Works by Torben Betts, Scott Organ and Lee Blessing Headline The Barrow Group's 2017-18 Season
By: BWW News Desk Aug. 16, 2017
The Barrow Group Theatre Company, recipient of the Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Awards, has announced its lineup for the 2017-2018 season with The New York premiere of Muswell Hill, a play by Torben Betts, followed by the world premiere of The Thing With Feathers, a new play by Scott Organ, the revival of A Walk in the Woods by Lee Blessing, and a special benefit performance of the award-winning solo play The Tricky Part by Martin Moran at The Barrow Group Mainstage Theatre (312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor).
"We're dedicated to enriching people's lives with productions that emphasize simple, unadorned, natural storytelling. The four plays in our upcoming season are timely meditations on friendship, forgiveness, and the intricacies of human connection," say co-Artistic Directors Seth Barrish and Lee Brock.
"TBG continues to have a significant impact on New York's cultural landscape - our audience numbers have tripled over the past two years. We're thrilled to share these shows in our newly renovated theatre space, and look forward to giving our patrons an engaging, transformative experience," says Executive Director Robert Serrell.
Barrow Group launches the three-show season in its newly renovated theatre space with a one-night benefit performance of Martin Moran's award-winning solo-show Tricky Part directed by Seth Barrish on Monday evening, October 16, 2017 at 7:30pm at Barrow Group Mainstage atre (312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor). A pre-show cocktail party and raffle will begin at 6:30pm. Tickets are priced at $75.
The Tricky Part was developed at The Barrow Group. Following its premiere in 2004, The Tricky Part received a 2004 Obie Award, two Drama Desk Award nominations (Outstanding Play and Outstanding Solo Performance), an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination (Outstanding Solo Performance) and a GLAAD Media Award Nomination (Outstanding NY Theater: Broadway and Off-Broadway). Martin Moran has performed The Tricky Part throughout the United States and internationally. He has also authored an award-winning memoir by the same title, published by Anchor Press.
Ticket sales and contributions will go towards funding The Barrow Group's upcoming three-show production season.
New York Premiere
Muswell Hill
A play by Torben Betts
a co-production with The Pond Theatre Company
Directed by Shannon Patterson
November 11 - December 16, 2017
Opening Night is set for November 14, 2017
The Barrow Group Mainstage Theatre (312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor)
Following their sold-out run of Abigail's Party last fall, The Barrow Group Theatre Company and The Pond Theatre Company present The New York premiere ofMuswell Hill by Torben Betts. Set in a leafy north London suburb, this black comedy chronicles an evening in which a number of friends gather over dinner, discussing their day-to-day worries while halfway around the world a natural disaster is occurring.
Torben Betts is a multi award-winning British playwright, described by Alan Ayckbourn as "one of the most exciting theatre writing talents I have come across in many a year."
World Premiere
The Thing With Feathers
A play by Scott Organ
Directed by Seth Barrish
January 13 - February 10, 2018
Opening Night is set for January 16, 2018
The Barrow Group Mainstage Theatre (312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor)
A world premiere with a cast of four, The Thing With Feathers feels almost like a thriller as Scott Organ masterfully spins the tale of an underage teenager who is seduced by an older man on the internet. Things are not as they seem, however.
The Barrow Group Theatre Company has produced a number of Mr. Organ's plays (Phoenix; Afraid. Yes. Of.; The Mulligan, The Faithful).
Revival
A Walk in the Woods
A play by Lee Blessing
Directed by Donna Jean Fogel
March 17 - April 15, 2018
Opening Night is set for March 20, 2018
The Barrow Group Mainstage Theatre (312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor)
A Walk in the Woods, Lee Blessing's insightful two-character play set during the end of the Cold War, tells the tale of a series of meetings between two diplomats, American and Russian. The play raises deep questions, "What can we do to heal the world?" "What is the value of human connection?" "How can we best bridge fundamental differences?"
Blessing's story has chilling resonance in today's political climate.
Subscription memberships and single tickets are available by visiting the website at www.barrowgroup.org or by calling OvationTix at 866-811-4111.
Torben Betts (Playwright, Muswell Hill). Theatre credits include: The National Joke, (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough) Invincible (Orange Tree Theatre and St James Theatre, London, Brits-off-Broadway); What Falls Apart (Live Theatre, Newcastle); Get Carter (Northern Stage); The Seagull (Regent's Park Open Air); A Listening Heaven (Edinburgh Royal Lyceum, nominated as TMA Best New Play 2001); The Unconquered (Traverse/Tron/Brits-off-Broadway/UK tour, winner of Best New Play at the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland, 2007); Muswell Hill (Orange Tree Theatre and Park Theatre, London); The Company Man (Orange Tree Theatre); The Error of their Ways (HERE Arts Center, New York); Lie of the Land (Arcola Theatre, London/Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh);The Swing of Things; Her Slightest Touch (both Stephen Joseph Theatre); Incarcerator (Battersea Arts Centre, London); The Lunatic Queen (Riverside Studios, London); Five Visions of the Faithful (Edinburgh Festival Theatre); Clockwatching (Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond and Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough);The Biggleswades (Southwark Playhouse), Silence and Violence (White Bear Theatre, London). In 2018 his latest play Monogamy will be produced at London's Park Theatre, alongside his versions of The Misanthrope at Northampton's Royal and Derngate and Boeing Boeing at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough. His plays have been performed around the world and to date have been translated into Spanish, French, German, Finnish, Czech, Polish and Portuguese. Torben wrote the screenplay for the British independent feature film Downhill, which was released in cinemas in May 2014. He is represented by Independent Talent Group, London and is published by Oberon Books, London.
Lee Blessing (Playwright, A Walk in the Woods). Play's include A Walk In The Woods (Broadway and London's West End), Going to St. Ives, (Outer Critics Circle Award, Best Play; Obie Award for Ensemble Performance), Thief River (Drama Desk nomination, Best Play), Cobb (Drama Desk Award, Best Ensemble),Chesapeake, Eleemosynary, Down The Road, The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid, and Cold Water. In the 1992-93 Signature Theatre season: Fortinbras, Lake Street Extension, Two Rooms and the world premiere of Patient A. Recent regional world premieres A Body of Water at the Guthrie Theater and the Old Globe Theatre; Lonesome Hollow, Flag Day and Whores, all at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival; The Scottish Play at La Jolla Playhouse; Black Sheep at Florida Stage and The Winning Streak at George Street Playhouse. Other plays: Independence, Riches, Oldtimers Game and Nice People Dancing To Good Country Music and Perilous Night. Other awards: The American Theater Critics Circle Award, the L.A. Drama Critics Award, The Great American Play Award, The Humanitas Award and the George and Elisabeth Marton Award among others. Nominations for Tony and Olivier awards, as well as for the Pulitzer Prize. Blessing is married to playwright and TV writer Melanie Marnich and lives in New York. He heads the graduate playwriting program at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University.
Martin Moran (Playwright/Performer, The Tricky Part) grew up in Denver, attended Stanford University and lives in New York City where he makes his living as an actor and writer. The Off-Broadway run of his one-man play, All The Rage, received the 2013 Lucille Lortel Award and Outer Critics Circle Nomination for Outstanding Solo Show. He received an OBIE and two Drama Desk Nominations for his 2004 solo play, The Tricky Part, based upon his memoir of the same title. The Tricky Part memoir won the 2005 Lambda Non-Fiction Prize and Barnes and Noble Discover Award. As an actor, Martin's Broadway and Off-Broadway performances include: Spamalot, Cabaret, Titanic, Bells Are Ringing, How To Succeed..., Big River, Fun Home (Public Theater), Floyd Collins (Playwrights Horizons), A Man of No Importance (Lincoln Center Theater), Cider House Rules and John Guare's Three Kinds of Exile at The Atlantic Theater Company. He has performed in many regional theaters including La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf, Williamstown Theater Festival, Trinity Repertory Company and the Intiman Theater. He has also presented his solo work internationally in Poland, South Africa and Canada. Film and television work includes guest appearances on "The Newsroom," "The Big C," "Possible Side Affects," "Private Parts," "Law & Order," "Law & Order Criminal Intent,"; Dellaventura, and Mary and Rhoda. He wrote the book and lyrics for the 2012 "Inner Voices" solo musical, Borrowed Dust, with composer Joseph Thalken. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Ploughshares, and Pushcart Prize. His memoir "All The Rage: A Quest," was released this year by Beacon Press.
Scott Organ (Playwright, The Thing With Feathers). His plays have been commissioned by The Atlantic Theater Company, developed by theaters including The New Group, Page 73, The Barrow Group, South Coast Rep, and have been performed and work-shopped throughout the United States, Europe and South America. Scott's play Phoenix premiered at the Humana Festival of New American Plays and was subsequently produced at The Barrow Group and through Rattlestick at Cherry Lane Theater in New York with Julia Stiles. Phoenix has been translated into Portuguese, Spanish and French. His writing has been featured in Arts In The Armed Forces, performed by Laura Linney and Dianne Wiest. Scott's plays can be found in New Playwrights - The Best Plays 2010, Humana Festival 2010 - The Complete Plays, New American Short Plays 2005, Best American Short Plays and Great Short Plays Volume 9. Scott is a writer on the short films Playdate (TriBeCa Film Festival, 3rd place - London City International Film Festival, Vimeo Staff Pick), The Board (TriBeCa Film Festival), The One(Palm Springs International Film Festival), and the features Phoenix and History of Technology. As an actor, Scott has been in over 50 commercials and films.
The Barrow Group Theatre Company and School offers theatre patrons and performing arts students an artistic experience focused on simplicity, clarity, and spontaneity in their 10,000 sf. arts center in midtown Manhattan. The Barrow Group has won numerous awards, including a Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award, and received numerous nominations over the years. Past company members and alumni have won Academy, Emmy, Tony, OBIE, and Lucille Lortel Awards. The Company has received support from the W Trust, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, The Dramatists Guild, the Jewish Communal Fund, the Dramatists Play Service, the Citrin Foundation, the Edith Lutyens and Norman Bel Geddes Foundation, The New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment of the Arts, and the American Theatre Wing. Thirty-one years old, The Barrow Group is a thriving non-profit, with a strong Board of Trustees, making a meaningful contribution to New York City's cultural landscape.
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