Photo Flash: First Look at Charles Mee's SOOT AND SPIT at New Ohio Theatre

The Archive Residency, a collaboration between New Ohio Theatre and IRT Theater (likeminded neighbors in the historic Archive Building in the West Village), is a vital incubator for New York City's most electrifying independent theater companies. Now in its fourth year, the two-year residency offers each company an artistic home -- space, support, and institutional continuity for the development and presentation of a new work. Each residency culminates with a world premiere production.

The second company completing its residency this spring is Our Voices Theater, presenting the world premiere of Obie Award winner Charles Mee's SOOT AND SPIT, directed by Kim Weild, running now through June 17, 2017. Shows take place at New Ohio Theatre, located at 154 Christopher Street between Greenwich and Washington Streets in New York City. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

What drives a single person to create nearly 20,000 works of art? Celebrating the life of James Castle, one of America's great outsider artists, Our Voices presents the world premiere of acclaimed playwright Charles Mee's soot and spit. Born profoundly deaf, Castle never learned to read, write, sign or speak. His art was his language. Bringing his world to life through bluegrass, dance, and multi-media displays of his works, soot and spit encourages its audience to experience the "other" - and rejoice in the unquenchable creativity of the human spirit. Running time is 90 minutes.

The cast includes Robert Ariza (Broadway's Spring Awakening revival, Spamilton), Karen Ashino Hara, Estelle Bajou (Once First National Tour, HBO's "Boardwalk Empire"), Alida Rose Delaney (The Fall at Soho Playhouse), John Ford Dunker (The Glory of the World at BAM), JW Guido (Artistic Director of New York Deaf Theatre), Peregrine Heard (Artistic Director of The Associates), Toussaint Jeanlouis (CasablancaBox at HERE, DUAT at Soho Rep), Geraldine Leer (Roundabout's The Country Girl & The Member of the Wedding), Christopher Lopes (Netflix's "Orange is the New Black"), Douglas Waterbury-Tieman (Roundabout's The Robber Bridegroom, collaborative member of The Lobbyists) and Arielle Yoder (Concrete Orange: An American Fable at the Guthrie).

The production team includes Boyd Branch (Media Design), Matthew Imhoff (Scenic Design), Paul Miller (Lighting Design), Haley Peterson (Costume Design), Dan Puccio (Original Compositions, Orchestrations and Arrangements), Dan Pardo (Music Director), Leontine Greenberg (Prop Design), Donnie Mather (Choreography), Michael Tosto (Production Stage Manager), Aaron Simms (Producer), Alexandria Wailes (ASL Consultant), Brad Ogden (Assistant Director), Stanley Bahorek (Associate Producer), Edward Pierce (Scenic Design Consultant) and Jennifer Anderson (Associate Costume Design).

Performances are Wednesdays - Saturdays at 7:30pm. ASL interpreted performances Thu 6/8 at 7:30pm and Sat 6/10 at 2pm. Autism-friendly performance Sat 6/17 at 2pm. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at NewOhioTheatre.org or by calling 212-352-3101.

Photo Credit: Nina Wurtzel

Toussaint Jeanlouis, JW Guido (as James Castle), Christopher Lopes
JW Guido, Toussaint Jeanlouis
John Ford Dunker
JW Guido, Alida Rose Delaney
JW Guido (as James Castle)
Alida Rose Delaney, JW Guido
JW Guido, Geraldine Leer and Ensemble
JW Guido and Ensemble
JW Guido (center), Estelle Bajou, Geraldine Leer and John Ford Dunker
Christopher Lopes (as The Narrator)