Berkshire Eagle, The (Pittsfield, MA)
May 14, 2009
Section: WeekEnd
Article ID: 12368544
Barrington Stage: New play previews
Entertainment Desk
Thursday, May 14 PITTSFIELD — “I Got Sick Then I Got Better,” a new play written and performed by Jenny Allen, will be given three pre-New York performances this weekend at Barrington Stage Company’s Stage 2, 36 Linden St. Performances are Friday and Saturday evening at 8, and Sunday afternoon at 3.
Directed by James Lapine and Darren Katz, “I Got Sick and Then I Got Better” is stand-up comedian and New Yorker writer Allen’s funny and personal account of her battle with ovarian cancer and the medical profession.
Allen’s profiles, essays and reviews have appeared in many magazines, including the New Yorker, The New York Times, New York Magazine, Vogue, Esquire, More, Huffington Post, and Good Housekeeping.
She is the author of a book of fables for grown-ups called “The Long Chalkboard,” illustrated by her husband, Jules Feiffer. She performs stand-up comedy evenings in Manhattan.
“I Got Sick Then I Got Better” was first performed on Martha’s Vineyard in the summer of 2007. Since then, Lapine has been collaborating with Allen and Katz on shaping and expanding the material, under the aegis of New York Theatre Workshop, which will produce the show this fall in New York.
Lapine has been nominated for 11 Tony Awards, winning on three occasions. His work has also been recognized with six Drama Desk Awards, an Obie Award, the British Evening Standard Award, an Olivier Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. He is perhaps best known for his collaborations as librettist and director with Stephen Sondheim — “Sunday in the Park With George,” “Into The Woods,” and “Passion.” With William Finn he collaborated on “March of the Falsettos” and “Falsettoland,” later presented on Broadway as “Falsettos.” Other Broadway directing credits include “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” the revival of “The Diary of Anne Frank” starring Natalie Portman, and his collaboration with Claudia Shear, “Dirty Blonde.”
Ticket information is available through the BSC box office at (413) 236-8888 or online at www.barringtonstageco.org.
