Arena Stage will once again make history in the 2008/09 season by launching a massive two-year festival celebrating the rich mosaic of our nation’s voices. The Arena Restaged Festival will offer a remarkable exploration of American work featuring American giants (Edward Albee and Tennessee Williams), exciting contemporary voices (Daniel Beaty and Karen Zacarías) and the quintessential American art form—the musical (Next to Normal and Irving Berlin’s I Love a Piano).

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Arena Stage Part One Artists

Alice Ripley
Production: Next to Normal
Role: Diana
Notable Performances: Broadway: Side Show (Tony Award Nomination), James Joyce's The Dead, Les Miserables, Sunset Boulevard
Reviews: “beautifully played by Alice Ripley” – Ben Brantley, The New York Times;
“The production is also blessed by a luminous performance from Ripley, who wrings out both the humor and tragedy of her role.” - Dan Bacalzo TheaterMania

Daniel Beaty
Production: Resurrection
Role: Playwright
Notable Productions: Emergence-SEE! (playwright)
Awards: 2007 OBIE Award for Outstanding Writing and Performance, 2004 Grand Slam Champion at the world famous Nuyorican Poet's Café
Reviews:"Somehow this artist touched something so deep in me...by the end, I was on my feet shouting like someone in church." -- Ruby Dee
Visit Daniel's Website >

Daniel Bernard Roumain
Production: Resurrection
Role: Composer
Notable Performances: Sydney Opera House, Brooklyn Academy of Music
Reviews: “Roumain is a rising star of the new music scene, writing for major orchestras and performing regularly with his own nine-piece band, DBR and the Mission” - The Washington Post
Visit Daniel's Website >

Oz Scott
Production: Resurrection
Role: Director
Notable Performances: previous Manager of Living Stage (Arena Stage); Broadway: for colored girls..., Television: Boston Legal, The Practice, Ally McBeal
Visit Oz's Website >

Carrie Fisher
Production: Wishful Drinking
Role: Creator and Performer
Notable Performances/Works: Princess Leia in Star Wars, Author of Postcards from the Edge
Reviews: “Drop dead funny”— Wall Street Journal; “Drolly hysterical”—Entertainment Weekly; “An absolute riot!”—KGO-AM
Visit Carrie's Website >

J. Robert Spencer
Production: Next to Normal
Role: Dan Brown
Notable Performances:Broadway: Jersey Boys (winner of the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical), Side Show
Reviews: “J. Robert Spencer is a STAR!” -NYTheater.com; “J. Robert Spencer has a direct, honest presence…he unleashes raw, riveting fury.” - Variety
Visit J. Robert's Website >

Michael Greif
Production: Next to Normal
Role: Director
Notable Productions: Broadway: Rent, Grey Gardens
Awards: Tony Award Nomination: Grey Gardens, Rent; Drama Desk Award: Rent

Kathleen Chalfant
Production: A Delicate Balance
Role: Agnes
Notable Performances: Broadway: Wit, Angels in America, M. Butterfly
Awards: Tony Award Nominee (Angels in America), Recipient of the Drama Desk, OBIE, Lucille Lortel and Drama League Awards
Reviews:"a beautifully textured performance by Kathleen Chalfant...it is, without question, a memorable and meaningful performance." -- Variety Review of Wit

Jayne Houdyshell
Production: A Delicate Balance
Role: Claire
Notable Performances: Broadway: Wicked, Well, The Receptionist
Awards:Tony Award Nominee, Recipient of the OBIE, Jefferson and Barrymore Awards
Reviews: a performance with "flawless authenticity" -- The New York Times on her performance in Well

Ellen McLaughlin
Production: A Delicate Balance
Role: Julia
Notable Performances: Broadway: originated the part of the Angel in Tony Kushner’s Angels in America

Maureen McGovern
Production: A Long and Winding Road
Role: Creator and Performer
Notable Performances: Broadway: Little Women, Singer of "The Morning After"
Awards: Recipient: Grammy Award, The Academy Award (Oscar)
Reviews: "There is no hyperbole tolerance required to buy the promotion of this artist as "the Stradivarius Voice." - Curtain Up
Visit Maureen's Website >

E. Faye Butler
Production: Crowns
Notable Performances:Off Broadway: Nunsense; National Tours: Mamma Mia!, Hair, Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope. Regional: Caroline or Change, Ella, Purlie, The Gospel According to Fishman;Arena Stage: Dinah Was, Polk County, Ain’t Misbehavin, Crowns.
Awards: John Barrymore Award, 3 Helen Hayes Award nominations

More artists will be named soon! Keep on the lookout for additions to Next to Normal, Sweet Bird of Youth and Crowns!.

Don't miss these tremendous artists. Purchase a subscription > or tickets > online today or by calling (202) 488-3300.