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"Keep Your Pantheon" by David Mamet, as part of "Two Unrelated Plays by David Mamet" at the Atlantic in 2009. Pictured: John Pankow, Brian Murray, and Michael Cassidy. (Photo by Sara Krulwich/The New York Times)

Atlantic Theater Company Sets 4 World Premieres for 2016-17 Season

Theatre cofounder David Mamet will return, plus new works from George Brant and Itamar Moses.

NEW YORK CITY: Atlantic Theater Company has announced its 2016-17 season, featuring world premieres from David Mamet, George Brant, Paola Lázaro, and a musical from Itamar Moses and David Yazbek.

The season will open with the world premiere of Marie and Rosetta (August-October) by George Brant. The play with music is about Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight’s first rehearsal together before they embark on a tour that will make them one of the greatest duets in musical history. Atlantic artistic director Neil Pepe will direct.

Next up will be the world premiere of The Band’s Visit (November–January 2017), with book by Itamar Moses, music and lyrics by David Yazbek, based on the screenplay by Eran Kolirin. The musical follows an Egyptian Police Band that arrives in Israel to play a concert but is instead sent to a desert village after a mix-up at the border. David Cromer will direct.

Following will be the world premiere of Paola Lázaro’s Tell Hector I Miss Him (January-February 2017). The play is set in La Perla, a slum in Puerto Rico.

The theatre will then produce the world premiere of a new play from Atlantic cofounder David Mamet (February-April 2017), written for the ensemble at the Atlantic. Pepe will direct.

Closing the season will be the New York premiere of Animal by Clare Lizzimore (May-June 2017). The play is a dark comedy about a woman who seems to have it all but is haunted by visions. Rebecca Hall will star and Gaye Taylor Upchurch will direct.

In addition to its mainstage season, the Atlantic also announced a show in its theatre for young audiences series. Opening the kids’ season will be the New York premiere of 1001 Nights: A Love Story About Loving Stories (Fall 2016), with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and book by Lopez and Adam Koplan. The story follows an imaginative princess who saves her kingdom by spinning tale after tale for a narrow-minded king. Koplan will direct.

Founded in 1985, Atlantic Theater Company produces the work of both new and established playwrights.

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