Brits Off Broadway 2017 at 59E59 Theaters

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BIG DEAL AND THE BEST DEAL FOR BRITS OFF BROADWAY AT 59E59 IS

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SAVINGS Up to 30% off single tickets, discounts on Parking*, 15% off a dozen local restaurants, $2 off drinks at 59E59’s E:Bar, and more.

VARIETY With nine shows and more than 200 performances during BRITS OFF BROADWAY, there’s plenty to choose from.

EXCLUSIVITY Priority Booking and a dedicated ticket phone line for Members

FLEXIBILITY No Fee Ticket Exchange**

CONVENIENCE Located in midtown between Park and Madison, we’re just off the 4/5/6 N/W/R!

COMMUNITY One 59E59 Membership covers an entire household.

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59E59 THEATERS 59 EAST 59TH STREET BETWEEN PARK & MADISON NEW YORK, NY 10022 * Between Park and Lexington 212-754-2678 Mon-Fri: 5pm-Midnight; Sat-Sun: 12pm-Midnight ** Tickets may only be exchanged for an alternate performance of the same show, up to three hours prior to the ticketed performance or the preferred performance – whichever comes first.

If tickets were purchased at a discount, and that discount is not available for your preferred performance, you will need to pay the difference in price, in addition to the service fee for non-members. Exchanges cannot be made for a lower-priced ticket. Tickets purchased through third-party sellers are not eligible for exchanges.

O T E M O C L E W

BRITS OFF

BROADWAY 2017

59E59 Theaters has had a long and glittering history of selecting the most exciting British work to premiere in New York each spring.

Now in its thirteenth year, Brits Off Broadway has staged the US premieres of work by Philip Ridley, David Greig, Mike Bartlett, Alan Ayckbourn, and John Osborne and has featured such stars as two-time Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn, Simon Callow, Ewen Bremner, Edward Petherbridge, and Celia Imrie.

Brits Off Broadway 2017 continues that strong tradition with a constellation of nine fantastic new plays. This season showcases a myriad of bold voices alongside the return of some familiar playwrights whose work has riveted audiences in recent years, including J.B. Priestley (Cornelius, Brits Off Broadway 2013), Torben Betts (The Unconquered, Brits Off Broadway 2008), and Henry Naylor (Echoes, Brits Off Broadway 2016).

With stories that will transport audiences from the Welsh town of Splott and war-torn Syria, to the London subway and the banks of Loch Ness, rich theatrical worlds await you! As we prepare to fill our stages with incredible talent and celebrate the savviest, wittiest, and most compelling writing in the UK today, consider becoming a member and see more fabulous theater for less.

Check out the full calendar on pages 22 and 23.

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FROM YOU!

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April 4 – April 23 Show And Tell, in association with the Traverse Theatre Company, presents

A GAMBLER’S GUIDE TO DYING WRITTEN AND PERFORMEND BY GARY McNAIR DIRECTED BY GARETH NICOLLS What are the odds of living an extraordinary life? This is the story of one boy’s granddad who won a fortune betting on the 1966 soccer World Cup and, when diagnosed with cancer, gambled it all on living to see the year 2000. A Gambler’s Guide to Dying is an intergenerational tale of what we live for and what we leave behind.

Gary McNair’s multi award-winning solo show opens in New York following highly acclaimed, sold-out runs at Spoleto Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Adelaide Festival, and London’s Off West End.

yyyy “McNAIR SHINES IN THIS BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN, DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE, WARMLY COMIC PIECE THAT ACCUMULATES LAYERS OF MEANING THROUGH THE ACT OF STORYTELLING ITSELF. RICH AND EARTHILY FUNNY A GENUINE PLEASURE.” The Guardian, London

yyyy “AN AMUSING AND AFFECTING MONOLOGUE...

ONE OF THE HITS OF THE EDINBURGH FRINGE.” The Times, London

$25-$35 (59E59 MEMBERS $20-$24.50) TUE, WED & THU 7:30, FRI 8:30, SAT 2:30 & 8:30, SUN 3:30 ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE: SUN, APR 23 7:30

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April 11 – May 7 Redbeard Theatre, in association with Gilded Balloon Productions, presents

ANGEL & ECHOES

BY HENRY NAYLOR DIRECTED BY EMMA BUTLER (Echoes) AND MICHAEL CABOT (Angel) WITH AVITAL LVOVA (Angel), SERENA MANTEGHI (Echoes), AND RACHEL SMYTH (Echoes) Henry Naylor returns to this year’s Festival after the acclaimed Brits Off Broadway run of Echoes in 2016. Newly paired with Angel, these powerful and timely one-act plays tell the stories of women devastated by war, who find tenacity and triumph on their own terms.

Angel is a one-woman show inspired by the story of a modern legend; a female sniper, “the Angel of Kobani,” who held ISIS in check for over a year in war-torn Syria. Rehana is a young law student who joins the resistance when the town of Kobani is besieged, and quickly discovers that she has a talent for killing.

“As compelling, action-packed, and epic in its scope as any big-screen blockbuster.”

The Advertiser on Angel Echoes tells the parallel stories of two women born 175 years apart.

One is a Victorian pioneer woman, the other an Islamist schoolgirl.

The former wants to build an Empire, the latter a Caliphate. Both women are idealists and intelligent adventurers who travel East to impose their views on unwilling peoples.

“IT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THEATER, WONDERFULLY CRAFTED AND BRILLIANTLY EXECUTED.” BroadwayWorld on Echoes

“HENRY NAYLOR IS EMERGING AS ONE OF OUR BEST NEW PLAYWRIGHTS.” The Times, London

$25-$35 (59E59 MEMBERS $24.50) TUE, WED, THU & FRI 7:15, SAT 2:15 & 7:15, SUN 3:15 7

April 20 – May 28 Cahoots Theatre Company, The Other Cheek, & Park Theatre present

THE ROUNDABOUT

By J.B. Priestley Directed by Hugh Ross With Steven Blakeley, Lisa Bowerman, Richenda Carey, Charlie Field, Derek Hutchinson, Annie Jackson, EMILY LAING, Ed Pinker, Brian Protheroe, Hugh Sachs, and Carol Starks The Roundabout is a delightful comedy by one of Britain’s most prolific playwrights, J.B. Priestley (Cornelius, Brits Off Broadway 2013), beloved for such classics as An Inspector Calls and Time and the Conways. First seen in 1933, this production is one of the first revivals to be staged.

The Kettlewells are a dysfunctional family. Richard is an old Etonian whose business ventures are failing. Over a crowded weekend, his daughter Pamela, whom he hardly knows, returns from Russia, a passionate communist; his ex-wife and mistress both turn up; and his butler has a big win at the races.

The Roundabout is a funny, touching, highly perceptive look at England in the 1930s, when it looked, just possibly, as if the social order might be changing.

“HIGHLY ENJOYABLE...YET FURTHER PROOF THAT J.B. PRIESTLEY WAS ONE OF THE BEST WRITERS OF A WELL-MADE PLAY.” British Theatre Guide

“A BEAUTIFUL, WITTY, LOW-KEY COMEDY OF MANNERS… PRIESTLEY HAS GREAT FUN MOCKING HIS CAST OF ECCENTRICS AND SCHEMERS.” The Spectator

$25-$70 (59E59 Members $25-$49) Tue, Wed & Thu 7, Fri 8, Sat 2 & 8, Sun 3 8

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April 25 – May 14 Bucket Club, in association with Farnham Maltings, presents

FOSSILS

By Bucket Club Directed by Nel Crouch With Adam Farrell, Luke Murphy, and Helen Vinten Vanessa’s life is science. Fact based, evidence led, no nonsense, no monsters. But when a photograph surfaces showing something in Loch Ness, she must embark on a very personal research project.

An extinct fish, a missing father, and breath-taking live electronic sound from the multi award-winning company Bucket Club create a “magical, melancholy world” (The List).

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The Scotsman, Edinburgh

The List, Glasgow

Fest, Edinburgh

yyyy “A FANTASTICALLY INVENTIVE PIECE OF THEATRE WITH A CHARMING STORY AND WELL WORTH YOUR TIME.” Broadway Baby

“A BEAUTIFULLY HEWN STORY ABOUT HOW WE CONNECT TO THE PAST, AND HOW OUR LIVES ARE SHAPED BY THE NO-LONGER LIVING THINGS WE CARRY WITH US...A GEM OF A PIECE.” Total Theatre

$25 (59E59 MemberS $20) Tue, Wed & Thu 7:30, Fri 8:30, Sat 2:30 & 8:30, Sun 3:30 11

May 9 - June 4 Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, UK presents

IPHIGENIA IN SPLOTT

By Gary Owen Directed by Rachel O’Riordan With Sophie Melville Stumbling down Clifton Street at 11:30am drunk, Effie is the kind of girl you’d avoid eye contact with, silently passing judgement.

We think we know her, but we don’t know the half of it. Effie’s life spirals through a mess of drink, drugs, and drama every night, and a hangover worse than death the next day - till one night gives her the chance to be something more. Effie will break your heart.

Inspired by the enduring Greek myth, this urgent new play drives home the high price people pay for society’s shortcomings. This critically acclaimed and award-winning new play makes its debut in New York following performances at the National Theatre, London.

yyyyy “BY ANY MEASURE GOING, THIS IS PERFECT THEATRE: INTELLIGENT, MOVING, AND HORRIBLY RELEVANT...

RACHEL O’RIORDAN’S SUPERLATIVE PRODUCTION NEVER ONCE LETS IT DROP THE PACE...IT FEELS LIKE THE START OF A REVOLUTION.” The Guardian, London

yyyyy “GARY OWEN’S CLEVER AND MOVING MONOLOGUE...

SOPHIE MELVILLE IS REMARKABLE AS EFFIE.” The Daily Telegraph, London

$25 (59E59 MemberS $20) Tue, Wed & Thu 7:15, Fri 8:15, Sat 2:15 & 8:15, Sun 3:15 12

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May 17 – June 10 Hartshorn - Hook Foundation Ltd presents

ROTTERDAM

by Jon Brittain Directed by Donnacadh O’Briain With Anna Martine Freeman, Alice McCarthy, Ellie Morris, AND Ed Eales-White Following a critically-acclaimed, sold-out run at London’s Theatre503 in 2015, and Trafalgar Studios in 2016, Jon Brittain’s Rotterdam comes to New York.

It’s New Year in Rotterdam, and Alice has finally plucked up the courage to email her parents and tell them she’s gay. But before she can hit send, Fiona reveals that he has always identified as a man and now wants to start living as one named Adrian.

Now, as Adrian begins his transition, Alice must face a question she never thought she’d ask... does this mean she’s straight?

A bittersweet comedy about gender, sexuality and being a long way from home from writer Jon Brittain, co-creator of Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho, and writer of What Would Spock Do? and The Sexual Awakening of Peter Mayo.

yyyy ★“BRITTAIN HANDLES COMPLEX ISSUES WITH GREAT HONESTY AND THOUGHTFULNESS, BUT ALSO WITH A REFRESHING AMOUNT OF WIT.” Evening Standard, London

“WARM, WITTY AND WISE.” Time Out London

$25 (59E59 MEMBERS $20) Tue, Wed & Thu 7:30, Fri 8:30, Sat 2:30 & 8:30, Sun 3:30 & 7:30 15

June 1 – July 2 The Original Theatre Company & Ghost Light Theatre Productions present

INVINCIBLE

By Torben Betts Directed by Stephen Darcy with Elizabeth Boag, Emily Bowker, Graeme Brookes, AND Alastair Whatley With the recession biting hard, Emily and Oliver have decided to downsize and shift their middle-class London lifestyle to a small town in the north of England.

One night they open their doors and invite next door neighbors, Dawn and Alan into their home. Over the course of a disastrous evening of olives, anchovies, Karl Marx, and abstract art, class and culture collide where the consequences are as tragic as they are hilarious.

From one of the most exciting playwrights to emerge since Alan Ayckbourn, Torben Betts, and produced by the award-winning Original Theatre Company comes this “riotously funny” production.

yyyy “A REFRESHING, AYCKBOURN-STYLE COMEDY.” Daily Mail, London

yyyy “RIOTOUS FUN... CATCH IF YOU CAN.” The Times, London

yyyyy “SHARPLY OBSERVED BITTERSWEET COMEDY...SUPERB.” Stage Review, London

yyyy “LAUGH OUT LOUD.” Evening Standard, London

$25-$70 (59E59 MemberS $25-$49) Tue, Wed & Thu 7, Fri 8, Sat 2 & 8, Sun 3 & 7 16

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June 7 – July 2 107group, in association with Traverse Theatre and Cusack Projects Ltd, presents

MY EYES WENT DARK WRITTEN AND DIRECTED By Matthew Wilkinson With Declan Conlon AND Thusitha Jayasundera Following sold out performances at the Finborough Theatre, London and the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Matthew Wilkinson’s taut, brilliantly acted two hander arrives at 59E59.

Declan Conlon and Thusitha Jayasundera give electrifying performances in a searing modern tragedy about a Russian father driven to revenge after losing his family in a plane crash.

Inspired by real events. Nominated for three Off West End Theatre Awards.

yyyy Intense, thought-provoking and intelligent.”

The Stage

yyyy “An extremely powerful play about justice, revenge, and forgiveness.”

Michael Billington, The Guardian, London

yyyy “A WELCOME REMINDER OF THE BOUNDLESS POTENTIAL OF THEATRE.” London Evening Standard

$25-$35 (59E59 Members $24.50) Tue, Wed & Thu 7:15, Fri 8:15, Sat 2:15 & 8:15, Sun 3:15 & 7:15 19

June 14 - July 2 Shrapnel Theatre & Hartshorn - Hook Foundation Ltd present

UNDERGROUND

by Isla van Tricht Directed by Kate Tiernan WITH Michael Jinks, Andrew McDonald, and Bebe Sanders Following its London premiere, Isla van Tricht’s comedy-drama Underground comes hurtling into NYC. After matching on a dating app, Claire and James meet for an awkward first date.

On their way home together, the brand new Night Tube breaks down.

Forced to get to know each other a little better, things start to get weird.

Featuring an interfering tannoy system, a wise - if drunk - pub landlord, and a big swipe right, Underground looks at the phenomenon of loneliness in a crowd, and what happens when the daily grind gets disrupted.

yyyy “UNDERGROUND HAS TAPPED CLEANLY AND DEEPLY INTO REAL PEOPLE.” Grumpy Gay Critic

yyyy “MODEST, MODERN AND PERCEPTIVE, VAN TRICHT DISPLAYS A FIRM GRASP OF CONTEMPORARY RELATIONSHIPS.” London City Nights

“ISLA VAN TRICHT’S DIALOGUE IS A JOY TO LISTEN TO.” British Theatre Guide

$25 (59E59 Members $20) 20

Tue, Wed & Thu 7:30, Fri 8:30, Sat 2:30 & 8:30, Sun 3:30

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PERFORMANCE CALENDAR

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APRIL Tue 4 7:30 Gambler

Wed 5 7:30 Gambler

Thu 6 7:30 Gambler

Fri 7 8:30 Gambler

Sat 8 2:30 Gambler 8:30 Gambler

Sun 9 3:30 Gambler

Tue 11 7:15 Angel & Echoes 7:30 Gambler

Wed 12 7:15 Angel & Echoes 7:30 Gambler

Thu 13 7:15 Angel & Echoes 7:30 Gambler

Fri 14 7:15 Angel & Echoes 8:30 Gambler

Sat 15 2:15 Angel & Echoes 2:30 Gambler 7:15 Angel & Echoes 8:30 Gambler

Sun 16 3:15 Angel & Echoes 3:30 Gambler

Tue 18 7:15 Angel & Echoes 7:30 Gambler

Wed 19 7:15 Angel & Echoes 7:30 Gambler

Thu 20 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Angel & Echoes 7:30 Gambler

Fri 21 7:15 Angel & Echoes 8:00 Roundabout 8:30 Gambler

Sat 22 2:00 Roundabout 2:15 Angel & Echoes 2:30 Gambler 7:15 Angel & Echoes 8:00 Roundabout 8:30 Gambler

Sun 23 3:00 Roundabout 3:15 Angel & Echoes 3:30 Gambler 7:30 Gambler

Tue 25 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Angel & Echoes 7:30 Fossils

Wed 26 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Angel & Echoes 7:30 Fossils

Thu 27 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Angel & Echoes 7:30 Fossils

Fri 28 7:15 Angel & Echoes 8:00 Roundabout 8:30 Fossils

Sat 29 2:00 Roundabout 2:15 Angel & Echoes 2:30 Fossils 7:15 Angel & Echoes 8:00 Roundabout 8:30 Fossils

Sun 30 3:00 Roundabout 3:15 Angel & Echoes 3:30 Fossils

MAY Tue 2 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Angel & Echoes 7:30 Fossils

Wed 3 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Angel & Echoes 7:30 Fossils

Thu 4 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Angel & Echoes 7:30 Fossils

Fri 5 7:15 Angel & Echoes 8:00 Roundabout 8:30 Fossils

Sat 6 2:00 Roundabout 2:15 Angel & Echoes 2:30 Fossils 7:15 Angel & Echoes 8:00 Roundabout 8:30 Fossils

Sun 7 3:00 Roundabout 3:15 Angel & Echoes 3:30 Fossils

Tue 9 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Iphigenia 7:30 Fossils

Wed 10 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Iphigenia 7:30 Fossils

Thu 11 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Iphigenia 7:30 Fossils

Fri 12 8:00 Roundabout 8:15 Iphigenia 8:30 Fossils

Sat 13 2:00 Roundabout 2:15 Iphigenia 2:30 Fossils 8:00 Roundabout 8:15 Iphigenia 8:30 Fossils

Sun 14 3:00 Roundabout 3:15 Iphigenia 3:30 Fossils

Tue 16 Wed 17 Thu 18 7:00 Roundabout 7:00 Roundabout 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Iphigenia 7:15 Iphigenia 7:15 Iphigenia 7:30 Rotterdam 7:30 Rotterdam

Fri 19 8:00 Roundabout 8:15 Iphigenia 8:30 Rotterdam

Sat 20 2:00 Roundabout 2:15 Iphigenia 2:30 Rotterdam 8:00 Roundabout 8:15 Iphigenia 8:30 Rotterdam

Sun 21 3:00 Roundabout 3:15 Iphigenia 3:30 Rotterdam 7:30 Rotterdam

Tue 23 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Iphigenia 7:30 Rotterdam

Wed 24 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Iphigenia 7:30 Rotterdam

Thu 25 7:00 Roundabout 7:15 Iphigenia 7:30 Rotterdam

Fri 26 8:00 Roundabout 8:15 Iphigenia 8:30 Rotterdam

Sat 27 2:00 Roundabout 2:15 Iphigenia 2:30 Rotterdam 8:00 Roundabout 8:15 Iphigenia 8:30 Rotterdam

Sun 28 3:00 Roundabout 3:15 Iphigenia 3:30 Rotterdam 7:30 Rotterdam

Tue 30 7:15 Iphigenia 7:30 Rotterdam

Wed 31 7:15 Iphigenia 7:30 Rotterdam

JUNE Thu 1 7:00 Invincible 7:15 Iphigenia 7:30 Rotterdam

Fri 2 8:00 Invincible 8:15 Iphigenia 8:30 Rotterdam

Sat 3 2:00 Invincible 2:15 Iphigenia 2:30 Rotterdam 8:00 Invincible 8:15 Iphigenia 8:30 Rotterdam

Sun 4 3:00 Invincible 3:15 Iphigenia 3:30 Rotterdam 7:30 Rotterdam

Tue 6 7:00 Invincible 7:30 Rotterdam

Wed 7 7:00 Invincible 7:15 My Eyes 7:30 Rotterdam

Thu 8 7:00 Invincible 7:15 My Eyes 7:30 Rotterdam

Fri 9 8:00 Invincible 8:15 My Eyes 8:30 Rotterdam

Sat 10 2:00 Invincible 2:15 My Eyes 2:30 Rotterdam 8:00 Invincible 8:15 My Eyes 8:30 Rotterdam

Sun 11 3:00 Invincible 3:15 My Eyes 7:15 My Eyes

Tue 13 7:00 Invincible 7:15 My Eyes

Wed 14 7:00 Invincible 7:15 My Eyes 7:30 Underground

Thu 15 7:00 Invincible 7:15 My Eyes 7:30 Underground

Fri 16 8:00 Invincible 8:15 My Eyes 8:30 Underground

Sat 17 2:00 Invincible 2:15 My Eyes 2:30 Underground 8:00 Invincible 8:15 My Eyes 8:30 Underground

Sun 18 3:00 Invincible 3:15 My Eyes 3:30 Underground 7:15 My Eyes

Tue 20 7:00 Invincible 7:15 My Eyes 7:30 Underground

Wed 21 7:00 Invincible 7:15 My Eyes 7:30 Underground

Thu 22 7:00 Invincible 7:15 My Eyes 7:30 Underground

Fri 23 8:00 Invincible 8:15 My Eyes 8:30 Underground

Sat 24 2:00 Invincible 2:15 My Eyes 2:30 Underground 8:00 Invincible 8:15 My Eyes 8:30 Underground

Sun 25 3:00 Invincible 3:15 My Eyes 3:30 Underground 7:15 My Eyes

Tue 27 7:00 Invincible 7:15 My Eyes 7:30 Underground

Wed 28 7:00 Invincible 7:15 My Eyes 7:30 Underground

Thu 29 7:00 Invincible 7:15 My Eyes 7:30 Underground

Fri 30 8:00 Invincible 8:15 My Eyes 8:30 Underground

JULY Sat 1 2:00 Invincible 2:15 My Eyes 2:30 Underground 8:00 Invincible 8:15 My Eyes 8:30 Underground

Sun 2 3:00 Invincible 3:15 My Eyes 3:30 Underground 7:15 My Eyes

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