FREUD'S LAST SESSION, a new play by Mark St. Germain (Camping with Henry and Tom), will have its Off-Broadway premiere at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater, 10 West 64th Street (at Central Park West). Performances will begin July 9th, with the official opening night set for Thursday, July 22nd. FREUD'S LAST SESSION stars Mark H. Dold as C.S. Lewis and Martin Rayner as Sigmund Freud, under the direction of Tyler Marchant.
FREUD'S LAST SESSION had its world premiere at
Barrington Stage Company (MA) in June 2009, where it was extended twice and brought back by popular demand for two subsequent encore engagements. It holds the record as the longest-running play in Barrington Stage's history.
FREUD'S LAST SESSION centers on legendary psychiatrist Dr.
Sigmund Freud, who invites the young, rising academic star
C.S. Lewis to his home in London. Lewis, expecting to be called on the carpet for satirizing Freud in a recent book, soon realizes Freud has a much more significant agenda. On the day England enters World War II, Freud and Lewis clash on the existence of God, the joy of love, the purpose of sex, and the meaning of life - just a few weeks before Freud's own death. Not just a powerful debate, this is a profound and deeply touching play about two men who boldly addressed the greatest questions of all time.
Mark St. Germain's celebrated new play was suggested by the bestselling book The Question of God by Harvard's Dr. Armand M. Nicholi, Jr.
Mark H. Dold appeared on Broadway in Absurd Person Singular, and his Off-Broadway credits include Shockheaded Peter, Comic Potential, Race, The Winter's Tale, Othello, The Seagull, Romeo and Juliet, Spread Eagle, and Timon of Athens. Regionally, Mark has appeared at the
Mark Taper Forum, Old Globe (San Diego Critics Circle Award), Chicago Shakespeare, Shakespeare DC, Long Wharf (Connecticut Critics Circle Award), Trinity Rep, and Yale Rep. His films include Say You'll Be Mine, Junior Creative and Charlie's Party.
Martin Rayner's Broadway credits include The Invention of Love and Sixteen Wounded. His Off-Broadway appearances include Travels with My Aunt, Gates of Gold, Henry V, and Kit Marlowe. Martin's favorite regional roles were at Yale Rep: Underground and You Never Can Tell; McCarter: Loot;
American Repertory Theater: King Lear and When We Dead Awaken; Wilma: The Invention of Love and The Magic Fire. TV credits include Dr. Chaotica on "Star Trek: Voyager," "Frasier," "Law & Order: CI," "Dangerous Curves," and "Benjamin Franklin."
Playwright
Mark St. Germain has written the plays Camping with Henry and Tom (Outer Critics Circle and
Lucille Lortel Awards), Out of Gas on Lover's Leap and Forgiving Typhoid Mary (Time Magazine's "Year's Ten Best"). With
Randy Courts, he has written the musicals The Gifts of the Magi, Johnny Pye and the Foolkiller (winner of an AT&T "New Plays for the Nineties Award") and Jack's Holiday at
Playwrights Horizons. TV credits include Writer and Creative Consultant for "The Cosby Show." Mark co-wrote the screenplay for the acclaimed film Duma, and he directed and co-produced the documentary My Dog: An Unconditional Love Story featuring
Richard Gere,
Glenn Close and
Edward Albee, among many others. Mark has also written the children's book Three Cups, and he received the New Voices in American Theatre Award at the
William Inge Theatre Festival.
Director
Tyler Marchant recently directed the world premieres of 40 Days by Laura Eason and the musical Anne of Green Gables at the
Lucille Lortel Theatre. From 2000-2006, Tyler served as Associate Artistic Director at
Primary Stages. For almost six years, Tyler also operated as Vice President of the Association of Non-Profit Theatres Companies (ANTC) in New York City.
Scenic design for FREUD'S LAST SESSION is by
Brian Prather, with costume design by
Mark Mariani, lighting design by
Clifton Taylor, and sound design by Beth Lake.
FREUD'S LAST SESSION is being presented Off-Broadway by
Carolyn Rossi Copeland,
Robert Stillman and
Jack Thomas.
Performances will be Tuesdays at 7pm, Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8pm, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $65 and are available through www.Theatermania.com 212-352-3101. A limited number of $20 Student Rush tickets (with valid student ID) will be available at the box office beginning three hours prior to each performance.
For more information, visit
www.FreudsLastSession.com.
Photo credit: Kevin Sprague
Mark H. Dold and Martin Rayner
Mark H. Dold and Martin Rayner
Martin Rayner and Mark H. Dold
Martin Rayner and Mark H. Dold
Mark H. Dold and Martin Rayner
