Wit, a one-act play written by Margaret Edson, is a powerful and poignant exploration of mortality and the human spirit in the face of terminal illness. Debuting in 1995, Wit quickly garnered critical acclaim for its insightful writing and raw emotional impact. In 1999, it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, solidifying its place as a significant work of contemporary theatre.
The play centers around Vivian Bearing, a brilliant but emotionally reserved professor of Donne poetry, diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. As Vivian undergoes aggressive treatment, the audience witnesses her grapple with mortality, her strained relationship with her students and colleagues, and the search for meaning in her final days.
While cancer is a central element in the play, Wit transcends the confines of a medical drama. It delves into themes of human connection, the power of language, and the enduring search for intellectual and emotional fulfillment.
Torben Betts' The Unconquered is a fast-moving satirical portrait of patriarchy, political indolence and over-reaction. The laughs begin when the 're-liberation' knocks on the door of your average upper-middle class family after aggressive revolutionaries have overthrown the government. Strange and unsettling, their new found freedom provokes the parents to reminisce about the comfort of life under the previous aristocracy while their spirited daughter criticizes her parent's banal and conforming attitudes with great, yet impotent, ferocity. The piece is a reflection of war's long-reaching effects on the domestic front, demonstrating the encompassing ambiguity of a public out of touch with reality. With great wit, poetics and charm, Betts sketches the self-hypocrisy that materializes during times of opaque identity and societal partition.
The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced casting today for the second year of the Native Theater Festival, a four day festival dedicated to presenting extraordinary theatrical work by Native theater artists from the U.S. and Canada.
KADM Productions has announced that its smash-hit, critically-acclaimed production of ANGRY YOUNG WOMEN IN LOW-RISE JEANS WITH HIGH-CLASS ISSUES is EXTENDING through SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22 at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd (on Theatre Row) in Hollywood.
Theater Wit brings their hit holiday productions to Theatre Building Chicago for the final year (as they move into their new space next door for 2009 productions). Mitchell Fain stars as David Sedaris' surly holiday elf in The Santaland Diaries, and Steve Scott again directs Tom Mula in Mula's original adaptation of Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, running in repertory during the 2008 holiday season.
Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook returns in January for its eleventh season celebrating the diversity of American popular song. For 17 nights of pop, folk, cabaret, R&B, country, rock, show tunes, bluegrass and multimedia, the series will explore the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic contemporary songwriting. The 2009 season - January 14 through March 6 - will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song, including top vocalist Kurt Elling and country's winning Patty Loveless. It will feature the rare opportunity to hear Paulo Szot, star of Broadway's South Pacific, and film and stage star Alan Cumming, in intimate concert settings.
Torben Betts' The Unconquered is a fast-moving satirical portrait of patriarchy, political indolence and over-reaction. The laughs begin when the 're-liberation' knocks on the door of your average upper-middle class family after aggressive revolutionaries have overthrown the government. Strange and unsettling, their new found freedom provokes the parents to reminisce about the comfort of life under the previous aristocracy while their spirited daughter criticizes her parent's banal and conforming attitudes with great, yet impotent, ferocity. The piece is a reflection of war's long-reaching effects on the domestic front, demonstrating the encompassing ambiguity of a public out of touch with reality. With great wit, poetics and charm, Betts sketches the self-hypocrisy that materializes during times of opaque identity and societal partition.
Eastenders Repertory Company presents its Seventh Annual Festival of Short Works, a co-production with Theatre Rhinoceros.
The world premiere of Fela!, a new musical based on the life of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti, will play the final performance of its extended run Sunday, October 5th at 37 Arts (450 West 37th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues.
After multiple sold-out limited engagements in New York and Sydney, Australia, ANGRY YOUNG WOMEN IN LOW-RISE JEANS WITH HIGH-CLASS ISSUES, the raucous comedy written and directed by filmmaker turned playwright Matt Morillo, will open a six-week run at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd (on Theatre Row) on October 3, 2008 and run for six weeks through Sunday, November 9.
On Monday, October 20, 2008, Theatreworks USA (Barbara Pasternack, Artistic Director; Ken Arthur, Producing Director), the leading not-for-profit professional theatre for family audiences, is pleased to honor Kim Corrigan, Daryl Roth, and Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin with the Lee Salk 'Goodworks' Award at its annual awards dinner and gala.
Today Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, announced additional dates for two solo shows that he staged in Berkeley before launching them on tours across the continent. Danny Hoch's Taking Over had its world premiere at Berkeley Rep in January and hit it big in Montreal this July; next week it starts an All City Tour featuring free performances in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx in addition to previously announced dates in Manhattan and Los Angeles. Moreover, after a record-breaking run in Berkeley last winter, Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking careened through Hartford, San Jose, Santa Fe, and Washington, DC this summer; now it adds Seattle to a list of upcoming destinations that also includes Boston.
From October 23rd through November 16th, just in time for election season, America's beloved cowboy humorist is brought to vivid life in WILL ROGERS' AMERICA, a 90-minute one-man-show of homespun wit, the working man's voice and small-town common sense-complete with vintage film clips and live rope tricks! Adapted and performed by veteran actor Rich Hoag, this production will be directed by Hoag's long-time friend and Rubicon Artistic Director James O'Neil.
Ruth & Stephen Hendel and Roy Gabay announced today that, due to overwhelming popular demand, the world premiere of Fela!, a new musical based on the life of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has extended its run through Saturday, October 4 at 37 Arts (450 West 37th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues
The 08-09 season will include Martin Charnin's ANNIE, the delightful journey down the yellow brick road via THE WIZARD OF OZ, the awesome spectacle of this past summer's Broadway family sensation CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY and Bob Fosse's record breaking Tony ® Award winning CHICAGO presented by Florida Theatrical Association and Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami Dade County in the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House.
Ruth & Stephen Hendel and Roy Gabay present the world premiere of Fela!, a new musical based on the life of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
After multiple sold-out limited engagements in New York and Sydney, Australia, ANGRY YOUNG WOMEN IN LOW-RISE JEANS WITH HIGH-CLASS ISSUES, the raucous comedy written and directed by filmmaker turned playwright Matt Morillo, will open a six-week run at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd (on Theatre Row) on October 3, 2008 and run for six weeks through Sunday, November 9.
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) announced Jean Racine's passionate play Phedre as one of its productions for the 2009-10 season in a first-time coproduction with Canada's prestigious Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
Ruth & Stephen Hendel and Roy Gabay present the world premiere of Fela!, a new musical based on the life of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents PASSION PLAY by Pulitzer Prize nominee and MacArthur Foundation Fellowship recipient Sarah Ruhl, directed by OBIE Award-winner Mark Wing-Davey at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven), September 19-October 11 only. Opening Night is Thursday, September 25
Barrington Stage Company, under the artistic leadership of Julianne Boyd, presents the Berkshire-area premiere of The Violet Hour, an imaginative and thought-provoking play about love, time and fate, by award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out).
Ruth & Stephen Hendel and Roy Gabay present the world premiere of Fela!, a new musical based on the life of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Directed and choreographed by Tony® Award winner Bill T. Jones (Spring Awakening) with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones, Fela! will feature Kuti's rousing music performed live onstage by Antibalas and other members of the New York Afrobeat community.
Popular cabaret duo perform Cole Portes show at Town Hall on June 9th.
New York City Center Announces 16th Encores! Season opening with 'On the Town.'
The Zipper Factory presents a wide-range of variety shows for in the theatre in March 2008, including The Wau Wau Sisters, Megan Mullally, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Joy Behar, 'Don't Quit Your Night Job' and 'Happy Sunshine Kung Fu Flower.'
Laurence Fishburne returns to Broadway, set to star in George Stevens Jr.'s new one-man play Thurgood, beginning a limited engagement at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th St) beginning previews April 12; officially opening on Sunday, April 30 with performances through July 20, 2008.
1998 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
1998 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
2012 | Broadway |
Manhattan Theatre Club Production Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Kathleen Chalfant |
1999 | New York Drama Critics Circle Awards | Best Play | Margaret Edson |
Videos