Vineyard Theatre to Feature Nicky Silver, Becky Mode, Colman Domingo and More in Upcoming Season

Vineyard Theatre will celebrate its 30th anniversary season with a host of special events, in addition to its mainstage productions. These events include developmental readings and workshops, and one-night-only readings of acclaimed productions from the company's history.

The Vineyard's mainstage season features the world-premiere of Douglas McGrath's CHECKERS, directed by Terry Kinney and starring Anthony LaPaglia and Kathryn Erbe, which begins performances October 12; THE NORTH POOL by 2008 Paula Vogel Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist for BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, Rajiv Joseph, directed by Giovanna Sardelli; and the world-premiere of Jenny Schwartz' SOMEWHERE FUN, directed by Anne Kauffman, who also directed Ms. Schwartz' GOD'S EAR at The Vineyard.

In addition, The Vineyard will present a developmental workshop of a new play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (NEIGHBORS, THE OCTOROON), titled GLORIA, January 17-21, 2013. Mr. Jacobs-Jenkins was in residence last season as the 2011 recipient of the Vineyard's Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, presented annually to an emerging writer of exceptional promise. The performances of GLORIA will be open to Vineyard members.

The Vineyard will also present a special reading of a brand-new work by Mr. Silver, open to the theatre's members. Date TBA. As well, the theatre will develop and present new work by Erika Sheffer, who is in residence for the season as winner of the 2012 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award.

In celebration of the company’s 30th Anniversary, throughout the season, The Vineyard will present one-night-only readings of acclaimed plays from its past, some reuniting their original casts. (Full casting tba.)

The first four readings include:

-- FULLY COMMITTED by Becky Mode -- Mark Setlock will return in his “sparkling tour de force” (NY Post) performance, portraying dozens of characters in Ms. Mode’s breakout hit about the staff of one of New York's hottest restaurants and the desperate patrons trying to book a table. The play debuted at The Vineyard in 1999 before transferring for a long and successful run at the Cherry Lane Theatre, and has gone on to productions around the world. Monday, November 12, 2012.

-- PTERODACTYLS by Nicky Silver -- An all-star cast will perform a reading of Mr. Silver's (THE LYONS) acclaimed and influential 1993 play PTERODACTYLS (winner of both the Kesselring and Oppenheimer Awards), the first play of eight by Mr. Silver premiered by The Vineyard. PTERODACTYLS was one of the first plays on the American stage to deal with a family's response to their son who has AIDS, and showcases Mr. Silver's unforgettable dark humor. Monday, December 10, 2012.

-- A BOY AND HIS SOUL, written and performed by Colman Domingo. This hilarious and moving solo show by the inimitable Colman Domingo (PASSING STRANGE, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS) looks at his life growing up in 1970's West Philadelphia, and his family's relationship to soul music. A BOY AND HIS SOUL was hailed by critics when it premiered at The Vineyard in 2009 as "TheatricAl Gold!" (NY1), "Wicked, tender, outrageous and profound (Newsday), and the NY Times called Mr. Domingo "a blazingly charismatic performer." Monday January 7, 2013.

-- THE DYING GAUL by Craig Lucas -- This darkly comic and haunting play premiered at the Vineyard in 1998, the story of a grieving screenwriter who enters into a relationship with a film producer and his wife, to chilling results. Dealing with AIDS, art, the internet and Hollywood, THE DYING GAUL was hailed by many critics as the one of the best plays of the year and returned to The Vineyard the following fall for a sold out limited engagement. It was subsequently made into a film. Winter 2013.

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