Photo Flash: Primary Stages' 'A LIFETIME BURNING' At 59E59 Theaters

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) launches its 25th anniversary season of new works celebrating the female playwright with the world premiere of A Lifetime Burning by Cusi Cram. With direction by Pam Mackinnon, the four-member cast features Jennifer Westfeldt as Emma with Raul Castillo as Alejandro, Isabel Keating as Lydia, and Christina Kirk as Tess.

Performances began Tuesday, July 28, 2009 for a limited run through Saturday, September 5, 2009 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Opening night is set for Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

If you had the power to revise your past, what would you change? Who would you be? In A Lifetime Burning, trust fund darling Emma imagines what her life would have been like had she come from a less privileged background. Trouble is, she chronicles her alternate life in a new tell-all "memoir" that was sold for a hefty advance. When Emma is exposed, will her sister, Tess, stand by her? Or will Emma's deceit destroy their already fractured relationship? This dark comedy brings up questions of legacy, loyalty and what it means to belong.

Cusi Cram's work has been hailed as imaginative, original, poetic and has been produced across the country at theaters such as Barrington Stage, The Public Theater and South Coast Rep. "This season, Primary Stages is excited to highlight the plays of three exciting voices in the theater," said Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director. "We are thrilled that Cusi Cram's play opens our 25th Anniversary Season."

The creative team includes Kris Stone (Set), Theresa Squire (Costumes), David Weiner (Lights), and Daniel Baker (Sound). The Production Stage Manager is C.A. Clark.

A Lifetime Burning will play the following performance schedule: Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m., Wednesdays through Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m. on August 2, 9 & 16, and Wednesday matinees at 2:00 p.m. on August 19, 26 & September 2. Following the public performances on August 13 & 27, there are special "Artist/Audience Talkbacks" for the attendees of those performances.

Single tickets for A Lifetime Burning are priced at $60 each and may be purchased by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200, online at www.ticketcentral.com, or in person at the 59E59 Theaters Box Office. Group Tickets (10+) are $45.00 each, and are available by calling (212) 840-9705, ext. 219. Please visit the website at www.primarystages.org, or call (212) 840-9705 for more information.

The special Pay What You Can ticket offer (a program instituted last season at Primary Stages) will be available for the first two preview performances on July 28, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. and July 29, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale two hours prior to curtain and are limited to two (2) tickets per person, cash only, no change given, must provide mailing address and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, only at the 59E59 Theater Box Office

For theater patrons 35 and under, Primary Stages offers specially priced $20 tickets (maximum two tickets per valid ID). Advance tickets are available through Ticket Central using code PS35. Failure to present a valid ID will result in an additional $40 fee. All tickets are subject to availability.

Primary Stages continues its 25th anniversary season with the New York premieres of The Night Watcher written and performed by Charlayne Woodard (September 22, 2009 - October 31, 2008), an inspiring one-woman show under the direction of Tony Award-winner Daniel Sullivan, and Happy Now? by Lucinda Coxon (January 26, 2010 - March 10, 2010) with direction by Liz Dimond.

3-play subscription packages are available by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or online at www.TicketCentral.com. For additional information about Primary Stages, please visit the website at www.primarystages.org.

Photos by James Leynse

Christina Kirk and Jennifer Westfeldt

Christina Kirk

Raul Castillo and Jennifer Westfeldt

Raul Castillo and Jennifer Westfeldt

Isabel Keating

Jennifer Westfeldt and Christina Kirk

Raul Castillo and Jennifer Westfeldt