Life Is Full of Turbulence in Yale Rep’s ‘Rough Crossing’

Two celebrated playwrights aboard a trans-Atlantic ocean liner have no ending yet for their new musical comedy, which is to debut on Broadway in four days. In the meantime, their composer, being a fool for love, has tossed his score overboard and is threatening to jump ship. Could matters get any worse?

That’s the question in the Yale Repertory Theatre’s next production, “Rough Crossing,” which runs Nov. 28-Dec. 20. Performances take place at the University Theatre, 222 York St.

“Rough Crossing” is a madcap romance by Tony and Academy Award-winning playwright Tom Stoppard, freely adapted from Ferenc Molnár’s “Play at the Castle.” The Yale Rep’s production will be directed by Mark Rucker, a graduate of the Yale School of Drama. André Previn composed the music.

In “Rough Crossing,” the playwrights Turai and Gal must finish their play before they dock in New York. Their tongue-tied composer is hopelessly in love with the temperamental leading lady, who’s been caught in a compromising position with the leading man. If they are to get their jobs done, the playwrights have to steady the turbulent emotions of the cast and crew.

Rucker previously directed the Yale Rep’s productions of “Twelfth Night,” “Measure for Measure,” “The Imaginary Invalid,” “Kingdom of Earth,” “All’s Well That Ends Well” (with James Bundy, artistic director of the Yale Rep and dean of the School of Drama) and “The Mistakes Madeline Made.” He is an associate artist at South Coast Repertory, where he has directed over 20 productions including world premieres by Richard Greenberg, Christopher Shinn, Annie Weisman, John Glore and Culture Clash. His other work includes productions at Arena Stage, La Jolla Playhouse, Berkeley Rep, INTIMAN Theatre, Syracuse Stage, American Conservatory Theatre, Ford’s Theater, The Old Globe and California Shakespeare Theater, among others. His first feature film, “Die, Mommie, Die!” won a special jury prize at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival.

The cast for “Rough Crossing” includes Sean Dugan (Adam), Ashlee Fife (Lady of the Chorus), Stephanie ­Fittro (Lady of the Chorus), Jenifer Foote (Lady of the Chorus), Shauna Hoskin (Lady of the Chorus), Patrick Kerr (Dvornichek), John G. Preston (Ivor), Reg Rogers (Turai), Susannah Schulman (Natasha), Greg Stuhr (Gal), Adina Verson (Lady of the Chorus) and Adria Vitlar (Lady of the Chorus).

The creative team includes choreographer Michele Lynch, musical director Erika Schroth, scenic designer Timothy R. Mackabee, costume designer Luke Brown, lighting designer Jesse Belsky, sound designer Phillip Owen, dramaturgs Miriam Felton-Dansky and Walter Byongsok Chon, and stage manager Iris D. O’Brien.

Performances take place at 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, with an additional 8 p.m. performance on Monday, Dec. 1, and 2 p.m. performances on Wednesday, Dec. 10, and the following Saturdays: Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20. Opening night is on Thursday, Dec. 4. Other special performance events include “Talk Back” — a conversation with the cast and crew — after the 2 p.m. performances on Dec. 6 and Dec. 13 and the 8 p.m. performance on Thursday, Dec. 11; and a 1 p.m. senior reception before the 2 p.m. show on Dec. 10. The 2 p.m. show on Dec. 13 is an open-captioned performance, and the 2 p.m. show on Dec. 20 is an audio-described performance.

Tickets for “Rough Crossing” range from $35 to $65. Student, senior and group rates are available. Tickets are available on the Yale Rep website (www.yalerep.org), at the box office at 1120 Chapel St. (at York St.) or by calling (203) 432-1234.