The Woman Before at the HERE Arts Center.

German Theater Abroad in association with HERE presents The Woman Before, by Roland Schimmelpfenning, translated by David Tushingham, at the HERE Arts Center from the 5 - 26 May 2006 as part of the Stadttheater New York festival. The play runs in repertoire with Slipped Disc � A Study of the Upright Walk

The Woman Before: What happens when someone insists on love above all other bonds?

Everything is packed. A family is moving. Frank and Claudia, along with their nearly grown son, Andi, are leaving the place where they have enjoyed nearly 20 years of marriage and raised their son. The hallway is filled with mountains of boxes. A melancholy air blows through the empty apartment. Andi will have to say goodbye to his first girlfriend, Tina. Old remembrances surface as the last box is packed. Suddenly the doorbell rings. Frank opens the door. Standing there is Romy, Frank�s first love: 'You swore that you'd love me forever. Now I've come to hold you to that promise.'

The Woman Before's cast, directed by Daniel Fish, features Christen Clifford, Cynthia Mace, Ronald Marx, Jeremiah Miller and Diana Ruppe..

The play has set design by Malve Lippmann, costumes by Melissa Schlachtmeyer, lighting by Peter West and sound by Elizabeth Rhodes.

Playwrite Roland Schimmelpfennig is one of the most produced playwrights in Germany. He has written 16 plays which have been translated into 20 different languages. The Woman Before had its acclaimed English-language premiere at the Royal Court in London in May of 2005.