NEW HAVEN, CT - Long Wharf Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Managing Director Joan Channick, announces Phenomenon of Decline, a new play by Joe Tracz, produced by Next Stage Productions, Long Wharf Theatre's early career development program.

Directed by Tyler James Greene, Phenomenon of Decline will run for four performances: April 25 and April 26 at 8 pm; April 26 at 3 pm; and April 27 at 2 pm, all on Long Wharf Theatre's Stage II.

Admission is free, but seat reservations can be made by calling the Long Wharf Theatre box office at (203) 787-4282. Donations to support Next Stage Productions are encouraged. This production is made possible with the generous support of Better Bedding.

Phenomenon of Decline was developed at Kalamazoo College and the play went on to win first place in the 2005 American College Theatre Festival Region III One-Act Play competition.

Fifteen years ago, Randolph Wonder's twin brother went into a bog to retrieve a fly ball and never returned. Now Randolph lives in the bog in a vigil of grief and guilt, in a ramshackle cabin he built by hand. But as the cabin starts sinking into the earth, and his three sisters arrive with three different agendas, Randolph must choose between seeking the dead and returning to life.

Long Wharf Theatre's Next Stage Program is an early career development program for the next generation of theatre artists. Hired through a highly competitive selection process, Next Stage residents and interns work and learn as staff members of one of our nation's top theatres.

Through one production each season, Next Stage participants have the opportunity to express their unique artistic voices and showcase their incredible and diverse talents.

A fresh addition to Long Wharf's season, Phenomenon of Decline is a continuation in Long Wharf's commitment to the development of new works and gives audiences the rare opportunity to witness the future leaders of American theatre.

Managing Director Joan Channick praised the program saying, "Long Wharf Theatre's Next Stage program gives recent college graduates an intensive immersion in the life of a professional theatre.

"Throughout the season, our interns and residents have provided critical support to our productions and have helped introduce theatre to still another generation through their own initiative, 'Discovery Day,' which offered behind-the-scenes activities for young children.

"Their production of Phenomenon of Decline is an opportunity for the residents and interns to build on the experiences they have had developing new work during Long Wharf's season by producing a new play that showcases their own artistic talents and speaks to their own generation's sensibilities. We are delighted to share their work with the New Haven community."

Director Tyler James Greene, a long time friend of Tracz, applauded Long Wharf's investment in the Next Stage company saying, "At a time when fresh voices for our generation are of supreme importance, we have used this as a chance to familiarize ourselves with the mechanisms involved in producing a new play, while at the same time acquainting our community with a promising writer emerging from our generation."

Greene continued, "Working on this play is a mirror of our year's experience with Long Wharf's main stage season, which has also featured two new plays in development. It is a unique opportunity to apply our detailed observations to something which is very much our own."

As recent college graduates, Next Stage residents and interns hail from all parts of the country as well as towns as near as West Haven and Monroe, CT. The 2007-2008 Next Stage class consists of:

• Jeanne-Marie Burdette (Properties Resident/Scenic Designer, Sharon, PA)
• Mary Louise Deloy (Scenic Arts Resident/Technical Director/Stage Manager, Lakewood, CO)
• Tyler James Greene (Artistic/Directing Resident/Director, Kalamazoo, MI)
• Brian Hoehne (Lighting Resident/Lighting Designer, St. Louis, MO)
• Katherine McGerr (Artistic/Literary Resident/Production Dramaturg, Bloomington, ID)
• Kristin Rizzo (Sound Resident/Sound Designer, Monroe, CT)
• Kate Robards (Production Intern/Publicity Coordinator, New York, NY)
• Jacob Stoebel (Resident Education Fellow/Movement Coach, Davis, CA)
• Katya Vetrov (Costume Intern/Costume Designer, West Haven, CT)

Phenomenon of Decline will also feature New Haven resident Peter Chenot, a veteran actor with Next Stage Productions, who was previously seen as Nick in Swimming in the Shallows by Adam Bock (2007) and Kip in Life Under Water by Richard Greenberg (2006). Chenot is also known locally for his involvement with New Haven Theatre Company's Funny Stages improv troupe and Meter Theatre, which performed last summer in New Haven's International Festival of Arts and Ideas.

Shannon Bolcer (Fairfield), Darragh Garvey (New Haven), Sarah Kronenberg (New Haven) and Jenny Schuck (Newtown) round out the cast.