Penguin Rep Theatre Announces 2016 Season – No Subject Off Limits

Penguin Rep Theatre, under the leadership of founding artistic director Joe Brancato and executive director Andrew M. Horn, announces its 2016 season, the professional Equity company’s 39th at its home in Stony Point (Rockland County), New York, a season filled with current and controversial subject matter. “The upcoming season is a wonderful opportunity to meet unforgettable characters,” said Brancato, “and to experience really great stories about some hot-button topics, including immigration, same sex marriage and disability.”

The season opens May 20, 2016 with “The Immigrant,” a heartfelt play by Mark Harelik about his Jewish grandfather’s emigration from Russia to Texas in 1909. Next up is Jonathan Tolin’s Off Broadway comedy success “Buyer and Cellar.” Imagine working for Barbra Streisand herself, imagine being in charge of the private mall located in the basement of her Malibu estate, and imagine a young man who finds his true self thanks to the diva.

Following last season’s presentation of Mark St. Germain’s Finding Dr. Ruth comes the award-winning playwright’s “Dancing Lessons.” This romantic comedy about a young man with autism and an injured dancer will inspire and lift your spirits. By arrangement with Ted Snowdon we present the area premiere of Florida playwright Michael McKeever’s “Daniel’s Husband.”

When a gay couple’s life together takes a shocking and unexpected turn, we experience the power and pain of love in this breathtaking new play. As a pre-season teaser, Penguin puts a dynamic Irish lass front and center with a special three-performance offering of “Great White American Teeth.” Written and performed by Fiona Walsh, this hilarious one-act show follows her efforts to leave Ireland and come to America to dance and date a movie star.

This season, Penguin’s popular “Just Desserts” readings will take place on summer Mondays: June 13, July 11, July 25, August 15 and August 29.

“Get up close and personal”, said Brancato, “enjoy desserts, ranging from healthy to heavenly, before the reading of a new play and a lively discussion among the audience, author and actors.”

Performances and readings are scheduled at Penguin’s intimate, 108-seat theatre, located at 7 Crickettown Road in Stony Point. “It’s theatre so close you can feel it”, said Horn, “with comfy upholstered seats and no seat more than 30 feet from the stage.” The theatre, which is converted from an 1880’s hay barn, is air conditioned, accessible to all, and offers plenty of free parking.

Come fall, SUNY Rockland Community College’s 500-seat Cultural Arts Theatre in Suffern, New York
will be the venue for a special presentation of “Wiesenthal,” written and performed by Tom Dugan, on Saturday, October 8.

The true story of Simon Wiesenthal, an ordinary man who brought Nazi war criminals to justice, this award-winning play is filled with hope, humanity and humor.

Subscriptions to the 2016 season go on sale online and by mail on Tuesday, March 15. (Telephone orders will be taken starting April 5). Prices start as low as $115 for the four plays, a savings of 25 to 33 percent off the cost of individual tickets. That’s less than $29 per ticket. Individual tickets for mainstage productions are priced at $43 (including facility fee and service charge. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more and young people (30 and under).

Tickets are $16 for “Just Desserts” readings, or available by subscription to all five readings at $60. Tickets for “Great White American Teeth” are $25 each ($20 for Penguin subscriber). Tickets for “Wiesenthal” are $45 each ($40 each for Penguin subscribers).

To order tickets or for further information, visit Penguin Rep’s website at www.penguinrep.org or call 845-786-2873. Performance days and times for mainstage productions are: Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m., with matinees on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.