59E59 Fall 2023 Brochure

HELLO FALL!

This upcoming year is a massively exciting milestone for us and we’re pulling out all the stops to celebrate our 20th anniversary! To honor this special occasion, we’ve scouted the continent to curate an extraordinary selection of theater companies hailing from as far as Nova Scotia and as near as our own backyard in NYC.

These pages feature approximately one quarter of the 30 producing companies we host every year, each of which stands out with their individual brand of artistic influences, and diversity of generations, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds. And yet, all of these wildly different producers share a passion for exploring stories that spark debates and conversations in this mini cultural melting pot they’ve created here with us, with you, between Park and Madison Avenues.

The Civilians are back, employing their trademark style of investigative theater and savvy humor to the pressing topic of artificial intelligence. This interactive show requires the actors to create and perform a completely different and original musical for each performance with a script generated live by Chat GPT using your suggestions. These intrepid theater makers hilariously wrestle with the questions and fears we

all have about how this new technology will intersect with good old human-generated art.

New Light Theater Project continue their Co-Op Residency with The Greatest Hits Down Route 66, an exuberant musical exploration of family ties and the open road. This is New Light’s first show in our largest space, Theater A, and we are excited to see them rising up to meet the challenge.

It is 59E59 Theaters’ driving purpose to champion these unique groups in their missions to stretch themselves to consistently present new, accomplished, daring, and essential stories that will connect with their biggest fans and new audiences alike.

59E59 Theaters offers our heartfelt thanks to you, our patrons, and we are eternally grateful for your enthusiasm and ongoing support of the hundreds of companies we’ve hosted over the last 20 years alongside the many we’ll discover together in the future.

Here’s to 20 more years!

Val & Brian

DAY Artistic Director

Managing Director

VAL

THEATER A NOVEMBER 16 - DECEMBER 24

HERSHEY FELDER AS MONSIEUR CHOPIN A PLAY WITH MUSIC

DIRECTED BYJOEL ZWICK

Monsieur Chopin features the romantic story and music of the Polish pianist-composer Fryderyk Chopin, set in Chopin’s Parisian salon where he will teach a piano lesson that actually took place in March 1848, just days after the February 1848 revolution. As the piano lesson unfolds, Chopin reveals secrets about the art of the piano and composition, as well as secrets about himself. Hershey Felder delves deep into the music and psyche of the man, considered by his contemporaries, and now by history, as the true “Poet of the Piano.”

In Monsieur Chopin, Hershey features some of the pianist-composer’s most beautiful and enduring music while entertaining us in his unique and theatrical style.

“COMBINING THE PASSION OF THE MUSIC WITH IMMACULATE STORYTELLING ABILITY, FELDER IS A UNIQUE CHAMELEON WHOSE SHOWS CAPTIVATE, EDUCATE, AND THRILL HIS FANS.”

- Broadway World

FIRST LOOK: $27† (incl. $2 fee)

THU, NOV 16 AT 7:00

FRI, NOV 17 AT 7:00

REGULAR: $76 - $96† (incl. $6 fee)

59E59 MEMBERS: $50 - $70

THE CIVILIANS PRESENTS

ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS

CREATED AND DIRECTED BY STEVE COSSON

In a novel collaboration between humans and AI, Artificial Flavors turns the hot topic of artificial intelligence into a theater experience like nothing else. Knowing that the stories we tell ourselves shape and influence what happens in society, what will happen when many of those stories are computer generated? Hosted by The Civilians’ Artistic Director Steve Cosson, parts of the show are generated live by the latest AI programs and immediately performed, creating an entirely different show every night.

The evening culminates with an original musical in which the performers roll with the punches, nimbly adjusting to every bizarre plot twist and oddly phrased original song the AI throws their way to surprising and hilarious effect.

Artificial Flavors is a fascinating evening of barelycontrolled chaos that you won’t want to miss.

FIRST LOOK: $27† (incl. $2 fee)

SUN, OCT 22 AT 2:15

TUE, OCT 24 AT 7:15

REGULAR: $44† (incl. $4 fee)

59E59 MEMBERS: $30

THEATER C

NOVEMBER 3 - 18

NO.11 PRODUCTIONS

PAIR

BY NO.11 PRODUCTIONS

DIRECTED BY RYAN EMMONS

Inspired by the lives of world-famous artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, Pair is a playful meditation on the nature of art and partnership. Claes and Coosje were renowned for their larger-than-life pop art sculptures that inflated everyday objects to extraordinary proportions. As the artists explore their creative process, something fantastical is happening as a pear (yes, the fruit) embarks on a worldwide quest for self-discovery. What emerges is a funny and intimate play about collaboration, imagination, and love.

Pair explores the duality of Claes and Coosje’s 30 year artistic and romantic collaboration and their artistic vision. They carry on a spirited debate about color, composition, scale, and the messy, exploratory way that art is made in this refreshingly whimsical love story.

REGULAR: $27†

(incl. $2 fee)

59E59 MEMBERS: $20

HAPPENSTANCE THEATER PRESENTS

ADRIFT A MEDIEVAL WAYWARD FOLLY

DEVISED BY HAPPENSTANCE THEATER UNDER THE CO-DIRECTION OF MARK JASTER AND SABRINA MANDELL

A ship of fools adrift at sea. They ask, “What do we do now?” After an apocalypse, the search begins.

Characters from the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch and archetypes from the tarot are brought to life in this ingeniously staged production of theatrical alchemy using live music, physical comedy, puppetry, and so much more. This pod of eccentrics will drift into the world to bring delight, share hopes and fears, and find a way forward.

A dynamic medieval tapestry of pure theater…and it wouldn’t be the Middle Ages without a hellmouth, demons, and angels.

FIRST LOOK: $27†

(incl. $2 fee)

WED, NOV 29 AT 7:15

THU, NOV 30 AT 7:15

REGULAR: $44†

(incl. $4 fee)

59E59 MEMBERS: $30

DECEMBER 6 - 22

“DELICIOUS, BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN, MASTERFULLY PERFORMED PIECE”

Saltwire

UNCONFINED

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY LIZ

RICHARDSON DIRECTED BY ED THOMASON

Can a young man guilty of a terrible crime rehabilitate himself in spite of an incarceration system bent on de-humanizing him?

Unconfined is based on the true story of a man who spent 18 years on death row, during which he developed into an artist and spiritual practitioner. What unspools is a very personal story, told from multiple viewpoints, of how he changed the lives of the people around him in ways they could never have anticipated.

The play challenges our preconceptions about what it means to really know someone—and to know yourself.

REGULAR: $33† (incl. $3 fee)

59E59 MEMBERS: $25

KAZAN CO-OP PRESENTS

NEW LIGHT THEATER PROJECT IN ASSOCIATION WITH CALLIOPE STAGE PRESENTS

THE GREATEST HITS DOWN ROUTE 66

BY MICHAEL AGUIRRE

MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS BY

GRACE YUKICH & JENNIFER C. DAUPHINAIS DIRECTED BY SARAH NORRIS

It’s the summer of ‘99. The Franco family is taking the Great American Road Trip and getting to know each other along that legendary highway, whether they like it or not.

Accompanied by live music drawn from Carl Sandburg’s American Songbag, an eclectic 1920s anthology of American folk songs, the parents are challenged at every turn by their unpredictable children and soon find themselves detouring into their own childhood memories. History lessons are peppered in as the family careens around America’s iconic landmarks and cultural relics, framed by the familiar music of a bygone era.

One part family comedy, one part musical odyssey, The Greatest Hits Down Route 66 navigates the wide open spaces in our personal and collective histories and the spaces that exist between people — even those we think we know best.

FIRST LOOK: $27† (incl. $2 fee)

SAT, JAN 13 AT 7:00

SUN, JAN 14 AT 7:00

PREVIEW: $38† (incl. $3 fee)

TUE, JAN 16 —

SUN, JAN 21

REGULAR: $66 - $86† (incl. $6 fee)

59E59 MEMBERS: $50

BEVERLY JOHNSON

IN VOGUE

WRITTEN BY BEVERLY JOHNSON AND JOSH RAVETCH DIRECTED BY JOSH RAVETCH

Exactly fifty years ago, Beverly Johnson made history as the first Black woman to appear on the cover of American Vogue. The iconic supermodel has graced more than 500 magazine covers and worked in theater and TV while mingling with some of the biggest stars of the last fifty years from Elizabeth Taylor to the great Ella Fitzgerald.

In Vogue takes us on a journey through her supermodeling career, her unimaginable tumultuous relationships, the truth about Bill Cosby, and her involvement in the #MeToo movement. In this intimate “live-autobiography” Johnson takes the stage to share her personal dispatches in the ever-shifting but never dull fashion and entertainment industries which all began just blocks from 59E59 Theaters.

FIRST LOOK: $27†

(incl. $2 fee)

TUE, JAN 9 AT 7:15

WED, JAN 10 AT 7:15

REGULAR: $44 - $64†

(incl. $4 fee)

59E59 MEMBERS: $30 - $50

ACT II PLAYHOUSE IN ASSOCIATION WITH BUD MARTIN PRESENTS

JANUARY 11 - 27

AMERICAN BARD THEATER COMPANY PRESENTS

THE SWEET SPOT

BY ALICE JANKELL DIRECTED BY PAGE CLEMENTS

Jerry and Vita are an independent, passionate couple with 50 years of marriage under their belts. The type of couple who knows each other so well they can finish each other’s complaints.

An opportunity to move to an assisted living community arrives sooner than expected and they must quickly make a life changing decision. We follow the pair over three intimate, banter-filled mornings as they grapple, negotiate, and reminisce to determine what decision they can live with.

The Sweet Spot examines how people grow together, how our sense of identity shifts over time, and how love conquers all if we’re brave enough to let it.

REGULAR: $27†

(incl. $2 fee)

59E59 MEMBERS: $20

CHOOSE THE BEST MEMBERSHIP OPTION FOR YOU!

JOIN TODAY, CALL 646-892-7999

OR VISIT 59E59.ORG/MEMBERSHIP

2 discounted tickets for every show

2 complimentary tickets to the next Primary Stages show

59E59 Theaters Member events

59E59 Theaters Member gifts

Exclusive member-only presales and booking

2 complimentary drinks at our E:Bar

Discounted tickets to every Primary Stages production

Priority access to Primary Stages Developmental Programming

Discount to Primary Stages ESPA classes

Primary Stages Member gifts

PLUS, ALL MEMBERS RECEIVE THESE GREAT BENEFITS:

• SAVE on 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, and more!

HERE’S TO 20 YEARS!

2024 marks 59E59 Theaters’ 20th anniversary!

Founded by Elysabeth Kleinhans and operating under the Elysabeth Kleinhans Theatrical Foundation since 2004, we have been honored to serve as an artistic home for over 400 non-profit theater companies presenting more than 600 shows in our three spaces to over 1.4 million audience members.

The Foundation provides a uniquely supportive model that makes producing more affordable to independent theater groups and allows new work to be generated and produced through special programs such as our Space Lab, Makers Program, and Residencies.

The upcoming year will be a mix of celebrating the theater makers we’ve hosted in the last 20 years and eagerly looking forward to welcoming new companies and the opportunity to champion their work in 2025 and beyond.

We can’t wait to see you at our E:Bar to raise a glass to the next 20 years!

CALENDAR

OCTOBER

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22

2:15 Artificial Flavors

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24

7:15 Artificial Flavors

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25

7:15 Artificial Flavors

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26

7:15 Artificial Flavors

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27

7:15 Artificial Flavors

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28

2:15 Artificial Flavors

7:15 Artificial Flavors

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29

2:15 Artificial Flavors

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31

7:15 Artificial Flavors

NOVEMBER

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1

7:15 Artificial Flavors

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2

7:15 Artificial Flavors

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

7:15 Artificial Flavors

7:30 Pair

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4

2:15 Artificial Flavors

2:30 Pair

7:15 Artificial Flavors 7:30 Pair

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5 2:15 Artificial Flavors

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7

Pair

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8

Artificial Flavors

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9

NOVEMBER 10

DECEMBER

2:15 Adrift

Chopin

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3

2:00 Monsieur Chopin

2:15 Adrift

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9

2:00 Monsieur Chopin

2:15 Adrift

2:30 UNCONFINED

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10

2:00 Monsieur Chopin

2:15 Adrift

2:30 UNCONFINED

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16

2:00 Monsieur Chopin

2:15 Adrift

2:30 UNCONFINED

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17

2:00 Monsieur Chopin

2:15 Adrift

2:30 UNCONFINED

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

7:30 UNCONFINED

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23

2:00 Monsieur Chopin

2:15 Adrift

7:00 Monsieur Chopin

7:15 Adrift

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24

2:00 Monsieur Chopin

2:15 Adrift

JANUARY

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13

2:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14

2:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

2:30 The Sweet Spot

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20

2:00 The Greatest Hits...

2:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21

2:00 The Greatest Hits...

2:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

2:30 The Sweet Spot

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27

2:00 The Greatest Hits...

2:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:30 The Sweet Spot

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28

2:00 The Greatest Hits...

2:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

7:15 Beverly Johnson: IN VOGUE

TUESDAY, JANUARY 30

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

FEBRUARY

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3

2:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4

2:00 The Greatest Hits...

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10

2:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11

2:00 The Greatest Hits...

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17

2:00 The Greatest Hits...

7:00 The Greatest Hits...

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18

2:00 The Greatest Hits...