THE AMATEURS Extends Two Weeks at the Vineyard

Vineyard Theatre's Artistic Directors, Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern announce that the world premiere production of THE AMATEURS by Jordan Harrison (2015 Pulitzer Prize finalist for MARJORIE PRIME) directed by Oliver Butler (THE OPEN HOUSE, Obie Award for Direction) will extend through Thursday, March 29.

THE AMATEURS opened on Tuesday, February 27 with Jesse Green of The New York Times selecting the production as a "Critic's Pick" saying, "THE AMATEURS is hilarious and moving with a cast that is a collection of Off Broadway treasures. A terrific, gutsy new comedy."

The following performances of THE AMATEURS will feature special guest moderators and topics of discussion:

Saturday, March 10, 8pm - James Gleick, author and essayist about science and technology and their cultural consequences, will lead a discussion on the spread of disease and information throughout history. Director Oliver Butler will join this discussion.

Saturday, March 17, 3pm - Dr. Nicole R. Rice, English professor at St. John's University specializing in connections among late medieval religious culture, social life, and expression, will lead a discussion on medieval drama and modern performance.

The final week performance schedule will be: Sunday, March 25 at 3pm; Monday, March 26 at 7pm; Tuesday, March 27 at 7pm; Wednesday, March 28 at 3pm and 8pm; and Thursday, March 29 at 7pm.

Tickets are currently available for purchase online at www.vineyardtheatre.org or by calling the box office at 212-353-0303.

In THE AMATEURS, an intrepid troupe of pageant players races across medieval Europe, struggling to outrun the Black Death. The arrival of a mysterious outsider sends Hollis, the leading lady, in search of answers that can only be found off-script... and soon the 14th century plague begins to look like another, more recent one. This wildly inventive and funny new work examines the evolution of human creativity in a dark age: when does a crisis destroy us, and when does it open new frontiers?

THE AMATEURS features Kyle Beltran (Vineyard's GLORIA, HEAD OF PASSES), Quincy Tyler Bernstine (RUINED, Manchester by the Sea), Michael Cyril Creighton (STAGE KISS, Spotlight), Greg Keller (Vineyard's SOMEWHERE FUN, OUR MOTHER'S BRIEF AFFAIR), Jennifer Kim (Vineyard's GLORIA, "Mozart in the Jungle"), and Thomas Jay Ryan (THE CRUCIBLE, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

The award-winning design team includes scenic design by David Zinn (SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS); costume design by Jessica Pabst (MARVIN'S ROOM); lighting design by Jen Schriever (ECLIPSED); original music & sound design by Bray Poor (LATIN HISTORY FOR MORONS); wig, hair, & makeup design by Dave Bova & J. Jared Janas (SUNSET BOULEVARD); and mask & puppet design Raphael Mishler (PATRON SAINT OF SEA MONSTERS).

THE AMATEURS is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. THE AMATEURS was originally commissioned by South Coast Repertory and received a staged reading as part of The Goodman Theatre's New Stages Festival.

Vineyard Theatre is an Off-Broadway theatre company dedicated to developing and producing bold new plays and musicals by both emerging and established artists. The theater is committed to creating an artistic home for daring and diverse artists and to nurturing their unique voices. For over 35 years the company has sought to produce work that challenges all of us to see ourselves and our world in new ways, and that pushes the boundaries of what theatre can be and do.

The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works; the first show of the company's 35th Anniversary Season, the world-premiere of David Cale's HARRY CLARKE, directed by Leigh Silverman and starring Billy Crudup, played a sold-out extended run and has been released as an audio play on Audible. The Vineyard has also premiered Paula Vogel and Rebecca Taichman's INDECENT, which transferred to Broadway last season, winning two Tony Awards; Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Pulitzer Prize finalist GLORIA; DOT by Colman Domingo; Nicky Silver's THE LYONS; Marx, Lopez and Whitty's Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q; Kander and Ebb's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS; Bell and Bowen's [title of show]; Paula Vogel's HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE (1998 Pulitzer Prize); Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN (1994 Pulitzer Prize); Tarell Alvin McCraney's WIG OUT!; Becky Mode's FULLY COMMITTED; Jenny Schwartz' GOD'S EAR; Will Eno's MIDDLETOWN; and many more. Vineyard Theatre has been honored with special Drama Desk, Obie, and Lucille Lortel Awards for its contribution to the theatre.

Vineyard Theatre's leadership includes Artistic Directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern and Managing Director Suzanne Appel.

Follow Vineyard Theatre on Facebook: vineyardtheatrenyc, Twitter: @vineyardtheatre, and Instagram: @vineyardtheatre. More information at www.vineyardtheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

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