Since 1985, Vassar and New York Stage and Film have been partners in the Powerhouse season, a collaboration known for being the springboard for new stories that go on to theaters across the country and around the world. The 2018 season begin this weekend with the first of two Readings Festivals and continues through July 29 bringing some of the most influential theatrical voices working today to Poughkeepsie, NY for fully-staged and workshop productions of new plays and musicals, and readings of other works in progress.
Johanna Pfaelzer is the Artistic Director of New York Stage and Film and she joins us with a preview.
Season at a glance:
MAINSTAGE IN THE POWERHOUSE
RADIO ISLAND - June 28 - July 8
by Liza Birkenmeier
directed by Jaki Bradley
featuring Pascale Armand, Kelly AuCoin, Birgit Huppuch, Maryann Plunkett, Adina Verson, Stephen Tyrone Williams
THE WAVES - July 19-29 -- premiered off-Broadway over thirty years ago
adapted from the novel by Virginia Woolf
book by Lisa Peterson
music and lyrics by David Bucknam
with additional music by Adam Gwon
directed by Lisa Peterson
creative consultant Raúl Esparza
featuring Ken Barnett, Raúl Esparza, Eleasha Gamble, Douglas Lyons, Alice Ripley, Lauren Worsham
MUSICAL WORKSHOP IN THE MARTEL
ALICE BY HEART - July 5 - 7 - inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
book by Steven Sater with Jessie Nelson
music by Duncan Sheik
lyrics by Steven Sater
directed by Jessie Nelson
featuring Alex Brightman, Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Megan Masako Haley, Zachary Infante, Gizel Jeminez, J. Quinton Johnson, Lesli Margherita, Heath Saunders, Don Stephenson
THE CONNECTOR - July 13 - 15
music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
book by Jonathan Marc Sherman
directed by Daisy Prince
MUSICAL WORKSHOP IN THE SHIVA
LITTLE ORPHAN DANNY - July 25, 26, 28 - musical memoir of The Dan Band’s frontman
book, lyrics, & music by Dan Finnerty
created by Dan Finnerty & Sean Daniels
additional music by Dan Lipton
directed by Sean Daniels
COWBOY BOB - July 27-29
created by Molly Beach Murphy, Jeanna Phillips & Annie Tippe
music & lyrics by Jeanna Phillips
book & additional lyrics by Molly Beach Murphy
additional music by Alex Thrailkill
directed by Annie Tippe
INSIDE LOOK PLAY WORKSHOP IN THE SHIVA
INDIA PALE ALE - July 6-8
by Jaclyn Backhaus
directed by Will Davis
OUR COUNTRY - July 13 - 15
conceived by Annie Saunders & Becca Wolff
direction & dramaturgy by Becca Wolff
additional dramaturgy & original writing
by Annie Saunders
additional devising by the company
FREE READINGS IN THE SHIVA
Readings Festival 1 | June 22 - 24
THE PAIN OF MY BELLIGERENCE
by Halley Feiffer
directed by Trip Cullman
Friday, June 22 | 8pm
?
LICK O'THE KNIFE
by Jackie Roberts
directed by Kent Gash
Saturday, June 23 | 2pm
?
ON THAT DAY IN AMSTERDAM
by Clarence Coo
directed by Kareem Fahmy
Saturday, June 23 | 8pm
?
untitled
by rupi kaur
directed by Leah C Gardiner
Sunday, June 24 | 2pm
?
THE HOLE
by Sarah Gancher
directed by Danya Taymor
Sunday, June 24 | 5pm
?
Readings Festival 2 | July 20 - 22
THE NORTH STAR
by Donja R. Love
directed by Malika Oyetimein
Friday, July 20 | 8pm
?
THE DIZZINESS OF FREEDOM
by Stephen Nathan
Saturday, July 21 | 12pm
?
THE PURISTS
by Dan McCabe
directed by Billy Porter
Saturday, July 21 | 5pm
?
MELISSA R. AND DOROTHY SUE
book by Geoffrey Nauffts
music & lyrics by Jonatha Brooke
directed by Sheryl Kaller
Sunday, July 22 | 5pm
THE TRAINING COMPANY
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
by William Shakespeare
adapted & directed by Andrew Willis-Woodward
July 13, 14, 15
?
AS YOU LIKE IT
by William Shakespeare
adapted & directed by Doug Paulson
July 20, 21, 22
?
I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING IMPORTANT
composed & directed by Max Reuben
July 5, 12, 19, 26
?
METAMORPHOSES
by Ovid (translation by Ted Hughes)
adapted & directed by Elizabeth Hess
July 22, 23
?
ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL
by Members of the Training Company
July 25
?
NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT, NOT ENOUGH OXYGEN
by Caryl Churchill
directed by Members of the Training Company
July 27
