WET (Women's Expressive Theater, Inc.) has announced the extension of its World Premiere production of Brooke Berman's A PERFECT COUPLE. Produced on an Off-Broadway contract, this limited engagement production is directed by Maria Mileaf (The Argument at The Vineyard, Lee Blessing's A Body of Water at Primary Stages in September). Originally slated to close July 12, performances have been added through July 19 at the DR2 (103 East 15th Street) where WET became the first theater company in residence last year.
A PERFECT COUPLE is a story about three best friends -- Amy, Issac and Emma -- and their young next door neighbor, Josh. After fifteen years of dating/living together/taking breaks and now, moving upstate, Amy and Isaac are finally tying the knot. Emma, their single best friend, has decided to get out of the city and join them for a summer weekend in the country. Over the long weekend, secrets are revealed and bonds are tested, forcing these friends to discover who they are now, versus who they thought they would become.
Brooke Berman's newest play raises pressing questions about loyalty, partnerships, and modern love.
The production stars
Dana Eskelson (Ashley in After Ashley at The Vineyard),
Annie McNamara (The Sound and the Fury at NYTW), Elan Moss-Bachrach (Gossip Girl), and
James Waterston (The Importance of Being Earnest with
Lynn Redgrave at BAM, Another Time with
Malcolm McDowell and Marion Seldes), with sets by
Neil Patel (
'night Mother Side Man), costumes by
Jenny Mannis (
Lucille Lortel nominee, Drunken City), sound by
Bart Fasbender (US Drag, Port Authority), lighting by
Matthew Richards (Drunken City), casting by
Alaine Alldaffer, Ralph Cahart as production stage manager, and produced by
Sasha Eden &
Victoria Pettibone of WET with associate producers Ami Ankin and Azizah Rowen.
Brooke Berman is an award winning playwright whose work has been developed and produced across the US and in London (at
The National Theatre and the Royal Court). Brooke's plays include: Hunting and Gathering (
Primary Stages), Smashing, Until We Find Each Other (Steppenwolf), The Triple Happiness (
Second Stage, starring
Ally Sheedy), Sam And Lucy, Amazing, and A Perfect Couple (workshopped at
The National Theatre in London). Her short play Dancing with a Devil was as winner of the Heideman Award at Actors Theater of Louisville and a nominee for an American Theater Critics Best New Play Award. As a screen writer, she adapted her play Smashing for
Natalie Portman and wrote a feature called Major Minor Details. Her short film All Saints Day, directed by
Will Frears, won Best Narrative Short at the Savannah Film Festival.
Created in 1999, WET produces media which challenges female stereotypes and advocates for equality. WET adheres to this mission by producing premiere plays by female playwrights, events promoting the work of notable female artists, and developing new screenplays and plays by women writers in WET's INKubator series. WET's theatrical productions include the World Premieres of Anna Zeigler's BFF, Big Times (directed by
Leigh Silverman),
Julia Jordan's St. Scarlet,
Sheila Callaghan's Scab, and I Stand Before You Naked by
Joyce Carol Oates. WET recently held their annual Love benefit, featuring the work of
Brooke Berman,
Jenny Lyn Bader,
Lucy Boyle,
Julia Cho,
Julia Jordan,
Liz Tucillo, and Francine Volpe, with performances by
Jane Alexander,
Lauren Ambrose,
Michael Cerveris,
Neil Patrick Harris,
Ricki Lake,
Gretchen Mol,
Martha Plimpton,
Josh Hamilton, and
Laila Robins; the Love plays will be published in 2010. In 2004 WET launched the educational wing of the company, creating a city-wide media literacy and leadership program for teenage girls, called WET's Risk Takers Film Series.
A PERFECT COUPLE runs thru July 19, Monday - Saturday at 8pm. (Please note: final performance on July 19 is at 6pm). The DR2 is located at 103 East 15th Street (between Union
Square East and Irving Place -- accessible from the L,N,Q,R,W,4,5,6 trains at 14th Street-Union Square). Tickets range from $25 - $45, available at 212-239-6200 or
www.wetweb.org.
