TheatreWorks New Milford Announces 2017 Season

TheatreWorks New Milford has announced their 50th Anniversary 2017 season which includes five main-stage shows, five free staged readings, and plans for their ongoing TheatreWorks Kids (TW Kids) program.

The main stage season will kick off in February with Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice with music by Wayne Barker. This musical play is billed as a "grownup's prequel to Peter Pan" and is the innovative and imaginative story based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. A company of a dozen actors play more than a hundred unforgettable characters, all on a journey to answer the century-old question: How did Peter Pan become The Boy Who Never Grew Up? The play is under the direction of Alicia Dempster of Danbury.

In May comes an adaptation of George Orwell's Animal Farm, a satire on the perils of Stalinism. This adaptation by Ian Woolridge is a parabolic exploration of totalitarianism anywhere, and has given the world at least one immortal phrase: "Some are more equal than others." The animals on a farm drive out their master and take over and run The Farm themselves. The experiment is successful, except that the pigs who assume leadership show that their character does not equal their superior intelligence. The show is under the direction of Kevin Sosbe of New Milford.

Summer brings a unique rock and roll musical from Off-Broadway, Zombie Prom, book by John Dempsey with music by Dana P. Rowe. Zombie Prom is the fictional story of a teenage boy who is literally brought back to life by the love of his high-school sweetheart. Directed by Matt Austin, this sharp- witted contemporary show has been touted by New York Law Journal as being "brighter and better-crafted than both The Rocky Horror Show and Grease put together, with 1950's musical wit and breathtakingly catchy, rich melodies."

Director Brad Blake returns to TheatreWorks in September with Stephen Sondheim's classic musical, Merrily We Roll Along. This tale which runs backwards in time from 1976 to 1955, examines the lives of three people whose friendship is tested by time, events, ambition and fate. It crackles with the wit, humor and intensity that embody the spirit of New York City and the true meaning of 'making it' will lift your spirits and break your heart.

Wrapping up the season in December is a romantic comedy by Sarah Ruhl, Stage Kiss, directed by Nina Agostine Smith of Waterbury. Stage Kiss is a blend of lively comedy and backstage farce which brings together two actors whose former love affair ended disastrously. They meet in a new production of a bad 1930's romance, playing - what else? - former lovers who fall in love all over again.

For more information on the 2017 Mainstage Season, the Page2Stage Staged Reading Series, the TheatreWorks Kids' program, and to purchase tickets and subscriptions, visit theatreworks.us or call the box office at (860) 350-6863.

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