Dates and Details Announced for This Beautiful City at the Vineyard

The Vineyard Theatre has announced dates and details for the upcoming New York premiere of The Civilians’ This Beautiful City, a co-production with Los Angeles’ Center Theatre Group. Previews are set to begin February 3 with opening night on February 22, directed by Steven Cosson.

Written by Steven Cosson and Jim Lewis, with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, This Beautiful City explores the growth of the evangelical Christian movement in Colorado Springs in a show drawn principally from interviews with those involved with or affected by the mega-church movement there. Every leading church in the area participated in the project, as did numerous civic organizations, progressive activists and individuals from all walks of life.

The cast includes Emily Ackerman, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Brad Heberlee, Brandon Miller, Stephen Plunkett and Alison Weller all of whom conducted interviews in Colorado Springs, along with the show’s authors and musicians Chris Biesterfeldt, Benjamin Campbell and Richard Huntley. Music direction is by Erik James.A success at the Humana Festival of New American Plays this past spring in Louisville, KY, This Beautiful City subsequently had its Los Angeles premiere at Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre prior to its upcoming bow at the Vineyard.

The production features set design by Neil Patel, costume design by Alix Hester, lighting design by David Weiner, sound design by Ken Travis, and projection design by Jason Thompson. Choreography is by John Carrafa.