Four World Premieres Among MET's 2015 Summer Lineup

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) has an eclectic and exciting summer planned that features no less than four world premiere productions including hilarious improv shows, original sketch comedies, true tales told though the art of puppetry, award winning drama, and a community collaboration.

First up is the uproarious "Laugh Station: Cuerpo". Laugh Station is a series of surreal, sci-fi horror comedy episodes that began at MET in 2012. After a year in cryo-stasis, the intrepidly inebriated crew of Laugh Station returns for their most insane adventure yet. See where it all began in this mind altering origin story. "Laugh Station: Cuerpo" will be directed by Matt Lee with a script by Jack Colliver and Matt Lee and original music by Joe Colliver, Mac Kennedy and Trevor Marin. The show, which is for mature audiences only, will run July 31 and August 1 at 9pm and tickets are $12.00.

Next up is a community collaboration between Maryland Ensemble Theatre's MET-X and Frederick Community College. "Piper", is a world premiere original adaptation that sets the classic fable of The Pied Piper in the heart of the American Dust Bowl during the height of the Great Depression. In a parable full of folk and gospel music, we learn what happens when faith is tested, promises are broken, and greed threatens to turn everything to dust. "Piper" will run August 7-15 at the JBK Theater at FCC. Tickets are $12 for students and seniors and $15 for adults.

In a thought-provoking and inspiring collection of scenes, show creator and director Vanessa Strickland delves into the idea of social identity in "Materialize". Her original world premiere piece examines the masks we as individuals wear on a daily basis, presented as a collection of scenes told through puppetry. The scenes are based on real-life stories and explore the concepts of identity, invisibility and objectification. Let your mask slide and you may see your story appear before you. "Materialize" will be presented at MET from August 14-23 with a pay-what-you-can preview on August 13th and audience talkbacks following the Sunday performances. Tickets for "Materialize" are $14.00.

Back in 2013 "Balls Deep in Love" told the story of falling in and out of love with hilarious results. MET Ensemble Members Lisa Burl and James McGarvey return this summer with a new, and very funny, installment of "Balls Deep(er) In Love" that promises to be bigger, badder, and deeper than you could have imagined. This sketch comedy show finds the duo of Lisa and James riffing on relationships via a roller coaster ride of mature-themed scenes, songs and monologues. The show will run at MET from August 14-22 and tickets are $17. "Balls Deep(er) in Love" is for mature audiences only.

"The Shape of Things", a play by Neil Labute that questions love, happiness, and relationship roles will come to MET at the end of August. "The Shape of Things" is a bitterly funny, controversial restatement of the biblical story of Adam and Eve, exploring morality and gender roles in '90s America. In describing "The Shape of Things", the Daily Mail said, "Labute is the most gifted, intelligent and wittily moral American playwright since Wallace Shawn...and this play marks his theatrical maturity. It's a must see." The play will be directed by Steve Custer and will run on August 28 - September 5 and tickets are $17.00.

MET's hilarious sketch and improv group, The Comedy Pigs, will play host for a weekend to groups from across the Maryland/Virginia/DC area for the "Comedy Pigs' Comedy Extravaganza". Each show will feature a completely different line-up of talent, with different selections of comedy, including improv games, long-form improv, stand-up comedians, sketches, and everything in between. Featured performers will include Suzanne Lassise, Ladies Night Out, Prettier Than You, Isabel Duarte, The Last Hurrah, Topher Bellavia, Porkchop Volcano, and of course The Comedy Pigs themselves and many more! The shows are August 7 and 8 at 8 p.m. "Comedy Pigs' Comedy Extravaganza" is for mature audiences only and tickets are $17.

The Comedy Pigs will return to celebrate 22 years of laughter on August 28 and 29 at 8pm with the "Comedy Pigs 3rd Annual 20th Anniversary Weekend". The Pigs have written hundreds of sketches and songs, played over 500 performances, and have had over 40 people call themselves "Pigs." This anniversary brings back many familiar faces and sketches. Tickets to "Comedy Pigs 3rd Annual 20th Anniversary Weekend" are $22 and the show is intended for mature audiences only.

All shows are presented as part of MET-X: Special programming created outside of MET's Mainstage season and often self-produced by the MET's own company members to expand the collective horizons of both the ensemble and its audience. All performances outside of "Piper" will run at MET located in the historic FSK Hotel in downtown Frederick at 31 W Patrick St. "Piper" will run at the JBK Theater at Frederick Community College (7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick). Tickets to all performances can be purchased by calling 301-694-4744, at marylandensemble.org, or in person at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre box office.

2015 Summer Shows:

Laugh Station: Cuerpo
July 31 - August 1
Friday and Saturday at 9pm

Piper
August 7-15
Thurs, Friday and Saturday at 7pm

Comedy Pigs' Comedy Extravaganza
August 7-8
Friday and Saturday at 8pm

Materialize
August 14-23
Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm

Balls Deep(er) in Love
August 14-22
Friday and Saturday at 9pm

The Shape of Things
August 28 - September 5
Friday and Saturday at 8pm

Comedy Pigs 3rd Annual 20th Anniversary Weekend
August 28-29
Friday and Saturday at 8pm

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