All Over Albany

Williamstown Theatre Festival 2017

The updated slate of shows for this summer's Williamstown Theatre Festival is out. As usual, the casts include actors you'll recognize, such as Jane Kaczmarek, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jayne Atkinson, and Cristin Milioti.

In recent years WTF has also served as a launching point for new shows, some of which make their way to Broadway.This summer's schedule includes four world premieres, as well as a new play and a new musical.

Also: Single-show tickets are now available for pre-order online. (You can also save some money per ticket by buying tickets in multiple show bundles.) Many of these performances sell out, so if you're interested in going, it's a good idea to buy tickets sooner rather than later.

Here's the lineup...

All blurbage from WTF. There will be additional casting announcements, and along with other events, as summer approaches.

Main Stage

June 27-July 16: The Roommate (new play) By Jen Silverman; directed by Mike Donahue With: S. Epatha Merkerson and Jane Kaczmarek Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winner S. Epatha Merkerson and Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominee Jane Kaczmarek star in this absorbing comedy about self-discovery. Empty-nested and alone in her Midwestern home, Sharon (Merkerson) takes on a roommate, Robyn (Kaczmarek), who has just arrived from New York City. Before she has even unpacked, Robyn challenges everything about Sharon's way of life. Book clubs, 80s pop music, and the occasional shared toke complicate their unlikely but enduring relationship, even as they venture into dangerous territory. Mike Donahue directs Jen Silverman's new play which celebrates unexpected re-invention later in life.

July 19-29: The Clean House
By Sarah Ruhl; directed by Rebecca Taichman
With: Jayne Atkinson, Cote de Pablo, Jessica Hecht, Priscilla Lopez and Bernard White
Two-time Tony Award-nominee Jayne Atkinson and Tony Award-nominee Jessica Hecht star in this heartfelt comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl. Lane (Atkinson), an accomplished physician, discovers that her sister Virginia (Hecht) -- not her Brazilian housekeeper Matilde (Cote de Pablo) -- has been cleaning her home every day. Though never close, suddenly the sisters find themselves enmeshed in each other's lives and in Matilde's great passion for Portuguese jokes. Rebecca Taichman directs this expressive and lyrical comedy about learning to live with life's mess.

August 3-20: A Legendary Romance (a new musical)
Book by Timothy Prager, music and lyrics by Geoff Morrow; directed by Lonny Price
With: Maurice Jones
Emmy Award-winner and Tony Award-nominee Lonny Price directs an intimate new musical by composer/lyricist Geoff Morrow and book writer Timothy Prager that delivers us to the intersection of loyalty, love, and ambition. Back in 1950, film producer Joseph Lindy was on top of the world, making hit after hit with the love of his life and leading lady, Billie Hathaway. Nearly four decades later, retired and forgotten, he must approve for release a version of his abandoned, cinematic masterpiece, an autobiographical film now altered irrevocably by a young producer. Haunted by the choices he made years ago, Joseph's story hangs in the balance as he reconstructs the film, his memory and, ultimately, his legacy.

Nikos Stage

June 28-July 9: The Model American (world premiere) By Jason Kim; directed by Danny Sharron With: Hiram Delgado, Jonghoon Han, Maurice Jones, Laila Robins and Micah Stock In 2016, what does it take for an immigrant to achieve the American dream? With humor and humanity, playwright Jason Kim (HBO's "Girls") explores this question in his timely world premiere play, directed by Danny Sharron. Young, Latino, gay and unapologetically ambitious, Gabriel (Hiram Delgado), arrives in New York seeking work, friendship, love, and mentorship. But, before he can move forward, he must honestly determine if he is running toward success or away from what he left behind. Developed at WTF under the auspices of the Bill Foeller Fellowship Program in 2016, The Model American asks: what is the price we are willing to pay for a new life? July 12-23: Where Storms Are Born (world premiere) By Harrison David Rivers; directed by Saheem Ali With: Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Joshua Boone, Raúl Castillo, Christopher Livingston, LeRoy McClain, and Myra Lucretia Taylor Mourning the loss of her elder son Myles (LeRoy McClain), Bethea (Myra Lucretia Taylor) tries to help her younger son Gideon (Christopher Livingston) through his grief. But as revelations surrounding Myles' incarceration and death emerge, both mother and son must decide whether to fight or let go. With wit and empathy, this play reminds us of the courage and resilience it takes to chart a better way forward for the ones we love. Saheem Ali directs this world premiere play by 2016 WTF Playwright-in-Residence Harrison David Rivers. July 26-August 6: Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow (world premiere) By Halley Feiffer; directed by Trip Cullman With: Rebecca Henderson, Gene Jones, Cristin Milioti, Thomas Sadoski, Jeanine Serralles, Ryan Spahn, and Micah Stock You've known Olga, Masha and Irina for nearly one hundred and seventeen years. But this summer, they are, like, unhappy for reals. Obie Award-winner and Drama Desk nominee Trip Cullman directs Outer Critics Circle Award-nominee and Theatre World Award-winner Halley Feiffer's world premiere: a contemporary adaptation of Chekhov's Three Sisters. As our heroes search for meaning in their work and love lives -- all the while dreaming of their dear Moscow -- we are invited to examine our own existential longings and unrequited yearnings. Feiffer's bold, unapologetically millennial and bitingly comedic spin on this Russian classic newly reacquaints us with the emotional contours of the beleaguered and beloved Prozorov family. You totes don't want to miss it! August 9-20: Actually (world premiere) By Anna Ziegler; directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz With: Joshua Boone and Alexandra Socha Amber (Alexandra Socha) and Tom (Joshua Boone) are freshmen at Princeton University, where their experiences so far have only two things in common: drunken parties and a desire to fit in. But when they meet, their common experience becomes anything but, and their moral mettle is put to the test. Lileana Blain-Cruz directs Anna Ziegler's deeply felt and relevant world premiere play about intimacy and responsibility, power and provocation, privilege and protocol. Co-world premiere with Geffen Playhouse, Randall Arney - Artistic Director.