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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON THURSDAY, MAY 5, PLEASE

TONY AWARD®-WINNING
WILLIAMSTOWN THEATRE FESTIVAL
ANNOUNCES TWO SPECIAL EVENTS
EXTENSION OF MAN OF GOD DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND
AND CASTING FOR THE 2022 SUMMER SEASON

FRIDAYS@3, NEW PLAY READING SERIES, TO KICK OFF IN JULY

“JUST FOR US”
PERFORMED BY ALEX EDELMAN

“JIMMY NAUGHTON & FRIENDS”
AN AFTERNOON OF STORIES AND SONGS ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 7

New York, NY (May 5, 2022) – Williamstown Theatre Festival (Jenny Gersten, Interim Artistic Director) is pleased to announce two special events for the 2022 summer season, an extension of Man of God due to popular demand, dates and programming for the Fridays@3 reading series, as well as creative teams and casting for Man of God, Most Happy in Concert, and we are continuous.

After multiple critically acclaimed, sold-out, extended runs off-Broadway, and an upcoming run at the Greenwich House Theater, Just For Us, performed by Alex Edelman, is taking to the Main Stage for six performances from Wednesday, August 3 – Saturday, August 6. A New York Times Critics Pick, Just For Us takes the audience through hilarious anecdotes from Alex Edelman’s life — his Olympian brother AJ, an unconventional holiday season, and a gorilla that can do sign language –- but at its center is an astonishing and frighteningly relevant story. After a string of anti-Semitic abuse is directed at Edelman online, he decides to covertly attend a gathering of White Nationalists in New York City and comes face to face with the people behind the keyboards. The result is a hair-raising encounter that gives Just For Us its title and final, jaw-dropping twist.

An exclusive benefit concert, Jimmy Naughton & Friends, starring two-time Tony Award^® winner and legendary actor and director James Naughton will take place on Sunday, August 7 on the Main Stage. Featuring songs from Naughton’s repertoire, anecdotes from his storied career, and accompanied by surprise guests, this will be a one-time-only musical event that guests won’t want to miss. Proceeds from Jimmy Naughton & Friends will benefit Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Tickets for Just For Us and Jimmy Naughton & Friends go on sale to the general public at noon on Tuesday, May 10 at www.wtfestival.org. Festival donors at the $500 level and above can enjoy advance access now by calling the Development Office at (413) 458-3200 x 110.

Fridays@3, a weekly new play reading series that offers the public the opportunity to hear new plays read by members of the WTF company, will resume this summer. The 2022 Fridays@3 readings will happen throughout the season and include And Then We Were No More by Tim Blake Nelson, directed by Mark Wing-Davey (Friday, July 22), and tiny father, WTF’s 2022 L. Arnold Weissberger New Play Award Winner by WTF’s 2022 Jay Harris Commission recipient Mike Lew, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel (Friday, August 5). Additional Fridays@3 readings will be announced at a later date.

Due to popular demand, Man of God has been extended by an additional week and will now play Tuesday, July 5 – Friday, July 22. Written by Anna Ouyang Moench and directed by Maggie Burrows, the 2018 recipient of WTF’s Boris Sagal Directing Fellowship, Man of God will be performed by the cast from the Geffen Playhouse production, which includes Shirley Chen (Samantha), Emma Galbraith (Jen), Erin Rae Li (Mimi), Albert Park (Pastor), and Ji-young Yoo (Kyung-Hwa). Man of God is produced in association with Geffen Playhouse.

The cast of Most Happy in Concert (Wednesday, July 13 – Sunday, July 31), a new production celebrating Frank Loesser’s critically adored score to the musical The Most Happy Fella, directed by Tony Award nominee Daniel Fish and with choreography by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, will include Tina Fabrique, Erin Markey, Mallory Portnoy, and Tony Award nominee Mary Testa. Additional casting will be announced at a later date. Most Happy in Concert is produced in association with Fisher Center at Bard.

The 2022 Festival season will conclude on the Nikos Stage with the world premiere of the WTF-commissioned play we are continuous (Tuesday, August 2 – Sunday, August 14) by Harrison David Rivers and directed by Tyler Thomas, the 2020 recipient of WTF’s Bill Foeller Directing Fellowship. Casting for we are continuous will be announced at a later date.

Advance Single Ticket Reservations for Fridays@3, Man of God, Most Happy in Concert, and we are continuous can be made now by visiting www.wtfestival.org or calling (413) 458-3253. For updates, please visit www.wtfestival.org.

For the 2022 Summer Season, WTF has announced their COVID protocols, effective until further notice. All guests must be fully vaccinated and boosted to enter the theater and must present digital or physical proof and photo identification upon entry. Children under 12 and people with a medical condition or closely held religious belief that prevents vaccination may show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test in lieu of proof of vaccination. All guests must wear a properly fitting mask when inside the theater. For updated policies and to plan your visit, please visit: www.wtfestival.org

If you have additional questions regarding your visit, please contact our Box Office at (413) 458-3253 or by email at tickets@wtfestival.org.

For more information about employment and professional training opportunities at the Festival, please visit www.wtfestival.org/work-learn.

ABOUT THE SEASON

Nikos Stage

Man of God | Tuesday, July 5 – Friday, July 22
A Killer Comedy Thriller
By Anna Ouyang Moench
Directed by Maggie Burrows
with Shirley Chen, Emma Galbraith, Erin Rae Li, Albert Park, Ji-young Yoo

Scenic Design: Se Hyun Oh
Costume Design: Denitsa Bliznakova
Lighting Design: Lap Chi Chu
Original Music & Sound Design: Jonathan Snipes
Fight Director: Thomas Isao Morinaka
Stage Manager: Lisa Ann Chernoff

Chaos ensues when four teenage girls on a mission trip to Bangkok discover a camera hidden by their pastor in their hotel bathroom. Do they leave it to God or take matters into their own hands? The pressure builds quickly in this suspenseful comedy that interrogates justice, privacy, religion, the patriarchy, and who you follow on Instagram. Juxtaposing girl power with teenage angst, the girls’ different ideals emerge as they discover what it takes to fight back.

Man of God is presented in association with Geffen Playhouse.

Main Stage

Most Happy in Concert | Wednesday, July 13 – Sunday, July 31
Songs from Frank Loesser’s The Most Happy Fella
Music & Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Conceived & Directed by Daniel Fish
Choreography by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar
with Tina Fabrique, Erin Markey, Mallory Portnoy, Mary Testa

Music Arrangements by Daniel Kluger and Nathan Koci
Vocal Arrangements by Nathan Koci and Daniel Fish
Orchestrations by Daniel Kluger
Scenic Design:  Amy Rubin
Costume Design: Terese Wadden
Lighting Design: Stacey Derosier
Sound Design: Drew Levy
Music Director:  Sean Forte
Associate Director: Mikhaela Mahony
Casting: Taylor Williams, CSA

The Main Stage bursts back to life with this evocative meditation on an American musical masterpiece from the director of the boldly reimagined Tony Award-winning revival of Oklahoma! Drawing on a broad range of musical genres and performed by a company of 20 actors and musicians, Most Happy in Concert invigorates the musical concert form, inviting audiences to consider anew Frank Loesser’s exquisite score for The Most Happy Fella. Conceived and directed by Daniel Fish and with choreography by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, this musical event provides thrilling and contemplative ways to experience and connect with this magnificent and lush score—a deep dive into love, desire, isolation, and connection.

Most Happy in Concert is presented in association with Fisher Center at Bard.

Nikos Stage

WORLD PREMIERE
we are continuous | Tuesday, August 2 – Sunday, August 14
A WTF Commission
By Harrison David Rivers
Directed by Tyler Thomas

Scenic Design: dots
Lighting Design: Amith Chandrashaker
Casting: The Telsey Office

Simon and his mother, Ora, have always been close. She’s been his champion, his defender, and his friend. But when a life-changing secret comes to light, can their bond survive? 2020 WTF Foeller Fellow Tyler Thomas directs this exquisitely-wrought WTF-commissioned play by Harrison David Rivers (Where Storms Are Born) that explores how people can change and how love can evolve.we are continuous is a Williamstown Theatre Festival Commission.

Main Stage – Special Event

 Just For Us | Wednesday, August 3 – Saturday, August 6
Performed by Alex Edelman

Just For Us takes the audience through hilarious anecdotes from Alex Edelman’s life — his Olympian brother AJ, an unconventional holiday season, and a gorilla that can do sign language — but at its center is an astonishing and frighteningly relevant story. After a string of anti-Semitic abuse is directed at Edelman online, he decides to covertly attend a gathering of White Nationalists in New York City and comes face to face with the people behind the keyboards. The result is a hair-raising encounter that gives Just For Us its title and final, jaw-dropping twist.

Main Stage – Benefit Concert

Jimmy Naughton & Friends | Sunday, August 7
An afternoon of stories and songs

Join us for this exclusive benefit concert starring two-time Tony Award winner and legendary Festival actor and director James Naughton as he regales us with stories and songs, accompanied by surprise special guests! Known for his critically acclaimed award-winning performances in shows like Chicago and City of Angels, James has appeared in countless cabarets and more than 20 productions at the Festival, including The Rose Tattoo, The Crucible, and as director of The Price. Featuring songs from James’ repertoire and anecdotes from his storied career, Jimmy Naughton & Friends is a one-time-only musical event you won’t want to miss!

Proceeds from Jimmy Naughton & Friends will benefit Williamstown Theatre Festival.

ABOUT WILLIAMSTOWN THEATRE FESTIVAL

For seven decades, the Tony Award-winning Williamstown Theatre Festival has brought emerging and professional theatre artists together in the Berkshires to create a thrilling summer festival of diverse, world premiere plays and musicals, bold new revivals, and a rich array of accompanying cultural events.

Artists are drawn to Williamstown Theatre Festival to make great theater in an environment conducive to artistic risk-taking. Matthew Broderick, Audra McDonald, Dominique Morisseau, Mary-Louise Parker, Susan Stroman, Uma Thurman, and Blair Underwood are just a few of the luminous theater artists who have worked at the Festival. Many others, including Sterling K. Brown, Ty Burrell, Charlie Day, Paul Giamatti, Kathryn Hahn, Allison Janney, Brie Larson, Chris Pine, and George C. Wolfe, began their careers at the Festival.

Productions and artists shaped at the Festival fill theaters in New York City and around the world. Recently, Williamstown Theatre Festival was represented on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally by The Sound Inside, Grand Horizons, The Rose Tattoo, The Visit, Fool for Love, The Elephant Man, Seared, Selling Kabul, Unknown Soldier, and Lempicka, to name just a few. Cost of Living, which was developed and premiered at Williamstown Theatre Festival, was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Learn more about Williamstown Theatre Festival at www.wtfestival.org.

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