Playwrights Horizons Adds Bruce Norris' THE QUALMS, Currently Playing Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, to 2014-15 Season

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, has announced the sixth production of its upcoming 2014/2015 Season. As previously-announced, the season will conclude with a new work by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Bruce Norris (Clybourne Park and The Pain and the Itch at PH, Domesticated). That play will be the New York premiere of THE QUALMS, directed by Tony Award and Obie Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Clybourne Park and Completeness at PH; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; Dinner with Friends; the current When We Were Young and Unafraid).

The World Premiere of THE QUALMS is currently in previews at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where it will have its official opening this Sunday, July 13, 2014. At Playwrights Horizons, it will be the final production of the 2014/2015 Season, beginning previews May 22, 2015, presented at the company's Mainstage Theater.

Thou shalt covet thy neighbor's wife. And thy neighbor, too, at this suburban get-together for partner-swapping couples. Drawn in by The Lifestyle's promise of freedom and titillation, newly-married Chris and Kristy attend an alcohol-fueled party for swingers, only to find themselves at odds with the idea of free love and, suddenly, each other. Idealism devolves into chaos in this sharp, sardonic assault on the struggle for power, and the sexual politics of getting laid.

Casting for THE QUALMS will be announced in the coming months.

THE QUALMS joins five other previously-announced productions for next season. All six will be presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street. In season order, the other five works are:

BOOTYCANDY - the New York premiere of a new play written and directed by Robert O'Hara (In the Continuum, Antebellum, Insurrection: Holding History), presented at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater. BOOTYCANDY will be the first production of the season, beginning previews on Friday, August 22, 2014. Writing on the World Premiere at Woolly Mammoth Theater Company in Washington, DC, Peter Marks of The Washington Post called it, "A toxically satiric portrait of American life."

GRAND CONCOURSE - the World Premiere of a new play by Heidi Schreck (There Are No More Big Secrets, Creature), directed by Kip Fagan (The Revisionist, Asuncion) presented at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater, beginning previews October 17, 2014. Ms. Schreck was recently named the theater company's first Tow Foundation Playwright in Residence, the centerpiece of which is her work on Grand Concourse.

POCATELLO - the World Premiere of a new play by Obie and Lortel awards winner Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale at PH, The Few, A Bright New Boise), directed by Davis McCallum (The Whale at PH, The Few, London Wall, A Bright New Boise, Water By the Spoonful), presented at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater, beginning previews November 21, 2014.

PLACEBO - the World Premiere of a new play by Obie Award winner Melissa James Gibson (This at PH, What Rhymes with America, Suitcase, [sic], the FX series The Americans), directed by Obie Award winner Daniel Aukin (This at PH, Bad Jews, 4,000 Miles, [sic]), presented at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater, beginning previews February 20, 2015.

IOWA - the World Premiere of a new musical play by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Commendation winner (2008) and finalist (2013) Jenny Schwartz (God's Ear, Somewhere Fun), music and lyrics by Todd Almond (Stage Kiss at PH, The Tempest, On the Levee), oratorio lyrics by Ms. Schwartz, directed by two-time Obie Award winner Ken Rus Schmoll (Red Dog Howls, Middletown, What Once We Felt), presented at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater, beginning previews March 20, 2015.

Bios and production details for each of the six productions of the 2014/2015 Season can be found starting on page 3 of this release. All casting information and dates for the six shows will be announced in the coming months.

Subscription packages to Playwrights Horizons' 2014/2015 season are now available: Subscription Plus ($500 per package, four Mainstage and two Peter Jay Sharp Theater productions, regular Subscription benefits with additional amenities, including a tax-deductible donation of $255, to support Playwrights Horizons' programs and services); a 6-show Subscription package ($260, four Mainstage and two Peter Jay Sharp Theater productions); FlexPass (4+ tickets, $50 per ticket); and Membership ($60 membership fee + one ticket at $45 or less for each show, as desired). In addition, the company will continue to offer 30&Under Membership ($20 membership fee + one $20 ticket for each show, as desired); and Student Membership ($10 membership fee + one $10 ticket for each show, as desired). In addition to discounts on all Mainstage season attractions, subscribers receive priority booking and seating, ticket exchange privileges, parking and dining discounts, and exclusive mailings of Playwrights Horizons Bulletins. Packages are available now at www.TicketCentral.com.

Patron Program Memberships begin at $1,500 (all but $550 is tax-deductible) and include two reserved house seats and personalized concierge service to all six Playwrights Horizons productions, and as well as a variety of exclusive benefits including invitations to attend special events with artists, staff and board members. Complete benefit list at www.PHnyc.org.

Photo credit: Michael Brosilow