Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presents the world premiere of Dancing Lessons, the new romantic comedy by playwright and BSC Associate Artist Mark St. Germain from August 7 - 24. Opening night is August 13 at 7pm.
Directed by Barrington Stage Artistic Director
Julianne Boyd, Dancing Lessons stars
John Cariani and
Paige Davis.
John Cariani made his BSC debut as 'Dogberry' in last summer's Much Ado About Nothing. Cariani is also the playwright of the popular play Almost, Maine and recently starred in the play's Off-Broadway revival.
Paige Davis (Broadway's Chicago and TV's "Trading Spaces") makes her BSC debut.
Dancing Lessons centers on a young man (Cariani) with high-functioning autism (Asperger's syndrome) seeks the instruction of a Broadway dancer (Davis), now sidelined with injuries. As their relationship unfolds, they're caught off-guard by the surprising discoveries - both hilarious and heartwarming - that they make about each other.
Dancing Lessons is sponsored by Sydelle and
Lee Blatt & Judith Goldsmith. Dancing Lessons is sponsored in part by an Art Works Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Dancing Lessons was commissioned through the generosity of Judith Goldsmith and is part of BSC's New Works Initiative.
Dancing Lessons marks the ninth play by Associate Artist
Mark St. Germain that BSC will produce, and the eighth world premiere of his work. Barrington Stage presented a staged reading of Dancing Lessons in September 2013.
During the run of Dancing Lessons, BSC will engage audiences through special discussions on Asperger's and Autism Spectrum conducted in partnership with community organizations such as the College Internship Program, whose main office is in Pittsfield, MA.
Dancing Lessons will be presented at
Barrington Stage Company's Boyd-Quinson Mainstage (30 Union Street, Pittsfield). Performance times are Tues/Wed at 7pm; Thurs-Sat at 8pm; Sun at 5pm; Wed/Fri matinees at 2pm (excluding Aug. 8 & 13) Tickets start at $20; Low Priced Previews Aug. 7-9 are $15 & $20.
Barrington Stage will hold its popular Conversations With... series on August 10 at 3pm, with Myths and Misconceptions about Asperger'swith Michael McManmon, founder of the College Internship Program, a comprehensive program preparing young adults on the autism spectrum for success, and
Michael Forbes Wilcox, Commissioner, Massachusetts Special Commission Relative to Autism. Moderated by
Mark St. Germain, playwright of Dancing Lessons. While all Conversations With... events are free, reservations are highly recommended. All seating is general admission. Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. (413) 236-8888.
Barrington Stage will host a Sensory-Friendly Performance of Dancing Lessons on Saturday, August 16 at 2pm. Tickets: $20 adults; $15 youth ages 6-18. For more information, call the Barrington Stage Box Office at 413-236-8888 (or toll-free at 855-TIX-2BSC) or visitwww.barringtonstageco.org.
John Cariani (Ever Montgomery) At BSC: Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing. Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof (Tony nom.; OCC Award). Off-Broadway: Almost, Maine (
Transport Group); Two Gentlemen of Verona (The Public/NYSF); Modern Orthodox (Dodger Stages); It's My Party (Arclight). Regional:
The Old Globe,
Center Theatre Group,
Williamstown Theatre Festival, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. Several films, most recently Deliver Us From Evil and Sleeping With the Fishes. Recent television includes guest stars on Homeland andThe Good Wife. Most people seem to know him as CSU Tech Beck on Law & Order (2002-2007). Playwright: Almost, Maine; Last Gas;Love/Sick. Thank you, Julie and Mark and Paige, for Ever. Originally from Presque Isle, Maine, John is a graduate of Amherst College.
Paige Davis (Senga Quinn) was most recently seen on Broadway in her triumphant return as Roxie Hart in Chicago. Before that she was Gloria in the highly acclaimed Boeing-Boeing. National tours include Beauty and the Beast, The Vagina Monologues, and the title role inSweet Charity. Regional theater credits include
The Old Globe, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Austin Musical Theater, and Missouri Repertory Theater. She is best known to television audiences as the effervescent star of TLC's groundbreaking hit, Trading Spaces. Recently Paige hosted a new series for the Hallmark Channel, Home and Family. And she is the Emmy nominated host of Home Made Simple on the
Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). A graduate of the Meadows School of the Arts at SMU, she lives in Manhattan with her husband,
Patrick Page, and their adorable Maltese, Georgie. Visit www.paigedavis.com.
Mark St. Germain (Playwright) At BSC: The world premieres of Scott & Hem in the Garden of Allah,
Becoming Dr. Ruth, All The Way, The Best of Enemies, Freud's Last Session, The God Committee, Ears on a Beatle, and Ciao! as well as the 2006 production of The Collyer Brothers at Home & Period Piece. He has also written the plays Camping with Henry and Tom and Forgiving Typhoid Mary. Mark wrote the musical comedy, The Fabulous Lipitones, with
John Markus. With
Randy Courts he wrote the musicals The Gifts of the Magi, Johnny Pye and Jack's Holiday. His musical Stand by Your Man was written for Nashville's Ryman Theater. Television includes "The Cosby Show". Mark co-wrote the screenplay for Carroll Ballard's film Duma and directed and produced the documentary My Dog featuring
Richard Gere,
Lynn Redgrave, Billy Collins and wrote the award winning children's book, Three Cups. Mark is proud to be a Board Member and Associate Artist at BSC, a member of the HB Writer's Lab, and honored to have his name on the Stage 2 theatre.
Julianne Boyd (Director)
Julianne Boyd co-founded the
Barrington Stage Company in January 1995. She has directed many productions at BSC, including Much Ado About Nothing,
Dr. Ruth, All The Way, The Best of Enemies, The Crucible, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, A Streetcar Named Desire, West Side Story, Follies, the world premiere musical The Game, based on Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Mack and Mabel, Cyrano de Bergerac and The Importance of Being Earnest. In 1997 she directed BSC's smash hit production of Cabaret, which won six Boston Theatre Critics Awards and transferred to the Hasty Pudding Theatre in Cambridge for an extended run. Ms. Boyd conceived and directed the Broadway musical Eubie!, a show based on the music of
Eubie Blake which starred
Gregory Hines and garnered three Tony nominations. She has also worked extensively in New York and in regional theatres. From 1992 to 1998 Ms. Boyd served as President of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, the national union representing professional directors and choreographers in the U.S.
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