Ars Nova Presents NOW CIRCA THEN, Previews Begin 9/17

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) will present the world premiere of NOW CIRCA THEN - an offbeat, comic tale of new beginnings that spans a century, written by Carly Mensch (LEN, ASLEEP IN VINYL; Showtime's "Weeds") and directed by Ars Nova Artistic Director Jason Eagan. Previews begin September 14 prior to an official press opening of September 27 at Ars Nova (511 West 54th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues) in Manhattan. Tickets are $25 and will be on sale beginning August 16th.

Meet Julian and Josephine, an immigrant couple on New York's Lower East Side, circa 1890. Meet Gideon and Margie, an unlikely pair of historical reenactors, circa now. A museum tour goes off the rails in this scrappy tale of old places, new beginnings and timeless questions.

Directed by Ars Nova Artistic Director, the two-hander cast of NOW CIRCA THEN is Stephen Plunkett (Signature Theatre's THE ORPHAN'S HOME CYCLE - parts I, II, & III, Vineyard's THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, and most recently seen in LCT3's ON THE LEVEE) and Maureen Sebastian (YEAR ZERO at Second Stage, SOUL SAMURAI, and Ma-Yi's CHILDREN OF VONDERLY).

The design team for NOW CIRCA THEN is: OBIE Award-winner Lauren Helpern (scenic design), Drama Desk nominee Jenny Mannis (costume design), Lucille Lortel nominee Traci Klainer (lighting design), Ryan Rumery (original music and sound), and Damon Arrington (Production Stage Manager).

Carly Mensch's plays include LEN, ASLEEP IN VINYL (2nd Stage/Uptown Series), ALL HAIL HURRICANE GORDO (Humana Festival, Cleveland Play House) and OBLIVION (Playwrights Horizons commission). Carly has developed work at The Kennedy Center, Marin Theatre Company, New York Stage & Film and Ars Nova, where she was the 2008 Playwright-in-Residence, as well as a founding member of Play Group. Carly is a graduate of Dartmouth College and The Juilliard School's Lila Acheson Wallace Playwrights Program, and is currently a staff writer on Showtime's Weeds.

As Artistic Director of Ars Nova since 2003, Jason Eagan has had the great fortune of directing and supporting the development of thousands of artists whose work has begun to expand across the globe. Prior to his work with Ars Nova, directing credits include: new productions of GYPSY, starring Andrea McArdle, and OKLAHOMA! for Houston Ballet & Theater, and the award-winning San Francisco production of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH. Jason came to New York in 1997 to manage the design studio for Disney's THE LION KING, and has also enjoyed affiliations with The Improbable Theatre Company, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Theater Workshop, Lincoln Center, Los Angeles Opera and San Francisco Opera.

Ars Nova is committed to developing and producing theatre, comedy and music artists in the Early Stages of their professional careers. Its unique development programs are designed to support outside-the-box thinking and encourage innovative, genre-bending work. By providing a safe environment where risk-taking and collaboration are paramount, Ars Nova gives voice to a new generation of artists and audiences, pushing the boundaries of live entertainment by nurturing creative ideas into smart, surprising new work. For more information on Ars Nova's programs, visit www.arsnovanyc.com.

Producing credits include: BLOODSONG OF LOVE, MISSED CONNECTIONS NYC, ANT FEST, SAX & DIXON: WE THEE WED, MEL & EL: SHOW & TELL, TWO GIRLS FOR FIVE BUCKS AND THE TEN DOLLAR HEARTBREAKERS, PLAYLIST, JOLLYSHIP THE WHIZ-BANG, BOOM, FROM UP HERE, DIXIE'S TUPPERWARE PARTY, AT LEAST IT'S PINK, 25 QUESTIONS FOR A JEWISH MOTHER, HOLY CROSS SUCKS!, FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME and THE WAU WAU SISTERS.

Scheduled September 14 through October 9, performances of NOW CIRCA THEN run Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8pm. Tickets are $25, and can be purchased (beginning August 16) by calling 212-352-3101, online at www.arsnovanyc.com, or in person at the Ars Nova box office (511 West 54th Street), thirty minutes prior to curtain (subject to availability).

For additional information, please visit www.arsnovanyc.com, www.facebook.com/ArsNova, and twitter.com/arsnova.

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