PITY IN HISTORY and ARCADIA to Play in Rep at PTP/NYC

PTP/NYC (Potomac Theatre Project), in association with Middlebury College, proudly presents its 31st repertory season, its 11th consecutive in New York City, running July 11 - August 6, 2017 in a limited Off-Broadway engagement at The Atlantic Stage 2, located at 330 West 16th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues.

This season's line-up includes the professional stage premiere of Howard Barker's 1985 BBC film, Pity In History, directed by PTP's Co-Artistic Director Richard Romagnoli (NYIT Award nominee), and a revival of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, directed by PTP's Co-Artistic Director Cheryl Faraone. Previews begin on July 11 and openings begin on July 18.

Performances are Tuesdays - Sundays at 7pm, and Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. Schedule varies - for exact days and times visit PTPNYC.org. Tickets are $37.50, $22.50 for students and seniors and $20 for previews. Purchase online at PTPNYC.org or by calling 1-866-811-4111. For more information, visit PTPNYC.org, follow on Twitter at @ptpnyc, and Like them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/pages/Potomac-Theatre-Project-PTP/32709392256.

Pity In History begins previews July 12 for a July 18 opening and runs through August 6.

Religion, art, class and patriotism clash in Pity In History, a riveting drama by iconoclast writer Howard Barker (No End of Blame, Scenes from an Execution). First produced as a teleplay by the BBC in 1985, Pity In History updates Britain's 17th century Civil War to present day in a sexy, brazen and remarkably funny examination of a society rife with competing ideologies.

The cast for Pity In History includes Matthew Ball (PTP: Pentecost), Jay Dunn (PTP: Serious Money), Steven Dykes (PTP: Victory, Scenes from an Execution, Vinegar Tom), Christo Grabowski (PTP: No End of Blame, Pentecost, Good), Christopher Marshall (PTP: No End of Blame, A Hard Heart), Jonathan Tindle (PTP: Scenes from an Execution, No End of Blame, Pentecost), Kathleen Wise (PTP: Vinegar Tom), Kahari Blue, Kaitlynd Collins, Toria Isquith, Sam Tompkins Martin and Connor Wright.

The production team includes Mark Evancho (Scenic Design), Hallie Zieselman (Lighting Design), Cormac Bluestone (Sound Design), Danielle Nieves (Costume Design) and Devin Wein (Production Stage Manager).

Arcadia begins previews July 11 for a July 19 opening and runs through August 6.

Tom Stoppard's Arcadia has been called one of the most "powerful and relevant stories of our age" (The Guardian). The play's many elements include Byron versus science, the Enlightenment versus the Romantics, pure reason versus sheer randomness - and, says one character, "It's all because of sex."

The cast for Arcadia includes NYIT Award winner Megan Byrne (PTP: Serious Money, The Europeans, No End of Blame), NYIT Award nominee Alex Draper (PTP: No End of Blame, Scenes From An Execution, Pentecost), Caitlin Duffy (PTP: Vinegar Tom, Pentecost, Good), Steven Dykes (PTP: Victory, Scenes from an Execution, Vinegar Tom), Stephanie Janssen (A Delicate Balance and Death of a Salesman on Broadway, PTP: No End of Blame, Crave), Andrew WilLiam Smith (PTP: Arcadia, Stanley, Mad Forest), Jonathan Tindle (PTP: Scenes from an Execution, No End of Blame, Pentecost), Manny Duran, Sebastian LaPointe, Jackson Prince and Eliza Renner.

The production team includes Mark Evancho (Scenic Design), Hallie Zieselman (Lighting Design), Cormac Bluestone (Sound Design), Mira Veikley (Costume Design) and Elizabeth Goodman (Production Stage Manager).

Pity In History and Arcadia form a powerful repertory, especially resonant in this combative and aggressive time. The plays foreground cogent debate, literacy, understanding and humanity.

PTP/NYC (Potomac Theatre Project) continues to redefine politically aware theatre for the 21st century by presenting theatrically complex and thought-provoking work of contemporary social and cultural relevance. Howard Barker is one of PTP/NYC's most produced writers, along with Caryl Churchill, Neal Bell, Sarah Kane and David Edgar. The company's writers are provocative, engaging and often confrontational.

PTP was founded in 1987 by the artistic team of Cheryl Faraone, Jim Petosa and Richard Romagnoli who continue to run the company. Alex Draper is Associate Artistic Director. Since moving to New York in 2007, PTP/NYC has produced 23 main stage productions and numerous late evening readings, workshops and experimental theatre pieces in their After Dark series. PTP/NYC's 2013 New York premiere of Howard Barker's The Castle and 2008 production of Barker's Scenes From An Execution each earned Jan Maxwell a Drama Desk Award nomination.

During its 20 seasons (1987-2006) in Washington DC and Maryland, the company forged its ongoing mandate - the presentation of highly theatrical, politically and socially engaged work in an austere production style, encouraging direct audience connection and highlighting the actor and the text. The company is also committed to the training of young actors and designers, enabling them to work with experienced and generous professionals as they serve an apprenticeship and begin their own work in the theatre. PTP/NYC is affiliated with the Theatre Program of Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont.

The Village Voice says, "Every July, PTP/NYC presents a season of serious drama, a powerful burst of counter-programming to New York's summer silliness. Since PTP moved to New York in 2007, its program at Atlantic Stage 2 has become one of the grounding moments of this city's theater scene, with the ensemble focusing on stories of sociopolitical struggle-always thorny epics, always rich with language." The New York Times says PTP/NYC "stands out amid the summer season's fluff and fringiness as one to turn to for serious work." Their production of Howard Barker's Scenes From An Execution was both a New York Times and Time Out NY Critics' Pick. The Huffington Post praised their revival of David Edgar's Pentecost as "a first class and much welcome production" and Time Out NY applauded their U.S. premiere of Barker's Gertrude - The Cry as "electric and scalpel-sharp with a superb cast." One Magazine says, "I can't say enough about the dynamic, brilliant Potomac Theatre Project. Does it make a difference that these actors have known and worked with each other for years, and does that translate to the relationships onstage? Yes, it does. These actors are tremendous."

PTP/NYC is a member of the Ghostlight Project. This season's After Dark Series, curated and produced by Eric Marlin, will be focused on the work of the project. After Dark is PTP's playground for young artists - off-hours theatre in multiple shapes and sizes. The series features new and experimental work, including readings, workshops, work-in-process and cabarets. All events take place at The Atlantic Stage 2. Admission is free and reservations are recommended. To RSVP email ptplivingroom@gmail.com. Dates and times to be announced on PTPNYC.org.

Cheryl Faraone has been the Producing Artistic Director of PTP/NYC since 1986. Her directing credits in New York include Vinegar Tom, Serious Money, Pentecost, Lovesong of the Electric Bear, Territories, Crave, and The Politics of Passion: the Plays of Anthony Minghella. During PTP's time in DC, she directed work by Caryl Churchill, Tom Stoppard and Shelagh Stephenson, among others.

Richard Romagnoli is a co-founder and the co-Artistic Director of PTP/NYC. Since 2007, he has directed Howard Barker's No End of Blame, Scenes from an Execution, Gertrude: The Cry, The Castle, Victory, Judith, The Europeans, Gary the Thief and Plevna in New York. During PTP's time in the DC area, he direcTEd Barker's Scenes, A Hard Heart, The Possibilities, The Castle and No End of Blame, along with plays by Harold Pinter, Vaclav Havel, Samuel Beckett and Edward Albee.