Performances begin tonight for the U.S. and English-language premiere of Stefano Massini's 7 Minutes, produced by Waterwell in association with Working Theater.
Written by
Stefano Massini (The Lehman Trilogy), 7 Minutes is directed by
Mei Ann Teo (SKiNFoLK: An American Show), with a translation by Francesca Spedalieri commissioned by Waterwell. 7 Minutes opens March 27, 2022 for a limited run through April 10, 2022 at HERE in Manhattan.
Based on actual events, 7 Minutes depicts an urgent meeting of the union council of a rural Connecticut textile factory. Changes at the factory seem inevitable when new owners take over, giving the council only 90 minutes to vote on a decision with serious consequences for everyone at the factory. Tempers flare and anxieties boil over as personal needs, perspectives and suspicions vie for position while the clock runs down.
The cast of 11 is composed entirely of women and gender non-conforming BIPOC+ actors. The play will feature
Nicole Ansari (Rock 'n' Roll) as Mahtab,
Jojo Brown (Hulu & Freeform's "Single Drunk Female") as Jordan,
Danielle Davenport (An Octoroon) as Danielle, Julia Gu (BAb(oo)shka) as Alex, Simone Immanuel (New York debut) as Rachel,
Mahira Kakkar (Monsoon Wedding) as Denise,
Layla Khoshnoudi (Dance Nation) as Leyla,
Ebony Marshall-Oliver (Chicken & Biscuits) as Linda,
Aigner Mizzelle (Chicken & Biscuits) as Sophie,
Sushma Saha (Interstate) as Nicole, and
Carmen Zilles (Fefu and her Friends) as Inés.
A razor-sharp portrait of unionized factory workers grappling in real time with the power imbalance they depend on for their very livelihoods, 7 Minutes scrutinizes the individual impact of the economic forces and labor practices currently under debate in the United States. Best known in New York for his acclaimed play The Lehman Trilogy - a searing study in the unfettered pursuit of wealth by early captains of American industry - Massini tracks in 7 Minutes the lasting effects of the capitalist system they helped build on the workers of today, who bear the brunt of ever-tightening productivity demands and decades of government policy and business interest weakening the labor movement.
7 Minutes features scenic design by
You-Shin Chen, costume design by
Asa Benally, lighting and sound design by Hao Bai, and props design by
Patricia Marjorie.
Taylor Williams is the casting director,
Victor Cervantes Jr. is the line producer, and
Brittany Coyne is the production manager. AriDy Nox serves as dramaturg.
Genevieve Ortiz serves as the production stage manager.
7 Minutes has been produced around the world, including in Italy, France, Germany and Iran. This production is a part of SubletSeries@HERE: a curated rental program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as a technical liaison.
Tickets are priced according to a Sliding Scale Ticketing Initiative, reflecting Waterwell and Working Theater's commitment to accessibility. For tickets and information, visit
waterwell.org. HERE is located at 145 6th Avenue in Manhattan (enter on Dominick Street, one block south of Spring Street).
To learn more about 7 Minutes, visit waterwell.org.
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