The Flea Theater’s Artistic Director Niegel Smith and Producing Director Carol Ostrow have announced its fall 2016 season, which will include an A.R. Gurney World Premiere and a new look at the Greeks by Ellen McLaughlin.
Says Smith, “Long time Flea collaborator A.R. Gurney has written us an evening of incendiary one-acts inspired by The Greeks that will play in both our upstairs and downstairs theaters and we are thrilled to welcome director Stafford Arima to lead our company. And Ellen McLaughlin returns to The Flea with a timely look at the plight of refugees through the text of The Trojan Women. It seems that in election years, The Greeks still have a lot to say about democracy.”
Adds Ostrow, “This will be our last fall season in our current location. Our intention is to be true to our roots and keep both of our theaters hopping until we close our doors and move to our new digs.”
August 24 – September 26
The New York Premiere THE TROJAN WOMEN adapted by Ellen McLaughlin, directed by Anne Cecelia Haney
Euripides’ The Trojan Women is the first anti-war play in the Western canon, written to make Greece consider the consequences of perpetual warfare. Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptation is lean, tense, lovely and brutal. This production, which introduces Flea Resident Director Anne Cecelia Haney, will make abundant use of music, movement, and ritual to explore how living in wartime affects every member of a community. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 9:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Tickets will go on sale to Flea Members on June 28th and to the General Public on July 11th. All tickets are general admission. Prices range from $15 to $20, with the lowest priced tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis.
October 10 – November 21
The World Premiere of TWO CLASS ACTS by A.R. Gurney, directed by Stafford Arima
Gurney’s ninth world premiere production at The Flea is an evening of two One-Acts. In SQUASH, Gurney turns his eye to the fluidity of sexuality on a college campus in the 70’s before gender was upended. And in AJAX, an actress turned teacher allows a rousing performance of an ancient text to reveal her true self. The Flea welcomes Stafford Arima to direct our last production in our home on White Street. SQUASH will play in our upstairs theater and AJAX will perform in our downstairs space. Audiences can see the shows at staggered curtain times. Performances are Wednesday through Mondays at 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale to Flea Members on June 28th and to the General Public on August 1st. All tickets are general admission. Prices range from $35 to $75 with the lowest priced tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis.
July 14-16 and 21-23, September 15-17 and 22-24, November 3-5, 10-12 and 17-19
SERIALS @ THE FLEA
Late night serial madness continues with monthly cycles of SERIALS @ THE FLEA and new Bat producers Rachel Lin and Colin Waitt. Now counting 35 sold-out cycles, this raucous late night play competition features The Bats and some of NYC’s hottest young playwrights. SERIALS @ THE FLEA plays Thursday through Saturday at 11:00 p.m. Cycle 36 plays July 14-23, Cycle 37 plays September 15 – 24, and Cycle 38 plays November 3 – 19. Tickets are $12 and include a free beer. Tickets will go on sale to Flea Members on June 28th and to the General Public on July 5th.
The Flea Theater continues its commitment to creating theater that is accessible to all. In keeping with this spirit of inclusion, every production at The Flea will have a limited number of $15 tickets available on a first-come-first-served basis.