Casting Set For Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival Running 6/19-21

The Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival (June Lindenmayer, Executive Director; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director) has announced casting for the line-up of new works for the 2009 summer festival of theatre and dance at the venerable performing arts school in Steamboat Springs, CO. The 12th Annual New Works Festival is scheduled June 19 - 21 with staged readings of the plays and a special dance presentation.

The Perry-Mansfield 2009 New Works Festival casting and schedule is as follows:

June 19, 2009 8:00 p.m.
DENVER CENTER THEATER COMPANY
The Bone Orchard
By Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder
Directed by Lawrence Hecht
Featuring Chris Mazza, Jenna Panther, Jeanne Paulsen, and Larry Paulsen.

Kent Thompson and the Denver Center Theatre Company present playwright Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder's (Fresh Kills) workshop reading of a new play entitled The Bone Orchard. In this play, Lucy Mitchell wants to die a virgin martyr, until she falls in love with Fisher, the boy who has been hired to dig her grave

June 20, 2009 2: 00 p.m.
ACTORS THEATRE OF LOUISVILLE
Poor Behavior
By Theresa Rebeck
Directed by Marc Masterson

The cast features David Wilson Barnes, Bill Camp, Elizabeth Marvel and Laila Robins.

Marc Masterson and Actors Theatre of Louisville present Poor Behavior by Theresa Rebeck which tells the story of Ella and Peter, who have invited their old friends Maureen and Ian up to the country for a weekend visit. When a dinnertime dispute escalates into all-out combat, the fires of suspicion and seduction are stoked, perceptions twist, and relationships are changed forever in this dark comedy about goodness and badness, and the dangerously tempting open doors in between.

June 20, 2009 8:00 p.m.
Dance Presentation
A new work choreographed by Camille A. Brown.

Featured dancers include Belen Estrada, Kevin Guy, Juel D. Lane and Keon Thoulouis, accompanied by Perry-Mansfield students

Acclaimed choreographer Camille A. Brown is this year's special Guest Choreographer. A dancer with Renni Harris/Puremovement, Brown was also a member of the Ronald K. Brown/Evidence dance troupe. She has received commissions from Hubbard Street II, Urban Bush Women, and Ailey II, and has been featured in Marie Claire, Dance magazine and Dance Spirit.

In a recent review, The New York Times declared "Camille A. Brown is tiny and just 27, but she is clearly a force of nature. Ms. Brown presents the dancing body as a vehicle for overt religious celebration. She mixes modern dance techniques with West African dance elements. Her personal physical style, with its focused bursts of energy and frozen positions that explode into motion, colors her group works."

June 21, 2009 4:00 p.m.

Atlantic Theater Company
Bottom of the World
By Lucy Thurber
Directed by Neil Pepe

The cast features Chris Abbott, Mary Bacon, Patch Darragh, Aubrey Dollar, Emily Landham, Peter Maloney,Mary McCann, and Elizabeth Olsen

Neil Pepe and Atlantic Theater Company present Bottom of the World by Lucy Thurber (Stay). Bottom of the World tells the story of Abigail, who is struggling with the recent death of her younger sister, Kate. Kate comforts her by bringing to life scenes from her unfinished novel - stories of loss and love that parallel their own. This play straddles two worlds; the real world where Abby and her close friends live, and a magical world where storytellers and a bluegrass band reach out to us from beyond the grave.

Now in its 96th year, Perry-Mansfield, founded by Charlotte Perry and Portia Mansfield, is recognized as the oldest continuously operating performing arts school and camp in the nation.

The Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival, co-chaired by James Steinberg and Karolynn Lestrud, brings performing arts professionals together in the Rocky Mountains to develop new pieces of dram and dance, and to mentor new talent in each medium. The 2009 New Works Festival reunites the successful artistic partnership of New York's Atlantic Theater Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Denver Center Theatre Company, and New York's Primary Stages. The New Works Festival continues Perry-Mansfield's founding principle of nurturing new talent with new work.

Artistic Director Leynse said, "I am thrilled with our 12th season of new works and to continue our unique collaboration with so many colleagues. Last year we had an unprecedented sixty artists come to Perry-Mansfield from all over the country, and this year marks another unique achievement - a festival of new works all by women."

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 15 - 19.

Single tickets are $15 for June 19-21 and will be available for purchase after June 1st. A special Festival Weekend Ticket Package is available for $50 and includes all staged play readings, the dance presentation and festival reception. For tickets and information, please call 800-430-2787 or 970-879-7125, or visit the website at www.perry-mansfield.org.