Anna Ziegler World Premiere & More Set for Keen Company's 16th Season

Today Keen Artistic Director Jonathan Silverstein announced his plans for the upcoming season: "I am thrilled to present Keen's 16th season. This season, we will present two very different plays in uniquely different styles, each of which makes us contemplate fundamental questions about identity. In the fall, I will direct Giles Havergal's wonderfully theatrical adaptation of Graham Greene 's comedic novel Travels With My Aunt and I am thrilled to welcome back Thomas Jay Ryan, with whom I collaborated with on The Temperamentals, as well as Daniel Jenkins, a Keen alum I have always wanted to work with.

"In the Spring, we are thrilled to present Keen's first World Premiere since 2008: Boy by Anna Ziegler, a co-production with Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Project. I have long been a fan of Anna's work and when I saw this play on Kilroy's The List in 2014, I was immediately intrigued. Boy is a beautiful and timely tale that I look forward to sharing with our audience. We will also present a host of events in addition to our mainstage productions, including a one-night only concert with last year's Drama Desk nominee Kate Baldwin, as well as a special night of readings to celebrate Keen Teens' 10th Anniversary."

"I'm so delighted that Aunt Augusta's travels have brought her back to New York... She is very much looking forward to meeting her old friends and making new ones," said Giles Havergal. Celebrated author Graham Greene's moving comic novel comes bursting to life in a hilarious and witty adaptation by Giles Havergal, former Artistic Director of Glasgow's iconic Citizens Theatre. London's Evening Standard called the play "cheekily vivacious, clever and funny" when it was revived at The Menier Chocolate Factory in 2013.

Henry Pulling, a mild-mannered retired banker, leads a quiet life and never strays too far from his home in Southwood, England. But when his eccentric and outrageous Aunt Augusta suddenly appears in his life with mysterious information about his past, Henry is drawn into a series of exotic international adventures. Henry, Aunt Augusta and over 25 of the characters they meet along the way are brilliantly and inventively portrayed by just four actors who switch identities, nationalities, ages and genders in this exciting theatrical escapade. The New York Times called it "A triumph of theatrical style," Variety declared it "thoroughly engrossing evening enormously appealing" and Daily Mail called it "raucous role play."

Performances for this limited Off-Broadway engagement of Graham Greene's Travels With My Aunt at The Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) will begin September 29 and continue through November 14th only, with opening night set for October 15th. Jonathan Silverstein directs a cast that features Daniel Jenkins (Big River - Tony Award Nomination, Golden Boy, Angels in America, Mary Poppins, Billy Elliot); Thomas Jay Ryan (The Temperamentals, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind); and Robbie Tann (Everything You Touch at Rattlestick, "Nurse Jackie," "Person of Interest," "Gotham").

"It was so fortuitous that this came together the way it did -- the Kilroy list piqued Jonathan Silverstein's interest in the play; he came to see a reading at EST and a partnership was born. I couldn't be more thrilled to be working with this team -- the amazing director Linsay Firman, who was so instrumental in the development of this play, EST and Sloan who are longtime collaborators, and the terrific Keen Company, a new collaborator I couldn't be more excited to work with on this project," said playwright Anna Ziegler.

Inspired by a true story, Boy explores the complicated terrain of trying to find love amidst the confusion of sexual identity and the inextricable bond between a doctor and patient. In the 1960s, a well-intentioned physician convinces the parents of a male infant to raise their son as a girl after a terrible accident during circumcision. Years later, the child, now in his twenties, tries to live anew as a man. A story of the blinding power of love and the complicated mystery of one's perception of self, Boy is a moving and timely play that calls into question the influences that make each of us the person we are meant to be. Boy was included in Kilroy's 2014 "The List," the results of their annual industry survey of excellent new plays by female and trans* playwrights.

Boy will be co-produced with the Ensemble Studio Theatre (William Carden, Artistic Director, Paul A. Slee, Executive Director)/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Project (Doron Weber, Vice President, Programs and Program Director). "Since we first produced her beautiful, haunting play Photograph 51, we recognized that Anna Ziegler has a unique sensibility and a special voice. So we were eager to begin working with her on Boy. Now after numerous readings and workshops we are thrilled to be able to partner with the Keen Company to give this remarkable and deeply affecting play the full production it deserves," said William Carden

And, coming in November, for one night only: We're Keen On...Kate Baldwin: Broadway star and Keen favorite Kate Baldwin (John & Jen, Finian's Rainbow) and special guests will present an intimate evening of song to benefit the Keen Company. More details soon!

All performances will be at The Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) and will be Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm; and Sunday matinees at 3pm. Tickets will be $61.25 (plus a $1.25 Restoration Fee) or $80 for Premium Seating.

A subscription package for both shows of the season is only $90 (including a $10 service fee) that includes unlimited exchange privileges, invitations to Keen Company readings, and more! Save over 35% off full ticket price ($125.00) You'll also get discounts on the purchase of Keen's new cast recordings of Keen's productions of Marry Me a Little and John & Jen, as well as advance notice and discounted tickets to More@Keen (We're Keen on Kate Baldwin, Keen Teens 10th Anniversary Readings, 10th Annual Keen Teens Festival of New Work, The Playwrights Lab Series, and Keen's 16th Annual Benefit on May 16, 2016).

New This Year - KeenConnect: Keen patrons 30 or under* see each show for just $20 each! Subscriptions are only $40 (including $10 service charge) Save over 65% off full ticket price ($125.00) (*please note - Government issued ID must be presented at box office).

Individual tickets and subscriptions are on sale NOW! To purchase tickets visit Telecharge.com or call 212/239-6200. For subscriptions, call the Subscriber Hotline at 212/560-2185. For more information, visit www.keencompany.org.

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