Michael Cerveris, Rebecca Naomi Jones, et al. Set for Vassar & New York Stage and FilmÂ's Powerhouse Theater, 6/24-7/31

Vassar & New York Stage and Film announce casting highlights for the 27th annual Powerhouse Theater season (June 24-July 31, 2011) and the schedule for Readings Festival 1 (June 24-26).

Some of the noted actors joining the Powerhouse season include:

Mario Cantone (Laugh Whore, Sex and the City, Assassins) as Craig Russell in Margaret and Craig by David Solomon, directed by Sheryl Kaller (July 1-3); Tony® Award winner Michael Cerveris (Sweeney Todd, Assassins, In the Next Room: or the Vibrator Play), Michael Esper (American Idiot, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide), and Tony® Award winner Harriet Harris (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Desperate Housewives, Fringe) in The Nightingale, by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, directed by Moises Kauffman (July 8-10); Drama Desk Award winner Santino Fontana (Billy Elliot, Sunday in the Park with George), Cristin Milioti (That Face, Coram Boy), and David Costabile (Caroline or Change, Henry V, Titanic) in February House by Gabriel Kahane and Seth Bockley, directed by Davis McCallum (July 14-16); Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Rob Morrow (Northern Exposure, Quiz Show, The Exonerated, Numb3rs) in Handball, by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld, directed by Candido Tirado (July 15-17); Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot, Passing Strange), Daniel Oreskes (Billy Elliot: The Musical, Aida, Electra), and Austin Lysy (Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The American Plan) in A Maze, by Rob Handel, directed by Sam Buntrock (July 20-31); Obie winner De'Adre Aziza (Passing Strange), Linda Hart (Catch Me If You Can, Hairspray), and Jarrod Spector (Jersey Boys) in Piece of My Heart, by Bert Berns, Daniel Goldfarb, Brett Berns, and Cassandra Berns, directed by Leigh Silverman (July 29-31); and Laila Robins (Heartbreak House, Frozen) and Samantha Mathis (33 Variations, The Man Who Had All the Luck) in Joanna Murray-Smith's Day One, A Hotel Room, Evening in Readings Festival 1 (June 24-26) and Tony® winner Andrea Martin (My Favorite Year, Exit the King, Young Frankenstein) in Mona Mansour's This Hour of Feeling in Readings Festival 2 (July 29-31).

(Note that complete casting will be announced at a later date.)

Readings Festival 1 will open the Powerhouse Theater season on Friday, June 24, and will feature new plays by Mattie Brickman, Daniel MacIvor, Joanna Murray-Smith, Ben Snyder, and Matt Witten. All readings are free and open to the public, however full subscribers will receive the opportunity for priority reservations that open today, Friday, June 17. Reservations will open to the general public on Tuesday, June 21. Seating is extremely limited and reservations are required. For further information or to make a reservation, call the Powerhouse Theater Box Office at (845) 437-5599.