Hartford Stage Reveals 2013 Brand: NEW Festival of New Work Slate

The 15th season of Brand:NEW FallFestival of New Work, from October 23 - 27, will feature readings of six remarkably varied new works, including two plays by Aetna New Voices Fellows; a special appearance by Tony Award-winner Priscilla Lopez; a musical-comedy; and an adaptation of one of the most-produced contemporary plays in Europe today, according to Maxwell Williams, Hartford Stage's Associate Artistic Director, and ElizaBeth Williamson, Senior Dramaturg and Director of New Play Development.

The full slate will kick off with The Evidence of Things Not Seen by Brighde Mullins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 23; Welcome to Jesus by Janine Nabers, the 2013-2014 Aetna New Voices Fellow, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 24; and Open Season, book byBill Cain, based on his play, withmusic and lyrics by Nicolas Williams and Micah Bucey at 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 25.

On Saturday, October 26, Williamson will host a complimentary Playwrights Brunchwith Bill Cain, Micah Bucey, Nicolas Williams, Brighde Mullins and Janine Nabers at 11 a.m. The readings that day will be Somewhere, featuring Lopez and written by Matthew Lopez, the 2012-2013 Aetna New Voices Fellow, at 2 p.m. andThe Burnin' by Progress Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 27, brings a trio of activities: Found in Translation. The day begins with the 2 p.m. performance of La Dispute, followed by a Translation/Adaptation Panel discussion at 3:30 p.m., and then a reading of Michel Azama's Airlock, translated by Nicolas Elliott and ElizaBeth Williamson, at 5:30 p.m. Patrons who purchase a ticket to Airlock, may purchase a ticket to La Dispute at half-price with promo code Dispute50. (Discount valid October 27 only and not valid on SuperSavers.)

"In our 15th year, the Brand:NEW Festivalwill celebrate its beginnings by bringing back Brighde Mullins, whose play Fire Eater was part of the first festival," says Williamson. "We're also delighted to showcase our outgoing and incoming Aetna New Voices Fellows, Matthew Lopez and Janine Nabers. As part of our new initiative to develop musicals, Hartford Stage welcomes Bill Cain, Micah Bucey and Nicolas Williams' musical Open Season, and Progress Theatre's a capella musical, The Burnin'. And on Sunday we'll focus on the art of translation, with a panel discussion and the reading of a new translation of Michel Azama's Airlock. We hope you can join us!"

Principal sponsorship for the Brand:NEW Festival by The John and Kelly Hartman Foundation. Supporting sponsorship by Adams & Knight. The New Voices Fellowship is sponsored by Aetna. New play development is supported by the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust and The Lucille Lortel Foundation.

Brand:NEW readings and events (except for the performance of La Dispute and the Translation/Adaptation Panel, both at the theatre) will be at Hartford Stage's Rehearsal Studio 2 at 942 Main Street (the Residence Inn building). See all six readings for $40 or individual readings for $10 each. Seating in the rehearsal hall is extremely limited. Tickets are available by calling the Hartford Stage box office at 860-527-5151 or by visiting www.brandnewplayfestival.com.

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