UGLY LIES THE BONE Begins This Week at Shakespeare & Company

Shakespeare & Company continues to roll out its 39th performance season with the Regional Premiere of the Woodward and Newman award-winning play, Ugly Lies the Bone, written by Lindsey Ferrentino, and directed by Daniela Varon. This insightful, emotional and timely drama joins the Bernstein Theatre repertory on June 16 and runs through August 28.

Combat veteran Jess comes home to Florida after three tours in Afghanistan bearing deep physical and emotional scars. An innovative, experimental video game therapy offers an escape from her excruciating pain, but can virtual reality help Jess come to terms with the altered reality of her hometown, relationships, and dreams?

"I fell in love with this play the first time I read it," says director Daniela Varon. "The playwright's thematic landscape encompasses so many timely subjects - such as the changing role of women in the military, how we see or don't see our veterans, and how we care for our elderly. Among things that are especially difficult to comprehend if one hasn't experienced them firsthand are combat on the battlefield, and constant, intractable physical pain. This play asks its audiences to imagine both. Jess, our protagonist, is referred to as a war hero, but her hero's journey only begins at war. The longer journey is in coming home -- to her community, her family, and her body."

"This play illuminates the point that when someone goes to war, everyone is affected -- the person in the war, the family and friends," continues Varon. "Everyone has to work to create a new norm for themselves and with the veteran who comes home."

Varon's production of Ugly Lies the Bone features Christianna Nelson as "Jess," with Hamish Allan-Headley (Stevie), Ariel Bock (Voice/Mom), Dylan Chalfy (Kelvin), and Rory Hammond (Kacie). The creative team includes John McDermott (Set Design), James Bilnoski (Lighting Design), Amy Altadonna (Sound Design) and Govane Lohbauer (Costume Design). Original Makeup Design is by Scott Jones.

Ugly Lies the Bone earned writer Lindsey Ferrentino a Special Citation of Excellence from The Laurents/Hatcher Foundation in 2015.

With a running time of approximately 90 minutes with no intermission, tickets for Ugly Lies the Bone are available online at www.shakespeare.org, or by calling Shakespeare & Company at (413) 637-3353 during box office hours. The Bernstein Theatre is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible including added enhancements this year. Shakespeare & Company is located at 70 Kemble Street in Lenox, Massachusetts.

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