Thank You For Joining uS For Our September Play Fest |
Throughout September, Urban Stages’ Play Fest & Fundraiser will bring virtual staged readings directly to you as well as post-show interviews conducted by Craig Horsley and special Artists' Chats by Sue Matsuki. These online events will be available right here for a limited time. Check the premiere dates for each play.
We only ask you to help us to continue discovering and championing exciting new plays and diverse artists. Simply click on the donate button below. It takes only a few minutes to support new theater, new voices and everything Urban Stages does. Please give.
WEDNESDAY SEP 2 | 7pm to SUNDAY SEP 6 | 7pm, 2020
By Idris Goodwin. Directed by Kristan Seemel
Featuring: Shabazz Green, Roderick Lawrence,
Abraham Makany and Salma Shaw
Full Bars and Measures Program:HERE
Bars and Measures is a tale of two brothers. One a classical pianist. The other a jazz bass player. One a Christian. The other a Muslim. One living in freedom. The other in jail. Separated by bars, can the brothers reconcile their differences through the language they know best: Music? Inspired by a true New York story, this play is an irrepressible journey through faith, family, melody and time.
Bars and Measures made its New York premiere at Urban Stages October 18 thru November 17, 2019 | Click Here For More Info.
The New York Times praised it as “A Smart Supple Production...handsomely polished” and “A tale about getting lost, and whether and how you can find your way back.” (Laura Collins-Hughes).
Theater Pizzazz hailed the production as “Theater of the highest caliber...electrifying actors, a hot theatrical experience.” (Tania Fisher).
Bars and Measures returns during September Fest with the original cast members from it's New York Premiere at Urban Stages.
WEDNESDAY SEP 9 | 7pm to SUNDAY SEP 13 | 7pm, 2020
By Christian Elder. Directed by Vincent Scott
Featuring: Bethel Caram, Shabazz Green, Reuben Goldman
Paul Kelly and Disnie Sebastien.
Full #NWORD Program:HERE
In #NWORD, VAUGHN, the Black mother of an eight-year-old boy named Memphis, confronts MACK, a white real estate broker at an open house in SoHo. A video posted online captures Mack's daughter, Hazel, calling Memphis the "n word" on the school bus. Accusations of racism are debated between the school administration and parents. The event has repercussions on the women's marital lives, drawing their husbands TOM and JAKE into the conflict. When an unexpected death reveals betrayal, ugly tensions rise to the surface and expose disturbing truths.
WEDNESDAY SEP 16 | 7pm to SUNDAY SEP 20 | 7pm, 2020
By Ruth Zamoyta. Directed by Kim T. Sharp
Featuring: Jason Asher, Grant Bowen, Christopher Daftsios, Ian Hayes, Mat Labotka and Christopher Marshall.
Find The Incels Program:HERE
In THE INCELS, Tom and Derrick are depressed, bitter men who can’t get girlfriends. Tom records his manifesto on his vlog, telling tales of fruitless encounters with women ... as well as his plan to rid the world of sexuality. Derrick has a YouTube channel in which he teaches other men how to survive in the backwoods ... and obsesses about the young woman he's stalking. Pat is a MGTOW (“Men Going Their Own Way”) who teaches incels how to find happiness in a solitary lifestyle. When Tom and Derrick turn violent, can Pat convince them to put down their guns?
The Incels was developed at a reading at Urban Stages and at New Jersey Play Lab in 2020 through its comprehensive Residency Program.
WEDNESDAY SEP 23 | 7pm to SUNDAY SEP 27 | 7pm, 2020
By Megan Loughran. Directed by Jennifer Werner
Nikki M. James (Tony winner, Book of Mormon) and George Salazar (Be More Chill), with Benny Elledge (Waitress) and Kate Wetherhead (Legally Blonde). Stage directions by Holly Davis (Kinky Boots)
Find The Silverfish Program:HERE
In THE SILVERFISH, Beth and Brandon are young and in love and they have no money. They're living in Brooklyn pursuing careers they are passionate about. Which is another way of saying they have no money. When they're suddenly thrown a Godawful, expensive curveball, they combine their desperation with their underutilized talents and come up with a plan. It might not be a plan that "good people" would go for, but when you're young and in love and desperate and poor, the word "good" can mean a lot of things.
Vincent Scott, Assistant Producer. Ryan Belock, Video Designer and Editor.
Disnie Sebastien, Social Media
We wish to express our gratitude to the Performers Unions: Actors Equity Association, American Guild of Musical Artists, American Guild of Variety Artists, SAG-AFTRA through the Theatre Authority, Inc, for their cooperation in permitting the Artists to appear on this program.