Williamstown Theatre Fest Showcases FAR FROM HEAVEN, THE BLUE DEEP, Now thru 7/29

Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced new Main Stage and Nikos Stage productions for the 2012 Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF) season, the Festival's 58th Season and second under Ms. Gersten's leadership.

A Preview Production of Far From Heaven, a new musical with a book by Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out), an original score by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie (Grey Gardens) and directed by Michael Greif (Rent; WTF's Three Sisters), will play the Main Stage from tonight, July 19 – July 29, 2012; the World Premiere of Lucy Boyle's new play The Blue Deep plays the Nikos Stage now through July 22, 2012, directed by Drama Desk Award-winner Bob Balaban (Gosford Park; WTF's "Fridays@3") and featuring Tony Award-winner (and Williamstown veteran) Blythe Danner ("Meet the Parents"; WTF's The Seagull).

"It gives me a thrill to start telling our communities what we're planning this summer, particularly by initiating our season announcement with these two new productions," Ms. Gersten said. "Both Michael Greif and Blythe Danner have created exquisite work in Williamstown over many years, and with them we welcome new wonderful talent to our stages. Next month when we announce the rest of the schedule, I think you'll find a compelling mix of the familiar and the unexpected to round out the picture of our 2012 season."

ABOUT THE SHOWS

Billed as a Preview Production, Far From Heaven at WTF will allow the creative team the ability to make changes over the course of the run to further develop the musical. Far From Heaven, a new musical based on the acclaimed, award-winning 2002 Focus Features/Vulcan Productions motion picture written and directed by Todd Haynes, features a book by Tony Award-winner Richard Greenberg and an original score by the Tony nominated team of Scott Frankel (music) and Michael Korie (lyrics). The show, directed by Michael Greif, comes to the Festival under the aegis of a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to Playwrights Horizons for the development of new musicals in partnership with a regional theater, wholly within the non-profit system from start to finish.

In Far From Heaven, Cathy Whitaker seems to be the picture-perfect wife and mother in 1957 suburban Connecticut. But roiling beneath the surface, secret longings and forbidden desires cause her world to unravel––with incendiary consequences. With a lush score that is both jazz-inflected and hauntingly lyrical, Far From Heaven is a powerful story of romance, betrayal, intolerance, and a woman grappling with her own identity in a society on the verge of great upheaval.

The Nikos Stage hosts the World Premiere production of Lucy Boyle's new play The Blue Deep, playing now through July 22. Bob Balaban directs the show, with a cast that includes Blythe Danner; both participated in a sold out reading of The Blue Deep last summer as part of WTF's Fridays@3 series.

26-year-old Lila Miller is stuck, while her mother, Grace, is perpetually in motion. When Lila returns home to her family's exquisite Hamptons house and garden with only a plastic bag and a broken heart, there's no nurturing to be found, except as pertains to horticulture. The same painful history that threatens to drive mother and daughter permanently apart ultimately evolves into the one realm where reconnection might be possible. The Blue Deep is an achingly honest and funny play about loss, growing up, and the benefits of aquaerobics.

"I'm ecstatic about returning to WTF, our family's home for so many, many summers," Ms. Danner commented. "Jenny Gersten heads the company with the same expertise and passion that has become WTF's trademark since Nikos's day. I hope audiences love this beautiful new play by the talented Lucy Boyle as much as I do."

The full 2012 Season will be announced next month.

TICKETS AND SCHEDULE

Special Discount Ticket Bundles are available for purchase until March 9, 2012 at www.wtfestival.org. To receive the best discounts offered, purchase ticket bundles before February 25th when package prices increase. Single tickets for the 2012 Williamstown Theatre Festival season will be available in April either through the WTF website (www.wtfestival.org) or by mail order using WTF's season brochure (call 413 597 3400 to join the mailing list). The WTF Box Office will open on June 5th at which point tickets may be purchased online, by phone or in person at the '62 Center for Theatre and Dance Box Office at 1000 Main St (Route 2), Williamstown, MA 02167.

Williamstown Theatre Festival 2012 SEASON DETAILS (as of 1/20)

MAIN STAGE:

Far From Heaven
Book by Richard Greenberg
Music by Scott Frankel
Lyrics by Michael Korie
Directed by Michael Greif
July 19 – July 29, 2012

NIKOS STAGE:

The Blue Deep
By Lucy Boyle
Directed by Bob Balaban
With Blythe Danner
July 11 – July 22, 2012

Williamstown Theatre Festival

Since 1954, the Williamstown Theatre Festival has brought America's finest actors, directors, designers, and playwrights to the Berkshires, engaging a loyal audience of both residents and summer visitors. Each WTF season is designed to present unique opportunities for artists and audience alike, revisiting classic plays with innovative productions, developing and nurturing bold new plays and musicals, and offering a rich array of accompanying cultural events including Free Theatre, Late-Night Cabarets, readings, workshops, and educational programs. While best known for our acclaimed productions, WTF is also home to one of the nation's top training and professional development programs for new generations of aspiring theatre artists and administrators. Now under the leadership of Artistic Director Jenny Gersten, WTF was honored with the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 2002 and The Commonwealth Award for Achievement in 2011.

www.wtfestival.org

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