Primary Stages announces 2011/2012 season

Primary Stages has announced its upcoming 27th season of new works with the world premieres of two plays: Olive and the Bitter Herbs by Charles Busch; Rx by Kate Fodor; and the New York premiere of The Morini Strad by Willy Holtzman; and In Mother Words, conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein, and written by Leslie Ayvazian, David Cale, Jessica Goldberg, Beth Henley, Lameece Issaq, Lisa Loomer, Michele Lowe, Marco Pennette, Lisa Ramirez, Theresa Rebeck, Luanne Rice, Annie Weisman and Cheryl L. West all playing at 59E59 Theater A.

In a statement, Casey Childs, Founder & Executive producer, said, "Our 27th season will include four new works by 16 playwrights. All of these plays are New York premieres and two are world premieres. We commissioned this new work from Charles and Willy wrote his play with Primary Stages in mind."

He went on to say, "This ambitious season will be a perfect example of how Primary Stages continues to cultivate opportunities for writers at all stages of development. We are thrilled to present the new works of our long time collaborators as well as the next generation of American playwrights. We are committed to doing what we can to make great theater accessible in New York and are pleased that we can continue to keep our ticket prices affordable."

Opening the 2011-2012 season is the world premiere of a new comedy commissioned by Primary Stages Olive and the Bitter Herbs by Tony nominated playwright, Charles Busch.

In his latest comedy, actress Olive Fisher sees a ghost in her mirror, but that's the least of her problems. Her radiator's broken, the couple next door stinks up her apartment with exotic cheeses, and the highlight of her long career was a sausage commercial in the '80s. While she's not the most popular tenant, her neighbors invite themselves over and she finds herself hosting a Passover Seder. But are Olive's guests there to see her or the mysterious man in her mirror? Olive and the Bitter Herbs is a comedy about connecting to the people in our lives - those with us and those who have passed on.

Previews: 26 Jul 2011
Opens: 9 Aug 2011
Closes: 3 Sep 2011

Primary Stages continues the season with the New York premiere of In Mother Words conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein, and written by Leslie Ayvazian, David Cale, Jessica Goldberg, Beth Henley, Lameece Issaq, Lisa Loomer, Michele Lowe, Marco Pennette, Lisa Ramirez, Theresa Rebeck, Luanne Rice, Annie Weisman and Cheryl L. West, under the direction of Lisa Peterson.

As maddening as it is joyful, the subject of family is never devoid of great stories. When entrusting the subject to some of contemporary theater's most dynamic storytellers, what results is a thrilling tapestry of many colors. Utterly unpredictable, In Mother Words shatters traditional notions about parenthood, unveils its inherent comedy and celebrates the deeply personal truths that span generations. Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley, Peabody Award winner Theresa Rebeck, Michelle Lowe, David Cale and other leading playwrights of our time breathe humor and honesty into every story, giving an illuminating voice to the adventure of raising a child. The play received its world premiere at Hartford Stage as In Mother Words and will receive its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles this season.

Previews: 20 Sep 2010
Opens: 4 Oct 2010
Closes: 29 Oct 2010

The second half of the 27th season in 2012 begins with the world premiere of the new comedy, Rx by Kate Fodor.

Meena Pierotti's job is making her unhappy. Luckily, there's a pill for that. Well, not yet. But Meena has joined the clinical trial for a new drug targeting workplace depression. The trial gets messy, however, when she falls in love with her doctor, who himself is trying to enroll into a drug trial targeting heartbreak. Kate Fodor's (100 Saints You Should Know) quirky comedy about romance in the age of prescription drugs asks what we really need to heal what ails us.

Previews: 24 Jan 2012
Opens: 7 Feb 2012
Closes: 3 Mar 2012

The 2011-2012 concludes with the New York premiere of the new play, The Morini Strad, by Willy Holtzman directed by Casey Childs, Primary Stages Founder & Executive Producer.

Inspired by the true New York story of concert violinist Erica Morini and her legendary Stradivari violin, The Morini Strad is a delicate duet between Erica, a difficult and former child prodigy, and Brian, a stubbornly independent violin maker she hires to restore and then sell her beloved Strad. As Brian makes the arrangements, the question of what will become of the priceless instrument threatens to destroy their unexpected friendship. Through classical music and fiery confrontations, Brian and Erica must face the choices they've made about their music and their lives. The play received its world premiere at City Theater in Pittsburgh, this past fall.

Previews: 20 Mar 2012
Opens: 3 Apr 2012
Closes: 28 Apr 2012