Winter 2020 Season Brochure

WWW.59E59.ORG / 646-892-7999

We are excited to introduce a brand new season featuring nine Off Broadway premiere performances that represent some of the very best of American and international playwriting. This winter, 59E59 Theaters will play host to companies whose work has entertained, intrigued, or delightfully surprised us: the explosive musical tribute to the baby boomer generation in Rick Miller’s BOOM; the return of Irish theater’s highly-acclaimed Fishamble with the US premiere of Maz and Bricks; Whisper House, a new musical by multi-award-winning writing team Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow; and emerging powerhouse theater company The Hearth presenting Lily Akerman’s New York debut The Commons.

Since 2004, our award-winning venue has been dedicated to supporting emerging and established not-for-profit theater companies through the provision of highly-subsidized rental space, production, marketing, and press support. Companies also receive 100% of the box office net sales.

VAL DAY Artistic Director

BRIAN BEIRNE Managing Director

You can join us in championing the work of our winter companies: Fishamble: The New Play Company, Less Than Rent Theatre, Penguin Rep Theatre, The Civilians, Articulate Theatre Company, Happenstance Theater, The Hearth, and The Pond Theatre Company by becoming a 59E59 Member.

For only $59.59 a year enjoy these incredible benefits: • SAVE UP TO 30% OFF SINGLE TICKETS • ACCESS EXCLUSIVE MEMBER-ONLY TICKET PRESALES • FLEXIBLE & FREE TICKET EXCHANGES+ • NO BOOKING FEES • DISCOUNTS & DEALS ON PARKING§, LOCAL RESTAURANTS, DRINKS AT THE E:BAR & MORE! Give our box office a call at 646-892-7999 or visit www.59E59.org/MEMBERSHIP to join today. + Tickets can only be exchanged for an alternate performance of the same show, up to three hours prior to the ticketed performance or preferred performance, whichever comes first. If tickets were purchased at a discount and that discount is not available, you will need to pay the difference in price. Exchanges cannot be made for lower-priced tickets.

Tickets purchased through third-party sellers are not eligible for exchanges.

Parking Garage is located on 60th between Park and Lexington. Maximum 4 hours.

Mon-Fri: 5p-Midnight; Sat-Sun: 12p-Midnight. §

Theater B

January 7 — February 2 Fishamble: The New Play Company, as part of Origin’s 1st Irish, presents

MAZ AND BRICKS

Olivier Award-winning company Fishamble returns to 59E59 Theaters as part of 1st Irish, following its previous, highly-acclaimed productions of On Blueberry Hill, Little Thing/ Big Thing, Charolais, I Can See Clearly Now, and The Pride of Parnell Street.

Maz is planning to attend a pro-choice demonstration, Bricks is planning to take his daughter to the zoo, but nothing goes according to plan. As the day unfolds, the two become unlikely friends, changing each other in ways they never thought possible.

“Marvellous theatre… perfect and unmissable piece of deeply moving drama.”

By

Eva O’Connor Directed by

Jim Culleton With

Ciaran O’Brien Eva O’Connor First Look $25† Tue, Jan 7 at 7:15 Wed, Jan 8 at 7:15

Regular $35‡ Members $26

– Sunday Independent

“ Particularly timely... excruciatingly funny... powerful.”

– Irish Independent

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Theater A

January 9 — February 23

Kidoons and WYRD Productions present

Written and Performed by

Rick Miller 100 voices. 25 years. 1 man.

BOOM is an explosive solo performance that documents the music, culture, and politics which shaped the Baby Boomers (1946-1964). Rick Miller takes us through 25 turbulent years and gives voice to over a 100 influential politicians, activists, and musicians. BOOM is a mind-blowing experience for audiences of all generations.

“A visual feast!

Rick Miller’s best solo show to date!”

– The Globe and Mail

“ A remarkable piece of theatre…

I’ve never seen anything like it before!”

– Halifax Chronicle Herald

First Look $25† Thu, Jan 9 at 7:00 Fri, Jan 10 at 7:00

Previews $35† Sat, Jan 11 – Wed, Jan 15

Regular $55—$70‡ Members $49 4

Buy Tickets 646-892-7999 / www.59E59.org

“BOOM is a stunning achievement.”

– Calgary Herald

“ Astonishing! This is your story, told brilliantly. See it.”

– CBC Radio

“ A solo tour-de-force. Miller is a protean shape-shifter.”

– Vancouver Observer

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Theater C

January 11 — 26 Less Than Rent Theatre presents

HOW TO LOAD A MUSKET

Every year, across the country, thousands of historical reenactors stage the bloodiest, most divisive battles fought on American soil.

Pursuing total authenticity, they fire muskets, eat hard-tack, and wear handmade period clothing in brutal weather.

Drawing on a series of interviews begun by playwright Talene Monahon in 2015, the play weaves together verbatim conversations with Revolutionary and Civil War reenactors.

By

Talene Monahon Directed by

Jaki Bradley Tickets $25‥ Members $20

How to Load a Musket offers a unique look at this all-consuming hobby and the people who practice it as they find themselves caught in the crosshairs of a national battle over how history is told.

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Theater C

February 6 — 23 The Hearth presents WORLD PREMIERE

THE COMMONS

Missing almonds, empty apologies, and a pizza box in the recycling bin that clearly belongs in the trash. When space is at a premium, there’s no room for weak links.

The Commons is a play about living with strangers and the things that seem small, until they aren’t.

By

Lily Akerman Directed by

Emma Miller Tickets $25‡ Members $20

Following their critically acclaimed New York Times Critic’s Pick production of Athena in 2018, The Hearth continue their commitment to nurturing the next generation of female artists with this world premiere play.

“ Athena was a smash… establishing The Hearth as not just a feminist powerhouse, but also a healthy incubator for new works.”

– The Brooklyn Rail

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Theater B

February 11 — March 8 Penguin Rep Theatre, in association with Morton Wolkowitz and Joseph Grosso, presents

THE SABBATH GIRL

By Angie Mastrantoni has a lot going for her: Cary Gitter a job at a hip art gallery, a new apartment on the Upper West Side, but not much time or Directed by hope for relationships. Then her neighbor Seth, Joe Brancato a divorced Orthodox Jew with a knish store on the Lower East Side, knocks on her door.

First Look $25†

A brand new romantic comedy from the company behind After, Small World, and Freed. Written

by Cary Gitter, a two-time O’Neill semifinalist and Jewish Plays Project finalist, The Sabbath Girl explores the loneliness of big-city life and the possibility of finding love next door.

Tue, Feb 11 at 7:15 Wed, Feb 12 at 7:15

Regular $35‡ Members $26

“Gitter has created something genuine and his characters ring true and possess an earnestness that is in seriously short supply these days.”

– Broadway World

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Theater C

February 28 — March 15 Articulate Theatre Company, in association with Lagniappe Productions, presents

MR. TOOLE

By Award-winning playwright Vivian Neuwirth creates a deeply personal reflection on the life Vivian Neuwirth of John Kennedy Toole, author of the Pulitzer Directed by Prize-winning novel, A Confederacy of Dunces. Cat Parker

Before he was an author, John Kennedy Toole was a teacher. That’s how Lisette, one of his students at an all-girl’s college in New Orleans, knew him and loved him.

Through her eyes, amid the music, magic, and mystery of The Big Easy we, too, learn to love “Mr. Toole.” The teacher a student will never forget becomes a legend the world will always remember.

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With

Madeleine Bundy John Ingle* Lou Liberatore* Linda Purl* Stephen Schnetzer* and

Ryan Spahn* Tickets $25‡ Members $20

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Theater A

March 12 — April 19

The Civilians, in association with 59E59 Theaters, presents

WHISPER HOUSE A dark and thrilling musical ghost story.

An eerie lighthouse stands on the remote coast of Maine at the height of World War II. After losing his parents, young Christopher is sent there to live with his aunt Lily, whom he’s never met, and Yasuhiro, the Japanese man who works for her.

Soon, Christopher begins to hear strange music seeping through the walls. Is his imagination getting the better of him? Or are there ghosts here, warning of real danger? Then the whispers become something louder…

Written by Grammy and Tony winner Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening, America Psycho) and Tony-nominated and Obie winner Kyle Jarrow (SpongeBob SquarePants, The Broadway Musical; The Wildness) and directed by Steve Cosson, Whisper House combines a lush original score with a haunting story of loss, love, and forgiveness.

“ Stuffed with songs rich in story-telling and complex melodies” – Broadway World

“ Sheik’s music keeps the pace simmering... the show, a hybrid alt-rock concert-psychological ghost story, has a revivifying freshness.”

– L.A. Times

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Music & Lyrics by

Duncan Sheik Book & Lyrics by

Kyle Jarrow Conceived with

Keith Powell Directed by

Steve Cosson First Look $25† Thu, Mar 12 at 7:00 Fri, Mar 13 at 7:00

Previews $35† Sat, Mar 14 - Sun, Mar 22

Regular $55—$70‡ Members $49

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Theater B

March 18 — April 5 Happenstance Theater presents

BAROCOCO

Photo by Leslie Swan

Directed by BAROCOCO dives into the late Baroque and flaunts 18th century finery, wigs, panniers, Mark Jaster and gestural styling, elaborate ornamentation, Sabrina Selma Mandell and the excesses of Rococo in this unique Devised by physical comedy.

Happenstance Theater

A charming and charismatic six-person ensemble exposes an indulgent aristocratic lifestyle precariously perched on the edge of its extinction.

Happenstance Theater invites you to experience the charade — from parlor games to pantomime, from the exquisite to the revolting — in this delightful comedy of manners.

With

“ Polished to an aristocratic shine”

First Look $25†

– The Washington Post

Wed, Mar 18 at 7:15 Thu, Mar 19 at 7:15

“ A feast of physical comedy” – DC Theatre Scene

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Gwen Grastorf Caleb Jaster Mark Jaster Sabrina Selma Mandell Sarah Olmsted Thomas and

Alex Vernon

Regular $35‡ Members $26 Buy Tickets 646-892-7999 / www.59E59.org

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ell as

March 26 — April 12 The Pond Theatre Company presents

BOYS WILL BE BOYS

Photo by Leslie Swan

ell

Theater C

Astrid Wentworth is at the top of her game.

A superstar trader in the male-dominated world of banking and high finance. She is ruthless and relentless, but she’s always played by the boys’ rules to get to the top.

So when Astrid takes on protégée Priya, she is the perfect person to help this ambitious young woman navigate the industry — as long as Priya’s willing to listen.

By

Melissa Bubnic Directed by

Lily Dorment Regular $25‡ Members $20

This “rude, raucous, song-filled satire” (The Guardian) features cabaret music and an all-female cast in Melissa Bubnic’s exhilarating US Premiere that skewers workplace sexism and all who enable it — regardless of their gender.

“Astringent and furiously funny” – The Times

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PERFORMANCE CALENDAR JANUARY TUESDAY, JANUARY 7 7:15 Maz and Bricks WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8 7:15 Maz and Bricks THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks SATURDAY, JANUARY 11 2:15 Maz and Bricks 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks 7:30 How to Load a Musket SUNDAY, JANUARY 12 2:00 BOOM 2:15 Maz and Bricks 2:30 How to Load a Musket TUESDAY, JANUARY 14 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks 7:30 How to Load a Musket WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks 7:30 How to Load a Musket THURSDAY, JANUARY 16 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks 7:30 How to Load a Musket FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks 7:30 How to Load a Musket SATURDAY, JANUARY 18 2:00 BOOM 2:15 Maz and Bricks 2:30 How to Load a Musket 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks 7:30 How to Load a Musket SUNDAY, JANUARY 19 2:00 BOOM 2:15 Maz and Bricks 2:30 How to Load a Musket TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks 7:30 How to Load a Musket

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks 7:30 How to Load a Musket THURSDAY, JANUARY 23 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks 7:30 How to Load a Musket FRIDAY, JANUARY 24 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks 7:30 How to Load a Musket SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 2:00 BOOM 2:15 Maz and Bricks 2:30 How to Load a Musket 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks 7:30 How to Load a Musket SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 2:00 BOOM 2:15 Maz and Bricks 2:30 How to Load a Musket TUESDAY, JANUARY 28 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks

FEBRUARY SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 2:00 BOOM 2:15 Maz and Bricks 7:00 BOOM 7:15 Maz and Bricks SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2 2:00 BOOM 2:15 Maz and Bricks TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 7:00 BOOM WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 7:00 BOOM THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6 7:00 BOOM 7:30 The Commons

Please note the performance calendar is subject to change.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 7:00 BOOM 7:30 The Commons SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 2:00 BOOM 7:00 BOOM 7:30 The Commons SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 2:00 BOOM 2:30 The Commons TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 7:00 BOOM 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 The Commons WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 7:00 BOOM 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 The Commons THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 7:00 BOOM 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 The Commons FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 7:00 BOOM 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 The Commons SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 2:00 BOOM 2:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:00 BOOM 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 The Commons SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 2:00 BOOM 2:15 The Sabbath Girl 2:30 The Commons TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 7:00 BOOM 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 The Commons WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 7:00 BOOM 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 The Commons THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20 7:00 BOOM 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 The Commons FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21 7:00 BOOM 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 The Commons

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 2:00 BOOM 2:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:00 BOOM 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 The Commons SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 2:00 BOOM 2:15 The Sabbath Girl 2:30 The Commons TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 7:15 The Sabbath Girl WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 7:15 The Sabbath Girl THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27 7:15 The Sabbath Girl FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 Mr. Toole SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 2:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 Mr. Toole

MARCH SUNDAY, MARCH 1 2:15 The Sabbath Girl 2:30 Mr. Toole TUESDAY, MARCH 3 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 Mr. Toole WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 Mr. Toole THURSDAY, MARCH 5 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 Mr. Toole FRIDAY, MARCH 6 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 Mr. Toole SATURDAY, MARCH 7 2:15 The Sabbath Girl 2:30 Mr. Toole 7:15 The Sabbath Girl 7:30 Mr. Toole SUNDAY, MARCH 8 2:15 The Sabbath Girl 2:30 Mr. Toole TUESDAY, MARCH 10 7:30 Mr. Toole WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 7:30 Mr. Toole THURSDAY, MARCH 12 7:00 Whisper House 7:30 Mr. Toole

FRIDAY, MARCH 13 7:00 Whisper House 7:30 Mr. Toole SATURDAY, MARCH 14 2:00 Whisper House 7:00 Whisper House 7:30 Mr. Toole SUNDAY, MARCH 15 2:00 Whisper House 2:30 Mr. Toole TUESDAY, MARCH 17 7:00 Whisper House WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO THURSDAY, MARCH 19 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO FRIDAY, MARCH 20 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO SATURDAY, MARCH 21 2:00 Whisper House 2:15 BAROCOCO 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO SUNDAY, MARCH 22 2:00 Whisper House 2:15 BAROCOCO TUESDAY, MARCH 24 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO THURSDAY, MARCH 26 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys FRIDAY, MARCH 27 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys SATURDAY, MARCH 28 2:00 Whisper House 2:15 BAROCOCO 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys SUNDAY, MARCH 29 2:00 Whisper House 2:15 BAROCOCO 2:30 Boys Will Be Boys TUESDAY, MARCH 31 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys

APRIL WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys THURSDAY, APRIL 2 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys FRIDAY, APRIL 3 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys SATURDAY, APRIL 4 2:00 Whisper House 2:15 BAROCOCO 7:00 Whisper House 7:15 BAROCOCO 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys SUNDAY, APRIL 5 2:00 Whisper House 2:15 BAROCOCO 2:30 Boys Will Be Boys TUESDAY, APRIL 7 7:00 Whisper House 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 7:00 Whisper House 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys THURSDAY, APRIL 9 7:00 Whisper House 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys FRIDAY, APRIL 10 7:00 Whisper House 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys SATURDAY, APRIL 11 2:00 Whisper House 7:00 Whisper House 7:30 Boys Will Be Boys SUNDAY, APRIL 12 2:00 Whisper House 2:30 Boys Will Be Boys TUESDAY, APRIL 14 7:00 Whisper House WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 7:00 Whisper House THURSDAY, APRIL 16 7:00 Whisper House FRIDAY, APRIL 17 7:00 Whisper House SATURDAY, APRIL 18 2:00 Whisper House 7:00 Whisper House SUNDAY, APRIL 19 2:00 Whisper House

† Limited discount First Look and Preview tickets available and are subject to availability. ‡ Standard Box Office service fees apply to all phone/internet orders for non-59E59 Members. * These Actors are appearing courtesy of the Actors’ Equity Association.

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