Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival Announces Season

The Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival (June Lindenmayer, Executive Director; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director) has announced its 2007 summer season at the performing arts camp and school in Steamboat Springs, CO. The festival brings performing arts professionals to the Rocky Mountains to develop new pieces of drama, musical theater and dance, and to mentor new talent in each medium. 

The 10th Annual New Works Festival is scheduled from June 6 -14, with public presentations June 15 -17. The schedule for the 2007 repertory of new works is as follows, according to press notes:

Friday, June 15 at 8:00 p.m., The Cherry Sisters Revisited, By Dan O'Brien, Directed by Andrew Leynse (Artistic Director, Primary Stages & Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival)

"The Cherry Sisters Revisited is a new play based on the true story of Addie, Effie, Lizzie, Ella, and Jessie Cherry, five sisters from
Marion, Iowa, who took the vaudeville world by storm with the collective awfulness of their talent.  Dan O'Brien's plays include The
Voyage of the Carcass, The Dear Boy, Moving Picture, and Key West."

Saturday, June 16 at 1:00 p.m., Lydia, By Octavio Solis, Directed by Juliette Carrillo

"Lydia is about Mexican immigrant family mired in grief, rage and guilt over a daughter tragically disabled on the eve of her quinceanera (15th birthday). Lyrical, dark, shocking and magical, this meditation on family and cultural identity in the 1970s is a brilliant new play from an award-winning writer. Octavio Solis is a playwright and director whose plays include Man of the Flesh, Prospect, The Seven Visions of Encarnacion, and Bethlehem."

Saturday, June 16 at 4:00 p.m., A Sleeping Country, By Melanie Marnich, Directed by Marc Masterson (Artistic Director, Actors Theatre of Louisville)

"A Sleeping Country is a comedy that begins in New York, where a desperate insomniac is convinced by her equally desperate psychiatrist that she's dying.  Her search for answers leads her to Venice, where a sleepless Italian woman shows her the difference between not sleeping and being truly awake. A dreamy story of sleep lost and hope found. Melanie Marnich's plays include Quake, Blur, Tallgrass Gothic, Calling All, Beautiful Again, The Sparrow Project and These Shining Lives."

Sunday, June 17 at 1:00 p.m., The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown, A New Musical, Book & Lyrics by Kait Kerrigan,
Music by Brian Lowdermilk, Directed by Michael Cassara

"This new musical tells of Samantha, a high school senior, who is trying to tell the story of her life, except that her life keeps getting in the way.  As Sam learns to drive, worries about sex, and deals with the loss of her best friend, she also begins to realize that life isn't about telling a good story, it's about trying to live it to the fullest. Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk are the authors of the Off-Broadway musical Henry and Mudge, as well as The Woman Upstairs and Wrong Number (both in the New York Musical Theater
Festival). They were also recipients of the 2006 Jonathan Larson Award."

Sunday, June 17 at 4:00 p.m., Plainsong, By Eric Schmiedl, Based upon the novel by Kent Haruf, Directed by Kent Thompson (Artistic Director, Denver Center Theatre Company)

"Plainsong is based upon the novel written by Kent Haruf. In this faithful adaptation, set on the high plains of eastern Colorado, Haruf's compelling story comes vividly to life, exploring themes of grief, loneliness, kindness and benevolence. A high school teacher is left alone to care for two young sons while two elderly bachelor brothers who know little about life beyond their farm gate come forward to help a pregnant 17-year-old with no place to turn. As the characters' lives intersect, they come together to create a new sense of family in the community.

Dance Presentation

Saturday, June 16 at 8:00 p.m., Choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie (New York)

"This Juilliard graduate is making a big name for himself on the national dance scene and brings to Steamboat Springs an evening of his works -- new and old -- that include world premieres and old dance pieces. He has choreographed for Ailey ll, Cinncinati Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, Cleo Parker Robinson, Milwaukee Ballet, Juilliard, and North Carolina Dance Theater."

All rehearsals and performances will take place at Perry-Mansfield (40755 Routt County Road 36, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487).  Free open rehearsals will take place June 6 - 14.  A Festival Weekend Ticket Package for June 15-17 is available for $65 and includes all readings and the dance presentation. Individual tickets will be available after June 1st. For tickets and information, call 800-430-2787 or 970-879-7125, or visit www.perry-mansfield.org.

Lodging packages are available at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort, the Official Sponsor of the New Works Festival, by calling 970-879-2220, or visiting the website at www.sheraton.com/steamboat.
 

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