"One thing you can say for the Potomac Theatre Project: it always gives you something to chew on."
--Lloyd Rose, Washington Post

Potomac Theatre Project History, 1987-2008
Co-Directors: CHERYL FARAONE, JAMES PETOSA, RICHARD ROMAGNOLI

All Photos © Stan Barouh

2008 PTP in NYC

SCENES FROM AN EXECUTION by Howard Barker
Directed by Richard Romagnoli

SOMEWHERE IN THE PACIFIC by Neal Bell
Directed by Jim Petosa

CRAVE by Sarah Kane
Directed by Cheryl Faraone

Summer 2008 'After Dark'
the playground for young artists
(Off-hours theatre in multiple shapes and sizes)

Project Y Theatre Company presents: WEDDINGS, PERVERTS, AND PHONECALLS
Modern Love Stories by Lia Romeo, directed by Michole Biancosino

MARZIPAN LANDING by Willie Orbison, directed by Willie Orbison

HOW TO STAGE A PROPER REVOLUTION; a play in two acts
a staged reading of a new play by Alec Strum

NOBODY LISTENS
a staged reading of a play by Lucas Kavner; directed by Andrew Zox

A VARIETY SHOW
excerpts and fragments of new work
Curated by the winner in the category of "experimental" of the 2007 Washington, DC Fringe Festival

FREEDOM SEA: An Evening of One Acts
by France-Luce Benson; directed by Kate Pines

PROTOTYPE 373-G
by Benjamin Fainstein; directed by Dan Pruksarnukal

THE ROSE GARDEN
by Chad Pentler; directed by Kate Pines

FOR NINA
a play by Robert Emmet-Lunney

SOMETHING IN A THEATRE
with MacLeod Andrews and Neil D'Astolfo; directed by Maegan Mishico

2007 PTP in NYC

NO END OF BLAME by Howard Barker
Directed by Richard Romagnoli
See Photos

POLITICS OF PASSION: Plays of Anthony Minghella: Truly - Hang Up - Cigarettes and Chocolate
Directed by Cheryl Faraone
See Photos

Summer 2007 'After Dark'
a free series of new and experimental work

Iphigenia 3.0 directed by Joya Scott

City of Glass Adapted by Alex Poe, from the first novel in Paul Auster's "The New York Trilogy".

Untitled by Lucas Kavner (a staged reading)

A Dybbuk in Crown Heights, by Elena Zucker (A staged reading)

CCLIT by Matthew Swaye directed by Henning Hegland
A Devised Work by Henning Hegland, Alicia House, Harrison Rivers.

Project Y Productions Presents: Jude's Law by Lisa Velten Smith

2006

In Repertory on the Historic Stage

NO END OF BLAME: Scenes of Overcoming by Howard Barker
See Photos
Photo Information: Directed by Richard Romagnoli. Photos by Stan Barouh

AN EXPERIMENT WITH AN AIR PUMP by Shelagh Stephenson
See Photos
Photo Information: Directed by Cheryl Faraone. Photos by Stan Barouh

2006 After Dark Series and First Hearings

After Dark: Short Plays

Pinter Sketches
Directed by Dan Pruksarnukul

The Tender Spot of a Human Hand
Directed by Andrew Zox

She Takes One Last Step Towards Him and Holds Out The Apple. She Smiles.
Directed by Rebecca Kanengiser

First Hearings/Readings of New Plays

Pyretown by John Belluso
Directed by Brad Watkins

The Diary of A Disappointed Man, freely adapted for the stage by Alan Wade from the writings of W.N. P. Barbellion (pseudonym of Bruce Cummings
Directed by Cheryl Faraone

2005

Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab as part of the Potomac Theatre Festival

SOMEWHERE IN THE PACIFIC by Neal Bell
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Photo Information: Directed by Jim Petosa. Designed by Alex Cooper and Brandon McWilliams; Photos by Stan Barouh

THE AMERICAN DREAM by Edward Albee with PRESS CONFERENCE and ONE FOR THE ROAD by Harold Pinter
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Photo Information: Directed by Richard Romagnoli. Designed by Alex Cooper and Frank Labowitz; Photos by Stan Barouh

LOVESONG OF THE ELECTRIC BEAR by Snoo Wilson
See Photos
Photo Information: Directed by Cheryl Faraone. Designed by Alex Cooper and Brandon McWilliams; Photos by Stan Barouh

PTP AFTER DARK 2005

TREMULOUS by Le Wilhelm
Directed by Corinne Slagle with Julia Proctor and Meghan Nesmith

THE ANSWER IS HORSE by Joya Scott
Directed by Dan Pruksarnukul with Rachel Dunlap, Becky Martin, Macleod Andrews, Bill Army, Ben Fainstein

JUDITH by Howard Barker
Directed by Ben Fainstein, with Lindsay Haynes, Eliza Hulme and Lucas Kavner

2004

Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab

PERFECT PIE by Judith Thompson
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Photo Information: Directed by Cheryl Faraone. Designed by Hallie Zieselman, Alex Cooper, Jule Emerson and Frank Labovitz. Photos by Stan Barouh

THE BEST MAN by Gore Vidal
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Photo Information: Directed by Richard Romagnoli. Designed by Hallie Zieselman, Alex Cooper, and Frank Labovitz. Photos by Stan Barouh

MEASURE FOR MEASURE Adapted from Shakespeare and directed by Chris Hayes
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Photo Information: Directed by Chris Hayes. Designed by Hallie Zieselman, Alex Cooper, and Tara Fenstermacher. Photos by Stan Barouh

PTP FREE AFTER DARK
-Evenings of exploration, challenge and humor-

CARIS' PEACE by Caris Corfman
with Mark Berman and Brad Watkins
Directed by Brad Watkins

ALL THIS FLYING, ALL THIS TUMBLING DOWN
Two Monologues by Dario Fo and Franca Rame
"Alice in Wonderless Land" & "Rise and Shine"
Directed by Meg Taintor
Featuring Erin Kunkel and Mary C. Davis

FRENZY FOR TWO OR MORE by Eugene Ionesco
Directed by Joya Scott featuring members of the PTP student company

LISTENING by Edward Albee
Directed by Tricia Erdmann

2003

Summer Repertory (as part of the Potomac Theatre Festival 2003)
PIAF by Pam Gems
Directed by Chris Hayes of the London Theatre Exchange. Designed by Alex Cooper with Parker Diggory, Adam Magazine, and Frank Labovitz

The summer 2003 production of PIAF returned to the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab for a three week run, October 7-26, 2003.

Crave by Sarah Kane
See Photos
Photo Information: Directed by Cheryl Faraone. Designed by Alex Cooper with Parker Diggory, Adam Magazine, and Frank Labovitz. Photos by Stan Barouh.

No Man's Land by Harold Pinter
Directed by Richard Romagnoli. Designed by Alex Cooper with Parker Diggory, Adam Magazine, and Frank Labovitz

2002

Summer Repertory (as part of the Potomac Theatre Festival 2002)
Pinter Briefs by Harold Pinter
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Photo Information: Pinter Briefs by Harold Pinter. Directed by Richard Romagnoli. Designed by Alex Cooper, Frank Labovitz, and David McKeever. Photos by Stan Barouh

The After Dinner Joke by Caryl Churchill
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Photo Information: The After Dinner Joke by Caryl Churchill. Directed by Cheryl Faraone. Designed by Alex Cooper, Frank Labovitz, and David McKeever. Photos by Stan Barouh

Scotland Road by Jeffrey Hatcher
See Photos
Photo Information: Scotland Road by Jeffrey Hatcher. Directed by Chris Hayes of the London Theatre Exchange. Designed by Alex Cooper, Frank Labovitz, and David McKeever. Photos by Stan Barouh

2001

Summer Repertory (as part of the Potomac Theatre Festival 2001)
Plenty by David Hare
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Photo Information: Plenty by David Hare. Directed by Jim Petosa;. Designed by Mark Evancho, Daniel MacLean Wagner and Frank Labowitz. Photos by Stan Barouh.

Blue Forest by Katharine Berry Swartz (premiere)

2000

Summer Repertory (as part of the Potomac Theatre Festival 2000)
Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
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Photo information: Arcadia by Tom Stoppard. Directed by Cheryl Faraone. Designed by Mark Evancho, Tom Donahue, Alex Sargent and Debra Sivigny. Photos by Stan Barouh.

A Light Gathering of Dust/…..amnesia, and other means of escape by Steven Dykes

1999

Plays on the Porch, January 1999
Olney Theatre Center Actors residence

In Defense of Marion (Edward Martin), To Begin Again (Roger Meersman), Scapism (Justin Shipman), Minna (Howard Barker)

Summer Repertory (as part of the 1999 Potomac Theatre Festival)
Stanley by Pam Gems (area premiere)
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Havel: the Passion of Thought by Vaclav Havel; Samuel Beckett; Harold Pinter (professional stage premiere)
See Photos

Highlight: Inaugural season in the Mulitiz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, opened July 1999.

1998 Summer Repertory (as part of the 1998 Potomac Theatre Festival)

Good Olney Theatre Center Scene Shop by C.P. Taylor
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Mad Forest by Caryl Churchill (area premiere)
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Highlight: Since the inauguration of the Potomac Theatre Festival, all productions have supported a series of discussion evenings with guests such as James Demetrion, Hirschorn Museum and Scuplture Garden and Peter Slevin, Washington Post. These discussions engage the issues of the works autonomously and connect the productions of the festival to each other in audiences' awareness and expectation.

1997

Plays on the Porch: June 1997
Olney Theatre Center Actors residence
The Grace of Mary Traverse (Timberlake Wertenbaker); ART (Yasmina Reza)

The 1997 Winter Repertory, Olney Theatre Center for the Arts
Vampire by Snoo Wilson (Washington premiere)
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Cigarettes and Chocolate by Anthony Minghella (stage premiere)
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Closet Land by Radha Bharadwaj (Washington premiere)
See Photos

1996

Plays on the Porch: August 1996
Olney Theatre Center Actors' residence

Camille (Alexandre Dumas); The Break of Day (Timberlake Wertenbaker); Closet Land (Radha Bharadwaj)
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The 1996 Winter Repertory (10th season celebration)
Scenes from an Execution by Howard Barker
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1996...we're having fun NOW! (company created collage) The Dog Plays by Robert Chesley
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Highlights: Scenes from an Execution moved to New York City for an Off Broadway run
at the Atlantic Theatre Company, co-produced by the Blue Light Theatre Company.
10th anniversary season celebrated the company's decade of producing with
the return of much of the repertory, 1987-present

1995

Plays on the Porch: August 1995
Olney Theatre Center Actors' residence and grounds

Darwin's Flood (Snoo Wilson); Lion in the Streets (Judith Thompson);
Chinchilla: Figures in a Classical Landscape with Ruins (Robert David MacDonald); The Last Supper Restoration (Dan O'Brien)

The 1995 season
Olney Theatre Center for the Arts, Olney Maryland
Marisol by Jose Rivera (Washington premiere)
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Scenes from an Execution by Howard Barker (East Coast premiere)
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Highlights: beginning of new residency at Olney; summer & winter seasons

1994

The 1994 season
Callan Lab, Washington, D.C.
Rain. Some Fish. No Elephants by Y York (Washington premiere)
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Hall of Nations, Washington, D.C.
A Hard Heart by Howard Barker (American premiere)
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Highlights: number of performances and venues increased

1993

Hall of Nations, Washington, D.C.
93's FOUR FOR FREE
The After-Dinner Joke by Caryl Churchill (world stage premiere)
See Photos

Safari by Pavel Kohout (US professional premiere)
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Plevna by Howard Barker (world premiere)
See Photos

Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen
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Highlights: Plevna included in World Bank "Friday morning ethics" discussion; increased educational program

1992

Hall of Nations, Washington, D.C.
1992...are we having FUN yet?
a two-evening, four part program created from the works of Harold
Pinter, Samuel Beckett, Howard Barker, Mac Wellman, Julie Burchill,
Anthony Minghella, Kathleen Tolan, Joe Pintauro, Harwant Bains,
Wendy Woodson, trial transcripts, personal testimony
The Politics of Art with The Politics of Women and Men
The Politics of Oppression with The Politics of Despair and Hope
See Photos

Highlights: Playwrights Development Series (Plays by PTP Players)
New works by Joseph Kline, Richard Thompson, James Sheehan in a weekend of readings.
Storyteller Natalie Pilcher of Magic Journey with new versions of old stories for parents and children (August 28-29).

1991

Hall of Nations, Washington, D.C.
Four/For/ Free (Again), later Five/For/ Free

Family Life by Wendy Hammond
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Mountain Language by Harold Pinter
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The New World Order by Harold Pinter (American premiere)

Manny & Jake by Harvey Fierstein

A Poster of the Cosmos by Lanford Wilson
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Dog Plays by Robert Chelsey (Washington premiere)
See Photos

Highlights: Preview week at Theatre II, Gunston Arts Center
American premiere of Pinter's A New World Order (entered season third week); Extension of A New World Order, Mountain Language and Dog Plays
Admitted to Theatre Communications Group
Helen Hayes nomination: Richard Pilcher, A Poster of the Cosmos

1990

Hall of Nations, Washington, D.C.
Four/For/Free
Masterpieces by Sarah Daniels (Washington premiere)
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Iranian Nights by Howard Brenton and Tariq Ali (American premiere)
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Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act by Athol Fugard

The Good and Faithful Servant by Joe Orton
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Playwrights Conference, G.W. University, October 1990:
The Art of Sentiment by Eric Winick
High & Dry by Janet Stanford

Highlights: Admitted to League of Washington Theatres Post-play discussion (Masterpieces and Iranian Nights ) with D.C. Rape Crisis Center/ D.C. ACLU
Extension of Statements After an Arrest. . .
FIRST FREE SEASON

1989

Hall of Nations, Washington, D.C.
Good by C.P. Taylor
See Photos

The Castle by Howard Barker (American premiere)
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1988

American Playwrights Theatre, Washington, D.C.
Magnificence by Howard Brenton (Washington premiere)
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A Narrow Bed by Ellen McLaughlin (Washington premiere)
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Reading series: Choices by Gwendolyn Harris

Highlights: post-play discussion with POW/MIA support organization
Company benefit, Olney Theatre

1987

Castle Arts Center, Hyattsville, MD
Trial of Catonsville Nine by Daniel Berrigan
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No End of Blame by Howard Barker (Washington premiere)
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Highlights: Benefit evening for CCNV
Exhibition of donated political cartoons
Helen Hayes nomination: Alan Wade, No End of Blame