[Capdist-announce] “Clarkston” Comes to Catskill’s Bridge Street Theatre April 28 – May 8

[Steven Patterson]

In a small town on the Snake River in Washington, two young men from wildly
different backgrounds discover a common connection while stocking shelves
together on the night shift at Costco in Samuel D. Hunter’s “Clarkston”,
coming to Catskill’s Bridge Street Theatre for eight performances only
April 28 – May 8, 2022.

In this moving companion piece to Hunter’s “Lewiston” (produced to great
critical acclaim by Bridge Street Theatre during its 2021 Season), Jake, a
distant relative of explorer William Clark, has fled his privileged life in
Connecticut after being diagnosed with a fatal illness. Chris, an aspiring
writer with a meth-addicted mom, is stuck in what he’s afraid is a dead-end
life in a dead-end town. Their initial tentative attraction soon deepens
into something scarier and more intimate, a bond that might, just possibly,
help them break out of their mutual despair. The vulnerability of these
characters (including Chris’s mother Trish), enhanced by the proximity of
actors-to-audience in BST’s 84-seat house, as well as the theatre’s growing
reputation for deeply committed, risk-taking productions, promises
audiences an evening of truly unforgettable theatre.

Samuel D. Hunter, whose body of work zeroes in on the lives of ordinary
people, is an American playwright, born and raised in Moscow, Idaho and
currently living in New York City. Among his plays are “A Bright New Boise”
(2010), “The Whale” (2012), “A Great Wilderness” (2014), “Clarkston”
(2015), “Lewiston” (2016), “Greater Clements” (2018), and the
just-premiered “A Case for the Existence of God” (2022). He is also the
recipient of a 2014 MacArthur Fellowship (commonly referred to as the
“Genius” Grant).

This regional premiere will be directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer (Artistic
Director of the celebrated Chester Theatre Company in Massachusetts), with
sets by John Sowle and costumes by Michelle Rogers. Featured in the cast,
all making their Bridge Street Theatre debuts, are actors Tara Franklin,
Brian Patterson, and Hunter Ringsmith. Production Stage Manager is Liz
Powers.

For the safety of both audiences and artists, Bridge Street Theatre follows
union and state guidelines for indoor entertainment venues. All patrons
will need to provide proof of vaccination or a recent negative test for
COVID at the door prior to entry, with discretionary masking once inside
the theatre building. For more detailed information on the theatre’s
current safety precautions and attendance requirements, visit
bridgest.org/covid-safety-rules-at-bst/.

“Clarkston” will be performed Thursdays – Sundays, April 28 – May 8, 2022,
on Bridge Street Theatre’s “Priscilla” Mainstage, located at 44 West Bridge
Street in the Village of Catskill. The show runs approximately 90 minutes
without intermission and is recommended for audiences ages 12 and over.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances are at 7:30pm, with Sunday
matinees at 2:00pm. Admission at the door is $25, Students and Children
ages 18 and under are only $10. Discounted advance tickets (highly
recommended) are available for $22/$10 (+ a small service fee) at
bridgest.org/clarkston-tickets/. In addition, the Thursday April 28 preview
and Sunday May 1 matinee will each be bargain “Pay-What-You-Will”
performances, with seat prices beginning at $5. For further information on
“Clarkston” and other upcoming events, visit the Bridge Street Theatre
website at bridgest.org.

In its review, Nippertown praised Bridge Street Theatre’s 2021 production
of Samuel D. Hunter’s “Lewiston” as “a small miracle of deeply felt,
character driven Americana whose hard-won peace just might ignite your own
hope.” The same can definitely be said of its companion piece, “Clarkston”.
Don’t miss the chance to experience this heartbreaking and deeply American
play in its upstate premiere.



*Performance Calendar: *Bridge Street Theatre presents
The regional premiere of

*CLARKSTON *by MacArthur “Genius” Grant Recipient Samuel D. Hunter
with Tara Franklin, Brian Patterson,and Hunter Ringsmith
Directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer
Set and Lighting Design by John Sowle
Costumes by Michelle Rogers
Production Stage Manager: Liz Powers
8 Performances Only!
April 28 – May 8, 2022
Thursdays-Saturdays @ 7:30pm, Sundays @ 2:00pm
Bridge Street Theatre’s “Priscilla” Mainstage
44 West Bridge Street, Catskill, NY

Thursday April 28 @ 7:30pm (“Pay What You Will” preview)
Friday April 29 @ 7:30pm (Opening Night)
Saturday April 30 @ 7:30pm
Sunday May 1 @ 2:00pm (“Pay What You Will” performance)
Thursday May 5 @ 7:30pm
Friday May 6 @ 7:30pm
Saturday May 7 @ 7:30pm
Sunday May 8 @ 2:00pm (Closing performance)


*Tickets: *Advance tickets available at
https://bridgest.org/clarkston-tickets/
General Admission $22, $10 for Students and Children ages 18 and under
Tickets can also be purchased at the door prior to each performance (on a
space available basis) for $25, $10 for Students ages 18 & under.


*Events at Bridge Street Theatre are supported in part by the New York
State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor of New York and
the New York State Legislature and by Public Funds from the Greene County
Legislature through the Cultural Fund administered in Greene County by the
CREATE Council on the Arts. *

*Further Information:*
To contact Bridge Street Theatre directly, email contact at bridgest.org or
call their offices at 518-943-3894.
For more information on Bridge Street Theatre visit BridgeSt.org.
Interviewers and reviewers contact john at bridgest.org or 518-478-5982 (cell)
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