Primary Stages Adds Two Playwrighting Workshops To Summer 2009 Schedule

Primary Stages, one of New York's preeminent theater companies, has announced the addition of two special playwriting workshops to their School of Theater Summer 2009 schedule: "Stage Directions and The Visual Life of the Stage" with Sarah Ruhl, and "Get The Party Started" with Cusi Cram.

The Primary Stages School of Theater (PSST) helps fulfill the Primary Stages mission of producing new work by offering intensive classes and workshops in playwriting, acting, theater arts and producing taught by industry professionals that include PS Staff members Casey Childs (Founder and Executive Producer), Andrew Leynse (Artistic Director), Michelle Bossy (Associate Artistic Director), and David & Linda Laundra, Tanya Barfield, Blair Singer, Rogelio Martinez, Lucy Thurber and Morgan Jenness.

Stage Directions and The Visual Life Of The Stage
with Sarah Ruhl

Students study various writers and are assigned both in-class and out of class writing exercises. The workshop will explore the poetics of space on the page.

Sarah Ruhl has written numerous award-winning plays, including The Clean House (Lincoln Center), Dead Man's Cell Phone (Playwrights Horizons), Eurydice (Second Stage), Melancholy Play, Late: a cowboy song, Orlando, Demeter in the City, Passion Play: a cycle in three parts. This fall will mark her Broadway debut with In the Next Room (Lincoln Center Theater).

Monday, July 20 and Friday, July 24, 1:00pm - 3:30pm

Get The Party Started
with Cusi Cram

Do you have a play or a solo show that you've been meaning to write for years but somehow never have? Having trouble just getting started? This workshop is designed to silence the inner critic, to help explore a wide range of approaches, and start writing! The one-day workshop is suitable for writers in all stages of development. Come with paper, writing implements, a clear idea of what you want to write or simply with an open mind.

Saturday, August 15 from 12:00pm - 6:00pm

Cusi Cram's work has been hailed as imaginative, original, poetic and has been produced across the country at theaters such as Barrington Stage, The Public Theater and South Coast Rep.

Select classes of the second Summer Session 2009 include:
The Rewrite
with Michelle Bossy

Adaptation
with Rogelio Martinez

Solo Performance 2
with Tanya Barfield

Enrollment is underway. Information is available by contacting Director of PSST Tessa LaNeve at (212) 840-9705 x212, via email at tessa@primarystages.org, or by visiting the Primary Stages website at www.primarystages.org.

Primary Stages launches its 25th anniversary season of new works celebrating the female playwright with the world premiere of A Lifetime Burning by Cusi Cram. With direction by Pam Mackinnon, the four-member cast features Jennifer Westfeldt as Emma with Raul Castillo as Alejandro, Isabel Keating as Lydia, and Christina Kirk as Tess. Now in rehearsal, performances begin Tuesday, July 28, 2009 for a limited run through Saturday, September 5, 2009 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Opening night is set for Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

Single tickets for A Lifetime Burning are priced at $60 each and may be purchased by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200, online at www.ticketcentral.com, or in person at the 59E59 Theaters Box Office. Group Tickets (10+) are $45.00 each, and are available by calling (212) 840-9705, ext. 219. Please visit the website at www.primarystages.org, or call (212) 840-9705 for more information.

The special Pay What You Can ticket offer (a program instituted last season at Primary Stages) will be available for the first two preview performances on July 28, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. and July 29, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale two hours prior to curtain and are limited to two (2) tickets per person, cash only, no change given, must provide mailing address and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, only at the 59E59 Theater Box Office

For theater patrons 35 and under, Primary Stages offers specially priced $20 tickets (maximum two tickets per valid ID). Advance tickets are available through Ticket Central using code PS35. Failure to present a valid ID will result in an additional $40 fee. All tickets are subject to availability.

Primary Stages continues its 25th anniversary season with the New York premieres of The Night Watcher written and performed by Charlayne Woodard (September 22, 2009 - October 31, 2008), an inspiring one-woman show under the direction of Tony Award-winner Daniel Sullivan, and Happy Now? by Lucinda Coxon (January 26, 2010 - March 10, 2010) with direction by Liz Dimond.

3-play subscription packages are available by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or online at www.TicketCentral.com. For additional information about Primary Stages, please visit the website at www.primarystages.org.