Theatre for a New Audience Announces 2011-2012 Season

Theatre for a New Audience has announced selections for its 2011-2012 season, which will be the final one before moving to its first home in the BAM Cultural District.

As previously reported, TFANA will present the Off-Broadway commercial production of Fiasco Theater’s Cymbeline at the Barrow Street Theatre for an 18-week run beginning August 27, with an opening September 8. Co-directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, the production is performed by six actors playing fourteen roles: Jessie Austrian, Paul L. Coffey, Andy Grotelueschen, Emily Young, Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld.

Peter Brook and Marie-Hélène Estienne will direct Fragments, at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, November 9-December 4. The work consists of five Samuel Beckett shorts: Rough for Theatre I, Rockaby, Act without Words II, Neither and Come and Go. The production will feature Jos Houben, Kathryn Hunter and Marcello Magni.

The musical, Shlemiel the First, conceived and adapted by Robert Brustein from Nobel Prize Laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer’s folk-tale will play New York University’s Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, December 13-31. The piece follows the naive beadle Shlemiel, who is sent on a pilgrimage to spread the wisdom of the local sages. His simple-minded folly turns an already absurd world hilariously, and redemptively, topsy-turvy. Lyrics are by Arnold Weinstein, with music composed, adapted and orchestrated by Hankus Netsky; arrangements and additional music by Zalmen Mlotek and editorial supervision, direction and choreography by David Gordon.

Annika Boras will star as Penthea in The Broken Heart, a 1629 tragic-comic play by John Ford, set in ancient Sparta, but more closely resembling the 17th Century court of Charles II. The piece involves a young woman forced to marry a ridiculously jealous codger; a cruel nobleman bent on frustrating his sister’s happiness; and a princess who tries to stand aloof from the emotional discord, but lives to feel love ruining her composure. Selina Cartmell will direct the production, which will play The Duke on 42nd Street, February 4-March 4.

Also at The Duke, Arin Arbus will direct Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, March 17-April 20. The play is an intimate, brutal, hilarious negotiation between a husband and wife about the terms of their contract, about their respective roles and responsibilities.

For tickets and more information, click here.