Summer/Fall 2022 Brochure by 59E59 Theaters

646-892-7999 / 59E59.ORG 2022 SEASON SUMMER FALL

59E59 THEATERS WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE ELYSABETH KLEINHANS THEATRICAL FOUNDATION IN 2004 TO GRANT PROFESSIONAL SPACE AND EXPERTISE TO NON-PROFIT THEATER COMPANIES PREMIERING THEIR WORK IN NEW YORK CITY.

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF VAL DAY, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, AND BRIAN BEIRNE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, 59E59 THEATERS PRESENTS A YEAR-ROUND CURATED PROGRAM OF OFF BROADWAY PLAYS AND MUSICALS THAT ARE NURTURED AND SUPPORTED THROUGH HIGHLY-SUBSIDIZED RENTAL RATES AS WELL AS PRODUCTION, TICKETING, FRONT OF HOUSE, MARKETING, AND PRESS SUPPORT.

WELCOME TO OUR SUMMER/FALL 2022 SEASON

Upon arriving at 59E59 Theaters we were both awestruck by the generosity of Founding Artistic Director Elysabeth Kleinhans’ business model and by how much support the Foundation granted to visiting companies. Over the years, her initial vision to provide safe, affordable producing spaces for non-profit theater companies has blossomed into a buzzing hub of creativity. The ways in which the Foundation supports non-profit producers continues to evolve and most notably, we’ve expanded our programming streams to deepen relationships with some theater makers we respect and admire. New Light Theater Company and Less Than Rent Theatre are two New York-based companies whose work has been an undeniable success with our audiences. We are pleased to include them in our Co-Op Residency program, receiving priority booking of our theaters and additional rental subsidies. Both companies display a freshness of ideas, a passion for storytelling, and an excellence in execution, and we think you’ll find their productions in our upcoming season thrilling.

Furthermore, our Resident Theater Company, Primary Stages returns to Theater A with two new plays. Held over from earlier seasons, On That Day In Amsterdam and peerless will finally take to the stage this summer and fall respectively.

Our Resident Companies’ productions will sit alongside an exciting program of curated theater that represents some of the best Off Broadway has to offer. As always, thank you for continuing to support our mission and the works of more than 20 companies whose work we host from January to December, each year.

Looking forward to welcoming you to the theater!

VAL DAY Artistic Director

Managing Director

NEW THIS YEAR! TWO MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM

MEMBERSHIP OPTION ONE MADISON AVENUE MEMBERSHIP / $59.59

- ACCESS TO 2 DISCOUNTED TICKETS PER SHOW

- 2 COMPLIMENTARY DRINK TICKETS

MEMBERSHIP OPTION TWO PARK AVENUE MEMBERSHIP / $100

- ACCESS TO 4 DISCOUNTED TICKETS PER SHOW

- 4 COMPLIMENTARY DRINK TICKETS

- NEW: JOIN A PRIVATE WAITLIST FOR SOLD-OUT PERFORMANCES

NEW MEMBER PERK: PRIVATE WAITLIST

IF A PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT, YOU CAN NOW ADD YOUR NAME TO A WAITLIST EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR PARK AVENUE MEMBERS! IF TICKETS BECOME AVAILABLE, OUR BOX OFFICE WILL CALL YOU TO CONFIRM YOUR SEATS.

PLUS, BOTH 59E59 THEATERS MEMBERSHIP LEVELS HAVE ACCESS TO THE FOLLOWING PERKS:

• SAVE UP TO 30% OFF SINGLE TICKETS

• ACCESS THE BEST SEATS WITH EXCLUSIVE MEMBER-ONLY TICKET PRESALES

• ENJOY FLEXIBLE & FREE TICKET EXCHANGES WHEN PLANS CHANGE LAST MINUTE

• TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NO BOOKING FEES

• MAKE A NIGHT OF IT WITH DISCOUNTS & DEALS ON PARKING, LOCAL RESTAURANTS, DRINKS AT THE E:BAR, & MORE!

FOR FULL DETAILS OR TO RENEW, CALL 646-892-7999 OR VISIT WWW.59E59.ORG/MEMBERSHIP

4 SUMMER/FALL SEASON 2022

59E59 THEATERS PRESENTS

EAST TO EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

A unique showcase of 14 New York shows headed to the world’s largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland, this summer.

JULY 12, 13, 14

RESOLVE PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS MARROW

BY BRIAN QUIRKA

DIRECTED BY MELISSA FIRLIT WITH CRAIG MacARTHUR

“I’m a faggot. So what?” Forced within the confines of his fabulous mind, a queer artist takes a euphoric journey to heal. Beautiful, funny, sensual, alive, and batshit crazy. This is the only way he knows.

JULY 12, 15, 16

JOEY RINALDI COMEDY PRESENTS POTTY TRAINING WITH JOEY RINALDI

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY As a teenager, Joey didn’t expect to be in a hospital bed from a near-death penis injury with three traumatic surgeries, two clumsy catheters, and one overwhelming desire to wreak hormonal havoc. Over a decade later, Joey lives to share the outrageous and humiliating details of being the only kid at school who peed into a urine bag while battling the church and his tormented mom.

JULY 13, 14, 19

TRUSONGSTRESS PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

TRUDY CARMICHAEL PRESENTS

THE IMPROVISED ONE-WOMAN SHOW!

BY ROBIN ROTHMAN TAYLOR

AND FRANK SPITZNAGEL

DIRECTED BY SEAN TAYLOR WITH ROBIN ROTHMAN TAYLOR, FRANK SPITZNAGEL, STEVE WHYTE, AND SEAN TAYLOR

Forget your troubles and let Las Vegas lounge legend Trudy Carmichael (along with her astounding accompanist) entertain you in her daring one-of-a-kind, one-night-only immersive musical event! Every show features

BOOK NOW WWW.59E59.ORG

THEATER

JULY 12 – 31

JULY 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24

A PASSION FOR LANGUAGE PRESENTS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY PRIYANKA SHETTY

DIRECTED BY THERESA M. DAVIS

Unapologetically Indian, irreverently American. The Elephant in the Room is a funny, tumultuous ride through immiscible cultures, love and loss, issues of race, and the desperation of not belonging anywhere. The play navigates Priyanka’s real-life journey as she transitions from her deeply embedded roots in India, to finding context and common ground in America.

JULY 16, 26, 30

EGO ACTUS PRESENTS ALMOST 13

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY JOAN KANE

DIRECTED BY BRUCE A! KRAMER

Almost 13 presents memories of a young girl’s violent summer in Brooklyn. Emotionally broken from witnessing a murder and more, she finds herself dancing with a ghost. Can she survive being caught between a disintegrating family and racial violence?

JULY 16, 17, 24

MARY GOGGIN PRESENTS RUNAWAY PRINCESS, A HOPEFUL TALE OF HEROIN, HOOKING AND HAPPINESS

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY MARY GOGGIN

DIRECTED BY DAN RUTH

“Once upon a time, there was a Princess born to a King and Queen who were banished from the island of Ériu and forced to flee to America in a coffin ship.” Former New York City call girl Mary Goggin shares the true story of her Irish Catholic Trauma, alcoholism, drug addiction, and prostitution all told with dark humor, unflinching honesty and unsentimental pathos.

TICKETS $15‡ MEMBERS $12

SEE THE CALENDAR ON PAGE 24 FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE.

JULY 17, 31

OWL & PUSSYCAT THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS THE ECSTASY OF VICTORIA WOODHULL

BY THEO SALTER

DIRECTED BY SEAN HARRIS WITH ASHLEY FORD

Reach across the mortal plane! A budding clairvoyant is haunted by the spirit of Victoria Woodhull, unsung heroine of the suffrage movement who was ultimately written out of history by her peers for “radical views.” Learn her extraordinary story culminating in how she became the first woman to run for President of the United States almost 50 years before women could vote.

JULY 20, 23, 30

PETER CHARNEY AND BRENDAN GEORGE PRESENT A EULOGY FOR ROMAN

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BRENDAN GEORGE CONCEIVED AND DIRECTED BY PETER CHARNEY

A young man called Milo arrives in Scotland with an urn and a promise – to eulogize the recent death of his childhood best friend. The task proves more difficult than Milo anticipates, and he seeks assistance from the attendees to complete the memorial. A Eulogy for Roman is a dark-comedy, solo-show premiere with audience interaction.

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JULY 20, 21, 22

CYNTHIA SHAW PRESENTS

VELVET DETERMINATION

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY CYNTHIA SHAW

DIRECTED BY PETER MICHAEL MARINO

Cynthia grew up playing classical piano in a tiny Colorado town, but she was determined to achieve success in New York City. In this autobiographical solo show, Cynthia shares tuneful tales of battling inner demons, hitting wrong notes, enduring hard knocks, and meeting unique Manhattan characters who inspire, help, and sometimes hinder her journey to Carnegie Hall, all illustrated by virtuoso live piano performance.

JULY 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

GABE MOLLICA PRESENTS

A SHOW ABOUT FRIENDSHIP

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY GABE MOLLICA

Comedian Gabe Mollica (The Moth) got cheated on while teaching abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland. Several years and thousands of stand up performances later, he’s written a deep-dive, joke-filled solo show about the importance of contemporary male friendship.

JULY 19, 21, 23

HARMON LEON PRESENTS HARMON LEON IN THE

JOKES

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY HARMON LEON

Harmon Leon lives a double life. “On-Stage Harmon” – is very confident and shows no fear. “Off-Stage Harmon” has anxiety and feels awkward ordering a sandwich. A nod to Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape – Harmon dives deep into his love/hate relationship with the world of comedy, only to realize that “The Jokes” saved his soul.

JULY 23, 26, 29

SAM MORRISON PRESENTS

SUGAR DADDY

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY SAM MORRISON

In this follow up to his critically acclaimed Hello, Daddy, comedian Sam Morrison explores the hilarities of loss, grief, diabetes, and gay history.

“You’re about to be converted to the fandom.”

- TimeOut NY

JULY 24

TWILIGHT THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS THE GOLFER

BY BRIAN PARKS

DIRECTED BY MARGARETT PERRY

WITH MATTHEW BOSTON, BRIAN DYKSTRA, PATRICK FREDERIC, VINCE GATTON, LORI PRINCE, AND ALEX SUNDERHAUS

An ordinary guy skips work to play golf when he’s struck by lightning—thrusting him into a world of hard-nosed detectives, talking golf clubs, and the Wife of Bath. A fast-paced, comic fantasia by two-time Fringe First winner Brian Parks.

JULY 27, 28, 30

DUTCH KILLS THEATER COMPANY PRESENTS INTELLIGENCE

BY HELEN BANNER

DIRECTED BY JESS CHAYES

Intelligence transports us into the basement of the US State Department, where two young Foreign Officers are forced to rethink their secret views on American diplomacy. As events on the ground push them deeper into role-play, the question of when we make bargains with violent men becomes ever more personal and a future of war or peace hangs in the balance.

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THEATER C

UNDISCOVERED WORKS WITH EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

RUTH & WILLIAM ISENBERG AND LEAH S. ABRAMS PRESENTS

HOODED; OR BEING BLACK FOR DUMMIES

TEARRANCE ARVELLE CHISHOLM

DIRECTED BY GEORGE ANTHONY RICHARDSON

Marquis is a book smart prep-schooler living with his adoptive white family in the affluent suburb of Achievement Heights; Tru is a street savvy kid from the inner city of Baltimore. Their worlds overlap in a holding cell — a first for Marquis, who has been protected by his family’s privilege, but all too familiar to Tru. They butt heads, debate, wrestle, and ultimately prove Nietzsche and Tupac were really saying the same thing.

Described by The Washington Post as “entirely fearless,” Hooded; Or Being Black For Dummies is a wickedly whimsical story chronicling two polar experiences of growing up black in America.

WITH MIA Y. ANDERSON

ZACHARY DESMOND

HENRY JAMES EDEN

TJAŠA FERME

EMMA NADINE ONASCH

MADDIE SMALL

LAMBERT TAMIN

MADDIE THOMAS

AND

TARRENCE J. TAYLOR

UNDERSTUDIES

TRAJAN CLAYTON

HALIMA HENDERSON

KEITH WEISS

REGULAR $30‡

MEMBERS $25

SUMMER/FALL SEASON 2022

“ONE OF THE MORE PSYCHOLOGICALLY, SPIRITUALLY RICH PLAYS YOU ARE LIKELY TO SEE ON THE STAGE.” — BROADWAY WORLD

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Undiscovered Works celebrates and builds community through storytelling of all kinds. Dedicated to supporting artists as they develop new work, their ensemble-based productions bring to light the social issues of our times, all the while entertaining and inspiring dialogue. Their storytelling series features plays, music, poetry, comedy, and more along with highlighting the non-profit organizations who care for our neighbors. They believe that storytelling inspires action and change in the world. www.undiscoveredworks.org

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11 – JULY 3

JUNE

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Primary Stages is dedicated to inspiring, supporting, producing, and sharing the art of playwriting. They operate on the strongly held belief that the future of American theater relies on nurturing playwrights and giving them the support they need to fully realize their vision. Primary Stages is the Resident Off Broadway Theater Company at 59E59 Theaters. www.primarystages.org

JULY 23 - SEPTEMBER 4 10 SUMMER/FALL SEASON 2022

PRIMARY STAGES IN ASSOCIATION WITH TED SNOWDON PRESENTS

ON THAT DAY IN AMSTERDAM

BY CLARENCE DIRECTED BY ZI ALIKHAN

COO

In a time when your fate is determined by your passport, Clarence Coo’s deeply arresting play captures a transient moment of magic. The morning after a one-night stand, a refugee from the Middle East wakes up next to an American backpacker who is himself the son of immigrants. With only a day until the two young men must each leave Amsterdam, they set off on a romantic journey through the city.

Moved by the spirits of Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Anne Frank, On That Day in Amsterdam witnesses these two young dreamers count down their remaining hours together, discovering the meaning of art, love, and loss.

FIRST LOOK $25†

SAT, JULY 23 AT 7:00

SUN, JULY 24 AT 2:00

PREVIEW $35†

TUE, JULY 26 —

WED, AUGUST 10

REGULAR $60-$125‡

MEMBERS $50

THEATER A

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On That Day in Amsterdam is made possible, in part, through the generous support of the Garfield Family Fund in memory of Johanna Garfield, public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

JULY 23 - AUGUST 20 12 SUMMER/FALL SEASON 2022

Less Than Rent is a New York-based independent theatre company founded in 2010 that seeks to elevate stories of class struggle in America and throughout the world. They present new works that explore themes of egalitarianism, collectivism, and anti-imperialism with their signature hard-edged style and irreverent humor. They are currently one of 59E59 Theaters’ Co-Op Resident Companies. www.lessthanrent.org

ENGAGEMENT! UNLIMITED THRILLS!

A NEW AMERICAN PLAY… with NEW AMERICAN SONGS! LIMITED

THEATER B

LESS THAN RENT THEATRE PRESENTS

THE PANIC OF ‘29

BY GRAHAM TECHLER DIRECTED BY MAX FRIEDMAN

When the stock market crashes in October 1929, the Roaring Twenties come to a screeching halt, and the lives of people everywhere will never be the same!

Dot, the secretary for the VP of the New York Stock Exchange, skips town with a rag-tag band of misfits and embarks on a decades-spanning journey involving financiers, lounge singers, crime novelists, cops, hobos, vigilantes, beekeepers, and even the French. Try as they might, they can’t outrun alternate history in this chaotic reimagining of the Great Crash.

A dark screwball comedy with memorable characters, toetapping tunes, and featuring… the total collapse of the US of A!

WITH JOYELLE NICOLE JOHNSON

RACHEL B. JOYCE

JULIA KNITEL

ERIK LOCHTEFELD

OLIVIA PUCKETT WILL ROLAND WILL TURNER AND RJ VAILLANCOURT

FIRST LOOK $25†

SAT, JULY 23 AT 7:15

SUN, JULY 24 AT 2:15

REGULAR $40‡

MEMBERS $30

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OBERON THEATRE ENSEMBLE PRESENTS

THE MEMORY EXAM

BY STEVEN FECHTER DIRECTED BY TERRENCE O’BRIEN

Set in a future world when the simple act of forgetting can be fatal, vigilante laws turn neighbors, friends, and colleagues into spies and informants.

Three people in their autumn years covertly hire an expert who can coach them for the perilous Memory Exam. Failure is almost all but certain — but the coach has devised a method that depends on how well they can recall the specifics of their most enduring memory no matter how factual or fantastic.

The Memory Exam is a play about courage, storytelling, and the fear of losing your future because you’re forgetting the past.

REGULAR $25‡ MEMBERS $20

THEATER C

14 SUMMER/FALL SEASON 2022

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Oberon Theatre Ensemble’s mission is to cultivate and invigorate a diverse theater community through the production of original, contemporary, and classic works. www.oberontheatre.org

3 -

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SEPTEMBER

ABOUT THE COMPANY

www.primarystages.org

M LSEPTEMBER 24 - NOVEMBER 6 16 SUMMER/FALL SEASON 2022

THEATER A

PRIMARY STAGES PRESENTS

PEERLESS

BY JIEHAE PARK DIRECTED BY MARGOT

BORDELON

A darkly comedic twist on Shakespeare’s Macbeth set in the cutthroat world of elite college admissions, Jiehae Park’s clever and incisive adaptation, peerless, is a comedy...until it’s not.

This new version of the classic story centers on M and L, twin Asian-American siblings who have given up everything to get into The College. When another classmate claims what they feel is rightfully “their spot,” the twins decide they have only one option: murder.

Jiehae Park is a 2019/20 Tow Playwright-in-Residence at Primary Stages.

peerless is made possible, in part, through the generous support of The Tow Foundation, public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

FIRST LOOK $25†

SAT, SEPTEMBER 24 AT 7:00

SUN, SEPTEMBER 25 AT 2:00

PREVIEW $35†

TUE, SEPTEMBER 27 —

SUN, OCTOBER 9

REGULAR $60-$125‡

MEMBERS $50

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“[A] DARK, WHIRLING DERVISH OF A COMEDY ABOUT COMPETITION, IDENTITY POLITICS, SHIFTING LOYALTIES, MANIPULATION, POWER DYNAMICS AND PLAIN OLD TEENAGE INSECURITIES.” – CHICAGO TRIBUNE

NEW LIGHT THEATER PROJECT PRESENTS

INK’DWELL

BY ERIN E. ADAMS DIRECTED BY TABATHA GAYLE

Kendra returns to her childhood home on Martha’s Vineyard upon learning her brother has died in a terrible accident.

While searching for the truth about his passing, she finds herself tormented by a childhood ghost story. As the mystery behind his death is unraveled, she discovers that he was drowning in much more than water. The ghost story, paired with her grief, begins to impact her relationship with her family and to the ocean itself.

Ink’dWell is a poetic look at grief and how love lives on.

Part of New Light Theater Project’s 2022 New Light New Voices Fall Festival.

REGULAR $30‡ MEMBERS $25

SUMMER/FALL SEASON 2022

THEATER C

ABOUT THE COMPANY

New Light Theater Project (NLTP) nurtures a Collective of artist-practitioners through the presentation of compelling stories across theatrical genres. Founded by Sarah Norris and Michael Aguirre, NLTP believes in the strength of ensemble-work and are committed to fostering their Collective composed of writers, actors, directors, stage managers, and designers from diverse backgrounds. At least 50% of an NLTP production utilizes our Collective while the rest of the production team consists of innovative artists they hope to cultivate deeper relationships with. They are currently one of 59E59 Theaters’ Co-Op Resident Companies. www.newlighttheaterproject.com

SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 16 19 BOOK NOW WWW.59E59.ORG

ABOUT THE COMPANY

New Light Theater Project (NLTP) nurtures a Collective of artist-practitioners through the presentation of compelling stories across theatrical genres.

Founded by Sarah Norris and Michael Aguirre, NLTP believes in the strength of ensemble-work and are committed to fostering their Collective composed of writers, actors, directors, stage managers, and designers from diverse backgrounds. At least 50% of an NLTP production utilizes our Collective while the rest of the production team consists of innovative artists they hope to cultivate deeper relationships with. They are currently one of 59E59 Theaters’ Co-Op Resident Companies.

www.newlighttheaterproject.com

SUMMER/FALL SEASON 2022 20 OCTOBER 20 - NOVEMBER 5

I WANNA F*CK LIKE ROMEO AND JULIET

BY ANDREW RINCÓN DIRECTED BY JESSE JOU

Snow in July, comets falling from the sky… the world is thrown into chaos as Cupid rips off her wings and gives up on Love. But her old flame Saint Valentine has a plan to bring her spirit back up, and it involves reigniting the flame between two men, Alejandro and Benny.

Moving from the Heavens to Hackensack, I Wanna F*ck like Romeo and Juliet is a love story of epic proportions that investigates gods and mortals, realism and fantasy, and the shame and joy within Queer love of Color.

Part of New Light Theater Project’s 2022 New Light New Voices Fall Festival.

REGULAR $30‡ MEMBERS $25

THEATER

NEW LIGHT THEATER PROJECT PRESENTS

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DANIEL C. DENNETT, LINDA LaSCOLA, AND THE CIVILIANS PRESENT

THE UNBELIEVING

BY MARIN DIRECTED BY STEVE

GAZZANIGA

COSSON

In the classic tale of religious conversion, finding God holds the promise of a life filled with purpose and meaning. But what happens when this transformation occurs in reverse, and a faith you have built your life around begins to fall away? The Unbelieving takes a penetrating look into the lives of practicing clergy members— Catholics, Episcopalians, Evangelicals, Fundamentalists, Jews, Mormons, Muslims—who have stopped believing in God.

Staged by NYC’s acclaimed downtown theater company

The Civilians in the brilliant investigative-theater style they pioneered, The Unbelieving tells the intimate stories of these faith leaders. Using their actual words, obtained during a groundbreaking study by philosopher Daniel C. Dennett and qualitative researcher Linda LaScola, the play explores the struggles, courage, and great humor of these “unbelievers” as they face the hardest decision of their lives—whether to continue living in secret or to risk everything by telling the truth.

FIRST LOOK $25†

THU, OCTOBER 20 AT 7:15

FRI, OCTOBER 21 AT 7:15

BASED ON THE BOOK

CAUGHT IN THE PULPIT:

LEAVING BELIEF BEHIND BY

DANIEL C. DENNETT AND LINDA LaSCOLA

REGULAR $40‡

MEMBERS $30

SUMMER/FALL SEASON 2022

THEATER B

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The Civilians began in 2001 with a company of artists who were interested in making new work at the intersection of the theatrical and the real. The company supports a number of emerging and established artists each year through its R & D Program, cabaret series, and its online journal, Extended Play. www.thecivilians.org

23 BOOK NOW WWW.59E59.ORG OCTOBER 20 - NOVEMBER 20