In response to popular demand and critical acclaim, Ars Nova "one of the most adventurous Off-Broadway companies" (New York Times), piece by piece productions and Z Space extends the world premiere of The Lucky Ones until April 28. This 5-time Lucille Lortel award nominated new musical by The Bengsons and Sarah Gancher (Hundred Days) was commissioned and developed by Ars Nova.
The Lucky Ones features a book by
The Bengsons and
Sarah Gancher, music and lyrics by
The Bengsons, choreography by Emmy-nominee
Sonya Tayeh (FOX's So You Think You Can Dance, Moulin Rouge!) and direction by OBIE, Lortel and Drama Desk-winner
Anne Kauffman (Marvin's Room, A Life,
Mary Jane).
InThe Lucky Ones, indie-music duo
The Bengsons spin a memory-tale of teenaged passion, ideals lived to the limits, family shattered and faith lost - all in hope of finding a way home again. Through soulful electro-folk songs, this driving, semi-autobiographical story grabs joy and grief with the same hand and holds them tightly, in a radical affirmation of being alive.
Zachary Stewart inTheatermania declares that
The Lucky Ones "has the power to take your breath away," and that "the entire cast gives passionate performances." Sandy MacDonald, in her Time Out New York four out of five stars review, found the work "harrowing" and says "The lucky ones, the show suggests, are those who, born into damage, can still 'open up.'
Abigail Bengson, with her extraordinarily expressive musical and authorial voice, does so magnificently."
The complete 18-member ensemble cast of
The Lucky Ones includes
Abigail Bengson,
Shaun Bengson,
Damon Daunno (Kneehigh Theater, Hadestown),
Mia DeWeese,
Tilly Evans-Krueger (Company XIV's Nutcracker Rouge),
Lenin Fernandez, Ashley Pérez Flanagan (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812),
Lindsey Hailes,
Dani Markham,
Zach McNally (Fiddler on The Roof),
Jennifer Morris (
The Civilians), OBIE-winner
Tom Nelis (Indecent, The Visit, Aida), Tony-winner
Maryann Plunkett (Me and My Girl,
Richard Nelson's Apple Family Plays),
Pearl Rhein (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812),
Ida Saki,
Myra Lucretia Taylor (Nine, Mule Bone)
Adina Verson(Indecent) and
Amelia Workman (Tender Napalm, The Shipment).
The creative team for
The Lucky Ones includes
Rachel Hauck (scenic design), Ásta Bennie Hostetter (costume design),
Amith Chandrashaker (lighting design),
Nick Kourtides (sound design),
Noah Mease (prop design),
Kimberly Grigsby (music supervision),
Wiley Deweese (music direction) ,
Amanda Spooner (production stage manager) and
Henry Russell Bergstein (casting).
Performances of
The Lucky Ones will now take place through April 28 (see schedule above) at The Connelly Theater, located at 220 E 4th Street in Manhattan. Tickets are $35 basic general admission, $45 preferred general admission and $65 premium reserved. Patrons 30 years old and under can purchase $25 tix in advance. All tickets can be purchased by visiting
arsnovanyc.com or by calling 212-352-3101.
Dubbed by The New York Times as a "fertile incubator of offbeat theater,"
Ars Nova is committed to developing and producing theater, comedy and music artists in the early stages of their professional careers.
Ars Nova has been honored with an OBIE Award and a Special Citation from the New York Drama Critics' Circle for sustained quality and commitment to the development and production of new work. Their critically acclaimed productions of Underground Railroad Game by
Jennifer Kidwell and
Scott R. Sheppard with
Lightning Rod Special, directed by
Taibi Magar, and
Bess Wohl's Small Mouth Sounds, directed by
Rachel Chavkin, are currently on tour.
About the Creative Team
The Bengsons (Music & Lyrics, Book, Orchestrations & Arrangements) Folk/rock duo The Bengsons have performed their music worldwide. Theater and Dance: Hundred Days(New York Theatre Workshop), Anything that Gives Off Light (National Theatre of Scotland/The Team), Sundown, Yellow Moon (Ars Nova/WP), Hurricane Diane (Two River Theater), you'll still call me by name (New York Live Arts) and Iphigenia in Aulis (Classic Stage Company). TV: So You Think You Can Dance (FOX). Film: The Ceiling Fan. Upcoming: HundredDays tour, LCT3 commission.
Sarah Gancher's (Book) writing has been produced/developed by London's National Theatre, Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre,
The Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Steppenwolf, Hartford Stage,
Seattle Rep, Round House,
Ars Nova, and The
Flea Theater. Winner, Edgerton Foundation New Play Award, NYSF Founder's Award,
AR Gurney Prize. Alumna:
Women's Project Lab, Playwrights' Realm Writing Fellows, P73,
Ars Nova Play Group. She frequently partners with devising ensembles including NYC's The TEAM (MISSION DRIFT) and musicians including
The Bengsons.
Sonya Tayeh (Choreographer) is an NYC-based choreographer and director. Since paving her professional career, her work has been characterized as a blend of powerful versatility and theatrical range. She has gleaned accolades for her versatile work including two Emmy noms for So You Think You Can Dance, a Drama Desk nom and the Obie and
Lucille Lortel awards for outstanding choreography in theater. Her upcoming projects include Moulin Rouge!, directed by
Alex Timbers and her evening length work, commissioned by Jacob's Pillow, this summer. For more info on Sonya's work visit sonyatayeh.com.
Anne Kauffman (Director) has worked with
Ars Nova, NYTW,
Playwrights Horizons, The Public, MCC, Roundabout, WP, P73, Clubbed Thumb, New Georges, Yale Rep, The Goodman, Steppenwolf, The Wilma and Z Space. She is Co-Artistic Director of Encores! Off-Center, Resident Director at Roundabout Theatre, Artistic Associate and Founding Member of
The Civilians, a Sundance Program Associate, Clubbed Thumb Associate Artist and co-creator of the CT Directing Fellowship, New Georges Associate Artist, Artistic Council of
Soho Rep, SDC Executive Board Member. Awards: OBIES (Directing and Sustained Excellence), the Joan and Joseph Cullman Award for Exceptional Creativity from Lincoln Center, the
Alan Schneider Director Award.
About the Cast
Damon Daunno is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Theater credits include: Brief Encounter (Broadway, US, AUS tour), Tin Drum (UK Tour), Wild Bride (US tour), Tristan and Yseult (US tour), HADESTOWN (NYTW), Beardo (Pipeline), Last Goodbye (Williamstown), Fly By Night (DTC), Jesus in India (Magic), Oklahoma! (Bard). TV: TheFollowing (Fox). He is a multi-instrumentalist and composer and has scored short and feature-length films.
Mia DeWeese received her BFA in dance from Marymount Manhattan College. She has performed with contemporary dance companies BodyStories: Teresa Fellion and 10 Hairy Legs Projects. Mia is a member of the collective FreeMove Dance directed by Jenn Freeman. She is a performer in
Sonya Tayeh's NYLA and Jacob's Pillow commissioned piece, you'll still call me by name, and is Tayeh's associate for the upcoming Moulin Rouge! at the Emerson Colonial Theatre.
Tilly Evans-Krueger was raised in Madison, WI. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in dance from Wright State University. Tilly was most recently with Company XIV's production of Nutcracker Rouge. She has toured nationally and internationally with BODYTRAFFIC. Other companies include Spectrum Dance Theater +
Donald Byrd, The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and DCDC II. Last winter, Tilly was gratified to work with
Sonya Tayeh's you'll still call me by name commission at NYLA.
Lenin Fernandez is an LA-based performance artist, working with LA Contemporary Dance Company, Heidi Duckler Dance Theater, Sarah Elgart, Erica Sobol, Becca Lemme, The Assembly and has additionally worked with
Twyla Tharp and Cindy Salgado. In 2016, he performed with Rome-based Company Esklan Arts Factory for 3 months and closed that year working with
Sonya Tayeh on her NYLA commission you'll still call me by name.
ASHLEY PÉREZ FLANAGAN is thrilled to be working with this team! Broadway: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (u/s Sonya, Princess Mary). NY: Hadestown (NYTW), Orpheus and Eurydice Are...In Love (
Ars Nova), In Love With Jobim (York Theatre). Regional: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (A.R.T), Prometheus Bound (A.R.T), Evita, West Side Story, Sound of Music, Footloose. Concerts:
Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center,
Joe's Pub, 54 Below. She is a member of the indie-folk-hop trio, @moondrunkband.
Lindsey Hailes is so grateful and excited to make her NYC debut in
The Lucky Ones. Previous credits include the national tours of The Wizard of Oz and Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story on Stage.
Dani Markham's recent collaborators include tUnE-yArDs,
Sonya Tayeh and Grammy nominee, Childish Gambino. She has appeared on The Tonight Show with
Jimmy Fallon, Conan, with Jools Holland and alongside Dave Chappelle. Markham appeared on the judge's panel for the international Hit Like A Girl drum competition and actively engages in programs that inspire the youth and women through drumming and creative expression. Markham is an official LP (Latin Percussion) Artist and Endorsee.
Zach McNally most recently originated the role of "Captain George Grove" in
Randy Weiner and
Ryan Heffington's Seeing You. He made his Broadway debut in the recent revival of Fiddler on the Roof, directed by
Bartlett Sher and choreographed by Hofesh Shecter. Other credits include "MacDuff" in the off-Broadway hit show Sleep No More and "William the Hustler" in Third Rail Projects' The Grand Paradise.
Jennifer Morris is a founding associate artist of the OBIE award-winning company,
The Civilians. Work with
The Civilians includes:
Mr. Burns, Gone Missing and YOU BETTER SIT DOWN (which she conceived and co-wrote). YBSD ran off-Broadway and was then expanded online through partnerships with Huffington Post and NPR/WNYC. Jennifer produced the documentary Mentor (Amazon/iTunes), and the short films Buzzer, Tiffany (PBS) and Unknown Seven. She has written/hosted shows on Food Network and WE and created digital series for ABC/Disney and Fremantle Media. Additional work at
Soho Rep, P.S. 122, Cherry Lane, The Flea Barrow Street, Williamstown, The Public and A.R.T.
Tom Nelis Broadway: Indecent, The Visit, Enron, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Aida. Off-Broadway: The Vineyard,
The Public Theater, NYTW, MTC, TFANA,
Playwrights Horizons,
Signature Theatre, The Talking Band, Ripe Time, BAM, En Garde Arts. International: The
Royal Shakespeare Company, The Suzuki Company of Toga,
Siti Company,
Laurie Anderson,
Richard Foreman. Awards: Eliot Norton Outstanding Performer (The Tempest), OBIE (THE MEDIUM), San Diego Critics Ensemble Award (WINTERTIME). Founding member of
Siti Company; MFA, UC San Diego.
Maryann Plunkett performed in
Richard Nelson's Gabriel Family Plays and his Apple Family Plays (Obie, Drama Desk) at
The Public Theater, the Kennedy Center and around the world. All were filmed and broadcast in the US on PBS/WNET. Broadway work includes: Me and My Girl (Tony), The Crucible, Saint Joan, Sunday in the Park with George, Agnes of God and others. Film & TV: MAD, Youth In Oregon, The Family Fang, The Squid and the Whale, Bull, Chicago Med. Shakespeare. Chekhov. Founding member of Portland Stage.
Pearl Rhein is an actor, musician and songwriter. Broadway: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. New York: Shakespeare in the Park, Irish Rep, Red Bull. Regional: A.R.T.,
Arena Stage,
La Jolla Playhouse,
Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Pearl teaches music and is writing a musical about historical women in S.T.E.M. MFA: UC San Diego. BA: Ball State University. Proud member of Actors Equity, SAG-AFTRA & Local 802. @pearlrhein, pearlrhein.com.
Ida Saki trained at Booker T. Washington HSPVA and Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. She has received national honors including one of Dance Magazine's Top 25 to Watch in 2013 and modern dance winner by NFAA YoungArts, where she was named a Presidential Scholar of the Arts. Saki was a closing member of Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet after dancing with them from 2012-2015. She is a co-founder of Dancers Give Back Dallas and a Mind Body Dancer Yoga® Teacher. Saki is currently performing as Lady Macbeth in the immersive show Sleep No More, in New York City.
Myra Lucretia Taylor Broadway: Nine (Tony Award, Best Revival), Macbeth, Electra, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Mule Bone, A Streetcar Named Desire. Off-Broadway: School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play (MCC), Familiar (
Playwrights Horizons),
Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle nominations, Best Featured Actress. Regional: Where Storms Are Born (
Williamstown Theatre Festival). National Tour: Wicked (Morrible). International: (Member of RSC) The Winter's Tale, Pericles. TV: Atlanta (FX), GIRLS (HBO). Film: The Big Sick, Catfight. Web Series: The Best Thing You'll Ever Do (Indie Web, Best Featured Actress nomination). Ms. Taylor is a Fox Fellow.
Adina Verson most recently originated the role of Rifkele in the Broadway production of Indecent. Previous credits include
Christopher Bayes' The Servant of Two Masters(TFANA,
Seattle Rep, Guthrie, ArtsEmerson), Indecent (Vineyard, La Jolla, Yale Rep), As You Like It (
Shakespeare Theatre Company, DC), The Winter's Tale (Yale Rep), 4000 Miles(
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), peerless (Barrington Stage) and Machine Makes Man (OldSoundRoom), which she co-created with Michael McQuilken. TV: Mozart in the Jungle,The Strain, Wormwood. MFA, Yale School of Drama.
Amelia Workman Company member of The New Museum's pop up repertory company X-ID; Simon Stephenson's On the Shore of the Wide World (Atlantic); Susan Lori Parks'sThe Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World (
Signature Theatre);
Leslye Headland's The Layover (
Second Stage); Laura Jacqumin's Residence (Humana Festival); By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (
Goodman Theatre); Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (
Ars Nova). Original company and international touring company of
Young Jean Lee's The Shipment.
Photo Credit: Ben Arons Photography
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