LOU LIBERATORE, LUBA MASON, PHILIPPE ARROYO, JULIA KNITEL, RYANN REDMOND, NEAL LERNER, COLIN HANLON, SHEREEN AHMED, JERRY MITCHELL, NATASHA KATZ and more announced for IN THE WORKS~IN THE

LOU LIBERATORE, LUBA MASON, PHILIPPE ARROYO, JULIA KNITEL, RYANN REDMOND, NEAL LERNER, COLIN HANLON, SHEREEN AHMED,

JERRY MITCHELL, NATASHA KATZ

and more announced for 

 

IN THE WORKS~IN THE WOODS FESTIVAL 

AT THE FORESTBURGH PLAYHOUSE

SEPTEMBER 5-7, 2025

 

TELLING OF THE BEES

A new play by Chandler Hubbard

Directed by Casey Stangl

 

THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF PERCIVAL VON SCHMOOTZ

By Christopher Dimond and Michael Kooman

Directed by Ashley Rodbro

Music Direction by Cynthia Meng

  

 

BOOK OF WONDER

By Kate Brennan and David Lee White

Directed by Roque Berlanga

Music Direction Erik Wakar

 

WHAT WOULD MERYL DO?

Written and Performed by Neal Lerner

Directed by Colin Hanlon

 

CATSKILLS CAB LAB

Featuring Robert Anthony Jones and Shereen Ahmed

Directed by Jeremy Gold Kronenberg and Jen Waldman

Music Direction by Andrew David Sotomayor

 

OFF THE CUFF CONVERSATIONS 

With Tony Award winners Jerry Mitchell and Natasha Katz

 

In The Works~In The Woods Festival is dedicated to nurturing playwrights, 

composers, lyricists, emerging theatrical works and cabaret.

 

(Forestburgh, NY – August 2025) –  Forestburgh Playhouse, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Franklin Trapp, Festival Artistic Director Matt Lenz, and Associate Festival Director/Casting Anthony C. Daniel, will celebrate the 5th anniversary of its acclaimed In the Works~In the Woods Festival September 5–7, 2025.

 

This year’s festival will showcase an exciting lineup of staged readings, musicals, and special events, including:

 

Telling of the Bees, a new play by Chandler Hubbard, directed by Casey Stangl. Featuring Tony Award nominee Lou Liberatore (Burn This), Luba Mason (Girl from the North Country), Jared Reinfeldt (TV’s Capote vs. The Swans, Gossip Girl), Scott Keyes, Ryan Wesley Stinnett, Taylor Hadsell.

 

The Enlightenment of Percival Von Schmootz, a new musical by Christopher Dimond and Michael Kooman, directed by Ashley Rodbro (Moulin Rouge, Hamilton), with musical direction by Cynthia Meng (Dead Outlaw). Featuring Philippe Arroyo (& Juliet, upcoming Spelling Bee revival), Tony nominee Julia Knitel (Dead Outlaw), Ryann Redmond (Once Upon One More Time, Frozen), Dennis Cao, James Schultz, Nicole Zelka.

 

Book of Wonder, a new musical for young audiences by Kate Brennan and David Lee White, directed by Roque Berlanga with musical direction by Erik Wakar. Featuring Valeria Aceves, Anthony Cangiamila, Max V. Gallagher, Lane LaVonne, Corinne Prudente, Andrea Strickler, James Wong.

 

What Would Meryl Do?, a solo show written and performed by Broadway veteran Neal Lerner (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), directed by Colin Hanlon (Kowalski, Submissions Only).

 

Back by popular demand, the Catskills Cab Lab is serving up bold new cabaret creations with some of today’s most exciting emerging solo voices. This year’s lineup stars Robert Anthony Jones (Lucky Stiff, Finding Neverland) and Shereen Ahmed (Lincoln Center’s My Fair Lady), with the creative spark of directors Jeremy Gold Kronenberg and Jen Waldman, and the musical magic of Andrew David Sotomayor.

 

Pull up a chair for Off the Cuff, where theatre greats share stories and insights in lively, unfiltered conversations. This year’s guests: Tony Award winners Jerry Mitchell (Director/Choreographer) and Natasha Katz (Lighting Designer).

 

“It is thrilling to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the In the Works~In the Woods Festival at the Forestburgh Playhouse,” said Franklin Trapp. “We couldn't be prouder that a Festival that nurtures new works is thriving. Past Festival works are growing and reaching new audiences and in this 5th year, we anticipate an equally exciting array of artists and works to present.”

 

“Our wonderfully unique, Catskills-grown theatre festival is turning 5 in ’25 – and the word is out!”, said Matt Lenz. “Each year the In The Works~In The Woods Festival grows in reputation, recognition and scope. Providing a supportive, creative environment and a nurturing leg-up to these terrific and worthy new works gets more and more gratifying every year. Once again, we are loaded up with innovative and entertaining new plays and musicals for our 5th anniversary.”

 

Since its launch, the In the Works~In the Woods Festival has fostered a range of new works that have gone on to wider recognition. Highlights include Douglas Lyons’ Don’t Touch My Hair (premiered at IAMA Theatre Company, Los Angeles), Stage Mother (Roundabout), Rebel Genius (Atlantic Theatre Company), El Otro Oz (Off-Broadway Alliance Award winner, later at Center Theatre Group), Bottle Shock (world premiere at California Center for the Arts), Jessica Hendy’s Walking with Bubbles (extended Off-Broadway run, Drama Desk Award nomination), and Gordon Gets Down! (part of Forestburgh’s 2023 Season for Young Audiences).

 

In the Works~In the Woods Festival 2025: 

 

September 5-6

Telling of the Bees

A new play by Chandler Hubbard, Directed by Casey Stangl

Ten years after a national tragedy befalls a rural family, the remaining members are given a chance at redemption and reconciliation when they stumble upon a young man who bears a striking resemblance to their lost son.

 

*****

September 6-7

The Enlightenment of Percival von Schmootz

Book, Music and Lyrics by Christopher Dimond and Michael Kooman

Directed by Ashley Rodbro

Fed up with a world of plague, pestilence, and poor personal hygiene, the world’s only optimist sets out to personally end the Dark Ages.  As he attempts to bring the light of hope to the world, Percival von Schmootz meets with hilariously disastrous results at every turn.  It is only when things look the blackest that Percival learns the true meaning of enlightenment.

 

*****

September 6-7

Book of Wonders

A new musical for young audiences written by Kate Brennan and David Lee White. 

In a world with no written language, a Storyteller visits the town of Astoria every night to lull the residents to sleep. But one night, the Storyteller fails to arrive. Astoria’s only denizen capable of slumber, a young girl named Abenthe, must embark on a quest to find the missing Storyteller. But some stories do not want to be found.

 

*****

September 7

What Would Meryl Do?

A new solo play written and performed by Neal Lerner

Directed by Colin Hanlon

What Would Meryl Do? is a one-man comic whirlwind about a desperate man in a small upstate town who starts teaching a class on how to live like Meryl Streep—because why not? In playing every role, he spins a wildly funny, slightly unhinged tale that’s part masterclass, part meltdown, and entirely heartfelt. It's based on a true story, except for the parts that are completely made up. At its heart, it’s a story about identity, survival, and the courage to take center stage in your own life.

 

*****

CATSKILLS CAB LAB

September 6 and 7

The festival’s beloved late-night musical salon returns, showcasing original songs and stories from Broadway stars creating and performing first-time solo cabarets. This year’s lineup features individual performances from Robert Anthony Jones and Sherren Ahmed, each presenting their own unique cabaret experience. Join us for these intimate, one-of-a-kind evenings as two of Broadway’s brightest talents step into the spotlight—on their own terms, in their own voices.

 

*****

OFF THE CUFF CONVERSATIONS

This year’s Off the Cuff Conversations Series with prominent theatre professionals in impromptu discussions about their careers and the creative process features Tony Award winners Jerry Mitchell and Natasha Katz.

 

TICKET INFORMATION:

Just 90 minutes from New York City in the Sullivan Catskills, Forestburgh Playhouse is located at 39 Forestburgh Road. For Festival Passports (starting at $150) and tickets: fbplayhouse.org/itw or by calling 845-794-1194.

 

The 2025 In the Works~In the Woods Festival Advisory Committee includes:  Scott Evans (Actor/Director), Robin Levine (Director), Jaime Lozano  (Composer), Banji Aborisade (Director/Choreographer), Valentina Fratti (Director/Producer), Jillian Carucci (Director), Alan Muraoka (Actor/Director), Roque Berlanga (Director/Choreographer), Nicholas Rodriguez (actor/educator), Jeremiah Maestas (actor/director/educator), Kate Wilson (Development), Ana Flavia Zuim (Musical Director/Conductor), Anthony C. Daniel (Director/Associate Festival Director), Franklin Trapp (FBP Producing, Artistic Director) and Matt Lenz (ITW~ITW Festival Artistic Director).

 

Major sponsors of In the Works~In the Woods are Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association, Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, Vintus Wines and Spirits NY, Do Good Spirits, Catskills Brewery, 2 Queens Coffee Roasters, dm snacks, Forage Pizza, Grizzly Bagels, Kristt Kelly Office Systems, Solaia Restaurant, Forestburgh General Store, Mixture.

 

ABOUT THE FORESTBURGH PLAYHOUSE  

The Forestburgh Playhouse is the oldest, continuously running, professional summer theatre in New York State.  Located in the Sullivan Catskills, the Playhouse was founded in 1947 by John Grahame and Alexander Maissel.  Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Franklin Trapp, FBP’s mission is to present high-quality, professional theatre, including musicals, plays, cabarets and theatre for young audiences; to provide arts education programming for local youth; to develop and launch the careers of young artists; and to foster the development of new works through an annual new works festival.  FBP attracts over 30,000 patrons each summer and was one of the first venues in the U.S. in 2020 to return to live performance with its popular Under the Stars concert series. The Playhouse celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 2021.

 

Follow In The Works~In The Woods Festival @intheworksinthewoods

 

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