Alan Ayckbourn's theater company and Traverse Theater Edinburgh are among participants as 59E59 Theaters hosts the second annual Brits Off Broadway festival April 5-July 3.
Presenting Ayckbourn's "Private Fears in Public Places" June 9-July 3, the Stephen Joseph Theater travels from Scarborough, Yorkshire, in celebration of its 50th anniversary.
Also on the lineup for the fest of new British theater is Traverse's production of Raja Shehadeh's "When the Bulbul Stopped Singing," directed by Philip Howard and running April 5-23. It's adapted by Scottish playwright David Greig from the diaries of Shehadeh, a Palestinian poet, writer, lawyer and human rights activist.
Traverse also performs Henry Adam's "The People Next Door," directed by Ian Grieve (April 27-May 22). The dark comedy was one of the hits of the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe Festival; it played London and has toured Germany and the Balkans.
The Mercury Theater of Colchester brings Jonathan Lichtenstein's "The Pull of Negative Gravity," directed by Gregory Thompson, from May 11-June 5. Dealing with the fallout from the war in Iraq, it won a Fringe First Award.
"Tabloid Caligula" comes from Hackney's Arcola Theater in the East End of London with its original cast. By Irish writer Darren Murphy, it's helmed by Lisa Forrell and runs May 24-June 12.
Celia Imrie ("Calendar Girls") makes her U.S. stage debut in "Unsuspecting Susan" by Stewart Permutt, also directed by Forrell. Originally seen at Islington's King's Head Pub, it runs June 14-July 3.
Kara Wilson portrays artist Tamara de Lempicka in her solo show "Deco Diva" (April 5-24). During the course of the show, she executes an oil copy of one of the artist's paintings, which is for sale or auction at the end of each perf.
Out of Joint brings "Sisters, Such Devoted Sisters," written and performed by Russell Barr. Winner of the highest award at last year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, it runs April 26-May 15.
Linda Marlowe stars in "Mortal Ladies Possessed," adapted by Matthew Hurt from short stories by Tennessee Williams. Stuart Mullins directs the May 17-June 5 run.
Filter Theater has devised "Faster," a multisensory work about life in the fast lane featuring seven performers, including three musicians. It runs June 7-26.
Fuel Theater Company and Will Adamsdale present "Jackson's Way," 2004 winner of the Perrier Comedy Award. Chris John Jackson's solo show runs June 9-26.
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