Penguin Rep Theatre's 2015 Season to Include 'ASHER LEV,' 'DR. RUTH' & More

Penguin Rep Theatre, under the leadership of founding artistic director Joe Brancato and executive director Andrew M. Horn, announces its 2015 season, the professional Equity company's 38th at its home in Stony Point (Rockland County), New York.

"The upcoming season is a glorious opportunity to meet wonderful characters, real and imagined," says Mr. Brancato, "to ignite your passion and spark your imagination, and to lose yourself in a really great story."

The season begins in April with the New York premiere of "Small World" by Frederick Stroppel. "When the legendary Walt Disney heard the music of 'The Rite of Spring' by the equally legendary composer Igor Stravinsky, he envisioned planets whizzing through space, the creation of the earth, volcanoes, and, of course, dinosaurs," says Mr. Brancato, "while Stravinsky had another vision altogether for his music".

In this new comedy, described by Brancato, who will stage the piece, as "wise and witty", we go behind the scenes for the making of Disney's classic animated movie "Fantasia", "where the dinosaurs aren't the only ones doing battle". "Small World" will be performed May 15 through June 7.

"And that's just the start of the ambitious 2015 season," says Mr. Horn. Here's what else "the gutsiest little theatre" (The New York Times) has in store this year:

July 10 to August 2: "My Name is Asher Lev" by Aaron Posner, adapted from the novel by Chaim Potok. This award-winning American play set in post-World War II Brooklyn tells the powerful story of a boy prodigy who must be a painter at all costs - against the will of family, community and tradition. Based on the best-selling novel by Chaim Potok, who also wrote "The Chosen", this is a "touching and soulful portrait of a family ... saturated in vivid color and handsomely framed" (NY 1). Stephen Nachamie directs.

August 14 to September 6: "Becoming Dr. Ruth" by Mark St. Germain. The celebrated author of "Freud's Last Session" and co-author of last season's "The Fabulous Lipitones" turns his sights on America's most famous sex therapist. "Everyone knows Dr. Ruth Westheimer from her career on radio and television," says Mr. Brancato. "Few, however, know the incredible journey that preceded it." Filled with the humor, honesty and life-affirming spirit of Karola Ruth Siegel, the girl who became "Dr. Ruth", the comedy stars Anne O'Sullivan.

Oct. 2 to 25: "Priceless" by David Robson. From the author of last season's hit "Playing the Assassin" comes his newest play about an art caper gone awry. Zacke might have been a bully in high school, but his unorthodox talent for skirting the law may be exactly what Raymond needs to get out of trouble now. "Their reunion ignites humor", says Mr. Brancato, who will stage the world premiere, "and shows that even when the best things in life are free, they aren't cheap.

Performance days and times for mainstage productions are: Thursdays evenings at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m., with matinees on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

This season, Penguin's popular play-reading series has been re-named "Just Desserts". "Get up close and personal", says Mr. Brancato, "and enjoy desserts, ranging from healthy to heavenly, before the reading of a new play and a lively discussion among the audience, author and actors."

The readings will take place on summer Mondays: June 1, June 15, July 20, and August 17.

For children, Penguin Rep will present Theatreworks USA's "Sweet Potato Pie and Such" on Wednesday, July 15 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. "Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and sing along as incomparable storyteller Queen Nur delivers a tasty treat of stories, songs and dance," says Mr. Horn.

Performances and readings are scheduled at Penguin's intimate, 108-seat theatre, located at 7 Crickettown Road in Stony Point. "It's theatre so close you can feel it", says Mr. Horn, "with comfy upholstered seats and no seat more than 30 feet from the stage." The theatre, which is converted from an 1880's hay barn, is air conditioned, wheelchair accessible, and offers plenty of free parking.

Come fall, SUNY Rockland Community College's 500-seat Cultural Arts Theatre in Suffern, New York will be the venue for a very special Penguin event generously underwritten by Barry and Helene Lewis: Jake Ehrenreich's musical comedy "A Jew Grows in Brooklyn" (Saturday, Sept. 26).

The New York Times called the show "funny, touching and beautiful .... You don't have to be Jewish or Brooklynish .... Jake Ehrenreich is dazzling!" It's an "uplifting treasure with universal appeal - in the same elevated company as Billy Crystal's '700 Sundays', and Chaz Palminteri's 'A Bronx Tale'" (The Philadelphia Inquirer).

And the enterprising theatre company continues to expand beyond the walls of its barn theatre and to take past successes on the road. Penguin's acclaimed production of "Playing the Assassin", David Robson's Pulitzer Prize nominated play, which premiered in Stony Point last fall, is currently being presented (through April 26) at TheaterWorks in Hartford, Connecticut and will move to the Delaware Theatre Company in Wilmington, Delaware later this year.

The upcoming Broadway musical and Academy Award-winning film "Finding Neverland" originated as "The Man Who Was Peter Pan", a play by Allan Knee commissioned and premiered by Penguin.

Chestnut Ridge resident Angelo Parra's "The Devil's Music: The Life & Blues of Bessie Smith" recently played the Royal Manitoba Theatre in Canada and the high seas aboard the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. And Penguin's production of Erasmus Fenn's comedy "Drop Dead Perfect" was presented Off Broadway last summer by the Peccadillo Theater Company, where it garnered rave reviews and was a New York Times and Time Out New York Critic's Pick.

Subscriptions to the 2015 season are on sale now and start as low as $108 for the four plays, a savings of 25 to 33% off the cost of individual tickets. "That's as little as $27 each", says Mr. Horn.

He also points out that the very best seats in the house go to subscribers before single tickets go on sale. "Bringing friends or family just got easier, with subscribers receiving $8 off the purchase of additional tickets". Lost or forgotten tickets? "Don't worry", says Mr. Horn. Need to exchange your tickets for a different date? "It's not a problem," says Mr. Horn, stating that only subscribers may exchange their tickets.

For no additional charge, patrons can select a value-added subscription series that includes post-performance discussions among the artists and audience, and pre-show tastings supplied by local restaurants. An additional incentive, says Mr. Horn, "is to dine out at a discount, with select restaurants offering special benefits to Penguin subscribers".

Individual tickets for mainstage productions are priced at $40. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more and young people (30 and under). Tickets are $16 for "Just Desserts" readings, or available by subscription to all four readings at $48. Tickets for "Sweet Potato Pie and Such" are $17 each. Tickets for "A Jew Grows in Brooklyn" are $40 each or $35 each for Penguin subscribers. All prices include a $1.00 facility fee and are subject to an additional service charge of $1 per ticket.

To order tickets or for further information, visit Penguin Rep's website at www.penguinrep.org or call 845-786-2873.

Penguin Rep Theatre's 2015 season is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Penguin Rep also gratefully acknowledges the support of the County of Rockland and the Town of Stony Point, as well as the Shubert Foundation, Rockland Community Foundation, and Cory and Bob Donnalley Charitable Foundation.

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