History
PREMIERES' inaugural season took place at the Clark Studio Theater at Lincoln Center in May and June of 2001 with staged readings of Ed Dixon's Richard Cory, Darrah Cloud and Kim D. Sherman's Heartland, and Noa Ain and Gerard Edery's Song of the Turtledove.
From 2002 to 2004, we presented staged readings of several Richard Rodgers Award winning musicals, including Maryrose Wood and Andrew Gerle's The Tutor, Daniel Frederick Levin and Jonathan Portera's To Paint the Earth, and Sam Carner and Derek Gregor's Unlock'd.
In 2006, we produced a workshop of Lauren Robert's .22 Caliber Mouth, winner of the Georgia Bogardus Holof Award at the O'Neill Theater Center in 2005. The workshop was directed by Diane Paulus at the Ohio Theatre in Soho.
In 2008, inspired by Alan Bennett's Talking Heads, we initiated a new and innovative form of music theater entitled Inner Voices, and commissioned three new teams to write original sung-through monologues. Our first production included Tres Ninas by Ellen Fitzhugh and Michael John LaChiusa, directed by Jonathan Butterell, Alice Unwrapped by Laura Harrington and Jennifer Giering, directed by Jeremy Dobrish, and A Thousand Words Come to Mind by Michele Lowe and Scott Davenport Richards, directed by Jack Cummings III. Presented at the Zipper Factory Theatre in May of 2008, these works starred Victoria Clark, Jennifer Damiano and Barbara Walsh.
Two new teams were then commissioned by PREMIERES to create Inner Voices and in April of 2010, directed by Jonathan Butterell, we produced Mosaic by Cheri Steinkellner and Georgia Stitt, starring Heidi Blickenstaff, and Whida Peru: Resurrection Tangle by David Simpatico and Josh Schmidt, starring Judy Blazer at 59 East 59th Street Theaters.
In January of 2011, we produced a three-week workshop of Buddy's Tavern, winner of a Richard Rodgers Award and written by Raymond De Filitta, Alison Louise Hubbard and Kim Oler. The workshop featured Shuler Hensley, Andrea Burns and Laura Osnes, directed by Warren Carlyle.
In November and December of 2012, PREMIERES produced the next production of Inner Voices at the 30th Street Theater. This production included commissioned works by Martin Moran and Joseph Thalken (Borrowed Dust), starring Hunter Foster and directed by Jonathan Butterell, Victor Lodato and Polly Pen (Arlington), starring Alexandra Silber and directed by Jack Cummings III, and Nilo Cruz and Jim Bauer (Farhad or the Secret of Being), starring Arielle Jacobs and directed by Saheem Ali. Digital and Hard Copies of CD for Borrowed Dust and Farhad or the Secret of Being available. Contact us for information on how to receive.
In October of 2014, our fourth production of Inner Voices was presented at TBG Theater in New York. This production was a double bill of commissioned works by Charlayne Woodard and Kirsten Childs (Grace), starring Andrea Frierson and directed by Shirley Jo Finney, and Mark Campbell and Marisa Michelson (The Other Room), starring Phoebe Strole and directed by Ethan Heard.
Again in October of 2016, our fifth production of Inner Voices took place at the TBG Theatre with three new commissioned works including Just One Q by Ellen Fitzhugh and Ted Shen starring T. Oliver Reid, with direction by Brad Rouse and music direction by Andrew Resnick; The Pen by Dan Collins and Julianne Wick Davis starring Nancy Anderson, with direction by Margot Bordelon and music direction by Alexander Rovang; and The Booty Call by Saheem Ali and Michael Thurber starring Michael Thurber and directed by Saheem Ali.
In 2017 Premieres presented two public readings of a new musical entitled Rapture, written and composed by Edward Trach. The readings took place during a four-week workshop at the TBG Theatre with Kelly Robinson as director and Kenneth Gartman as music director. There were 21 actors in the cast. Rapture is a contemporary story about love and spiritual belief. It centers on a community in Short Creek, Utah that still practices plural marriage, or polygamy.
In October and November of 2018 the sixth production of ‘Inner Voices’ took place at the TBG Theater. This production included commissioned works by Deborah Zoe Laufer & Daniel Green, Daniel Zaitchik, and Jeff Blumenkrantz.
In August of 2022, Premieres presented LOS OTROS by Ellen Fitzhugh & Michael John LaChiusa, directed by Noah Himmelstein Off-Broadway at ART/New York Theatres in a landmark production as the off-broadway community bounced back from the pandemic.
PREMIERES is especially proud that all six of our ‘Inner Voices’ productions were selected by Lincoln Center on Film and Tape, and all are available for viewing.
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A.R.T./New York Theatres
Premieres NYC & Mary J. Davis Present:
Los Otros
A New MusicalBook and Lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh
Music By Michael John LaChiusa
Directed by Noah Himmelstein and Music Direction by J. October Navarro
Orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin
CAST:Lillian — Luba Mason
Carlos— Caesar SamayoaScenic Design - Junghyun Georgie Lee
Costume Design - Alego Vietti
Lighting Design - Adam Honoré
Sound Design - Ken Travis
Production Stage Manager - Robert Bennett
Assistant Stage Manager - Karen Evanouskas
Executive Producer - Joey Monda
General Management - Dailey-Monda Management
Press Representative - Richard Hillman Public Relations
Assistant General Manager - Greg Kamp
“Tres Niñas,” one story of Los Otros, was originally commissioned, developed, and presented by PREMIERES in New York City.
Paulette Haupt, Artistic DirectorLos Otros was fully commissioned and produced by
Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum
Michael Richie, Artistic Director; Charles Dillingham, Managing Director, Los Angeles, CAThe re-conceived version of Los Otros was commissioned and originally produced in Spring 2017 by Everyman Theatre in Baltimore, MD (Vincent M. Lancisi, Founding Artistic Director; Jonathan K. Waller, Managing Director)
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At the TBG Theatre
WINDOW TREATMENT
Words by Deborah Zoe Laufer
Music by Daniel Green
Director: Portia Krieger
Music Director: Paul Masse
Actress: Farah Alvin
Musician: Brandon Wong (Vibraphone)A lonely New Yorker plans her glorious future with the stranger across the courtyard.
THE COSTUME
Words & Music by Daniel Zaitchik
Director: Noah Himmelstein
Music Director: Deborah Abramson
Actor: Finn Douglas
Musician: Patti Kilroy / Ludovica Burtone (Violinists)Halloween, 1954: 10 year old Leo is given the unexpected task of caring for an injured bird overnight.
SCAFFOLDING
Words & Music by Jeff Blumenkrantz
Director: Victoria Clark
Music Director: Benji Goldsmith
Actress: Rebecca Luker
Musician: Yari Bond (Cello)A single mom's relationship with her brilliant only son is tested when he interviews for the college of his choice.
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At the TBG Theatre
RAPTURE
Four week rehearsal period and two invited staged readings.
Co-produced and presented with Dailey-Monda Management.Words and music by Edward Trach
Directed by Kelly Robinson
Music directed by Kenneth Gartman -
At the TBG Theatre
JUST ONE “Q”
By Ellen Fitzhugh and Ted Shen
Directed by Brad Rouse and Music Direction by Andrew Resnick
Starring T. Oliver Reid
Orchestrations by Andrew Resnick
Bass – Mary Ann McSweeney | Reeds – Harry HassellTHE PEN
By Dan Collins and Julianne Wick Davis
Directed by Margot Bordelon and Music Direction by Alexander Rovang
Starring Nancy Anderson
Orchestrations by Julianne Wick Davis, Tom Monkell and Dan Erben
Guitar – Tom Monkell/Dan ErbenTHE BOOTY CALL
By Saheem Ali and Michael Thurber
Directed by Saheem Ali
Starring Michael Thurber -
At the TBG Theatre
GRACE
By Charlayne Woodard and Kirsten Childs
Directed by Shirley Jo Finney and Music Direction by Rona Siddiqui
Starring Andrea Frierson
Bass – Maurice BelleTHE OTHER ROOM
By Mark Campbell and Marisa Michelson
Directed by Ethan Heard and Music Direction by Ian Axness
Starring Phoebe Strole
Cello – Brian Sanders -
Inner Voices 2012
At Urban Stages
BORROWED DUST
By Martin Moran and Joseph Thalken
Directed by Jonathan Butterell and Music Direction by Paul Masse
Starring Hunter Foster
Cellist – Leo GrinhauzARLINGTON
By Victor LoDato and Polly Pen
Directed by Jack Cummings III and Music Direction by Kenneth Gartman
Starring Alexandra SilberFARHAD OR THE SECRET OF BEING
By Nilo Cruz and Jim Bauer
Directed by Saheem Ali and Music Direction by Matt Hinkley
Percussion – David Rosenblatt
Oud – Brandon Terzic -
At the Hudson Guild Theatre
* BUDDY’S TAVERN
Book by Raymond DeFelitta • Lyrics by Alison Louise Hubbard • Music by Kim Oler
Directed by Warren Carlyle and Music Direction by Ray Fellman
With Shuler Hensley, Laura Osnes and Andrea Burns, John Jellison* Winners of a Richard Rodgers Development Award
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At 59 East 59th Street Theaters
MOSAIC
By Cheri Steinkellner and Georgia Stitt
Directed by Jonathan Butterell and Music Direction by Steve Marzullo
Starring Heidi BlickenstaffWHIDA PERU: RESURRECTION TANGLE
By David Simpatico and Josh Schmidt
Directed by Jonathan Butterell and Music Direction by Andy Boroson
Starring Judy Blazer -
At the Zipper Factory Theatre
INNER VOICES
Commissioned, developed and produced by PREMIERES
TRES NINAS
By Ellen Fitzhugh and Michael John LaChiusa
Directed by Jonathan Butterell and Music Direction by Todd Almond
Starring Victoria ClarkALICE UNWRAPPED
By Laura Harrington and Jenny Giering
Directed by Jeremy Dobrish
Music Direction by Julia McBride
Starring Jennifer DamianoA THOUSAND WORDS COME TO MIND
By Michele Lowe and Scott Davenport Richards
Directed by Jack Cummings III and Music Direction by John DiPinto
Starring Barbara Walsh -
At the Ohio Theatre in Soho
.22 CALIBER MOUTH
Words and Music by Lauren Robert
Directed by Diane Paulus and Music Direction by Ray Fellman
With Lauren Robert, Tim Warmen, Paul Oakley Stovall, Ted Brunetti -
At The Abingdon Theatre
* UNLOCK'D
Words by Sam Carner • Music by Derek Gregor
Directed by Will Pomerantz and Music Direction by Cynthia Hoxie
With Laura Bell Bundy, Kate Wetherhead, John Lloyd Young* TO PAINT THE EARTH
Words by Daniel Frederick Levin • Music by Jonathan Portera
Directed by Doug Moser and Music Direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell
With Stephen Berger, Aaron Berk, Jonathan Hammond, Lee Zarrett* Winners of a Richard Rodgers Development Award
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At New Dramatists
* THE TUTOR
Words by Maryrose Wood • Music by Andrew Gerle
Directed by David Schweizer and Music Direction by Benjamin Toth
With Jeff Blumenkrantz, John Jellison, Barbara Walsh* Winner of a Richard Rodgers Development Award
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At the Clark Studio Theater at Lincoln Center
RICHARD CORY
Words and Music by Ed Dixon
An adaptation of the play by A.R. Gurney
Directed by Jack Cummings III and Music Direction by Constantine Kitsopoulos
With Stephen Bogardus, Lynn Wintersteller, Maureen Moore, Mary Beth PeilHEARTLAND
Words by Darrah Cloud • Music by Kim D. Sherman
Directed by Susan H. Schulman and Music Direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell
With Beth Fowler, Kerry O'Malley, Lynnette Perry, J. Robert SpencerSONG OF THE TURTLEDOVE
Libretto by Noa Ain • Music by Noa Ain and Gerard Edery
Directed by Eleanor Reissa
With Rex Benincasa, Trudy Ellen Craney, George Mgrdichian
Inner Voices 2018. Farah Alvin in Window Treatment
Inner Voices 2014. Andrea Frierson in Grace
Inner Voices 2012. Hunter Foster in Borrowed Dust
Inner Voices 2008. Barbara Walsh in A Thousand Words Come to Mind
Inner Voices 2008. Jennifer Damiano in Alice Unwrapped
Inner Voices 2008. Victoria Clark in Tres Ninas
Inner Voices 2010. Judy Blazer in Whida Peru: Resurrection Tangle
Inner Voices 2016. Michael Thurber in The Booty Call
Inner Voices 2010. Heidi Blickenstaff in Mosaic
Inner Voices 2012. Arielle Jacobs in Farhad or the Secret of Being
Inner Voices 2012. Alexandra Silber in Arlington
Inner Voices 2014. Phoebe Strole in The Other Room
Inner Voices 2016. Nancy Anderson in The Pen
Inner Voices 2016. T. Oliver Reid in Just One Q
Inner Voices 2018. Rebecca Luker in Scaffolding
Inner Voices 2018. Finn Douglas in The Costume
PRODUCTION STAFF: 2001 - 2018
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Saheem Ali
Margot Bordelon
Jonathan Butterell
Warren Carlyle
Victoria Clark
Jack Cummings III
Jeremy Dobrish
Shirley Jo Finney
Ethan Heard
Noah Himmelstein
Portia Krieger
Doug Moser
Diane Paulus
Will Pomerantz
Eleanor Reissa
Kelly Robinson
Brad Rouse
Susan Schulman
David Schweitzer
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Michael Aarons
Deborah Abramson
Todd Almond
Ian Axness
Maurice Belle
Rex Benincasa
Yari Bond
Andy Boroson
Ludovica Burtone
Mary-Mitchell Campbell
Cole David
John DiPinto
Bruce Doctor
Meghan Doyle
Gerard Edery
Dan Erben
Ray Fellman
Kenneth Gartman
Benji Goldsmith
Leo Grinhauz
Rachel Handman
Harry Hassell
Matt Hinkley
Cynthia Hoxie
Simon Kafka
Patti Kilroy
Constantine Kitsopoulos
Steve Marzullo
Paul Masse
Julia McBride
Marcus McLaurine
Mary Ann McSweeney
Barbara Merjans
George Mgrdichian
Tom Monkell
J. Oconer Navarro
Andrew Resnick
Alexander Rovang
David Rosenblatt
Brian Sanders
Marc Schmied
Rona Siddiqui
Brandon Terzic
Benjamin Toth
Louis Tucci
Bernard Ullrich
Brandon Wong
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Toby Jaguar Algya
Brooke Cohen Brown
Nick Campano
Jon Carter
Andy Evan Cohen
Rocco D'Santi
Jason Fitzgerald
Anthony Freitas
Sean Hagerty
Adam Honoré
Nick Hussong
Neil Peter Jampolis
Dane Laffrey
Junghyun Georgie Lee
Andrew Rubenoff
Jennifer Schreiver
M. Meriwether Snipes
Ilona Somogyi
Aaron Spivey
Jacob Subotnick
Reid Thompson
Walter Trarbach
Ken Travis
Alejo Vietti
Oliver Wason
Randy Weiner
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Robert Bennett
Cyrille Blackburn
John Michael Crotty
Karen Evanouskas
Aaron Gonzalez
Laura Jessica Klein
Randy Lawson
Christine Lemme
Donald William Myers
Robert A. Sherrill
Shanna Spinello
Rachel Zack
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Farah Alvin
Nancy Anderson
Joan Barber
Katie Birenboim
Judith Blazer
Heidi Blickenstaff
John E. Brady
Alison Briner
Ted Brunetti
Andrea Burns
Dan Cassin
Victoria Clark
Jennifer Damiano
Finn Douglas
Wally Dunn
Adrienne Eller
Jennifer Evans
Jarid Faubel
Hunter Foster
Andrea Frierson
Alan H. Green
Shuler Hensley
John Herrara
Mary Illes
Arielle Jacobs
Cori Jaskier
John Jellison
Laura Jordan
Mark Lotito
Rebecca Luker
Mary Mattison
Luba Mason
Kyle McArthur
Max Meyers
Adam Munoz
Laura Osnes
Erin Leigh Peck
T. Oliver Reid
Lauren Robert
Steve Routman
Caesar Samayoa
Dan Sharkey
Alexandra Silber
Maureen Silliman
Paul Oakley Stovall
Phoebe Strole
Michael Thurber
Allie Trimm
Barbara Walsh
Timothy Warmen
Violet Young