The Butcher*
September 13, 2008
    Written by Gwydion Suilebhan
    Directed by Merry Alderman
Created by Merry Alderman and Gwydion Suilebhan with Saskia de Vries, Maia DeSanti, Tim Getman, Dan Istrate, Susan Lynskey, Scot McKenzie and Joseph Price. For the past year, nine artists have been engaged in a collaborative, improvisational play development project, culminating in a new play. Inspired by actual events, The Butcher tells the story of six lives changed by one man's bloody and fanatical (or is it faithful?) gesture. Everyone knows the astonishing and terrifying truth of what he did, but nobody knows why he did it ... or what it means.

PUNCH – that’s the way we do it!*
October 31 – November 22, 2008
[Pay-What-You-Can Previews: October 31 & November 1 at 8 p.m.]
    Written and Directed by Wyckham Avery
    Produced by dog & pony dc
Man beats wife. Man beats dog. Man drop-kicks baby out the window. Charming, psychopathic and hilarious Punch comes alive in this exaggerated live action version of the classic puppet story to lead the audience through his life story of trials and victories ending with conquering the Devil himself. This show is intended for mature audiences.

Incidence*
December 4 – 14, 2008
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.
[Pay-What-You-Can Preview: December 4]
Tickets: $15
Purchase tickets at the door, online or by calling 1-866-811-4111.
    Produced by Jane Franklin Dance
Daily life is influenced by chance as timing sets off incidents that may be fortunate, disruptive, surprising or catastrophic. In Incidence, choreographer Jane Franklin, composer Gina Biver and installation artist Howard Connelly collaborate to create this experience onstage, in real time.

FEMA’s 1603*
January 12 – 25, 2009
Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
[Pay-What-You-Can Previews: January 13 & 14, 2009]
[No public performance on January 15, 2009]
[Opening Night Gala on January 16, 2009, Opening Night Tickets: $30]
Tickets: $20
Purchase tickets at the door, online or by calling 1-866-811-4111.
    Written and Performed by Giani Clarkson
    Directed by D. Wambui Richardson
    Produced by The Actorvist Project
Can you believe in the American Dream after losing everything? Where do you turn when your government fails you in a time of need? FEMA’s 1603 chronicles the experience of ten individuals directly and indirectly affected by Hurricane Katrina and the flooding in New Orleans that followed. As each comes to the realization that their lives will be forever changed, they give voice to the truth of what really happened.

Funeral Potatoes*
January 29 – February 14, 2009
Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
[Pay-What-You-Can Preview: January 29, 2009]
[Friday, February 13 performance at 10 p.m.]
    Written and Performed by Jjana Valentiner
Things become increasingly chaotic as 19-year old Megan finds herself caught between two worlds of cultural extremes. Her mother is saving the world one casserole at a time while her sister is shipped off to "find" herself in the desert. A look at the balance between piety and sexuality played out in the midst of a conservative Mormon family. Does the ‘eternal family’ have to be eternally dysfunctional?

Pumpgirl
February 24 – March 22, 2009
Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.
[Pay-What-You-Can Previews: February 24 & 25, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.]
    Written by Abbie Spallen
    Produced by Solas Nua
The Devil is all in the details. Sad-eyed, sharp-as-a-razor Sinead describing her saggy stomach as an "onion bag" after two pregnancies, patiently carving "wanker" on her husband Hammy's stock car trophy and delusional Pumpgirl breathing in the sweet-sour smell of petrol like ripe cherries in vinegar. This series of intertwining monologues uses fierce language to reveal the desolation of marital infidelity and the random violence in a gang rape of a petrol-station attendant in the badlands of County Armagh.

Deep Belly Beautiful*
March 31 – April 26, 2009
Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.
[Pay-What-You-Can Previews: March 31 & April 1 at 8 p.m.]
Tickets $20.00
Purchase tickets at the door, online or by calling 866.811.4111
    Written by Jacqueline E. Lawton
    Directed by Danielle A. Drakes
    Produced by theHegira
An alluring, bold and poetic story of grace achieved through addiction, betrayal, cannibalism and revenge. Anna Lee celebrates her sixth wedding anniversary with Luke, her unwilling and estranged alcoholic husband. Luke’s fate depends upon Fanny, a detective with a chilling past and questionable skills; Elyse, his devoted lover; and Jack, his unscrupulous best friend, who might be the death of them all.

Woman and Scarecrow
May 5 – 31, 2009
Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.
[Pay-What-You-Can Previews: May 5 & 6 at 7:30 p.m.]
    Written by Marina Carr
    Directed by Des Kennedy
    Produced by Solas Nua
Belfast’s Des Kennedy (Scenes From the Big Picture) returns to Solas Nua to direct Helen Hayes award-winning actresses Jennifer Mendenhall and Nanna Ingvarsson. Drawing on Celtic mythology and with a robust humor previously unseen in Carr plays, Woman and Scarecrow marks the most accomplished play to date by Ireland’s leading female playwright.

* Part of the 2008 – 2009 Mead Theatre Lab Program.