Weathervane Theatre Hosts Third Annual New Works Festival

WHITEFIELD, NH—The Weathervane Theatre is pleased to announce the return of North Country New Works—a new works festival celebrating new voices, works, and the creative spirit. This year’s festival will feature excerpts from five new works written by and featuring Weathervane company members. Resilient Buildings Group and Ben & Brad sponsor this festival.

The festival is coordinated by Weathervane’s Producing Artistic Director, Ethan Paulini, and stage-managed by TessaMarie Beard.

“We bring 60 or so people here from all over the country every year to make our season a reality, and they are all so multitalented,” said Weatherevane Producing Artistic Director Ethan Paulini. “They write, they sing, they compose music, they dance. As amazing as their sets may be or as great a stage manager they may be, they don’t always have that avenue to scratch that creative itch, so this is that opportunity to do that. I’m really proud to be able to give that to them, and it’s one of my favorite nights of the year.”

Each piece is created, directed, and performed by Weathervane’s Season 60 company members. The pieces vary in length, genre, style, and format and include an exciting combination of play readings, excerpts from new musicals, and more. Audience members will be able to provide thoughtful feedback to help these new works along their journey from page to stage. 

The featured pieces include:

• Claudia Canuto Original Music – “Come Home” – an indie-folk-inspired tune telling the story of someone wishing their lover would return home. Composed and performed by Weathervane Guest Youth Artist Claudia Canuto, presented both nights.
• True Est – a new play by Weathervane Resident Acting Company Member Becca Ayers and Stacey Wallace. In this modern feminist take on Sam Shepard’s True West, two sisters battle inner demons (and each other), under the thumb of the oppressive American Dream, set to a Lilith Faire soundtrack. Presented on both nights and performed by Becca Ayers and Marisa Kirby with stage directions read by Ria Yamdagni. Directed by Christopher E. Sidoli.
• Jeremy Lloyd Original Music – “Just Can’t Wait” is a Prince/Michael Jackson-inspired pop tune about new love. Composed and performed by Weathervane Resident Acting Company Member Jeremy Lloyd on September 14th only.
• Dorian’s Wild(e) Affair – a new musical featuring music by Weathervane’s Resident Music Director Andrew Morrissey, lyrics by Mark William, and book by Charles Abbott. Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, can a young man make a name for himself in gritty, glamorous 1970s NYC? What would you give up to become a star? Directed and music directed by Andrew Morrissey and performed by Jeremy Lloyd, Jacob A. Butler, Carrie Greenberg, Robert H. Fowler, and Christopher E. Sidoli. Presented on September 11 only.
• Glock 17 – returning from last season’s festival is this exciting new play by Weathervane Technical Director and Guest Artist Vero Villalobos. Loui, a Mexican-American, is on a quest to understand the struggles of her heritage in 2019 America. Turning to her podcast, she shares anonymous thoughts, which bring unexpected attention and threaten to change her life forever. Directed by Jorge Donoso and performed by Vero Villalobos, Jasmine Solis, Robert H. Fowler, Jacob A. Butler, and Dani Barrett, and presented on September 14 only.

North Country New Works will perform on Thursday, September 11, at 7 PM and Sunday, September 14, at 5 PM. Tickets for one performance of the festival are $12. A pass good for both evenings is $20.

Weathervane’s 60th season runs now – October 12. Additional productions include Honky Tonk Angels, Dirty Blonde, The Tempest, and The Producers. Single tickets are now available at www.weathervanenh.org. 

The Weathervane Box Office is open on performance days from 10 AM to 12 PM and again two hours before performance time through the curtain. Tickets are available by phone (603-837-9322), in person (389 Lancaster Road, Whitefield, NH), and online at weathervanenh.org.

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ABOUT THE WEATHERVANE

The Weathervane Theatre was founded in 1965 by Gibbs Murray and the late Tom Haas and is under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Ethan Paulini. It has presented high-quality professional productions of plays and musicals for over half a century. One of the few remaining alternating rep companies in the United States, the Weathervane is recognized as a historical institution nationwide, boasting among its alums 2021 Tony nominee Elizabeth Stanley, Tally Sessions, four-time Tony nominee Judy Kuhn, and recent Tony Award Winners Sam Pinkleton and Ari’el Stachel.  

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