BROOKLYN: Theatre for a New Audience (TFANA) has announced its 2019-20 programming, featuring five productions. The season will mark the theatre’s 40th anniversary.

The season starts with the U.S. premiere of Why? (Sept. 21-Oct. 6), written and directed by Peter Brook and Marie-Hélène Estienne. Previously produced at C.I.C.T/Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris, Why? illuminates the questions: why theatre? What is it about? What is it for?

Following will be Fefu and Her Friends (Nov. 16- Dec. 8) by María Irene Fornés. Lileana Blain-Cruz will direct this classic piece of feminist and environmental theatre.

Next will be Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens (Jan. 11- Feb. 9, 2020), directed by Simon Godwin. This co-production with Godwin’s Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington D.C. will feature Kathryn Hunter.

Following will be the New York premiere of Gnit (March 7-29, 2020) by Will Eno. This witty adaptation of Ibsen’s Peer Gynt will be directed by Oliver Butler.

Rounding out the season will be a new staging of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot (April 25- May 24, 2020) starring Michael Shannon (currently on Broadway in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune) and Paul Sparks. The director will be announced at a later time.

Founded in 1979, Theatre for a New Audience produces works by classic authors, with a special focus on Shakespeare.