Somewhere, Virginia
Written by John Harney, Directed by Anna Rebek
New York, N.Y. (August 10, 2026) – Theater for the New City, Executive Artistic Director, Crystal Field, presents Somewhere, Virginia, a new play written by John Harney. Anna Rebek directs a cast of four, including Jake Steinberg, Janelle Clayton, Chase Cortland Erwin, and Laura Whittenberger. Five performances will be staged from September 8-12, 2026 as part of the 14th Dream Up Festival at The Johnson Theater at Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue, New York, NY 10003.
Clare, an ambitious congressional chief of staff who abruptly quit and ghosted everyone shortly after the 2024 election, summons three former colleagues to an old house in the Virginia countryside. As the guests, whose lives and careers have been upended by that election, try to figure out the reason for this odd reunion, Clare’s bedridden mother upstairs is a constant, if unseen, presence. And outside, the fields and meadows, which armies fought over long ago, seem to be taking on a life of their own.
Five performance dates include: Tuesday, September 8 @ 9:00 p.m.; Wednesday, September 9 @ 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, September 10 @ 9:00 p.m.; Friday, September 11 @ 6:30 p.m.; and Saturday, September 12 @ 2:00 p.m.
General Admission Tickets are $18 (plus service fee).
For Tickets, visit https://www.dreamupfestival.org/SHOW2717.html
Direct ticketing link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35441/production/1283648
The runtime is 90 minutes, no intermission.
John Harney (playwright) is an editor in Washington, D.C. His plays Love West of Dupont Circle and Ezra Pound Couldn’t Sleep Here were presented by the Capital Fringe Festival. Another play, The Cocktail Bench, was a finalist in the 2025 Fresh Fruit Ten Minute Play Festival. He is also the co-author of “The Godson,” Willie Fopiano’s memoir of life in the Boston mob.
Anna Rebek (director) is a Mexican and Hungarian-American opera and theater director working in NYC. Anna received her BFA in performance from Yale University, her MFA in directing from Columbia University, and was awarded the Opera Directing Fellowship at Juilliard for two years, becoming an assistant faculty member there her second year. Anna’s favorite opera credits include directing Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro in the historic Estates Theater in Prague, and Puccini’s La Bohème and Tosca. Anna began Shakespeare Workshoppe, her independent theater company, in 2017 with a production of King Lear at The Brick. She adapted, directed and produced Euripides’ The Trojan Women in 2024, and also adapted and directed Sor Juana’s Love is the Greater Labyrinth for UVA Drama. Last year Anna directed The Boys From Kingsbridge by Steven Sarao for the Dream Up Festival, and is happy to return to direct the fascinating Somewhere, Virginia.
Meet the Cast
Janelle Clayton (Francesca), known for blending sharp wit with unshakable sincerity, thrives in roles that walk the line between comedy and drama. She is a classically trained actress and has studied at Stella Adler Studios under the direction of Phylicia Rashad, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, McKinley Henderson, Michele Shay, Bill Sims Jr., and Sonia Sanchez. She has appeared in the Oscar-winning, Spike Lee joint, ‘BlacKkKlansman,’ and was a co-host of the hit Youtube book club web series, ‘The Tea.’ When Janelle isn’t on stage or on a set, you can find her convincing her pie crust to behave or sharpening her tennis and pickleball skills.
Chase Cortland Erwin (Blair) is a New York actor born and raised in Indiana. He studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. In addition to his most recent onstage role in Frog & Peach’s production of Macbeth, Chase’s past film credits include IRT Pictures’ Disclosure and the Mafia thriller Extortion Thugs. He is grateful to work with such an impressive team on the world premiere of Somewhere, Virginia. Chase is excited to explore the themes of one of his lifelong fascinations: American politics.
Jake Steinberg (Nick) is an actor, model, and athlete hailing from Rockville, MD. Currently based in NYC, he received his MFA in Acting from Columbia University in 2025. Some of his favorite works include Fifth of July by Lanford Wilson (Jed), and Passion Play by Sarah Ruhl (Jesus). Catch him on the upcoming season of “Cupertino” on CBS, and Season 17 of ABCs “What Would You Do?”! He is an avid lover of gorillas, pancakes, competing in Hyrox, and recently completed his first Ironman in Lake Placid, NY. He is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and CESD Talent.
Laura Whittenberger (Clare) performs in plays, musicals and concerts across the US. Off-Broadway: Saavik in KHAN!!! The Musical!. National Tour: Sherlock Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles (Aquila Theatre). Regional: Bella in Angel Street/Gaslight (FL), Maria in The Sound of Music (FL), The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods (MA), Catherine in Proof (ME), Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance (MD, NJ and ME), Amalia in She Loves Me (DE, FL), Lucy in Bright Star (MA, FL). Four-time nominee for Broadway World regional “Best Performer in a Musical” awards. Prizewinner, SongSlam NYC 2025. Alum of Indiana University and the Peabody Conservatory. More at www.laurawhittenberger.com.
September 8-12, 2026 (5 performances)
Tuesday, September 8 @ 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 9 @ 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 10 @ 9:00 p.m.
Friday, September 11 @ 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 12 @ 2:00 p.m.
Theater for the New City
155 First Avenue, New York, NY 10003
General Admission Tickets are $18 (plus service fee)
For Tickets, visit https://www.dreamupfestival.org/SHOW2717.html
Direct ticketing link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35441/production/1283648
Runtime: 90 minutes, no intermission
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