Dorset Theatre Festival to Present World Premiere Play by Leslie Ayvazian

Dorset Theatre Festival is proud to present the World Premiere of Leslie Ayvazian's new comedy Out of the City beginning July 10th. This is the third world premiere that Dorset has produced in the past five seasons, continuing a tradition of New Play Development to which Artistic Director Dina Janis has proven deeply committed. "Fostering new work is one of the most important things we do here at Dorset, from our Young Playwrights workshops, to our New Play Reading Series, to these exciting World Premieres. It's a thrilling and rewarding process." Past world premieres have included Theresa Rebeck's The Novelist and The Whore and Mr. Moore by Michael Cristofer.

Out of the City tells the story of two couples who head to a Bed and Breakfast in the Poconos to celebrate a 60th birthday, and find that unexpected feelings lead to complications. The play is the latest from playwright Leslie Ayvazian, whose play 15/15 was featured on the Kilroy's "Best Unproduced Plays by Female Playwrights of 2014". Her play Nine Armenians won the John Gassner/Outer Critics Circle Award for best new American play and the Roger L. Stevens Award, and Rosemary and I received an honorable mention from the Susan Smith Blackburn jury. Ayvazian, an actor who has been seen on and off-Broadway in shows such as A Naked Girl on the Appian Way and Raised in Captivity along with recurring roles on Law & Order, will also star in the play.

Alongside Ayvazian, actor John Procaccino makes his Dorset debut. Procaccino is known for his work on Broadway, in shows such as A Time to Kill, Enemy of the People, and An American Daughter, as well as television credits on Law & Order, NYPD Blue and Smash. DTF audiences will recognize Janet Zarish from The Whore and Mr. Moore. Her New York credits include Miss Julie and An Enemy of the People at Roundabout Theatre and The Square at The Public. She has also appeared in films such as Object of My Affection and Mystic Pizza. Rounding out the cast is Mark Blum, who has appeared on Broadway in both revivals of Gore Vidal's The Best Man as well as the Primary Stages' revival of Donald Margulies' The Model Apartment. His film and television credits include Desperately Seeking Susan, The Good Wife, The Sopranos and The West Wing.

The show will be directed by Artistic Director Dina Janis, who directed last year's acclaimed production of The Whipping Man. "I think this production will really resonate with our community," says Janis. "It's rare to see such a sweetly honest and funny play about people in this age group, and with this stellar cast, I think it's something audiences will truly appreciate."

Out of the City, sponsored by RK Miles and Homestead Landscaping runs July 10th through the 19th at the Dorset Theatre Festival. Tickets are available online at www.dorsettheatrefestival.org or by calling the box office at 802 867 2223. The 2014 season is sponsored by Manchester Designer Outlets.

Pictured: Leslie Ayvazian, Mark Blum, Janet Zarish, John Procaccino

Photo Credit: Brian Jones.