Liberty Free premiers Askew’s ‘By the Time We Got to Woodstock’

LIBERTY, NY — The Liberty Free Theatre continues its First Hearing Series with a world premier staged reading of Rilla Askew’s “By the Time We Got to Woodstock,” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, August 20, 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 23 at 3:00 p.m.

The play tells the story of what happens when a woman of a certain age encounters two runaways, a young girl and a Mexican immigrant, at the famed Woodstock concert site on a globally-warmed hot day in November. Karen Young performs Aradhna, who finds herself faced with a choice between a late-in-life marriage and a risky adventure with two near-strangers. Dana Priebe performs Faythe and Richard Traviss is Ramon.

Askew recently received an Academy Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters for the body of her work, which includes the novels “The Mercy Seat,” a finalist for the Pen-Faulkner Award; “Fire in Beulah,” which received an American Book Award, “Harpsong” and “Strange Business,” a collection of stories. She was also invited by the magazine World Literature Today to address a conference of world writers in Beijing, China. Her stories and essays have appeared in magazines and periodicals around the country.

Young was FBI agent Robyn Sanseverino in HBO’s The Sopranos. She has been a frequent guest star on Law & Order and many other television shows. Film roles include “Torch Song Trilogy” and “Heading South,” opposite Charlotte Rampling. Priebe is a regular at the Liberty Free Theatre, where she has been seen in “Face Divided” and “Why We Have a Body,” among other pieces. Traviss is a singer/songwriter remembered for his performance of Harvey White in “Dreaming Angel” at the Liberty Free Theatre.

Admission is free. Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. The audience is invited to gather after the performance for food, drink and music. The theatre is located at 109 South Main Street. For more information call 845/292-3788.