World, New England Premieres on Tap for Gloucester Stage's 2016 Season

Gloucester Stage Company Artistic Director, Robert Walsh, recently announced the six-play lineup for Gloucester Stage's 37th Season of professional theater in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

"We are thrilled to announce our 2016 season: every story is a journey and in each of these six journeys you will find adventure, delight, surprise, intrigue and joy," explains Walsh. The 2016 season features an Israel Horovitz world premiere, two New England premieres, the return of Academy Award-nominated actress, and Gloucester resident, Lindsay Crouse, Managing Director Jeff Zinn's GSC directorial debut, the re-teaming of last season's hit, Out of Sterno director Paula Plum and playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer, and the Gloucester Stage debut of Elliot Norton Award winner Benjamin Evett and Tony nominee Barbara Walsh.

Gloucester Stage kicks off the 37th season on May 19 with Gloucester Stage favorite Lindsay Crouse in Peter Shaffer's, Lettice and Lovage, directed by Benny Sato Ambush; followed by Matthew Spangler and Benjamin Evett's, Albatross, on June 16, featuring Benjamin Evett and directed by Rick Lombardo; Deborah Zoe Laufer's, The Last Schwartz, directed by Paula Plum opens on July 7. Then Jason Robert Brown's, Songs For A New World, opens on August 4, directed by GSC Artistic Director, Robert Walsh, and featuring Barbara Walsh in her Gloucester Stage debut; September 1st, Peter Sinn Nachtrieb's The Totalitarians opens, directed by Managing Director Jeff Zinn, followed by the world premiere of Israel Horovitz's newest work, Man In Snow, opening on September 29.

Walsh elaborates on Gloucester Stage 2016, "Each production holds something special for you. Lettice & Lovage will feature Lindsay Crouse in a story that will tickle both your funny bone and your imagination. Albatross is a new and fanciful look at the classic seafaring tale, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, with a bravura performance by Benjamin Evett. Paula Plum will return to direct another wonderful play by Deborah Zoe Laufer, The Last Schwartz which, like Out Of Sterno, is full of both heart and humor. Tony-nominated actress, Barbara Walsh (Falsettos) will join John Hillner and Wendy Waring for Songs For A New World, a song-cycle by Jason Robert Brown with strong resonances of Jacques Brel. We will all need a tonic as this election season draws to a close, and the wonderfully clever Peter Sinn Nachtrieb has sculpted an outrageously funny satire of American politics, The Totalitarians, which will be directed by Jeff Zinn. Finally, we are pleased to announce a world premiere by Israel Horovitz, Man In Snow, which won many accolades from the BBC as a radio play. Now, long-time Horovitz collaborator, Andrea Paciotto will join us from Italy to direct this full-length play."

The 2016 season performance days and times for all productions are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. Single Ticket prices are $28 to $38 with discounts available for Preview Performances, Senior Citizens and Patrons 25 years old and under. Gloucester Stage Flex Passes for the 2016 Season are also on sale now.

For information about Gloucester Stage, or to purchase single tickets or Flex Passes, call the Box Office at 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.com.

GLOUCESTER STAGE 37TH SEASON

May 19 - June 11

Lettice and Lovage by Peter Shaffer

Directed by Benny Sato Ambush

Written by Tony Award-winning playwright Peter Shaffer and directed by Gloucester Stage veteran Benny Sato Ambush, Lettice and Lovage features Academy Award nominated actress and Gloucester resident Lindsay Crouse as Lettice Douffet. A tour guide leading tours through an obscure English mansion utterly devoid of interest, Lettice decides to "Enlarge! Enliven! Enlighten!" her tours by fabricating fanciful stories, which ignites the wrath of her employer. The battle that ensues rapidly turns to friendship as the ladies embark on a series of escapades in this delightful comedy. Lettice and Lovage reunites Lindsay Crouse with director Benny Sato Ambush. The pair collaborated on Gloucester Stage's critically acclaimed 2014 production of Driving Miss Daisy. Peter Shaffer's Lettice and Lovage runs May 19 through June 11 at Gloucester Stage. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

June 16 - July 3

Albatross by Matthew Spangler and Benjamin Evett

Directed by Rick Lombardo

Inspired by Samuel Taylor Coleridge's classic, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Albatross brings Coleridge's tortured seaman into the present day to recount one man's doomed journey on the open sea. In his Gloucester Stage debut, actor and co-author Benjamin Evett recreates his bravura 2015 Elliot Norton-winning performance of this sea yarn staged by director Rick Lombardo. Matthew Spangler and Benjamin Evett's Albatross will run from June 16th through July 3rd, at Gloucester Stage. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA

July 7 - July 30

A NEW ENGLAND PREMIERE

The Last Schwartz by Deborah Zoe Laufer

Directed by Paula Plum

The Last Schwartz, a funny and provocative look at family life, by Deborah Zoe Laufer, the author of 2015's critically acclaimed Out of Sterno, takes place in the Catskills as the Schwartz family gathers on the one year anniversary of their father's passing. The playwright is reunited with Out of Sterno GSC veteran, award-winning actress and director Paula Plum, who returns to stage this comic drama spiced with intrigue. Deborah Zoe Laufer's, The Last Schwartz, runs from July 7 through July 30 at Gloucester Stage. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

August 4 - August 27

Songs For A New World

Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown

Directed by Robert Walsh

Songs For A New World by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown is a powerful and moving song cycle reminiscent of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. This stirring musical journey examines the moments of decision and difficult choices faced in everyday life. Known for such Broadway hits as Parade, The Bridges of Madison County and The Last Five Years, in Songs For A New World Brown artfully blends pop, jazz and gospel in solos and ensemble styles to create this inspiring song cycle. Directed by Gloucester Stage Artistic Director Robert Walsh, the production features four singers including Tony Award nominee Barbara Walsh and Broadway veterans Wendy Waring and John Hillner, all in their Gloucester Stage debut. Jason Robert Brown's Songs For A New World runs from August 4 through August 27 at Gloucester Stage. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

September 1 - September 24

A NEW ENGLAND PREMIERE

The Totalitarians by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb

Directed by Jeff Zinn

Gloucester Stage Managing Director Jeff Zinn makes his Gloucester Stage directing debut with the New England premiere of Peter Sinn Nachtrieb's off-the-wall-satire of the zany world of politics, The Totalitarians. Peter Sinn Nachtrieb has written a not-so-tall-tale of an oligarchic takeover in Nebraska, led by a Palinesque Manchurian candidate, and possibly thwarted by a hapless one-man commando squad. The Totalitarians runs from September 1 through September 24 at Gloucester Stage. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

September 29 - October 23

A WORLD PREMIERE

Man In Snow by Israel Horovitz

Directed by Andrea Paciotto

Gloucester Stage Company proudly presents the world premiere of founding Artistic Director, Israel Horovitz's newest work, Man In Snow. A compelling and passionate story, Man In Snow follows the varied passions of a family seeking resolutions to the highs and lows of the mountains we climb in life. Italian director Andrea Paciotto makes his Gloucester Stage directing debut with the latest Horovitz world premiere at Gloucester Stage. On the heels of last season's hit, Gloucester Blue, Man In Snow joins North Shore Fish, Henry Lumper, Park Your Car in Harvard Yard, My Old Lady, Fighting Over Beverly, The Widow's Blind Date and many other Horovitz plays that have enjoyed world premiere runs at Gloucester Stage. The world premiere of Israel Horovitz's Man In Snow runs from September 29 through October 23 at Gloucester Stage. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

GLOUCESTER STAGE 2016 SEASON PERFORMANCE TIMES:

Wednesday - Saturday: 7:30 pm;

Saturday - Sunday: 2:00 pm

PLACE:

Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA

SINGLE TICKET PRICES

Single Ticket prices are $28 to $38 with discounts available for Preview Performances, Senior Citizens and Patrons 25 years old and under. For detailed ticket information visit www.gloucesterstage.com

PAY WHAT YOU WISH: Pay What You Wish tickets are available for the second matinee of each production. Tickets can only be purchased day of show at the door.

CAPE ANN NIGHT: The reduced ticket price for the first Preview Performance of each production is $25 for residents of Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester. Proof of residency required. Limit: 2 Cape Ann Night tickets per household per production. Limited amount of tickets available per performance.

For further information, call the Gloucester Stage Box Office at 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.com

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