Keep a close eye on what’s going on at Vineyard Arts Project (VAP) in Edgartown this summer. Many of the theater productions that were developed during summer residencies there — and presented to Vineyard audiences — are now enjoying runs at New York City theaters, on Broadway and at Lincoln Center. And don’t be surprised to find some of the shows currently under development here making their way to prestigious venues. Right now at VAP, teams of accomplished playwrights, directors, and a music composer are working on three new plays. Vineyard audiences have the chance to get a first glimpse of these works-in-progress on Thursday, July 10 and Friday, July 11.
Playwright Kim Rosenstock and composer Shaina Taub are in the process of finishing a musical called “There’s a House,” an original folktale described on the VAP website as “a mystical travelogue loosely inspired by the ballad ‘The House Carpenter.’”
Ms. Rosenstock is a writer for the Fox show “New Girl,” and her play “Tigers Be Still” was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award. Ms. Taub’s debut album was featured on NPR/WNYC’s Best of the Year list. The versatile composer recently won the coveted Jonathan Larson award for musical theater. Her original soul/funk opera was a finalist for the Richard Rodgers Award. Ms. Taub was also recently nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for her role in the critically acclaimed “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.”
Both collaborators are former artists in residence at Ars Nova in New York, which is how they were introduced to VAP. VAP has hosted playwrights and actors from Ars Nova for the past four years.
Playwright Beth Wohl is also currently at VAP with director Rachel Chavkin and a crew of actors working on her play “Small Mouth Sounds.” Ms. Wohl has written a number of plays and has developed film and television work for HBO, USA, Fox, and Paramount. She has had work commissioned by Manhattan Theatre Club and Center Theatre Group, and has received support from Ars Nova.
The play will be directed by Obie Award-winning director Rachel Chavkin, also nominated for the Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel, whose work includes the world premiere of “Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812.”
“Small Mouth Sounds” takes place at a silent retreat, which might seem like an odd choice of setting, but, Ashley Melone, founder and director of VAP, said: “You hear the voice of the guru teacher the whole time and there is dialogue. It’s a very touching portrayal of people searching for something. I’m so excited to see it staged. I think it’s going to show what you can communicate without language and what you can learn from silence.”
Ms. Wohl is another playwright whom Ms. Melone met during an Ars Nova residency. The playwright was on the Vineyard last summer with the New York theater group when she began writing her current play.
Rounding out the trio of new plays that will be performed as readings this weekend is “Naperville” by Mat Smart. Mr. Smart is one of the founders of the Slant Theater Project, a New York based organization that helps to develop new works. He is the recipient of the 2014 New Voices Award from the William Inge Center for the Arts. His previous works have received favorable reviews from a number of publications, including The New York Times.
On the VAP website, “Naperville” is described as a romantic comedy. “It’s a comedy but it’s also really touching,” Ms. Melone said. “The play is about a mother/son relationship. The mother is blinded in an accident and she’s learning how to live as a blind person.”
Tony and Emmy Award winning actress Debra Monk will star in “Naperville.” All of those taking part in the in the trio of plays are equity actors and/or singers from New York City.
Two years ago, VAP hosted an initial reading of Pulitzer Prize winner James Lapine’s “Act One.” This past spring that play completed a three-month run at Lincoln Center.
“Disgraced,” a play by Ayad Akhtar, was part of VAP’s 2010 New Writers/New Plays series and is now headed to Broadway’s Lyceum Theater after being produced at Lincoln Center. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins presented a reading of his play, “Appropriate,” at VAP in 2012. This past spring both “Appropriate” and his subsequent play “An Octoroon” enjoyed New York City runs. The latter play won two Obie Awards, while the former was a New York Times critics pick.
Considering VAP’s track record and Ms. Melone’s eye for new talent, the theater lab tucked away in a compound on upper Main Street in Edgartown should be the place to be this summer for audiences wishing to be among the first to witness some exciting new works in theater.
Also coming to the Vineyard for the first time this summer is Rosie’s Kids, aneducational program founded by Rosie O’Donnell. VAP will host a retreat for the nonprofit in August so it’s possible that the theater and dance compound will prove to be an early breeding ground for some of the next generation’s major theater talent.
Theater: “There’s a House,” 4 pm on July 10; 9 pm on July 11. “Small Mouth Sounds,” 9 pm on July 10; 6:30 pm on July 11. “Naperville,” 6:30 pm on July 10; 4 pm on July 11. All shows at Vineyard Arts Project, Edgartown. For more information, call 508-413-2104 or visit vineyardartsproject.org.