FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE....March 27, 2006
Contact David Turner, 518-798-7479

ADIRONDACK THEATRE FESTIVAL 12th SEASON TO FEATURE

BOMB-ITTY OF ERRORS
A contemporary musical version of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors
ALL IS NOT
A world premiere play by Melissa James Gibson commissioned and developed by ATF over the last four years
A NUMBER
A recent Off-Broadway hit drama by British playwright Caryl Churchill
SLAP HAPPY
A work-in-progress play by Leslie Ayvazian


A contemporary hip-hop musical comedy based on Shakespeare, a world premiere play featuring a cast of award-winning ATF veterans and newcomers, a mysterious drama from one of England’s best playwrights, and a work-in-progress from one of last summer’s favorites to all take the stage of the Charles Wood Theater in Glens Falls, NY, this summer
June 21 – July 29.

Tickets now on sale exclusively to renewing subscribers. Tickets go on sale to the general public April 24. Call 798-7479 or go to www.ATFestival.org for more information or to receive a brochure.

The Adirondack Theatre Festival’s twelfth season of new and contemporary professional theater will feature the ATF debut of a playwright whose name may be familiar to theater-goers and newcomers alike: William Shakespeare. But it wouldn’t be ATF if it wasn’t Shakespeare with a twist. BOMB-ITTY OF ERRORS was a sold-out smash when it played Off-Broadway, and ATF is pleased to be presenting one of the first regional productions of this musical comedy which uses the contemporary beat of hip-hop and a cast of four energetic young men to tell Shakespeare’s tales of a set of twins separated at birth. “I saw BOMB-ITTY when it was Off-Broadway and thought it had energy and humor which was spectacular,” says ATF Artistic Director Martha Banta, “and I think that since hip-hop has become such a huge force in our pop culture it’s great fun to explore its use in theater. And it has become as much a method of storytelling in our culture as rhymed verse was in the time Shakespeare was writing – it’s really a great match.” BOMB-ITTY OF ERRORS will be directed by Nick Corley and will run July 5 – 15 at the Wood Theater in downtown Glens Falls.

The season will open with the world premiere of ALL IS NOT, a 7-character play by Melissa James Gibson, a playwright who won an Obie Award for her play [sic] which debuted in New York in 2001. Ms. Gibson’s work was previously seen on ATF’s stage as part of THE FIVE & DIME PLAYS, an evening of short plays produced in 2000, and in a work-in-progress reading of this play (then titled LOST) in 2005. “Those who remember Melissa’s short play which was the culmination of THE FIVE AND DIME PLAYS at ATF know that she has one of the most unique voices writing for the theater today,” says Banta who will direct ALL IS NOT at ATF. “Her plays [sic], SUITCASE, and BROOKLYN BRIDGE have all had productions at prominent theaters around the country, and ATF is thrilled to have been able to commission and produce this work.” ALL IS NOT intertwines the story of a woman at a dry cleaner, a couple on their front porch, a man in front of his mirror, and a ten-year-old boy all of whom have lost something trivial, or something important. Currently planning to join the cast of ALL IS NOT are several ATF veterans including Mark Setlock (FULLY COMMITTED at ATF, Off Broadway, and London).

The season will end with A NUMBER, a mysterious drama from British playwright Caryl Churchill which was one of the highlights of last year’s Off-Broadway season and runs July 19-29 at ATF. Churchill is the celebrated author of TOP GIRLS, CLOUD NINE, SERIOUS MONEY, and MAD FOREST, and ATF is pleased to produce the first production of A NUMBER in our region. “I worked with Caryl Churchill on the New York production of MAD FOREST”, says Banta, “ and I have always wanted to do one of her plays at ATF.” This play deals with the subject of human cloning and a father and son, or, as the title suggests, a number of sons. Sturgis Warner will direct.

The season will be rounded out with a two night work-in-progress presentation of BAD CAT, a black comedy by Leslie Ayvazian who appeared at ATF in her solo show HIGH DIVE last summer. BAD CAT is about a suburban couple who turn their traditional roles upside down in an experiment of power and sex. BAD CAT will be directed by the Tony and Emmy Award-winning Actress Blair Brown.

ATF’s season will include other special evenings, including two new wine tastings themed to the evening’s show and hosted by New York Wine Cork, ATF’s neighbors in the Charles Wood Theater. Post-Show discussions and Children’s Workshops are also scheduled.

Tickets are also being offered in some new ways. Subscription packages, which have always offered a discount for buying one ticket for each of the Festival’s offerings prior to the season, are now also being offered to patrons who buy four tickets to one show. “Summers are getting busier and busier, and we wanted to make the same subscriber discount and privileges available to a party of four who just wants to see one show and will order early” says ATF Producing Director David Turner. As well, for the first time ATF will offer day-of-show student rush tickets for just $9, available with some restrictions to anyone 23 or under with valid ID. “We want students to be able to see professional live theater for the same price as a movie”, says Turner, “so we’re matching movie prices in the Capital region for students.”

The Adirondack Theatre Festival’s 12th season will run June 21 – July 29 at the Charles R. Wood Theater, 207 Glen St. in downtown Glens Falls. Subscription Packages are $63 for 3 shows or $78 for four shows, and will be available exclusively to returning subscribers the week of March 27. Subscription packages and the full season brochure will be available to the general public the week of April 24. For more information or to join the mailing list call 518-798-7479 or go to www.ATFestival.org.