Vineyard Season includes 'God's Ear' & 'Slug Bearers'

God's Ear - Jenny Schwartz's new play that was developed by The Vineyard Theatre and debuted at New Georges earlier this year - will return to The Vineyard (108 East 15th Street) as the company's third mainstage production of the 2007-08 Season, with previews set to begin in early April, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, artistic director of The Vineyard Theatre.

Directed by Anne Kauffman (The Thugs), God's Ear was critically acclaimed when it opened in May, 2007. God's Ear - which The Vineyard Theatre will present in association with New Georges - is a compelling and moving new play about a young couple struggling with the loss of their child.

The Vineyard will open its current season with Julia Cho's new play The Piano Teacher starring Tony winner Elizabeth Franz on November 18. Directed by Kate Whoriskey, performances are scheduled through December 9.

On December 3 at 7PM, The Vineyard continues its Anniversary Reading Series with a special, one-night-only reunion of Nicky Silver's critically acclaimed play Raised in Captivity, starring its award-winning original company including Leslie Ayvazian, Patricia Clarkson, Peter Frechette, Brian Kerwin, and Anthony Rapp and directed by David Warren, at the Laura Pels Theatre (111 West 46th Street).

Slated to start previews on January 25, The Vineyard follows The Piano Teacher with its production of the new musical The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island (or the Friends of Dr. Rushower) with libretto and drawings by Ben Katchor and songs by composer Mark Mulcahy. Set to open in early February, the musical will be directed by Bob McGrath, recipient of three Obie Awards, including a Best Direction nod for his work on Mac Wellman's Jennie Richee, and co-founder and director of the Ridge Theatre.

The drawings of Ben Katchor - the acclaimed cartoonist and writer ("The Jew of New York," "Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer") - form the animated background for this darkly funny new musical, set in and around Manhattan and a tropical factory-island of exploited workers.

Memberships for The Vineyard Theatre's 2007-08 Season are still available. Full Memberships are $145 for 3 mainstage productions plus one lab; $110 for 2 mainstage productions plus one lab. Show-By-Show memberships are $50 wherein members pay $50 plus $25 for each member ticket pers show. For information regarding memberships, visit www.vineyardtheatre.org.

For all mainstage productions, student rush tickets will be available for $20 each, two hours prior to the curtain at the box office with a valid student ID (limit of 2 tickets per ID).

For additional information about The Vineyard Theatre - where Julia Cho's play The Piano Teacher starring Tony winner Elizabeth Franz will open on November 18 - call 212-353-0303 or log on to www.vineyardtheatre.org.