Williamstown Presents 'Muhammad' Musical; Offers Bus Deal

The Festival will premiere The Prophet Muhammad, an original work developed in the leapFROG program.

"A retelling of the birth of Islam, The Prophet Muhummad fuses country and folk inspired songs with storytelling to create a joyous theatrical event. Written by Tommy Smith with music and lyrics by Gabe Kahane, the musical is directed by Kip Fagan, recipient of the Festival’s Bill Foeller Fellowship, with musical direction by Matt Citron. The Prophet Muhammad runs August 13-15 at 8:30 and 11:00 pm at the Directing Studio. 

The Festival’s leapFROG program pairs talented young writers, composers and directors with members of the leapFROG Non-Equity Company to develop an original play and an original musical during the season.  In The Prophet Muhammad, a caravan trader in pre-Islamic Arabia, Muhammad, is troubled by the poverty and extravagance of Mecca. But when a revelation comes from the heavens above, he starts a movement that threatens to unseat the greedy ruling class of the holy city...and perhaps change the course of the world.

Lighting design is by Paul Toben. Costume design is by Carly Dyas. Sound design is by Jeffrey Strange.

The production stars the members of the leapFROG Non-Equity Company: Rightor Doyle, Tommy Heleringer, David Kenner, Julie Lake, Danielle Levanas, Erica Lipez, Grace McLean, Geoffrey Murphy, Heidi Niedermeyer and Kyle Schaefer.

All performances are free. Reservations may be made at the Festival box office or by phone at 413.597.3400. Reservations may not be made online. 

Festival performances are held at the ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance of Williams College at 1000 Main Street (Route 2) in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The theatre is wheelchair accessible.

Additionally, New Yorkers are invited enjoy a direct charter coach bus to Williamstown where they can take in two of the Festival’s productions on Saturday, August 18. 

A chartered bus will leave from Bryant Park, on 42nd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues.  The bus will board at 9:15 am and depart at 9:30 am sharp.  Upon arrival, theatre-goers will have time for lunch on their own at any of several casual restaurants on Spring Street, a short walk from the theatre. They will then see the 4:00 performance of Crimes of the Heart.  After the matinee, there is time for dinner before the 8:30 performance of The Autumn Garden. Following the performance, the bus returns to Bryant Park.

The cost of the adventure is $160 plus a $5 ordering fee, which includes round-trip motor coach transportation as well as tickets to both shows. Tickets for the bus package may be purchased by calling the Festival box office at 413.597.3400.

Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart is directed by Kathleen Turner and runs August 8-19 on the Nikos Stage. Patch Darragh, Jennifer Dundas, Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe, Kali Rocha and Chandler Williams star.

Lillian Hellman’s The Autumn Garden is directed by David Jones and runs August 15-26 on the Main Stage. Elizabeth Franz, Mamie Gummer, Jessica Hecht, John Benjamin Hickey and Allison Janney star.

The deadline to order the New York bus package is Saturday, August 11.  For more information, call 413.597.3400.

Visit www.wtfestival.org for more information.