NEW YORK CITY: Abrons Arts Center has announced its 2015—16 season, featuring 12 productions, including 8 world premieres.
The season begins with the world premiere of celebrated director and puppeteer Basil Twist’s Sisters’ Follies: Between Two Worlds (Oct. 1–Nov. 7), a ghost story about two possessed sisters and their legacy of avant-garde performance, who have been haunting the Abrons Playhouse for 100 years. Joey Arias and Julie Atlas Muz will star.
Following will be the world premiere of Eliza Bent’s Toilet Fire: Rectums in the Rectory (Oct. 28—Nov. 15), a one-woman show with audience participation and songs exploring the matters of digestion, philosophy, and faith.
Next is the world premiere of Epic Theater Ensemble’s Pike St. (Nov. 11—Dec. 2), about a crumbling tenement on the Lower East Side and a family’s struggle to survive. Nilaja Sun stars.
Following is Transport Group’s production of the Mary Rodgers musical Once Upon a Mattress (Nov. 22—Jan. 3, 2016), a retelling of “The Princess and the Pea” about a queen’s disapproval of her son’s lover. Jackie Hoffman and John Epperson will star, and Jack Cummings III will direct.
Next will be the world premiere of Juliana Francis-Kelly’s The Reenactors (Nov. 25—Dec. 12), about an actress cast in a showcase about the sole survivor of a teenage suicide pact who discovers that the story is true. Tony Torn will direct.
Following is the world premiere of Erin Markey’s A Ride On The Irish Cream (Jan. 13—31, 2016), a play with songs about a relationship between a girl and her family’s pontoon boat/horse set on a fantastical cold blue river. Kenny Mellman, Emily Bate, and Erin Markey composed the original score, and Jordan Fein will direct.
Next is Target Margin Theater’s DRUNKEN WITH WHAT? (Feb. 10—28, 2016), the beginning of a two-season exploration of one of the fathers of American theatre, Eugene O’Neill.
Following will be the world premiere of Jackie Sibblies Drury’s Really (March 16—April 2, 2016), a coproduction with New York City Players, about a photographer’s creative vision and the two women who challenge it: his mother and his girlfriend. Richard Maxwell will direct.
Next is the world premiere of Pan Pan Theatre’s The Seagull and Other Birds (March 23—April 2, 2016), a reimagining of Chekhov’s The Seagull wherein the characters find themselves in the context of television shows, YouTube videos, and fantasy worlds.
Next will be the North American premiere of Sven Ratzke’s STARMAN (March 24—April 3, 2016), about a reincarnation of David Bowie, featuring music by Ratze, Charly Zastrau, and Rachelle Garniez.
Following will be the New York premiere of Aaron Landsman’s Empathy School (April 20—30, 2016), created with Brent Green, about an out-of-work bus driver who explores the idea of how the landscape you grow up in shapes the person you become. Empathy School will be performed in repertory with Love Story, a monologue featuring video by Janet Wong and music by T. Griffin.
The season concludes with the world premiere of Shaun Irons and Lauren Petty’s Why Why Always (April 20—30, 2016), a “live-cine” performance featuring otherworldly video, music, sound, and technology.
Also part of the season is Just Like a Woman (Oct. 24—25), from London’s Chelsea Theatre and Live Art Development Agency, featuring installations, screenings, debates and lectures exploring how femininity can be performed.
