UPTOWN EXPRESS By Kevin Cheng to be Presented at The Players Theatre
Kevin Cheng's existential drama, directed by Emily M. White, stars Griffin Garnett and Jemma Giberson.
Uptown Express, an existential drama written by Kevin Cheng, is coming to the historic Players Theatre this June, following its successful engagements at the Chain Theatre and The Flea last year.
Directed by Emily M. White, the production will head to Greenwich Village as part of The Players Theatre 15th Annual Short Play Festival, featuring new cast members Griffin Garnett and Jemma Giberson. Performances will take place on June 4, 5, and 6 at 7pm, and June 7 at 3pm in the Steve and Marie Sgouros Black Box at 115 MacDougal Street.
The MTA subway train is late again. As Noah waits impatiently on the platform, an unexpected Old Acquaintance arrives. Lauded by The Front Row Center as a story that "takes its audience to the edge of the platform," Uptown Express explores shared loneliness in big cities, and asks the question: how can we find a sense of equanimity after unexpected life events?
"Although Uptown Express is about two lonely people living in New York City, my goal for the play is to make the audience feel less alone by seeing the characters' struggles," says playwright Kevin Cheng. "I hope the play serves not as a story of suffering, but a story of hope."
Uptown Express first premiered at the 2025 Chain Theatre Summer One-Act Festival, with added performances in response to warm audience reception. A staged reading of the play was presented in September 2025 at The Flea as part of Murmuration Theatre Company's play reading series.
The Players Theatre Short Play Festival is presented by Be Bold! Productions. Submissions are gathered from all over the country with 15 short plays being selected by a panel of judges. The Players Theatre is one of the oldest commercial Off-Broadway theatres in operation in New York City. Well-known artists who have performed at the historic venue include young Britney Spears and Natalie Portman.
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