Dissonance, w/ Gerroll & Witt, Opens at Williamstown 6/27

The world premiere of Dissonance by Damian Lanigan opens the Nikos Stage on June 27. The play, according to press materials, "explores how our culture values music, the nature of talent, and the collision of two musical sensibilities."

"In the play, the Bradley Quartet has arrived in New York to perform a concert, their first in America, honoring their ten years together as a group. As soon as they arrive, tensions rise to the surface. James Bradley, the first violinist and founder of the group, once expected to be the next Heifetz, feels increasingly threatened by his protégé, Hal, the group's intellectual second violinist. Then Beth, the cellist, agrees to give music lessons to one of America's biggest rock stars. As the concert approaches, the complex history of the group is revealed and the musical and personal conflicts intertwine and deepen until the entire futures of the four musicians are thrown into doubt. "

Damian Lanigan was educated at Oxford and is a writer for the BBC and Radio 4. His debut novel Stretch 29 was met with critical acclaim and has been optioned for film. His second, The Chancers, was published in 2003. Lanigan lives in New York.

Daniel Gerroll (Plenty, The Homecoming, High Society, Enchanted April) and Alicia Witt (Piano/Forte and The Shape of Things in the West End, "Cybill," Mr. Holland's Opus) headline a cast that also features Rufus Collins, Patch Darragh, and Thomas Sadowski. Amanda Charlton directs. Costume design is by Jennifer Caprio.  Lighting design is by Marcus Doshi.  Set design is by Andrew Layton. Sound design is by Bart Fasbender.         

Tickets are available at wtfestival.org, 413.597.3400 and the Festival box office.  Dissonance runs June 27-July 8 with performances Tuesdays to Fridays at 8:00, Saturdays at 8:30 with matinees Thursdays at 3:00, Saturdays at 4:00 and Sundays at 2:00.  Tickets are $33 and $35 depending on the performance. 

Festival performances are held at the '62 Center for Theatre and Dance of Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.   The theatre is wheelchair accessible.  Assistive listening devices are available.  Visit www.wtfestival.org for more information.