Magar will direct.

Following will be the world premiere of Eddie and Dave (Jan. 10-Feb. 10, 2019), by Amy Staats, about the rise and fall of a group of Pasadena rockers in the ’80s through through the lens of a former MTV VJ. The cast will include Staats, and Margot Bordelon will direct.

The season will continue with the U.S. premiere of Florian Zeller’s The Mother (Feb. 20-April 7, 2019), translated by Christopher Hampton, a play about an alone empty-nester grasping for stability after her children have grown and left her. The cast will feature Isabelle Huppert and Trip Cullman will direct.

Next will be the world premiere of The Secret Life of Bees (May 10-June 23, 2019), with book by Lynn Nottage, music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead. The musical, based on the novel by Sue Monk Kidd, follows a restless white teenager and her black caretaker, who are taken in by a trio of beekeepers after they escape the South in 1964. Sam Gold will direct.

The season will conclude with the New York premiere of Carla Ching’s Nomad Motel (May 22-June 23, 2019), about the friendship between two teenagers with absent parents who encourage each other to chase their dreams.

Founded in 1985, Atlantic Theater Company is dedicated to producing new plays Off-Broadway.

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