Brits Off Broadway 2016 at 59E59 Theaters

h april 19 - july 3

brits BROAD g

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THEATERS

www.59e59.org

2016

WAY

“it's always a delight! fun, intense, unexpected, unique — this describes the range. i have never been disappointed.” ellen n.

“the shows are always versatile and so excellent” @59e59! #nyctheatre #nyclife @kellycatherine9 via twitter

yyyyy “always a sure thing. the quality of the performances at 59e59 have been solid every time.” janet w. via facebook

“we return every year not just for the performances but for the underlying concept of 59e59 itself: bringing to new york reliably superior talent unlimited in scope.” michael and karen p.

yyyyy “always a class “a” production on hand for viewing.” paul k. via facebook

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welcome to brits off broadway 2016!

Whether you are a diehard fan of 59E59 Theaters’ Brits Off Broadway or checking it out for the first time, this year’s program offers a veritable theater feast of the highest order!

As always, everything is new — even Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s Confusions, first staged in 1974 is new to the USA. Superlative writing and creativity are the order of the day, ranging from established names at the top of their field, like Alan Ayckbourn, Richard Bean and Philip Ridley, to briskly rising stars like James Fritz, Henry Naylor and James Phillips.

Rayesh Meyyappan conjures a rare, intimate world of theatrical magic in Butterfly, while Dillie Keane, Britain’s long-reigning doyenne of political and cultural cabaret, and founder of Fascinating Aïda (don’t miss an Aïdatini at the E:Bar!) breezes into town with Hello Dilllie!—her sold out comedy show from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Once again the heady excitement for New Yorkers of Brits Off Broadway is in the discovery of new faces. Here are thirty unbelievably accomplished, expert performers, who will transport you effortlessly for a few blissful hours.

Come and enjoy as many as you can—with over 200 performances this year’s Brits has the biggest concentration of British talent on or Off Broadway!

See you at the theater!

Peter Tear Executive Producer, 59E59 Theaters

yyyy “matthew kelly is mesmerising” daily telegraph, london

Photo © Shaun Webb

Snapdragon Productions, in association with Jagged Fence Theatre, presents

toast by richard bean directed by eleanor rhode with will barton, simon greenall, matthew kelly, kieran knowles, steve nicolson, matt sutton and john wark Following a smash hit, sold-out production in London and a UK Tour, Richard Bean’s (One Man, Two Guvnors) funny and brilliantly observed Toast comes to New York for a strictly-limited engagement, starring Olivier Award-winner Matthew Kelly with an outstanding cast.

Another Sunday night shift. The smell of bread baking. The industrial thump, thump, thump of the machines that never stop. The ovens are cranked up to full blast, the factory is humming, and everyone wants to be somewhere else. But this shift is going to be different, because when a crisis hits the factory, the men have more to lose than just their wages.

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“packed with bean’s gallows humour.” evening standard, london

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“the mixture of robust humour and sudden moments of tense drama proves constantly compelling.” daily telegraph, london

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april 20 - may 22 $70 (59e59 members $49) tue, wed, & thu 7, fri 8, sat 2 & 8, sun 3

#toasttheplay

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“utterly compelling!” broadway baby

Photo © Ros Furlong

Redbeard Theatre Ltd, in association with Gilded Balloon Productions, presents

echoes

BY HENRY NAYLOR DIRECTED BY HENRY NAYLOR AND EMMA BUTTLER WITH FILIPA BRAGANCA AND FELICITY HOULBROOKE 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.

Written by leading British comedy writer and Fringe First Winner Henry Naylor (Headcases, Spitting Image), Echoes is a provocative and brutal tale of colonialism and the rhythm of history, featuring superb performances

by Felicity Houlbrooke and Filipa Braganca.

Echoes has enjoyed critically-acclaimed and multi-award-winning runs in Edinburgh, London, and Australia, and was a winner of the prestigious Mervyn Stutter Spirit of the Fringe Award 2015.

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“two beautifully nuanced performances give equal emotional weight in this hugely impressive play.” the guardian, london

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“the performances of the two-piece cast are outstanding. echoes is a must see!” the times, london

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april 19 - may 1 $25 (59E59 Members $17.50) Tue, Wed & Thu 7:15, Fri 8:15, Sat 2:15 & 8:15, Sun 3:15

#EchoesPlay

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"hauntingly beautiful. heartbreaking!" the skinny, edinburgh

Photo Š Ben Tan

Ramesh Meyyappan presents

butterfly created, directed AND PERFORMED by ramesh meyyappan with nicola daley and chris alexander A striking adaptation of Madame Butterfly, that explores themes of love, disappointment, loss, and hope.

This modern, fantastical piece uses visually poetic narrative and beautiful, handcrafted puppets to tell the tragic tale of Butterfly, a kitemaker, whose lover has left her alone and isolated.

A Scotland-based Singaporean, Ramesh Meyyappan is a critically acclaimed theatre creator who develops performances using an eclectic mix of visual and physical theatre styles.

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“performances that merge dance, movement, puppetry and dramatic acting with an intensity that forges those art-forms into a single storytelling impulse, beautiful, tragic, and true.” the scotsman, edinburgh

"meyyappan's superb, simple, deeply emotive aesthetic is a very welcome addition to scottish theatre.” sunday herald, glasgow

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april 23 - may 14 $25 (59e59 members $17.50) tue, wed & thu 7:30, fri 8:30, sat 2:30 & 8:30, sun 3:30

#ButterflyPlay

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“a gem of a piece of writing” BritishTheatre.com

Photo © James Phillips

The City Stories Company, in association with Goodge and Mortimer Productions and the Oxford Playhouse Trust, presents

CITY STORIES TALES OF LOVE AND MAGIC IN LONDON written and directed by james phillips original music composed and performed by rosabella gregory with daphne alexander, alan cox, louisa clein, tom gordon, phoebe sparrow, jay villiers, and sarah quintrell What happens when someone tells you that you're the answer to the riddle of life?

What happens when a stranger in Starbucks gives you something that will change your world forever?

What happens if the world starts to fall asleep, hour by hour?

A haunting journey fusing drama and live music, City Stories is a new type of Cabaret Drama, a sequence of interwoven love stories and a love letter to London.

Written and directed by award-winning playwright James Phillips (The Rubenstein Kiss, McQueen), with original music composed by singer-songwriter Rosabella Gregory (winner of New York Songwriter’s Circle Song Contest) and design by David Farley, City Stories is a magical journey through a magical city.

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“A sublime, atmospheric and enchanting cabaret drama, with two hours of love, hope and delight... I would implore you to see it.”

LondonTheatre.com

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MAY 10 - 29 $35 (59e59 members $24.50) tue, wed & thu 7:15, fri 8:15, sat 2:15 & 8:15, sun 3:15

#citystoriesnyc

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“Vevers' performance is like an act of spiritual possession.”

The Scotsman, Edinburgh

Photo © Alex Brenner

MOTOR presents

ross & rachel by james fritz directed by thomas martin with molly vevers Look at all those couples out there. Which one will leave.

Which one will run. Which one is cheating on the other.

Which one will die first. Him. Him. Her. Him. Ross & Rachel tells the mind-bending, heart-breaking story of what happens when a couple that was always meant to be together, gets together.

And stays together.

In this disquieting duologue for one performer, Olivier-nominated playwright James Fritz takes an unflinching look at the myths of modern love.

Vevers reprises her heartbreaking, award-winning performance from the show’s critically-acclaimed, sold-out world premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015.

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“Fritz’s script has a streak of mischief a mile wide... a virtuosic piece of writing, playful, post-modern and devastatingly serious, all at once.”

Time Out London

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“A fiercely sharp yet tender anatomy of the lie of love-savagely well written.”

Exeunt Magazine

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“From the first scene we know we are in for something special.”

A Younger Theatre

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MAY 17 - JUNE 5 $25 (59e59 members $17.50) Tue, Wed & Thu 7:30, Fri 8:30, Sat 2:30 & 8:30, Sun 3:30

#RossRachel

theater C

“storytelling that holds you to the end.” daily mail, london

Photo © Tony Bartholomew

Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough presents

-world premiere=

hero's welcome written & directed by alan ayckbourn with stephen billington, elizabeth boag, russell dixon, charlotte harwood, evelyn hoskins and richard stacey A decorated war hero returns to his boyhood stomping ground with a new young bride, but is all as it seems?

Once the welcome flags have stopped waving, few of his friends seem particularly happy to see him back. Murray’s declared intention of staying put and settling down threatens to stir up all sorts of old rivalries and resentments. Suddenly the couple, in search of peace, find themselves once more in the firing line.

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“ayckbourn’s talent for recording the wanton damage we do to each other remains undiminished.” the guardian, london

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“pure theatre at its best.”

Yorkshire Post

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see both ‘hero’s welcome’ and ‘confusions’ for just $100 sunDAY-friDAY for performances through june 12

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see both shows in a same-day double bill for $120 on selected dates. call or visit 59e59.org for more information.

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may 26 - JULY 2 $70 (59e59 members $49)

#HerosWelcome

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“blissfully silly.” the daily telegraph, london

Photo © Tony Bartholomew

Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough presents

confusions written & directed by alan ayckbourn with stephen billington, elizabeth boag, russell dixon, charlotte harwood and richard stacey Since its premiere in 1974, Confusions has become one of the most popular and studied plays of the last 40 years.

From a devoted and isolated mother to her unfaithful travelling salesman husband, through a solicitous waiter to well-heeled diners and an utterly shambolic garden fête, human frailty is laid bare as one hilarious situation after another unfolds.

Each of the plays connects to the next through one of its characters until the final one is reached, when four people sit alone on park benches. From high farce to poignant observation, the laughs—however dark—keep coming.

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“funny, touching and clever.” the independent, london

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“an exceptional cast... a masterclass in comic acting... the laughter is infectious.” the guardian, london

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see both ‘hero’s welcome’ and ‘confusions’ for just $100 sunDAY-friDAY for performances through june 12 see both shows in a same-day double bill for $120 on selected dates. call or visit 59e59.org for more information.

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may 28 - july 3 $70 (59e59 members $49)

#Confusions

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“very funny... truly haunting.” the independent, london

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“a darkly funny morality play... extraordinary.” the guardian, london

“terrific leading performers— a tour-de-force.” the new york times

Photo © Anna Soderblom

Metal Rabbit Productions & Supporting Wall, in association with Soho Theatre present

radiant vermin by philip ridley directed by david mercatali with debra baker, sean michael verey, and gemma whelan When a young couple are offered their ideal house by a mysterious new scheme it prompts the question: How far would any of us be prepared to go to get our dream home?

A fast-paced comedy, Radiant Vermin is a powerful and provocative satire about the housing market, homelessness and inequality.

Written by Philip Ridley—one of the UK’s most acclaimed and innovative authors, and winner of Time Out London, Critics’ Circle, Evening Standard, and Edinburgh Fringe First Awards, this is a powerful artistic response to one of the defining social dilemmas of our time, and the need for everyone to have a family home.

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“a deeply macabre, stingingly funny modern fairy tale... clever, funny and provocative.” the financial times, london

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“fierce energy... dazzling performances.” evening standard, london

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JUNE 2 - JULY 3 $35 (59e59 members $24.50) tue, wed & thu 7:15, fri 8:15, sat 2:15 & 8:15, sun 3:15

#radiantvermin

theater B

yyyyy “exudes faded glamour, a bit like brighton sea front” daily mail, london

yyyy "her worldview is laconic, her lyrics lacerating, her voice now capable of going deeper than a chilean miner.” the daily telegraph, london

Photo © Steve Ullathorne

Pleasance Theatre Trust Ltd., in association with David Johnson and John Mackay, present

hello dillie! by dillie keane & adele anderson directed by michael fitzgerald (uk) and simon green (us) starring dillie keane with michael roulston on piano Fascinating Aïda’s incomparable Dillie Keane returns to New York—this time with her new solo show!

Funny, gutsy, and always brutally honest, Dillie Keane’s songs speak of a lifetime fully, if not always sensibly, lived. With brand new tunes, grand old favorites, gorgeous songs of love and hilarious songs of utter wickedness, Dillie will break your heart, mend it again and have it sent to the cleaners for pressing. And she’ll give you her recipe for chutney while she’s at it!

As the founder of Fascinating Aïda, Britain’s No. 1 cabaret entertainers, three-time nominees for the Drama Desk Award and London’s Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment — Dillie has been entertaining and delighting audiences with her tender yet hilarious, melancholy yet furious take on life and songwriting for more than three decades.

yyyyy "keane, whose piano-playing remains as sprightly and inventive as ever, prompts gales of laughter with merely the raising of a quizzical eyebrow." the times, london

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JUNE 7 - JULY 3 $25 (59e59 members $17.50) tue, wed & thu 7:30, fri 8:30, sat 5:30 & 8:30, sun 3:30

#hellodillie

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performance calendar THU 21 7:00 TOAST 7:15 ECHOES

SAT 23 TOAST ECHOES TOAST ECHOES BUTTERFLY

2:00 2:15 8:00 8:15 8:30

TUE 26 WED 27 THU 28 FRI 29 TOAST 7:00 TOAST 7:00 TOAST 7:00 TOAST 8:00 ECHOES 7:15 ECHOES 7:15 ECHOES 7:15 ECHOES 8:15 BUTTERFLY 7:30 BUTTERFLY 7:30 BUTTERFLY 7:30 BUTTERFLY 8:30

SAT 30 TOAST ECHOES BUTTERFLY TOAST ECHOES BUTTERFLY

2:00 2:15 2:30 8:00 8:15 8:30

TUE 3 WED 4 THU 5 FRI 6 TOAST 7:00 TOAST 7:00 TOAST 7:00 TOAST 8:00 BUTTERFLY 7:30 BUTTERFLY 7:30 BUTTERFLY 7:30 BUTTERFLY 8:30

SAT 7 TOAST BUTTERFLY TOAST BUTTERFLY

2:00 2:30 8:00 8:30

april TUE 19 WED 20 ECHOES 7:15 TOAST ECHOES

FRI 22 7:00 TOAST 7:15 ECHOES

8:00 8:15

SUN 24 TOAST 3:00 ECHOES 3:15 BUTTERFLY 3:30

may SUN 1 TOAST 3:00 ECHOES 3:15 BUTTERFLY 3:30

SUN 8 TOAST 3:00 BUTTERFLY 3:30

TUE 10 TOAST 7:00 CITY STORIES 7:15 BUTTERFLY 7:30

WED 11 TOAST 7:00 CITY STORIES 7:15 BUTTERFLY 7:30

THU 12 TOAST 7:00 CITY STORIES 7:15 BUTTERFLY 7:30

FRI 13 TOAST 8:00 CITY STORIES 8:15 BUTTERFLY 8:30

SAT 14 TOAST 2:00 CITY STORIES 2:15 BUTTERFLY 2:30 TOAST 8:00 CITY STORIES 8:15 BUTTERFLY 8:30

SUN 15 TOAST 3:00 CITY STORIES 3:15

TUE 17 TOAST 7:00 CITY STORIES 7:15 ROSS/RACHEL 7:30

WED 18 TOAST 7:00 CITY STORIES 7:15 ROSS/RACHEL 7:30

THU 19 TOAST 7:00 CITY STORIES 7:15 ROSS/RACHEL 7:30

FRI 20 TOAST 8:00 CITY STORIES 8:15 ROSS/RACHEL 8:30

SAT 21 TOAST 2:00 CITY STORIES 2:15 ROSS/RACHEL 2:30 TOAST 8:00 CITY STORIES 8:15 ROSS/RACHEL 8:30

SUN 22 TOAST 3:00 CITY STORIES 3:15 ROSS/RACHEL 3:30

TUE 24 WED 25 THU 26 CITY STORIES 7:15 CITY STORIES 7:15 HERO’S 7:00 ROSS/RACHEL 7:30 ROSS/RACHEL 7:30 CITY STORIES 7:15 ROSS/RACHEL 7:30

FRI 27 HERO’S 8:00 CITY STORIES 8:15 ROSS/RACHEL 8:30

SAT 28 CITY STORIES 2:15 ROSS/RACHEL 2:30 CONFUSIONS 8:00 CITY STORIES 8:15 ROSS/RACHEL 8:30

SUN 29 CONFUSIONS 3:00 CITY STORIES 3:15 ROSS/RACHEL 3:30 CONFUSIONS 7:00

TUE 31 June WED 1 THU 2 HERO’S 7:00 HERO’S 7:00 CONFUSIONS 7:00 ROSS/RACHEL 7:30 ROSS/RACHEL 7:30 RADIANT 7:15 ROSS/RACHEL 7:30

FRI 3 CONFUSIONS 8:00 RADIANT 8:15 ROSS/RACHEL 8:30

SAT 4 CONFUSIONS 2:00 RADIANT 2:15 ROSS/RACHEL 2:30 HERO’S 8:00 RADIANT 8:15 ROSS/RACHEL 8:30

SUN 5 HERO’S 3:00 RADIANT 3:15 ROSS/RACHEL 3:30 HERO’S 7:00

TUE 7 CONFUSIONS 7:00 RADIANT 7:15 HELLO DILLIE! 7:30

WED 8 CONFUSIONS 7:00 RADIANT 7:15 HELLO DILLIE! 7:30

THU 9 HERO’S 7:00 RADIANT 7:15 HELLO DILLIE! 7:30

FRI 10 HERO’S 8:00 RADIANT 8:15 HELLO DILLIE! 8:30

SAT 11 HERO’S 2:00 RADIANT 2:15 HELLO DILLIE! 5:30 CONFUSIONS 8:00 RADIANT 8:15 HELLO DILLIE! 8:30

SUN 12 CONFUSIONS 3:00 RADIANT 3:15 HELLO DILLIE! 3:30 CONFUSIONS 7:00

TUE 14 HERO’S 7:00 RADIANT 7:15 HELLO DILLIE! 7:30

WED 15 HERO’S 7:00 RADIANT 7:15 HELLO DILLIE! 7:30

THU 16 CONFUSIONS 7:00 RADIANT 7:15 HELLO DILLIE! 7:30

FRI 17 CONFUSIONS 8:00 RADIANT 8:15 HELLO DILLIE! 8:30

SAT 18 CONFUSIONS 2:00 RADIANT 2:15 HELLO DILLIE! 5:30 HERO’S 8:00 RADIANT 8:15 HELLO DILLIE! 8:30

SUN 19 CONFUSIONS 3:00 RADIANT 3:15 HELLO DILLIE! 3:30 CONFUSIONS 7:00

TUE 21 CONFUSIONS 7:00 RADIANT 7:15 HELLO DILLIE! 7:30

WED 22 CONFUSIONS 7:00 RADIANT 7:15 HELLO DILLIE! 7:30

THU 23 CONFUSIONS 7:00 RADIANT 7:15 HELLO DILLIE! 7:30

FRI 24 HERO’S 8:00 RADIANT 8:15 HELLO DILLIE! 8:30

SAT 25 HERO’S 2:00 RADIANT 2:15 HELLO DILLIE! 5:30 CONFUSIONS 8:00 RADIANT 8:15 HELLO DILLIE! 8:30

SUN 26 CONFUSIONS 2:00 RADIANT 3:15 HELLO DILLIE! 3:30 HERO’S 7:00

TUE 28 HERO’S 7:00 RADIANT 7:15 HELLO DILLIE! 7:30

WED 29 HERO’S 7:00 RADIANT 7:15 HELLO DILLIE! 7:30

THU 30 CONFUSIONS 7:00 RADIANT 7:15 HELLO DILLIE! 7:30

july FRI 1 CONFUSIONS 8:00 RADIANT 8:15 HELLO DILLIE! 8:30

SAT 2 CONFUSIONS 2:00 RADIANT 2:15 HELLO DILLIE! 5:30 HERO’S 8:00 RADIANT 8:15 HELLO DILLIE! 8:30

SUN 3 CONFUSIONS 3:00 RADIANT 3:15 HELLO DILLIE! 3:30 CONFUSIONS 7:00

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