PHOEBE IN WINTER to Begin Previews 6/7 as Part of Clubbed Thumb's SUMMERWORKS Festival

The second of three world-premieres presented by the 5-time Obie Award-winning Clubbed Thumb in its 18th annual SUMMERWORKS festival of new plays -- PHOEBE IN WINTER by Jen Silverman -- begins previews June 7 prior to its official press opening June 10 at The Wild Project (195 E. 3 St.) in Manhattan. PHOEBE IN WINTER performs daily at 8 p.m. from June 7 to 16. (No performance on June 11.)

Winner on May 20th of a 5th Obie Award -- this time for its strong commitment to playwrights and new plays -- Clubbed Thumb's SUMMERWORKS has, through the years, presented new works by Adam Bock, Sarah Ruhl, Anne Washburn, Gina Gionfriddo, Sheila Callaghan, Ethan Lipton and Jordan Harrison.

Directed by Mike Donahue, the cast of PHOEBE IN WINTER features Jeanine Serralles (MAPLE AND VINE, Humana, ROLLER SKATING, Atlantic Theatre), Bobby Moreno (HAND TO GOD, Ethan Lipton's LUTHER), Gerry Bamman (AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, MERCHANT OF VENICE, Bway), Chinasa Ogbuagu (THE OVERWHELMING), Christopher Ryan Grant (MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET) and Chris Myers.

PHOEBE IN WINTER is described, as follows: When three brothers return home from a distant war, they prepare to settle into their old lives. But a knock at the door yields a girl named Phoebe who accuses them of killing her own three brothers, and demands reparations-that they must become her new family instead.

Jen Silverman received the 2013 Yale Drama Series prize for her play STILL. Her play CRANE STORY was produced off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre by the Playwrights Realm in 2011, and her play AKARUI premiered with Cleveland Public Theatre in spring 2012.

Director Mike Donahue directed the Playwrights Realm production of Ethan Lipton's play RED-HANDED OTTER.

PHOEBE IN WINTER has set design by Jason Simms, costume design by Kaye Voyce, lighting design by Burke Brown and sound design by Stowe Nelson.

SUMMERWORKS 2013 will feature productions of three new plays - BABY SCREAMS MIRACLE by Clare Barron (now thru June 2), directed by Portia Krieger; PHOEBE IN WINTER by Jen Silverman (June 7-16), directed by Mike Donahue; and LA BREA by Gregory S. Moss (June 20-29), directed by Adam Greenfield with a cast including David Wilson Barnes (BECKY SHARP).

With its track record for discovering and supporting new playwriting talent -- in many cases providing writers with their very first production in New York or anywhere -- SUMMERWORKS is one of the most eagerly-anticipated theatrical offerings kicking off the summer stage season in the city. In seasons past, Clubbed Thumb's SUMMERWORKS has presented the New York premieres of Sarah Ruhl, Rachel Sheinkin, Gina Gionfriddo, Adam Bock, Rinne Groff, Jordan Harrison, Sheila Callaghan, Sylvan Oswald, Lisa D'Amour, Kate Ryan and Kristin Newborn, as well as new works by Ethan Lipton, Anne Washburn and Jason Grote.

Clubbed Thumb's mission is to commission, develop and produce funny, strange and provocative new plays by living American writers. Since its founding in 1996, the company has presented 80 productions and earned four Obie Awards. Clubbed Thumb is an incubator for artists and their work, staging plays while supporting an ever-growing creative community.

SUMMERWORKS 2013 tickets are $18 ($15 for students/seniors) and can be purchased by calling 212 352 3101. www.clubbedthumb.org.

The Wild Project is located 195 E. 3rd Street.

CLUBBED THUMB commissions, develops and produces funny, strange, and provocative new plays by living American writers. Since its founding in 1996, the company has earned 5 OBIES and presented plays in every form of development, including over 80 full productions. Clubbed Thumb is an incubator for artists and their work, staging plays to critical acclaim while supporting an ever-growing creative community. "Funny, Strange, Provocative," an anthology of plays produced by Clubbed Thumb, is available through Playscripts. May 2010, Ms. Striar was honored with a first-ever Lilly Award for Artistic Directorship, citing her work as a "fierce champion of new works and new writers... who has helped launch and/or develop the careers" of scores of playwrights, especially women. Producing Artistic Director is Maria Striar; Nora DeVeau-Rosen is Managing Director; and Pam MacKinnon is Board Chairman.

Past productions of note presented by Clubbed Thumb include TAKARAZUKA!!! by Susan Soon He Stanton, LUTHER by Ethan Lipton, MOTEL CHERRY by Peggy Stafford, CIVILIZATION (ALL YOU CAN EAT) by Jason Grote, DOT by Kate E. Ryan, directed by Anne Kauffman; THE SMALL by Anne Washburn, directed by Les Waters; PUNKPLAY by Gregory S. Moss, directed by Davis McCallum; TELETHON by Kristin Newbom, directed by Ken RusSchmoll; AMAZONS AND THEIR MEN by Jordan Harrison, directed by Ken RusSchmoll; and VENDETTA CHROME by Sylvan Oswald, directed by Alexis Poledouris. Clubbed Thumb has also premiered Anne Washburn's I HAVE LOVED STRANGERS, Adam Bock's MEDEA EATS and THE TYPOGRAPHER'S DREAM; Gina Gionfriddo's US DRAG, Lisa D'Amour's 16 SPELLS TO CHARM THE BEAST and RED DEATH; Rachel Sheinkin's THE DOCTOR OF LAST RESORT, Rinne Groff's INKY and Jimmy Carter WAS A DEMOCRAT; Sarah Ruhl's LATE (A COWBOY SONG); and Sheila Callaghan's CRUMBLE (LAY ME DOWN Justin Timberlake).