Luna Stage to Open 21st Season with New Comedy THE HIGH WATER MARK, Begin. 10/10

Luna Stage opens its 21st season with the world premiere of a new comedy, The High Water Mark, by Ben Clawson - a Montclair native - on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

The production, directed by Luna Stage's new Artistic Director Cheryl Katz, runs through Sunday, Nov.10 with performances on consecutive days: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Audience talkbacks with Clawson, the playwright, follow the performances on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 3 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

The High Water Mark begins as Janet is jolted and awakened late one night by the unexpected arrival of Lily, her recently estranged friend - drunk and on the prowl. After a rough year, Janet just wants to sleep before returning to work in the morning. But Lily has other ideas. Wine is poured and secrets are brought to life, as these two women navigate the night, their relationship, and the roads that lie ahead.

Ticket prices range from $25 to $35 with discounts offered to students at $10. Season passes are also available. Tickets for performances are now on sale and can be purchased online atwww.lunastage.org or by calling 973-395-5551.

Luna Stage commissioned Clawson, graduate of Montclair State University and founder and resident playwright of StrangeDog Theatre Company, to write The Dangers of Electric Lightingabout the war of currents between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. Luna Stage produced the world premiere of this play to great critical acclaim in 2011. Clawson's noteworthy achievements include: evening winner and finalist in the Samuel French Short Play Festival, national finalist for the American College Theater Festival's John Cauble One-Act Award, finalist for the Princess Grace Award in playwriting, and recipient of the Kennedy Center's David Mark Cohen Award.

The world premiere of The High Water Mark features Andrea Maulella and Sabrina Proffit. The design team includes Charles Murdock Lucas (set), Jorge Arroyo (lights), Jay Spriggs (sound) and Deborah Caney (costumes). Audriana Sabino is the production stage manager for the premiere.

Maulella has been featured Off-Broadway at the Irish Repertory Theater, Primary Stages, St. Luke's Theatre; and regionally at The Alley Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse, Hangar Theatre, Portland Stage Company and many other theatres. Her film appearances include Love Ludlow,The Mulberry Tree, Signals Crossed, Some Birds Can't Fly, The Things You Don't Say andAnother Time. Maulella has appeared on The Guiding Light, Spin City and The Sopranos.

Delighted to make her debut at Luna Stage, Profitt, a Philadelphia actress, graduated from Florida State University with a Master of Fine Arts. She began her career in Florida working at the Asolo and Florida Studio Theatre. After several years performing Shakespeare in New York City, regionally and on tour, Profitt finally settled in Bucks County, Pa. Dedicated to the creation of her own Chekhov play, Profitt spent the best part of the last decade raising three sisters.

Katz started at Luna Stage in 2003 as director of play development. After eight years, she took on the position of associate artistic director at the organization before being appointed artistic director in 2013. During her time at Luna, Katz has contributed to the development of more than fifty new works for the stage and directed the world premieres of Carnaval by Nikkole Salter, Mercy and The Firefly by Amy Hartman, The Fastest Woman Alive by Karen Sunde, and all three Luna productions of The Man In Room 306 by Craig Alan Edwards (1995 and 2008 in New Jersey, 2010 in New York).

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