Penguin Rep Theatre Announces Their 2010 Season

Laughter, romance and adventure are in store for audiences during the upcoming 2010 season at Penguin Rep Theatre in Stony Point, New York. The nonprofit professional theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Joe Brancato and Executive Director Andrew M. Horn, today announced the four plays selected for the theatre's 33rd season.

The season opens with Over the Tavern, a comedy about love, religion and family by Nyack resident Tom Dudzick, author of last season's hit Our Lady of South Division Street (May 14 - June 6). Next up is the New York premiere of Shooting Star, a romantic comedy about second chances by Steven Dietz (July 9 - August 1). 2010 also brings Mark Brown's Around the World in 80 Days, a fast-paced comic adventure for the entire family, adapted from Jules Verne's classic novel (August 13 - September 5). Closing the season will be the New York premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher's comedy Mrs. Mannerly about a demanding teacher and her colorful collection of students (October 1 - October 24).

The 2010 subscription season at Penguin's intimate, 108-seat theatre at 7 Crickettown Road in Stony Point, runs from May 14 through October 24, 2010.

Building on the mainstage season, Penguin will also present a special Children's Theatre return engagement of Sweet Potato Pie and Such, starring dynamic performer Queen Nur (July 13 & 14, 2010); the popular Play with Your Food series of new play readings (May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16 & September 13, 2010); and, as a special event, No Parole, the hilarious and gut-wrenching true story of writer-performer Carlo D'Amore's mother -- a flamboyant, live-for-the-moment, con artist -- as told by the son who must save her from herself (October 10, 17 & 24, 2010.

The Cultural Arts Center at SUNY Rockland Community College in Suffern will be the venue for a special presentation of the Off Broadway hit Zero Hour, written by and starring Jim Brochu as comedic genius Zero Mostel and directed by Piper Laurie, on Saturday, September 25.

Another popular event, Penguin Rep's Annual Auction, will return on October 3.
Artistic Director Joe Brancato states, "Life shouldn't be all work and no plays. And with the combination of humorous, uplifting and memorable works we have planned this year, there's no better place in the lower Hudson Valley to escape to, with prices that you can't beat."

Mr. Brancato also announced that two of last season's productions -- Tom Dudzick's Our Lady of South Division Street (now titled Miracle on South Division Street) and Charles Smith's Free Man of Color (now titled Freed) -- will be moving to other venues. Penguin's production of Freed will be presented Off Broadway with the generous support of producer Chase Mishkin (Looped, Next Fall and Memphis) at 59 East 59 Theatres from June 11 through July 3, 2010.

Under Brancato's direction, Miracle on South Division Street will be re-mounted at Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, Connecticut from April 8 through May 2, 2010.

Executive Director Andrew M. Horn states, "As a not-for-profit organization, Penguin is committed to making theatre as affordable as possible for all of our audience members to remain a part of the Penguin family."
2010 season subscriptions are available now and start as low as $88 for the four plays. Mr. Horn points out that subscribers save 20 to 33% off single tickets, and that the very best seats in the house go to subscribers before single tickets go on sale. "Bringing friends or family just got easier," says Mr. Horn, "with subscribers receiving $5 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 value-added subscription series that include opening receptions, post-performance discussions among the artists and audience, and pre-show tastings supplied by local restaurants. Plus, subscribers can dine out at a discount, with select areas restaurants offering special discounts and benefits to Penguin Rep subscribers. New this year will be an all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch at Stony Point's Pasta Cucina Restaurant, available only to subscribers at the special price of $25 (including tax and tip).

An additional incentive: "If patrons order their subscription tickets by April 15," says Mr. Horn, "we'll waive any handling fees on their orders."

Penguin Rep Theatre, Rockland County's first year-round, non-profit professional theatre, was founded in 1977 in a century-old hay barn converted to a theatre, by Rockland residents Joe Brancato, Artistic Director, and Fran Newman-McCarthy, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. Described by The New York Times as "the gutsiest little theatre" and by The Journal News as a theatre that "continues to astonish," Penguin Rep celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2007 when it spruced up its theatre, which now features heating, air conditioning, wheelchair accessible rest rooms and seating, new upholstered theatre seats, and plenty of free parking.

Season subscriptions, special event tickets, and more information can be obtained by going to www.penguinrep.org or calling 845.786.2873.

Individual tickets to mainstage productions are $33. Kids tickets are $16.50. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more and young people (30 and under). Special reduced-priced weekday matinee performances for senior and student groups are also available.

Performance times for the 2010 mainstage season are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m., with matinees on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Children's Theatre shows are performed Tuesday, July 13 and Wednesday, July 14 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. All tickets are $16.

The annually sold-out Play with Your Food series of readings of new plays, which includes a picnic dinner catered by Pasta Cucina of Stony Point, are scheduled Mondays, May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16 and September 13. Food is served at 6:00 pm and the readings begin at 7:00 pm. Admission is $20.00 per reading, or $75.00 for a subscription to all five readings.
Tickets for Zero Hour Saturday, September 25 at 8:00 pm at SUNY Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York are $30 ($25 for Penguin subscribers).
Performances of Carlo D'Amore's No Parole are scheduled Sundays, October 10, 17 and 24, at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $20 ($15 for subscribers).
Penguin will be holding its fifth Annual Penguin Auction on Sunday, October 3 at the Stony Point Center located at 17 Crickettown Road. Mark your calendars for this fun and fast-paced fund-raising event.

To order tickets or get more information, go to Penguin Rep's website at www.penguinrep.org or call 845.786.2873.

Penguin Rep Theatre gratefully acknowledges general operating support from the New York State Council on the Arts, a public agency, as well as support from the County of Rockland, the Arts Fund For Rockland (a program of the Arts Council of Rockland), TD Bank Charitable Foundation, the Dixie May Foundation and the Shubert Foundation. The September 25 presentation of Zero Hour is underwritten by Barry and Helene Lewis.

Over the Tavern

A comedy by Tom Dudzick

Directed by Thomas Caruso

May 14 - June 6, 2010

From the author of last season's hit Our Lady of South Division Street comes this hilarious and heartwarming look at love, religion and family. It's 1959 and the Pazinskis -- Mom, Dad and their four children -- have a lot going on in their cramped Buffalo apartment as they cope with everything from teen angst to s-e-x! But when 12-year-old Rudy announces he'd like to shop around for a more "fun" religion, all hell breaks loose.

New York Premiere!

Shooting Star

A romantic comedy by Steven Dietz

Directed by Joe Brancato

July 9 - August 1, 2010

Elena and Reed were full of peace, love, and homemade soup in the 70s in college, but then they split up and the decades moved on. Now, 25 years later, they find themselves in an accidental reunion at a snowed-in airport. She's still the idealistic hippie, but he's gone corporate. Stuck for the night, they unearth past secrets and rekindle their passion, reaching for a second chance, if it hasn't slipped away. New York premiere.
Around the World in 80 Days

A comedy adventure by Mark Brown

Adapted from the novel by Jules Verne

Director to be announced

August 13 - September 5, 2010

It's Monty Python meets Jules Verne in this fast-paced comedy adventure for the whole family! Travel by train, steamer and elephant, through typhoons, and against the clock as Phileas Fogg and his trusty servant race around the globe to win a bet. The New York Times hailed it as "unabashedly theatrical" and "smart enough to make sophisticated adults laugh out loud and shamelessly silly enough to keep children entertained".
New York Premiere!

Mrs. Mannerly

A comedy by Jeffrey Hatcher

Directed by Joe Brancato

October 1 - October 24, 2010

Good manners seem to have gone the way of the dinosaur, but don't tell that to the title character of this charming new comedy. Mrs. Mannerly is a demanding teacher, and no student in her 36 years of classes has achieved a perfect score. But it's 1967 and "the times they are a'changing" as young Jeffrey and his colorful classmates vie to be the first. A comic tour-de-force in its New York premiere.

2010 Children's Theatre

Sweet Potato Pie & Such

A Theatreworks USA Presentation

Starring Queen Nur

Tuesday, July 13 & Wednesday, July 14 at 11:00 am & 1:30 pm

Storyteller Queen Nur presents a tasty treat of stories, songs and dance. This highly energetic performance will delight all ages.

Special Event! Direct from Off Broadway! One Performance Only

Zero Hour

A new play by Jim Brochu as Zero Mostel

Directed by Piper Laurie

At SUNY Rockland Community College, Suffern, NY

Saturday, September 25 at 8:00 pm

Zero Mostel is beloved today for his comedic genius in Fiddler on the Roof, A Funny Thing Happened... and The Producers, but in the 1950's he was equally known for his place on the Hollywood blacklist. Jim Brochu's striking portrayal brings all of Mostel's swagger, ferocity, intelligence and wit back to the stage in this volcanic tour-de-force. "Plenty of big laughs" - The New Yorker.

Special Event! Three Performances Only

No Parole

Written & Performed by Carlo D'Amore

Sundays, October 10, 17 & 24 at 7:00 pm

From Peru to the streets of New York, No Parole is a hilarious and gut-wrenching look at an extraordinary woman -- a flamboyant, live-for-the-moment, con artist and devoted mother -- as told by the son who must save her from herself. An unforgettable performance!