![\"Somewhere](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Somewhere_Virginia_9a5a3c9b-d1e1-4e0c-9cf7-73173404f5d3.jpg\")
Somewhere, Virginia<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Somewhere, Virginia<\/p>\n
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Written by\u00a0John Harney,\u00a0Directed by\u00a0Anna Rebek<\/p>\n
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New York, N.Y. (August 10, 2026) \u2013\u00a0Theater for the New City, Executive Artistic Director, Crystal Field, presents\u00a0Somewhere, Virginia,\u00a0\u00a0a new play\u00a0written by\u00a0John Harney.\u00a0Anna Rebek\u00a0directs a cast of four, including\u00a0Jake Steinberg, Janelle Clayton, Chase Cortland Erwin,\u00a0and\u00a0Laura Whittenberger.\u00a0Five 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.<\/p>\n
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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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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General Admission Tickets are $18 (plus service fee).<\/p>\n
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For Tickets, visit\u00a0https:\/\/www.dreamupfestival.org\/SHOW2717.html<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Direct ticketing link:\u00a0https:\/\/ci.ovationtix.com\/35441\/production\/1283648<\/a><\/p>\n
The runtime is 90 minutes, no intermission.\u00a0<\/p>\n
John Harney\u00a0(playwright)\u00a0is an editor in Washington, D.C. His plays\u00a0Love West of Dupont Circle\u00a0and\u00a0Ezra Pound Couldn\u2019t Sleep Here\u00a0were presented by the Capital Fringe Festival. Another play,\u00a0The 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.<\/p>\n
Anna Rebek\u00a0(director)\u00a0is 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\u2019s favorite opera credits include directing Mozart\u2019s\u00a0Le Nozze di Figaro\u00a0in the historic Estates Theater in Prague, and Puccini\u2019s\u00a0La Boh\u00e8me\u00a0and\u00a0Tosca. Anna began Shakespeare Workshoppe, her independent theater company, in 2017 with a production of\u00a0King Lear\u00a0at The Brick. She adapted, directed and produced Euripides\u2019\u00a0The Trojan Women\u00a0in 2024, and also adapted and directed Sor Juana\u2019s\u00a0Love is the Greater Labyrinth\u00a0for UVA Drama. Last year Anna directed\u00a0The Boys From Kingsbridge\u00a0by Steven Sarao for the Dream Up Festival, and is happy to return to direct the fascinating\u00a0Somewhere, Virginia.<\/p>\n
Meet the Cast<\/p>\n
Janelle Clayton\u00a0(Francesca), known for blending sharp wit with unshakable sincerity, thrives in roles that walk the line between comedy and drama.\u00a0She 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, \u2018BlacKkKlansman,\u2019 and was a co-host of the hit Youtube book club web series, ‘The Tea.’\u00a0When Janelle isn\u2019t on stage or on a set, you can find her convincing her pie crust to behave or sharpening her tennis and pickleball skills.<\/p>\n
Chase Cortland Erwin\u00a0(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\u2019s production of\u00a0Macbeth, Chase\u2019s past film credits include IRT Pictures’\u00a0Disclosure\u00a0and the Mafia thriller\u00a0Extortion Thugs. He is grateful to work with such an impressive team on the world premiere of\u00a0Somewhere, Virginia.\u00a0Chase is excited to explore the themes of one of his lifelong fascinations: American politics.<\/p>\n
Jake Steinberg\u00a0(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\u00a0Fifth of July\u00a0by Lanford Wilson (Jed), and\u00a0Passion Play\u00a0by Sarah Ruhl (Jesus). Catch him on the upcoming season of \u201cCupertino\u201d on CBS, and Season 17 of ABCs \u201cWhat Would You Do?\u201d! 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.<\/p>\n
Laura Whittenberger\u00a0(Clare) performs in plays, musicals and concerts across the US. Off-Broadway: Saavik in\u00a0KHAN!!! The Musical!.\u00a0National Tour: Sherlock Holmes in\u00a0The Hound of the Baskervilles\u00a0(Aquila Theatre).\u00a0Regional: Bella in\u00a0Angel Street\/Gaslight\u00a0(FL), Maria in\u00a0The Sound of Music\u00a0(FL), The Baker’s Wife in\u00a0Into the Woods\u00a0(MA), Catherine in\u00a0Proof\u00a0(ME), Mabel in\u00a0The Pirates of Penzance\u00a0(MD, NJ and ME), Amalia in\u00a0She Loves Me\u00a0(DE, FL), Lucy in\u00a0Bright Star\u00a0(MA, FL). Four-time nominee for\u00a0Broadway World\u00a0regional “Best Performer in a Musical” awards. Prizewinner, SongSlam\u00a0NYC 2025. Alum of Indiana University and the Peabody Conservatory. More at\u00a0www.laurawhittenberger.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
September 8-12, 2026 (5 performances)<\/p>\n
Tuesday, September 8 @ 9:00 p.m.<\/p>\n
Wednesday, September 9 @ 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Thursday, September 10 @ 9:00 p.m.<\/p>\n
Friday, September 11 @ 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Saturday, September 12 @ 2:00 p.m.<\/p>\n
Theater for the New City<\/p>\n
155 First Avenue, New York, NY 10003\u00a0<\/p>\n
General Admission Tickets are $18 (plus service fee)\u00a0<\/p>\n
For Tickets, visit\u00a0https:\/\/www.dreamupfestival.org\/SHOW2717.html<\/a><\/p>\n
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