The Skivvies, Darrell Hammond & More Join Williamstown Theatre Festival's 2015 Lineup

Williamstown Theatre Festival (Mandy Greenfield, Artistic Director) has added many exciting special events to their 2015 Season line-up. In addition to the Main Stage and Nikos Stage productions, the 61st season will also include: Paradise Lew (July 13), an evening of stand-up with Williamstown veteran Lewis Black; straight from its hit Off-Broadway run, a one-night-only concert performance of Benjamin Scheuer's The Lion (July 19); the return of the stripped down musical comedy duo The Skivvies (July 26 & 27); The Darrell Hammond Project (August 10), with "Saturday Night Live" impersonation icon Darrell Hammond; for the first time ever at Williamstown, one of the most-celebrated musical improv shows in the world, Baby Wants Candy (August 20 - 22); as well as this summer's Free Theatre production, Song for a Future Generation (July 15 - 18 & 21 - 24).

As previously announced, WTF's Main Stage Season will include William Inge's Off the Main Road directed by Evan Cabnet and featuring Kyra Sedgwick in her Festival debut (June 30 - July 19); the world premiere of the 2012 L. Arnold Weissberger New Play Award-winner Paradise Blue by Dominique Morisseau; directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson (July 22 - August 2), and six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald and Tony Award-nominee Will Swenson in Nobel laureate Eugene O'Neill's masterpiece: A Moon for the Misbegotten, directed by Gordon Edelstein (August 5 - August 23).

The Nikos Stage season kicks off on July 1st with the world premiere of Legacy by Daniel Goldfarb and directed by Oliver Butler (July 1 - July 12); continues with the American premiere of Kinship by Carey Perloff and directed by Jo Bonney (July 15 - July 25); the world premiere of the new musical Unknown Soldier with Book & Lyrics by Daniel Goldstein, Music & Lyrics by Michael Friedman, and directed by Trip Cullman (July 30 - August 9); and concludes with the doubleheader of two American premieres of British plays Chewing Gum Dreams, written and performed by Michaela Coel, and An Intervention by Mike Bartlett and directed by Lila Neugebauer with a rotating cast (August 12 - 23).

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING & SPECIAL EVENTS

Paradise Lew | July 13 at 7:30 PM
An evening of stand-up with Lewis Black
Main Stage; $250/$125/$65/$45

From his standing-room-only Broadway runs to his 19 seasons on "The Daily Show," Grammy Award-winning king of rant Lewis Black returns to Williamstown-the little corner of the Berkshires that he loves (and hates) with every fiber of his being-for a one-night-only performance of his signature dyspeptic brand of stand-up. Absolutely nothing's off limits for this century's foremost purveyor of righteous indignation. Act fast-this event always sells out.

$250 tickets include a post-performance reception with Lewis and other Festival artists. All proceeds from the performance will support the Festival's professional development programs.

The Lion in Concert | July 19 at 7:30 PM
By Benjamin Scheuer
Nikos Stage; $80/$60/$40

For one night only, WTF brings a concert version of singer-songwriter and composer Benjamin Scheuer's irresistible and deeply moving The Lion to the Nikos Stage straight from its much-lauded run Off-Broadway. Originally developed and produced by WTF Artistic Director Mandy Greenfield, The Lion inspires and disarms with Scheuer's raw and emotional depth. "A naturally appealing performer with an ingratiating soft touch" (The New York Times), Scheuer leads you on a rock 'n' roll journey from boyhood to manhood, through pain and healing, to discover the redemptive power of music.

$80 tickets include a post-performance reception with Benjamin and other Festival artists. All proceeds from the performance will support the Festival's new play commissioning program.

The Skivvies | July 26 & 27 at 7:30 PM
The Sanctuary at 777 Main Street; $80/$40

Back for a second summer by popular demand! Sizzling musical comedy duo Lauren Molina (Ten Cents a Dance at WTF) and Nick Cearley (All Shook Up)-AKA The Skivvies-turn the heat way, way up as they perform stripped down mash-ups of pop songs and show tunes...in their underwear. The Wall Street Journal calls these wildly popular undie-rockstars "smart, sophisticated...ingenious" and Out Magazine declares that they've "managed to carve out a niche that we never knew existed: Part Weird Al parody and part sexy burlesque...an unusual explosion of satire and sultry."

$80 tickets get you seats down front and access to an exclusive party after the show.

The Darrell Hammond Project | August 10 at 7:00 PM
Written and Performed by Darrell Hammond
Additional Material by Elizabeth Stein and Christopher Ashley
Directed by Christopher Ashley
Main Stage; $100/$65/$45

Best known for his strikingly spot-on impressions of a cavalcade of celebrities on "Saturday Night Live," prolific comedian Darrell Hammond tells the story of the harrowing events that gave birth to his brilliant talent. Join Darrell on "the detective story of his own life" as he delves into the trauma and tenacity that made him a beloved entertainer. Full of raw emotion, humor, and plenty of the impressions that made him famous, The Darrell Hammond Project is the story of how a brilliant star rose from the darkest corners of human experience.

Baby Wants Candy | August 20 - 22 at 8:00 PM and August 21 at 11:00 PM
Center Stage; $20

WTF is thrilled to introduce its audiences to Baby Wants Candy, one of the best-known, longest-running, and most-celebrated improv shows in the world. Baby Wants Candy is a roller-coaster ride of spontaneously choreographed dance numbers, rhyming verses and witty, jaw-dropping comedy. After the WTF Apprentice Company kicks off the evening with a little improv, the Baby Wants Candy cast will ask the audience for a suggestion of a musical that has never been performed before. What follows will be a "truly amazing!" (The New York Times) entertainment phenomenon.

FREE THEATER

Song for a Future Generation | July 15 - 18, 21 - 24 at 7:30 PM
By Joe Tracz; Directed by Lee Overtree
FREE at Poker Flats Field

A star in a far-off galaxy is about to burst, and three party-addled clones want you to join them for a dance-a-thon on their satellite to celebrate the upcoming explosive event. Bring the whole family and a picnic to Poker Flats for an intergalactic party under the stars! Lee Overtree, the brilliant mind behind Story Pirates and this season's Off-Broadway hit Found, helms Joe Tracz's lo-fi, sci-fi spectacle.

Single tickets for the 2015 Williamstown Theatre Festival season are now available through the WTF website (www.wtfestival.org) and by mail order using WTF's season brochure (call 413-597-3400 to join the mailing list). The WTF Box Office will open on June 2 at which point tickets may be purchased online, by phone, or in person at the '62 Center for Theatre and Dance Box Office at 1000 Main St (Route 2), Williamstown, MA 02167.