National Press Contacts
Matt Ross Public Relations – (212) 756-1248
Matt Ross / Nicole Capatasto / Claire Wojciechowski
Berkshire Press Contact
Charlie Siedenburg – 551-655-0968
Charlie_siedenburg@yahoo.com
ANNOUNCES FIRST THREE PRODUCTIONS
FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
INTO THE WOODS
Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Book by JAMES LAPINE
Originally Directed on Broadway by JAMES LAPINE
Orchestrations by JONATHAN TUNICK
Directed by JOE CALARCO
THE WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL
FALL SPRINGS
Music and Lyrics by NIKO TSAKALAKOS
Book and Lyrics by PETER SINN NACHTRIEB
Directed by STEPHEN BRACKETT
GERTRUDE AND CLAUDIUS
By MARK ST. GERMAIN
Based on the novel by JOHN UPDIKE
(Pittsfield, MA – October 22, 2018) Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in the Berkshires (Pittsfield, MA) under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, announced today three productions for its upcoming 25th season – Into the Woods, the musical classic by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine; the world premiere new musical Fall Springs, by Niko Tsakalakos and Peter Sinn Nachtrieb; and Gertrude and Claudius, a new play by Mark St. Germain.
Barrington Stage Company is a leading producer and incubator of new plays and musicals. This season, three plays recently seen at BSC will arrive in New York. American Son by Christopher Demos-Brown was commissioned by BSC and won the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award for its world premiere at BSC in 2016. It opens on Broadway this November starring Kerry Washington and Steven Pasquale. Lloyd Suh’s The Chinese Lady had its world premiere at BSC earlier this year in a co-production with Ma-Yi Theater Company and will arrive Off-Broadway at Theatre Row in November as well. In spring 2019 Manhattan Theatre Club will present the New York premiere of The Cake, written by Bekah Brunstetter and starring BSC Associate Artist Debra Jo Rupp, who previously played the role in BSC’s production of the play this summer.
“Anything can happen in the woods.” This is the promise, and premise, of the much-loved, Tony-Award winning musical Into the Woods. A childless baker and his wife endeavor to lift their family curse by journeying into the woods, where they encounter Rapunzel and her mother; Cinderella; Jack (of Beanstalk fame); Little Red Riding Hood and other classic fairy tale characters. Their stories become entangled in unexpected ways, revealing what happens after “happily ever after.” The wickedly witty score weaves a magical spell, warning “be careful what you wish for.”
Presented on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, Into the Woods features music and lyrics by 13-time Tony Award winner Stephen Sondheim, a book by James Lapine (Sunday in the Park with George) and was originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine. Musical direction is by BSC Associate Artist Darren R. Cohen (BSC’s West Side Story) with direction by BSC Associate Artist Joe Calarco (BSC’s Ragtime).
BSC’s 2019 Season will also include the world premiere of the musical Fall Springs, featuring music and lyrics by Niko Tsakalakos (Pool Boy), book and lyrics by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb (Boom) and direction by Stephen Brackett (Be More Chill).
Boulders, buildings and the occasional bartender are being swallowed in the ground due to fracking. And that’s only the beginning…
From the creator of Pool Boy and the acclaimed director of Be More Chill comes Fall Springs, an irreverent, funny and relevant new musical. The town of Fall Springs is cash-strapped but sits directly on top of America’s largest reserve of cosmetic essential oils. It has big dreams, but at what cost? With new fracking techniques being recklessly implemented, the ground beneath Fall Springs is crumbling.
In 2019 Barrington Stage will also present a new play by BSC Associate Artist Mark St. Germain (Dancing Lessons, Freud’s Last Session), Gertrude and Claudius, which will receive its world premiere at Orlando Shakespeare Festival this spring.
Based on the novel by John Updike and dramatized for the stage by the prolific Mark St. Germain, Gertrude and Claudius is a passionate, imaginative prequel that brings to life the love affair that led to one of the greatest plays of all time—Hamlet.
2019 Season Passes are now on sale and available at www.barringtonstageco.org or by calling 413-236-8888 or visiting the Mainstage box office (30 Union Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201). Single tickets for Into the Woods, Fall Springs and Gertrude and Claudius will be available in March 2019.
ABOUT BARRINGTON STAGE COMPANY
Barrington Stage Company (BSC) is an award-winning regional theatre located in Pittsfield, MA, in the heart of the Berkshires. Co-founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, BSC has a three-fold mission: to present top-notch, compelling work; to develop new plays and musicals; and to find fresh, bold ways of bringing new audiences into the theatre—especially young people. Barrington Stage garnered national attention in 2004 when it premiered William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s musical hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which later transferred to Broadway where it won two Tony Awards. In 2009, BSC premiered Mark St. Germain’s Freud’s Last Session, which later moved Off Broadway and played for two years. St. Germain’s Becoming Dr. Ruth (which premiered at BSC as Dr. Ruth, All the Way) played Off Broadway at the Westside Theatre. BSC’s all-time record-breaking musical On the Town was originally produced at BSC in 2013 before transferring to Broadway, where it was nominated for four Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival. In 2016, Barrington Stage swept the first annual Berkshire Theatre Awards by winning 20 out of the 25 awards. Also in 2016, BSC produced the world premiere of American Son, which won the Laurents/Hatcher Award for Best New Play and opens on Broadway in November 2018. In 2017, BSC produced the much-lauded revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company, starring Aaron Tveit. In 2018, BSC produced the critically-acclaimed production of West Side Story in honor of Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins’ 100th birthdays. BSC has won the Best of the Berkshires Readers’ Choice for Best Live Theatre for the past two years. 2019 marks BSC’s 25th Season Anniversary.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT
# # #