VASSAR AND NEW YORK STAGE AND FILM ANNOUNCE THEIR 19th POWERHOUSE SUMMER SEASON JUNE 20-AUGUST 3 World Premiere Productions By Zach Helm and Ben Snyder Headline The Main Stage Premiere Workshops By Frank Pugliese, John Corwin, Beth Henley and Cindy Lo

VASSAR
AND
NEW YORK STAGE AND FILM
ANNOUNCE THEIR 19^th POWERHOUSE SUMMER SEASON
JUNE 20-AUGUST 3

World Premiere Productions By Zach Helm and Ben Snyder
Headline The Main Stage

Premiere Workshops By Frank Pugliese, John Corwin,

Beth Henley and Cindy Lou Johnson Presented On The Second Stage

Premiere Readings by David Marshall Grant, Nicole Burdette,

David Cale and Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros

Staged During Two Reading Festivals Throughout The Summer

* * * *

Poughkeepsie, NY –Vassar College and New York Stage and Film, have announced the line-up for their 19th Powerhouse Summer Season, running June 20 to August 3 on the Vassar Campus. It will include over 18 different theatrical events, performed in 7 weeks, including new works by Beth Henley, David Marshall Grant, Frank Pugliese, David Cale and John Corwin as well as newcomers Ben Snyder and Zach Helm. (Casting to be announced at a later date).

2003 Main Stage Season Presented in the Powerhouse Theater

LAST CHANCE FOR A SLOW DANCE (June 28-July 12), a world premiere by Zach Helm.

Arson, murder or a cosmic joke? And just when Sheriff Cole was ready to retire. If Red's restaurant is in the middle of nowhere, how come there's so much going on?

Playwright Zach Helm is a writer from Los Angeles whose plays include Chapters on American Artistry, Pretty Things, Harold and his upcoming piece Polonius. His screenplays include Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, The DisAssociates and the adaptation of the Caldecott-winning book Sector 7. A merit scholar from DePaul University and former spoken word performer, Mr. Helm has worked with several theater companies in Chicago and has slammed at numerous poetry venues including the '94 Lollapalooza tour.

IN CASE YOU FORGET (July 16-July 27), a world premiere by Ben Snyder

Directed by Max Mayer

A young graffiti artist on his way to prison makes his mark on friends, rivals and an ex-girlfriend in this political love story with a hip hop edge.

Ben Snyder, a 23-year-old playwright, currently a member of the LABrynith Theatre Company in New York, has been produced at PS 122, the LABrynith, and the Conservatory Theater Ensemble. He produced Rebel Versus, a festival of new works at Center Stage New York where he is a playwright-in-residence. He is a graduate of the Dramatic Writing program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.

2003 Second Stage Season Presented in the Susan Shiva Theater

THE CRAZY GIRL (June 27-29) by Frank Pugliese, Director TBA

Featuring Jill Clayburgh and her daughter Lili Rabe along with Chris Messina

GOOD LIFE (July 5-6) by John Corwin, Director TBA

EXPOSED (July 18-20) by Beth Henley, Director TBA

THE NEW AMERICANS (August 1-3) by Cindy Lou Johnson, Directed by Sheryl Kaller

Plus a fifth Special Presentation to be announced (presented in the Powerhouse Theater)

READINGS FESTIVAL #1 (June 20-22):

THE QUICK by Tanya Barfield, directed by Leigh Silverman

DAVID CALE MUSICAL SELECTIONS

NATURE OF OUR COLLABORATION by Rick Elice, directed by Roger Rees

David Marshall Grant heads the mentoring program that will feature two readings in this festival.

READINGS FESTIVAL #2 (July 25-27):

EXCEPT MY LIFE by Nicole Burdette, directed by Gregory Mosher

THIS BALL OF MUD AND FIRE by Anton Dudley, directed by Erica Schmidt

THE ARGUMENT by Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros, directed by Theresa Rebeck

PEN by David Marshall Grant

SWEETNESS by Gary Sunshine, directed by Trip Cullman

Free Outdoor Shakespeare (July 10-July 20 in repertory): As You Like It, directed by Henry Clarke Perdita Gracia by Caridad Svich based pm The Winter's Tale, directed by Debbie Saivetz Twelfth Night, directed by Michael Earle

Ticket & Schedule Information

To request a season brochure visit the Powerhouse website at www.newyorkstageandfilm.org All Main Stage performances are held in the 135-seat Powerhouse Theatre on the Vassar Campus in Poughkeepsie, NY. Ticket prices for Main Stage productions are $25. Running schedule is Tuesdays-Saturdays at 8 PM; Saturdays and Sundays at 2 PM.

Second Stage productions are held in the 135-seat Susan Stein Shiva Theater. Ticket prices for these workshop productions are $18. Running Schedule is Fridays at 8 PM; Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM; and Sundays at 2 PM and 7 PM.

Tickets may be purchased beginning June 3rd by calling (845) 437-7235, or by visiting the Box Office at Vassar College in person. You can also purchase tickets online at www.theatermania.com or by calling TheaterMania's toll-free number at 1-866-811-4111. For the latest updates on casting and events, visit New York Stage and Film's website at www.newyorkstageandfilm.org or the Powerhouse website at This article was posted on Friday, June 20th, 2003.