Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company to Present The Nether

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company announces its next production of Season 36: The Nether, by Blackburn Prize-winning playwright Jennifer Haley. Directed by Shana Cooper and featuring notable D.C. actor Ed Gero in his first appearance at Woolly, The Nether will run from April 4 to May 1, 2016.

In the imminent future, when Earth is a gray wasteland, how will humanity escape? Enter the Nether: an immersive wonderland offering users beauty, order, and the ability to satisfy their desires away from "real world" scrutiny. In a series of gripping interviews, a young detective launches her investigation into the dark heart of this new realm in which depraved dreams have become reality.

Prior to its premiere, The Nether won the 2011-2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, an award which honors outstanding new English-language plays by women. In 2013, the play premiered at Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles. Following its 2015 West End production at the Duke of York's Theatre, The Nether was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Play. The Telegraph dubbed it "haunting and highly original" and The Times, London praised The Nether by declaring, "This is mind-bending, it's ingenious and it's ethically challenging."

"The Nether presents an extremely loaded and dramatic situation that serves as a test case for our thinking about future technology, and forces us as an audience to wrestle with our own values," says Woolly Mammoth Artistic Director Howard Shalwitz. "We're so excited to welcome Jennifer Haley to Woolly, whose imaginative plays have made a splash in both the US and England. We're equally thrilled to introduce Shana Cooper, who has had a big impact on our thinking about artistic process during her residency this year."

Four time Helen Hayes Award winner Ed Gero (The Originalist), new to the Woolly stage, will play the role of Papa Simms. Woolly Company Member Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey (Gruesome Playground Injuries) returns to Woolly in the role of Morris, and fellow Company Member Tim Getman (Appropriate) will play the role of Woodnut. Completing the cast, Paul Vincent O'Connor and Maya Brettell will join the production to play Doyle and Iris, respectively.

Woolly Company Members Eric Shimelonis (sound design), Jared Mezzocchi (video/projection design), and Colin K. Bills (light design) return to design The Nether. Costume designer Kelsey Hunt and set designer Sibyl Wickersheimer complete the production team.

More information about Woolly's 36th Season can be found at woollymammoth.net.