Fifth-annual Plays in Process: Before a Higher Court, The Treason of Benedict Arnold by Steve Somkin at Rose Footprint Theatre

July 28th at 7pm, held outdoors at the Rose Footprint Theatre

In honor of our 250th – a play about honor and the personal cost of the Revolutionary War that created the United States. Before a Higher Court is about the circumstances that led Benedict Arnold to become a traitor during the American War of Independence. Based on the historical record, it is a work of the imagination that has resonance to the politics of contemporary America, contrasting a sense of honor based on personal values.

The Plays in Process series returns for its fifth year, showcasing new, developing works and offering a behind-the-scenes look at scripts as they are readied for the stage. Held at the Rose Footprint Theatre in Lenox, the series focuses on refining narratives through staged readings, and has successfully transitioned several early-stage readings into fully realized world-premiere productions, including 2025’s The Victim by Lawrence Goodman and 2024’s Three Tall Persian Women by Awni Abdi-Bahri.

Tickets are $29.50 including fees and are available now at shakespeare.org, or by calling the box office at 413.637.3353