Poughkeepsie, NY – Vassar College has announced the lineup for its 37th Powerhouse Theater Season. The annual summer season brings together some of todayʼs most influential theatrical voices and welcomes the next generation of theater artists as members of the renowned Powerhouse Theater Training Program.

Powerhouse is thrilled to welcome new collaborators alongside the return of Vassar alums and old friends. The lineup includes new works by Broadway veterans Mimi Quillin (Sweet Charity) and Michael Berresse, who have teamed up to present Call Fosse at the Minskoff. Vassar alum and writer Bill Barclay (Concert Theatre Works) presents The Chevalier, a play and concert focused on the life of composer Joseph Bologne, featuring the Harlem Chamber Players. Direct from the Broadway revival of 1776, real-life couple Ariella Serur and Sav Souza present We Start in Manhattan: A New Queer Musical. Returning to Powerhouse for the next installment of their Shapeshiers musical canon is Truth Future Bachman (Lincoln Center, The Public) and their workshop presentation of Skyward: An Endling Elegy. Powerhouse is partnering with The Tank to present Behind the Attic Wall, a puppet theatre piece based on the young adult novel by Sylvia Cassedy, adapted by Peggy Stafford. And rounding out the Powerhouse Season will be free readings of new works by Johnny G. Lloyd (The Tank), Judson Jones (Theatre East), Vassar Drama Professor Peter Gil-Sheridan, and the winner of the Leah Ryan Fundʼs Leah Award, Gloria Majule.

Vassar is also pleased to welcome to campus a new cohort of young actors, directors, and writers as members of the Powerhouse Theater Training Company. These emerging artists will present a slate of free theater throughout the season including Shakespeareʼs A Midsummer Nightʼs Dream, adapted and directed by Doug Paulson, and Macbeth, directed by Caley Chase. Both will be performed outside at the Preserve at Vassar. And Max Reuben returns to direct the company in the innovative use of Soundpainting, a gestural language, in a completely devised project at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center.

“Itʼs always a privilege to share with our audience an exciting and diverse lineup of new and imaginative works for theatre,” said Producing Director Ed Cheetham.

“The 37th Powerhouse Season truly has something for everyone: queer-centered new musicals, a one-woman tour deforce performance as both Fosse and Verdon, the true story of composer Joseph Bologne featuring a sixteen-piece orchestra, a puppet theatre production accessible to the whole family, and much more,” added Producing Director Michael Sheehan.

“As the Powerhouse season begins again, I am thrilled that we will support the work of a range of Vassar artists including Bill Barclay (Class of 2003) and Professor Peter Gil-Sheridan from the Drama department, as well as Carol Ostrow (Class of 1977), who will be producing Call Fosse at the Minskoff at the Powerhouse”, said Vassar College President Elizabeth H. Bradley.

“Of course, at the core of the Powerhouse program is the Training Company. We are delighted to welcome a new cohort of eager aspiring-artists, who will study, create and perform alongside our world-class faculty and professional artists,” added Sheehan.

“We canʼt wait to welcome our loyal audiences back to the Vassar campus. See you this summer!” concluded Cheetham.

Additional projects and casting information will be announced in the coming weeks. For updates and more information about the Powerhouse schedule, visit www.vassar.edu/powerhouse/season.

THE 37th POWERHOUSE SEASON – MUSICAL WORKSHOPS

Skyward: An Endling Elegy (July 7-9)
Music, words, and story by Truth Future Bachman

Directed by Zhailon Levingston
Music Direction by Josh Kight
In the Powerhouse Theater

We Start in Manhattan: A New Queer Musical (July 14-15)
Written by Ariella Serur and Sav Souza

Directed by Ellie Heyman
In the Powerhouse Theater

All Musical Workshop tickets are $30 and go on sale June 1, 2023.

PLAY WORKSHOPS

Call Fosse at the Minskoff (July 20-23)
Written and performed by Mimi Quillin

Directed by Michael Berresse
Set/Projection Design by Timothy R. Mackabee
Lighting Design by Robert J. Aguilar
Costume Design by Claudia Brown
Sound Design by Joanna Lynne Staub
Dramaturgy by Anika Chapin
Developed and Produced by The Fabulous Invalid and Stop the Wind Theatricals
In the Powerhouse Theater

The Chevalier (July 22)
Written by Bill Barclay
Music by Joseph Bologne
Additional Music by Bill Barclay
Featuring the Harlem Chamber Players
In the Martel Theater, Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film

Behind the Attic Wall (July 28–July 30)
Adapted from the novel by Sylvia Cassedy
Written by Peggy Stafford
Conceived and Directed by Meghan Finn
Music by Mike Cassedy

Puppets Designed by The Ladies of Mischief
In the Powerhouse Theater

All Play Workshop tickets are $30 and go on sale June 1, 2023.

READINGS

Canaan Unremembered (June 25)
Written By Judson Jones
Directed by Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy
In the Powerhouse Theater

birthday birthday birthday (June 30)
Written by Johnny G. Lloyd
Directed by Will Steinberger
In the Powerhouse Theater

Useful People (July 2)
Written by Peter Gil-Sheridan
Directed by Jonathan Silverstein
In the Powerhouse Theater

All readings are free. Tickets can be reserved beginning on June 15, 2023. Additional projects and casting will be announced at a later date.

THE TRAINING COMPANY

A Midsummer Nightʼs Dream (July 14-16)
Written by William Shakespeare
Adapted and directed by Doug Paulson
At The Preserve

Macbeth (July 21–23)
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Caley Chase
At The Preserve

Real Human Beings (July 6, 13, 20, 27)
Conceived by members of the Training Company

Composed and directed by Max Reuben
At the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center

Once In A Hundred Years (July 23-24)
Based on The Seagull by Anton Chekov
Written by Hal Cosentino
Directed by Ellenor Riley-Condit

At the Susan Stein Shiva Theater

New Works Play Festival (July 29)
Written and directed by members of the Training Company
At the Susan Stein Shiva Theater

All Training Company performances are free and open to the public. No ticket required. Additional projects and casting will be announced at a later date.

SPECIAL EVENT

Performing Art (July 16)
Conceived and directed by Liz Dahmen
In the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center

BOX OFFICE INFORMATION

Online ticket sales: June 1, 2023.
In-person ticket sales: June 8, 2023 at the Powerhouse Box Office.
All Musical Workshop and Play Workshop tickets: $30.00
Readings and Training Program Performances: Free
Box Office hours: Thursday–Sunday, 3:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Box Office: (845) 437-5599, phtboxoffice@vassar.edu