2020 - 2025
Full Contact
by Ariel Estrada / Leviathan Lab
After a week alone in his apartment, Filipino American Ariel Estrada* unravels under the weight of his memories: a violent cult, a lost faith, and the echo of his late father’s demands. Caught between guilt and survival, he fights to take the first step toward healing before his mind pulls him under.
Blue Seal, Blue Sea
by Dante Fuoco
Jolted by the sudden death of his estranged father, a gay man ventures back into the closet, where his childhood camcorder, TV, and family home videos are gathering dust. A fateful huff of “VCR cleaner” transports him through a g00ning galaxy, all the way to a watery world governed by Y2K technology. His name is now F@gg’aught Flamé, and if he ever wants to get back home he has to play—and play with—VHS tapes from a forgotten past.
Broken Images
by Girish Karnad / Performed by Neeraja Ramjee
In this riveting one-woman show, a writer's sudden international acclaim triggers an unexpected confrontation - with herself. As her own image becomes her harshest critic, secrets unravel in this gripping exploration of ambition, identity, and truth. What happens when success comes at the cost of authenticity? How far would you go to prove your worth? Originally premiered to critical acclaim, Broken Images has resonated with international audiences for its prescient exploration of identity and authenticity, themes that feel particularly urgent in today's social media landscape.
The OGGs in Hoboken
by Barry Boehm / Presented by TOSOS Theater Company
Rob and Frank are a happily married couple in their sixties living in Hoboken. For the past year, the couple has been “entertaining” Dylan, a struggling writer in his twenties, who comes to their place every other Thursday. On a fateful Friday afternoon, Rob is shocked to discover that Dylan has created a popular podcast about their sexual adventures called WEDNESDAY’S BOY, and it has gone viral. When later that evening Rob learns that his husband is short-listed for an appointment to the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and Netflix is interested in WEDNESDAY’S BOY, mayhem ensues! What would you do if your sex life were about to become a Netflix miniseries?
ICE WORLD: A Life After Life Musical
Book & Music by Andrew Monihan / Book & Lyrics by June Rachelson-Ospa
Set from 1969 to 1996 against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and its aftermath, ICEWORLD explores the lives of Ralph, Michael and John, three young men whose families are forever changed by their military service. The war destroys everything in its path, setting in motion a tragic chain of events that will echo through generations. Addiction and trauma take their toll on the men who return and their families, leaving one’s orphaned son and another’s fatherless daughter to reconnect as adults. As the two confront the buried secrets and trauma that threaten their chance at happiness, reality turns to the supernatural as Brian and Abby are summoned to ICEWORLD, a frozen Purgatory where past and present collide. Can love transcend even death itself?
Sally Spectre: The Musical
Book, Music & Lyrics by David P. Johnson
In 1850, little Sally was murdered with a hatchet, leaving her spirit to haunt the childhood bedroom of a dilapidated New Orleans mansion. For fifty years she has remained there, trapped between childhood innocence and an uncertain eternity. Now, her time is running out. Unless she can confront her fears and move on, Sally will fade into nothing more than a whisper — or fall prey to the wraith sent to claim her soul. With only her beloved toys as companions and protectors, she must face spectral intruders, sinister mayhem, and the horrors of her own memories. This haunting tale blends dark comedy with gothic chills in a musical like no other.
Truman vs. Israel
by William Spatz / directed by Randy White
Co-starring Tony Award® nominee Willy Falk as Truman (B’way: original “Chris” in Miss Saigon; TV: “And Just Like That”) and Helen Laser as Bella Abzug (Regional: Indecent, Anna; TV: “Bull”/CBS) with Broadway talents Matt Caplan (B’way: Rent, High Fidelity, Spider Man…) and Mark Lotito (Bway: The Most Happy Fella, Victor/Victoria).
Step into Truman’s home office in 1953 Missouri as Bella Abzug uncovers how Truman grappled with one of history’s most consequential decisions. This unflinching biographical drama explores the man behind the momentous recognition of Israel and decision to drop the bomb—revealing the startling contradictions between his public actions and private thoughts. Through Truman’s own diary entries, personal letters, and recorded conversations, witness the internal struggle of a president whose personal prejudices clashed with political necessity and moral imperative. The powerful drama examines how history’s heroes are often deeply flawed human beings making imperfect choices in impossible circumstances. And finally the real unsung hero of Israel’s birth is disclosed.
let’s talk about anything else…
by Anthony Anello / directed by Dennis Corsi
A group of friends escape to the Berkshires for a week-long getaway almost a year after their friend Abby’s untimely passing. Despite their efforts to keep their pasts outside the walls of their secluded AirBnB cabin, their grief continues to haunt them until they have no choice but to confront it.
Kind Stranger
Based on Tennessee Williams’ MEMOIRS
adapted & directed by Stephen Simone-Friedland /
conceived and performed by Rick Simone-Friedland
Kind Stranger depicts the poignant journey of Tennessee Williams as the legendary playwright recounts his life, art, and love affairs. Witness his wit and unflinching honesty as he writes his last chapter, revealing how his plays were his life and his life was his plays. Adapted directly from his memoir and using only his words, Kind Stranger could be the last original Tennessee Williams play.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Shakespeare adaptation by Ensemble Shakespeare Company
Four lovers escape the confines of the city to a forest ruled by battling fairies. A royal wedding is prepared after a brutal war, and an amateur troupe rehearses a play after a long day of work. As these worlds intertwine in delightful chaos, characters navigate truths and illusions about who they are and what they value. Though arguably Shakespeare’s best-known comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream asks us to consider profound questions about the nature of love and art. ESC’s Midsummer thwarts conventions of gender and traditional setting so that our audience can immerse themselves in the poetry and wildness of the storytelling. The production utilizes innovative theatrical techniques to literally paint our scenes and actors in bold colors as the story unfolds.
Ellen’s Boys
by James Sullivan / directed by Donald Sheehan / True Repertory Theatre
Set in a working-class Irish American triple-decker home in Dorchester, Mass., 1965, Ellen's Boys follows devoted matriarch Ellen Flaherty as she navigates a transformative year with her three adult sons during a time of profound social change. As she fights to maintain control over her family, Ellen discovers that her boys' lives are spinning beyond her influence. While scheming to find him the perfect wife, Gil faces his own private struggle as he confronts his sexuality in an era when such truths remain unspoken. John, a priest at the local parish, begins to sense the brewing troubles that will soon shake the Catholic Church. While youngest son Michael, freshly enlisted in the army, falls for an Italian girl whom his mother deems completely unsuitable. With no secrets safe and no boundaries respected, only their deep love for one another and their resilient sense of humor can hold the family together through the emotional upheaval that threatens to tear them apart.
Persephone Palmer Steps Out
by Caitlyn Waltermire / directed by Natalie Thomas
Set during a wintery, sub-zero Summer in the 1990s in a basement apartment hundreds of feet below the ground, a darkly hilarious exploration of the god-like nature of familial hierarchies, the contingencies of love, conditional acceptance, and the divine, desperate pursuit of control.
Witches vs. Aliens Double Bill
Encounter: A Space Cabaret / Christmas Eve in Dikanka
directed & choreographed by Jen Wineman
Written & Performed by Zena Wood - A comedy-driven space cabaret that lands somewhere between a late-night weather show and a cosmic fever dream where nothing is linear. Live from New York, it’s Space Weather Girl! What if an alien encounter was more human condition and less lasers? Add some old-time Hollywood charm, a historical “mating program,” and you’ve got yourself a show! As a studio audience, you will witness the mysterious broadcast sparking an interplanetary moment. You’ll wonder at a spectacular alien dance performance and you’ll do all of this in a fraction of a second (60 minutes). It’s a science thing. Come for the facts, the songs and the comedy, and find yourself unexpectedly heart-warmed. Featuring Brandon Weber as Greg. ________
A new musical by Kit Goldstein Grant based on the story by Ukrainian novelist Nikolai Gogol, a blacksmith must find fancy shoes like those worn by the Czarina in the next few hours or lose the heart of his lady love. But when the Devil comes to town, will he give up his soul for a sole? And what will he do about his mother, who is a promiscuous witch? No really, an actual witch. This loosely adapted take on Nikolai Gogol’s story sets the show in a meta-theatrical universe which combines a Ukrainian 19th-century absurdist tone and a modern sensibility, plus a lotta slapstick.
Nine Moons
by Keith Hamilton Cobb / directed by Jessica Burr, Blessed Unrest Theatre Company
In Nine Moons, the archetypes that Shakespeare gives us of Othello, Desdemona, Cassio and Brabantio, gather in our version of Venice to explore the realities of a family full of secrets, powerful friendships, and a story of unknown and ungovernable passion. Nine Moons is a narrative that we all can recognize and be touched by. We transform alongside these people to navigate the depths of our own humanity as we witness January through September in a stifling house of secrets.
MADDIE: A New Musical
by Steven Dexter, Shaun McKenna & Stephen Keeling / directed by Andrew Winans
A mysterious love story inspired by the real life of silent screen star Marion Marsh, the British musical is based on Jack Finney’s novel “Marion’s Wall,” and reimagined for a new generation by director and choreographer Andrew Winans. In the late 1970s, a couple uncover a spooky message written in lipstick behind their new East Village apartment's peeling wallpaper, leading to a ghostly visit from the message's author, set on a second chance at stardom.
Those Who Remained
created and performed by Sophia Gutchinov / directed by Rani O’Brien
In this transformative multimedia solo show, Sophia Gutchinov explores the profound depths of love through a deeply personal lens of Indigenous ceremony and modern dating. Drawing from her unique Italian-Mongolian heritage, she weaves a narrative that bridges cultural divides, reflecting her background of a Buddhist father and Catholic mother. The performance incorporates projections, comedy, and spoken word, creating an immersive experience that confronts personal roots and identity. Collaborating with artists from diverse backgrounds – including AAPI, Latin, Black, LGBTQ+, and Kalmyk tribal performers – Gutchinov examines her family’s complex history, including her grandparents’ escape from WWII, her parent’s nomadic journey to…New Jersey, and her recent journey to her father’s homeland, all viewed through an intersection of acting and neuroscience.
Cindy of Arc
created and performed by Cynthia Kaplan / directed by Dani Davis
Why are there no Jews in Whoville? What is a scold’s bridle? What is the song Delta Dawn really about? Should we rethink Dr. Deborah Birx? Why is the Holy Ghost a ghost? In this brand new work of comedy and music, your guide, Cindy of Arc, will answer these and other pressing questions, taking you through an abridged history of the lies men tell in such popular areas as religion, politics, sex, and, of course, songwriting. Think American Utopia but with Nazis, expletives, cannibals, dogs, no David Byrne, and no Utopia. And no choreographer. And no money. And it’s a comedy. And we wear shoes. But otherwise, very similar.
Sadec 1965: A Love Story
created and performed by Flora Le
In 2013, Flora embarked on a solo 2,000-mile motorcycle journey across Vietnam, seeking to understand her father's incessant silence about his homeland. Desperate to connect with her heritage and to make peace with her father, for six weeks she traveled from North Vietnam to his southern hometown of Sadec. What she discovered was the story she’s been longing to tell. But something was missing. Years later, Flora discovers love letters between him and Hien, the high school sweetheart he left behind during the War. These letters have revealed the mysteries of her father, and decades later have become the lost history Flora needs to finally tell her story.
Casualty of War
written and performed by Sharon Lesser
Sharon’s got a perfect itinerary planned: A mother-son tour of Normandy and Omaha Beach, with some road-tripping, great French food and a visit to Paris. What she gets is a journey with a sullen, heart-broken adolescent whose own emotional D-Day turns him into a hostile adversary pining for home. There’s a war brewing and it’s not between the Germans and the Allies. While trying to make the best of things by attempting to outmaneuver her son’s everchanging moods (i.e., being a mom), she’s surprised by how the WW2 history they encounter invokes memories of antisemitism and the impact the Holocaust had on her family. Casualty of War explores the timeless themes of motherhood, intergenerational trauma and identity. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll crave rosé.
Fog & Filthy Air
written by Tom Diriwachter / directed by Jonathan Weber
Following a desperate phone call, Tim arrives by bus at the Hound Dog Motel, a by-the-hour hellhole outside Memphis, Tennessee, with the purpose of rescuing his parents from a 1996 road trip to Graceland gone horribly wrong. As the mystery of how they became stranded unravels, Father tells of hitting a fog bank, leading to his having an emotional breakdown. Stuck in a purgatory overseen by a black velvet painting of Elvis, Fog and Filthy Air is an intense drama that finds humor in the worst of circumstances. Ultimately, it is a love story.
The Price
written by Arthur Miller / directed by Noelle McGrath, Village Theater Group
Set in an attic of a condemned Manhattan building at the end of the 1950s, this compelling play examines the price we pay for the choices we make or fail to make in life. Four unforgettable characters struggle to make sense of the past and create a future in this 1968 tour de force masterpiece of Miller's pen.
E.G.G.
written by Emile Aslan Lacheny / directed by Moshe Henderson
Four survivors of a post-apocalyptic world might have encountered the next steps of human evolution as they are held captive to their most primal instincts. In a world where humanity is pushed to its absolute limits and every instinct is laid bare, E.G.G. provocatively explores identity, morality, survival and the duality of human nature. Do we embrace our most civilized selves, or do we succumb to the treacherous impulses that lie beneath the surface? Minimalist yet captivating, E.G.G. haunts with its compelling narrative, rich characters, and thought-provoking themes.
Doric Wilson’s Street Theater
directed by Mark Finley and Barry Childs
Iconic gay playwright’s powerful satire of the historic Stonewall uprising presented by The Other Side of Silence (TOSOS), New York City’s oldest and longest producing LGBTQIA+ theater company celebrating its 50th Anniversary.
Medea: A Musical Comedy
written and directed by John Fisher
Winner of six Bay Area Critics Circle Awards including “Best Musical,” the LA Weekly Award for “Best Musical,” and the GLAAD Media Award for “Best Theatre,” Medea: A Musical Comedy is the critically-acclaimed, kitschy musical version of Euripides' MEDEA. A theatre company is putting on a campy musical version of Medea. Paul, the super gay star and Elsa, playing the title role hate each other off-stage then suddenly find themselves falling in love, shockingly. The quintessential backstage story spirals out of control as the flamboyant director goes insane trying to keep the whole mess on track, with many twists, turns, and sequins along the way! Get tickets now and become one of thousands of theatregoers at one of the funniest and murderous musicals in town!
Tomorrow We Love
written by Jeffrey Vause and Steve Hauck / directed by Steve Hauck
It's 1960 in the wealthy enclave of Noble Bay, California, where Elaine ‘Lainie' Fairbanks is the toast of the town. She has it all - money, status and an intimate relationship with the Pacific Ocean. Suddenly Lainie must contend with her husband's betrayal, her daughter's rebellion, her best friend's treachery and the wrath of a small town engulfed in scandal. Can she turn tragedy into triumph? Will she crumble or will she soar? Tomorrow We Love is her story - and ours!
Deadly Stages
written by Marc Castle and Mark Finley / directed by Mark Finley
Deadly Stages tells the tale of Broadway legend Veronica Traymore as she takes a desperate stab at securing her next smash hit. She thinks she found it in Anthony Arlo's new show, until murder makes its entrance! Will her new show arrive to the Great White Way for her coveted Opening Night, or will it be curtains for her? Paying homage to the classic (and not so classic) backstage films of the 40's and 50's when Hollywood was looking to Broadway for inspiration, the timeless whodunit genre is reimagined and turned on its side in a fast paced, fun and funny tribute to this golden age in entertainment. Each playing multiple roles, who in our cast of six will kick the bucket, and who will carry on? Join us to find out, as all will be answered for those who survive Deadly Stages!
Pride House
written by Chris Weikel / directed by Igor Goldin
Presented by TOSOS Theater Company. It’s 1938 in the remote beach community of Cherry Grove on Fire Island, and Beatrice Farrar is planning a party for her colorful, flamboyant friends from the New York theatre scene who are visiting. As the guests descend on her summer home, Pride House, she hopes it will be smooth sailing. When several of the “family folk,” the more conservative Long Islanders who vacation in Cherry Grove with their children, arrive for the festivities, things take a decidedly stormy turn. Literally. Little does Beatrice realize, but it is the eve of the great hurricane of 1938, an event which changes Fire Island in ways that reverberate to the present day.
Flawless
written by Robin Goldfin / directed by Ed Chemaly
A family's youngest daughter takes center stage as her father cares for his wife of over 50 years, who now has Alzheimer’s. Witnessing the relentless repetition of the disease and the extraordinary patience and unwavering commitment of her father’s love, Estella struggles to accept her mother as she is now. While recalling her mother's former vitality, a world view emanates, and we see the same couple in their first year of marriage, filled with light and hope for the future. She moves through time and space to learn the flickering power of memory, and to remember what is important when the mother she loves cannot.