Keen Company: announces new season

Keen Company has announced the two plays to be presented for the company's 2011-2012 season. First up is Lanford Wilson's Lemon Sky, the 1970 drama by the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of 'Talley's Folly,' 'Burn This' and 'Fifth of July,' followed by Tina Howe's 1976 comedy Painting Churches.

The plays will be presented in the following season order:
Casting announcements and specific dates will be forthcoming.

Lemon Sky
Music and lyrics by Jim Bauer
By Lanford Wilson
Directed by Jonathan Silverstein
Cast: tba.
Venue: Theatre Row's Acorn Theater
Previews: 13 Sep 2011
Opens: 27 Sep 2011
Closes: 22 Oct 2011

Synopsis: Lanford Wilson's personal story in autobiographical detail: his journey, at age 17, to California to live with his estranged father's second family..

Keen's artistic director, Carl Forsman, said, "I have a long history with Lanford Wilson's work. The first Broadway play I ever went to see was Fifth Of July. My last date with my high school sweetheart was Burn This on Broadway. I have always loved Lanford's writing, and I have long wanted to produce one of his plays. I believe his compassion is unrivaled amongst American playwrights, and I believe his work has a natural home at Keen Company. We're thrilled to be presenting Lemon Sky, his most personal play, and are grateful to his estate for permission to produce this important work."

Painting Churches
By Tina Howe
Director: Carl Forsman
Cast: tba Venue: Theatre Row's Acorn Theater
Previews: 14 Feb 2012
Opens: tba
Closes: tba

Synopsis: Margaret (Mags), an artist who lives in New York, has arrived to help her parents - Fanny and Gardner Church - pack for their move from Boston to a summer House in Cape Cod. She also intends to paint their portrait, and over the course of several days Mags she's her parents in a new light as their parent-child relationship changes.

Keen's artistic director, Carl Forsman, said, "Keen Company's first tremendous leap of faith was producing Tina Howe's 42-character play 'Museum' in our second season in 2002. I am honored to be able to bring Tina's unique and hilarious voice back to our stage. Painting Churches is such a touching portrait of our effort to understand our parents, and Keen Company is thrilled to be presenting its first New York revival. We'll endeavor to whip up enough chaos to delight Tina and her many fans."