Berkshire Playwrights Lab Announces New Play by Jessica Provenz and Schedule Changes

Berkshire Playwrights Lab announced that its staged reading of James Demarse's new play, Existing Privilege, that was to be directed by Matthew Penn on August 8 will now take place on August 22, directed by Joe Cacaci, and with the new title, Ceasefire.

On August 8, the company will now present Jessica Provenz's new play, Andromeda, directed by Tom Bloom. Both of these performances will take place at 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.). There is no charge for admission, however, Berkshire Playwrights Lab suggests a $10.00 donation to help offset its programming costs. For reservations, call 413.528.0100 or visit the Mahaiwe box office in person. For more information, see www.berkshireplaywrightslab.org.

In Andromeda, playwright Jessica Provenz asks the question: What is it like to be the prettiest girl in the room? At once, loved and hated, adored and abhorred. She tells the story of legendary sculptor Daniel Chester French, who for his final masterpiece, selected Andromeda, a girl sacrificed for being the most beautiful alive. The play travels from Stockbridge, MA to Ethiopia, from ancient castles to corporate law firms, where a mythical princess, a 1920s maid, and a modern day attorney are plagued by the curse of beauty.

"Andromeda is one of the most ambitious plays we've come across, owing to its complex theatrical structure and imaginative characterizations," said Berkshire Playwrights Lab Co-Artistic Director Joe Cacaci. "Inspired in part by actual events and people, some with deep Berkshire roots, Jessica's play bridges the ages by weaving the seemingly unrelated tales of three young women into a poignant, yet humorous story that everyone can relate to and enjoy."

Berkshire Playwrights Lab presented Jessica Provenz's play Better than Chocolate in 2010 under the direction of Matthew Penn. She is currently writing the Broadway-bound musical Matchbook for The Araca Group (Wicked) with composer/lyricists Dan Lipton and David Rossmer (Rated P). Her plays include True Art showcased at The Directors Company starring Alysia Reiner (Sideways); A Wake on Chappaquiddick developed with Amy Ryan at Cape Cod Theatre Project, Irish Rep, and New Georges; Truth or Consequences workshopped with T.R. Knight at the DR2; and Sweet Perfume showcased at The Barrow Group.

Provenz developed for Killer Films the half-hour single-camera idea Married in a Year, which she pitched with showrunner Betsy Borns to networks. She sold the original screenplay idea Lone Man on Campus to Disney/Touchstone with Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder (creators of Ringer), who penned the screenplay. Her short film Nothing Happened played at 30+ festivals including Williamstown and Berkshire Film Festivals. ??She is a two-time recipient of the Lecomte du Noüy Award for emerging playwrights and a member of the Dramatists Guild, as well as a former playwright-in-residence at Juilliard and a graduate of Northwestern.

Tom Bloom's directing credits include productions at Berkshire Playwrights Lab, Abingdon Theatre Company and Pearl (NYC), Capital Rep (Albany), Theatre-By-The-Sea (NH), Caldwell Theatre (FL), American Premiere Stage (Boston), and others. Also an actor, he has performed Broadway in Cyrano, Henry IV, and Racing Demon and Off Broadway at Playwrights Horizons, New York Shakespeare Festival, Circle in the Square, Theatre For a New Audience, Roundabout, Classic Stage, Lincoln Center, Manhattan Theatre Club, and Pearl, as well as regionally at Yale Rep, Shakespeare Theatre (DC), Baltimore Center Stage, Hartford Stage, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and many more. His film/TV credits include Thomas Crown, Joshua, Emperor's Club, In Lieu of Flowers, Best Thief in the World, Max Bickford, Damages, Wonderland, Ed, Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Intent, and The Jury.

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