Eight highly diverse works from one of America’s most prolific and versatile authors, this collection includes an exclusive dramatization of Oates’ bestselling novel American Appetites; two comedic plays, The Perfectionist and The Truth Teller; four short stories, “Gulf War,” “Black,” “The Key,” and “Tone Clusters;” as well as her libretto for Black Water: An American Opera, composed by John Duffy.
American Appetites: The façade of an affluent suburban couple crumbles under the weight of tragedy and scandal in this exclusive dramatization of Joyce Carol Oates’ bestselling novel.
Cast: Lisa Akey, Keith Carradine, Alastair Duncan, Paul Eiding, Anna Gunn, Dan Lauria, Jean Louisa Kelly, Frank Muller, B. J. Ward, Elizabeth Ward Land, Liza Weil, and Tegan West.
The Truth Teller: Joyce Carol Oates’ hilarious take-off on a classic Southern play begins when liberated Hedda arrives home to visit the family estate, ruled by the family’s tyrannical patriarch, “Tiny” Culligan.
Cast: Charles Durning, Arthur Hanket, Gary Kroeger, Marsha Mason, Priscilla Pointer, William Schallert, and JoBeth Williams.
The Perfectionist: Joyce Carol Oates turns her satiric eye to Tobias Harte, a man obsessed with perfection in everything from ethics to egg salad. Rollicking comedy ensues as Harte struggles with his highly imperfect family and friends.
Cast: Barbara Bosson, Annabeth Gish, Harold Gould, Valerie Landsburg, David Schwimmer, and David Selby.
“Black” (one-act play): In this evening of cocktails and dinner, a couple anxiously awaits the arrival of an ex-husband. As the wine glasses are drained, the evening becomes dark and intense, revealing the true colors of the characters in this eerie love triangle.
Cast: Stephanie Dunnam, Rif Hutton, and Joe Spano.
“Gulf War” (one-act play): An affluent young couple entertains an older couple for an evening of cocktails and politics during the Gulf War. But as the evening continues, the conversation takes a bizarre and absurd tone.
Cast: Edward Asner, Stephanie Dunnam, Nan Martin, and Joe Spano.
“The Key” (one-act play): A hilarious perverse encounter between Melissa, a vacationing suburban housewife, recently separated from her husband, and Edwin, a prosperous businessman.
Cast: Edward Asner, Hector Elizondo, Don Reed, Joyce Van Patten, and JoBeth Williams.
“Tone Clusters” (one-act play): A chilling tragicomedy that takes the form of an interview between a middle-aged, middle-class American couple and the media.
Cast: Edward Asner, Hector Elizondo, Don Reed, Joyce Van Patten, and JoBeth Williams.
Black Water: An American Opera: A tragic and beautiful opera based on the Chappaquiddick scandal. Libretto by Joyce Carol Oates, with music by John Duffy.
Cast: David Lee Brewer, Reid Bruton, Stephanie Buckley, Karen Burlingame, Kimberly Graham, Linda Kerns, Erin Langston, Patrick Mason, John Savarese, and Rob Shacklett.
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