Production History

Mainstage: 2000 – Present

2000

Fully Committed
by Becky Mode
directed by Nicholas Martin
with Mark Setlock; followed by Roger Bart, then Christopher Fitzgerald

75th ANNIVERSARY BENEFIT
directed by Eduardo Machado
with Lewis Black, Tyne Daly, Semina DeLaurentis, Micki Grant, Judith Ivey, Heather MacRae, Richard Maltby, Jr., Rue McClanahan, Don Scardino, Mark Setlock, David Shire, Dolores Sutton and Barbara Walshevent held on March 13

2001

Saint Lucy's Eyes
by Bridgette Wimberly
directed by Billie Allen
with Ruby Dee (with Ossie Davis), Willis Burks II, Toks Olagundoye, and Sally A. Stewart
produced by Angelina Fiordellisi, Barbara Ligeti, and Cherry Lane Theatre Company
sets by Beowulf Boritt
costumes by Alvin B. Perry
lights by Jane Reisman
original Music/Sound by Michael Wimberly
Originally developed in our inaugural season of Mentor Project, with Wendy Wasserstein
View photo of Billie Allen with Luther Henderson
view poster

Havana Is Waiting
by Eduardo Machado
directed by Michael Garces
with Bruce MacVittie, Ed Vassallo, Felix Solis, and Richard Marquez on percussion
produced by Angelina Fiordellisi, Barbara Ligeti, Annette Tapert and Cherry Lane Theatre Company
sets by Troy Hourie
costumes by Elizabeth Hope Clancy
lights by Kirk Bookman
sound by David M. Lawson
view poster

2002

21 Dog Years: Doing Time @ Amazon.Com
written and performed by Mike Daisey
directed by Jean-Michelle Gregory
produced by David J. Foster, Martian Entertainment and Peter Cane
scenic design by Louisa Thompson
lighting by Russell H. Champa
view poster

Happy Days
by Samuel Beckett
directed by Joseph Chaikin
produced by Cherry Lane Theatre
starring Joyce Aaron and Ron Faber
set design by Riccardo Hernandez
costume design by Katherine Roth
lighting design by Beverly Emmons
First production under Cherry Lane auspices: 41st Anniversary Revival
opened September 17
view poster

2003

It Just Catches
adapted from stories by Ernest Hemingway
by Carol Hemingway with the songs of Cole Porter
directed by Ed Hastings
produced by Cherry Lane Theatre and MODA Entertainment;
consulting producer Carolyn Rossi Copeland
starring David Ackroyd, Ann Crumb, Marsh Hanson
Ryan Shively, Daniel Freedom Stewart, Jessica D. Turner
sets by Riccardo Hernandez
costumes by David C. Woolard
lighting by Duane Schuler
opened February 9
view poster

Kiki & Herb: Coup De Theatre
created and performed by Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman
directed by Scott Elliott
produced by Westbeth Entertainment and Steven M. Levy
set by Derek McLane
costumes by Marc Happel
lighting by Jason Lyons
sound design by Ken Travis
opened May 7
Drama League nomination for Distinguished Performance
view poster

2003

Women On Fire
by Irene O'Garden
performed Judith Ivey
directed by Mary B. Robinson
set and costume design by Michael Krass
lighting design by Pat Dignan
sound design by Bart Fasbender
prop design by Faye Armon
produced by Cherry Lane Theatre
opened November 11
Lucille Lortel nomination for Outstanding Solo Show
Drama League nomination for Distinguished Performance: Judith Ivey
The Dramatist Guild Fund's annual Madge Evans and Sidney Kingsley Award: Judith Ivey
view production photo

2004

Open Heart
by Robby Benson
performed by Robby Benson, Karla DeVito, and Stan Brown
directed by Matt Williams
musical direction by Kevin Farrell
choreography by Luis Perez
set design by Michael Brown
costume design by Ann Hould-Ward
lighting design by Ken Billington
sound design by Aural Fixation
media design by Batwin & Robin Productions
produced by Cherry Lane Theatre
opened March 17
view poster or production photo

Miss Julie
by August Strindberg
translated by Truda Stockenström
with Mimi Bilinkski, Michael Aranov, and Opal Alladin
directed by Scott Schwartz
produced by Beowulf Borrit and Jessica Niebanck, and a sponsored project of the
adobe theatre company
opened June 22
view poster

Eve-Olution
by Hillary Illick and Jennifer Krier
with Sabrina Le Beauf and Carolyn McCormick
directed by Carolyn Cantor
produced by Mari Nakachi, Lucy Anda, and Meg Staunton
opened October 20
view poster

2005

Slag Heap
by anton dudley
with Brienan Nequa Bryant, Alexander Flores, Vincent Kartheiser, Polly Lee, Maggie Moore, Janelle Anne Robinson
directed by Michael Morris
set design by Michael Brown
costume design by Michael Krass
lighting design by Jeff Croiter
sound design by Bart Fasbender
fight direction Rick Sordelet
dialect coach Stephen Gabis
casting Judy Henderson CSA
press Keith Sherman & Associates
marketing Walker International Communications Group
stage Manager Kate Hefel
produced by Cherry Lane Theatre.
World Premiere.
Slag Heap was first developed by Cherry Lane Mentor Project 2003, with Ed Bullins.
previews began March 29 opened April 13
view image
view photos:
Opening Night
Production Shot 1
Production Shot 2

CHERRY LANE THEATRE GALA: A SALUTE TO 80 YEARS

A gala celebration of Cherry Lane's rich heritage as New York City's oldest, continuously running Off-Broadway theatre and its role in the future of American theatre.
April 3
view photos
 
RENOVATION: July 2005 through April 2006

2006

On the Line
by Joe Roland
with David Prete, Joe Roland, John Zibell
directed by Peter Sampieri
produced by Mike Nichols, Jill Furman, Boyett Ostar Productions
set design by Michael McGarty
costume design Robin L. McGee
lighting design Brian J. Lilienthal
sound design Peter Hurowitz
press representation Pete Sanders Group
general management 101 Productions, LTD.
stage manager Jennifer Rogers
technical supervisor Aurora Productions, Inc.
Apr 4 - 23

CHERRY LANE THEATRE GALA: ACT II - THE NEW CHERRY LANE
directed by Angelina Fiordellisi
honorees Edward Albee, David Henry Hwang
and John Breglio, and the Honorable Christine C. Quinn for their outstanding support of the arts in New York City and emerging playwrights. 
Festivities included Robby Benson and Karla DeVito singing from Pirates of Penzance, Dule Hill reading from Dutchman, Kelley O’Connor singing and aria from Ainadamar, and F. Murray Abraham, Judith Ivey and Elizabeth Wilson reading from American Dream.
lighting Design by Brian Lilienthal
stage manager John Handy
house manager Mary Geerlof
April 3

BHUTAN
by Daisy Foote
directed by Evan Yionoulis
with Tasha Lawrence, Sarah Lord, Amy Redford and Jedadiah Schultz
set design by Laura Hyman
costume design by Rebecca Bernstein
light design by Pat Dignan
sound design by Bart Fasbender
produced by Cherry Lane Theatre in association with New York Stage and Film
previews began October 19 opened October 29th
Nominated for 2006 Outer Critics Circle Award: the John Gassner Award
Bhutan was originally developed in Cherry Lane's Celebrating Women Playwrights Program in October 2005.
View Poster

DIRECT WOMEN
Panel discussions following select performances of Bhutan

Oct 24
Evan Yionoulis director, Daisy Foote playwright, Elizabeth Timperman Executive Producer, NY Stage & Film

Nov 7
Mary B. Robinson director, Suzanne Agins director, Pat Cruz Executive Director, Harlem Stage / Aaron Davis Hall, Inc., Leah C. Gardiner director, Robin Bell-Stevens CEO & Executive Director, Jazzmobile, Inc.

Nov 14
Pam Berlin director, Tisa Chang Artistic / Producing Director, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, Janine Nina Trevins Co-founder, Artistic Director TADA!, Roberta Levitow Director and Co-founder, Theatre Without Borders, Joan Vail Thorne director and dramatist

Nov 21
Joan Micklin Silver director, Melissa Kievman director, Lucie Tiberghien director, Donna Walker-Kuhne President, Walker International Communications Group

Nov 28
Erica Schmidt director, Martha Banta director, Lucie Tiberghien director, Maria Mileaf director, Nora Peck President, Leapfrog in America

Dec 5
Giovanna Sardelli director, Merle Kailas Executive Director, Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, Billie Allen director Anne Kaufman director

MONDAY NIGHT READINGS
directed by Pamela Berlin
produced by No Frills Company

TOP GIRLS by Caryl Churchill
with Patricia Elliott, Pamela Payton-Wright, Wai Ching Ho, Pippa Pearthree, Lola Pashalinski, Betsy Aidem and Sue Brady
Oct 30 & Nov 6

TWIGS by George Furth
with Anne Pitoniak, Cynthia Darlow, Sarah Baker, Sue Brady, John FitzGibbon, Matte Osian, Joel Leffert, William Cain and Kenneth Boys
Nov 13 & 20

VITA AND VIRGINIA by Aileen Atkins
with Kathleen Chalfant and Patricia Elliott
Nov 27 & Dec 11

2007

DUTCHMAN
by Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones)
with Dulé Hill and Jennifer Mudge
special appearance by Paul Benjamin
directed by Bill Duke
set by Troy Hourie, costumes by Rebecca Bernstein, lighting by Jeff Croiter
sound by Drew Levy and Tony Smolenski, video by Aaron Rhyne
Post-performance discussions with Amiri Baraka
produced by Cherry Lane Theatre
Jennifer Mudge received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Play.
Ms. Mudge also received the 4th Annual Seldes-Kanin Fellowship for her performance.
Dutchman premiered at Cherry Lane in 1964.
previews began January 16. Production was extended through February 24
view poster

CHERRY LANE THEATRE ARTIST FORUM
with Billie Allen, Amiri Baraka, Paul Benjamin, Michael Bradford, Ed Bullins, Kia Corthron, Bill Duke, Katori Hall, Dulé Hill, Woodie King Jr., Nilaja Sun and Bridgette Wimberly
Filmed by Lincoln Center Library
Jan 30, following performance of DUTCHMAN

FUGUE
by Lee Thuna
with Ari Butler, Charlotte Booker, Lily Corvo, Liam Craig, Deirdre O'Connell, Danielle Skraastad, Rick Stear and Catherine Wolf
set design by Neil Patel
costume design by Gail Cooper-Hecht
lighting design by Pat Dignan
sound design by T. Richard Fitzgerald and Carl Casella
music by Stanley Silverman
directed by Judith Ivey
produced by Cherry Lane Theatre with Roger Alan Gindi, General Manager
March 13 - April 22
view image

Phallacy
by Carl Djerassi
with Lisa Harrow, Simon Jones, Vince Nappo and Carrie Heitman
directed by Elena Araoz
produced by Redshift Productions
opened May 15

THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL
Produced by the Present Company
August 10 - 25

The Mercy Swing
by Lane Bernes

An Air Balloon Across Antarctica
by Darragh Martin

Lucid
by Jordan Smedberg

Out of My Mind
by Marvin Novogrodskit and Doug Vogel

Madonna and Child and Other Divas
by Tom Johnson

Lost! How a Certain TV Mega-Hunk Stole My Identity
by Josh Halloway

Asking for It
by Joanna Rush

Joan of ARPpo
by Gardi Hutter

Roxy Font
by Liza Lentini

Earth's Vacation
by Maura Kelley

CHERRY JUBILEE CELEBRATES MENTOR PROJECT'S TENTH ANNIVERSARY

HOODOO LOVE
by Katori Hall
directed by Lucie Tiberghien
mentored by Lynn Nottage
with Angela Lewis, Kevin Mambo, Marjorie Johnson and Keith Davis
set design Robin Vest, costume design Rebecca Bernstein, lighting design Pat Dignan, sound and original music Daniel Baker and the Broken Chord Collective, fight director David Debesse, casting Hopkins, Smith & Barden, Pamela Perrell, press Art Meets Commerce, marketing Walker International Communications Group,advertising Eliran Murphy Group, Ltd., produced by Cherry Lane Theatre

Press Quotes:

"Intensely powerful performances. Haunting...a young playright of great promise." - New York Post

"Exquisite Acting, Heartfelt Blues, Simply Excellent! - The L Magazine

"A New Writer Worth Watching" - Village Voice

"A Vibrant New Blues Song of a Play! A Major Debut by a Playwright with a Spring in Her Step, As Well As A Kick!" - Time Out New York

"Hoodoo Love Exudes a Winsome Sincerity That is Hard to Resist. It Has Something Sorely Missing in Many New Plays: Heart!" - New York Sun

AUDELCO Award Winner; 3 AUDELCO Nominations, including the August Wilson Playwright Award

played October 18 through December 9, 2007
click here for more information

View poster
View image of Angela Lewis (Toulou) and Kevin Mambo (Ace of Spades)
View image of Angela Lewis (Toulou) and Kevin Mambo (Ace of Spades)
View image of Angela Lewis (Toulou) and Kevin Mambo (Ace of Spades)
View image of Angela Lewis (Toulou) and Marjorie Johnson (Candy Lady)
View image of Angela Lewis (Toulou) and Marjorie Johnson (Candy Lady)
View image of Angela Lewis (Toulou) and Keith Davis (Jib)

THE AMERICAN DREAM AND THE SANDBOX
by Edward Albee
directed by Edward Albee
with Judith Ivey, George Bartenieff, Lois Markle, Harmon Walsh, Jesse Williams and Daniel Shevlin
(Kate Mulgrew replaced Judith Ivey during the production's extension from April 22 through May 3)
set design by Neil Patel; costume design by Carrie Robbins; lighting design by Nicole Pearce; music by William Flanagan; sound by Arielle Edwards, press Art Meets Commerce, marketing Walker International Communications Group,advertising Eliran Murphy Group, Ltd., produced by Cherry Lane Theatre

Previews began March 21, opening night April 1, final performance May 3

Click here for more information

View the poster
View image of George Bartenieff (photo ©Gabe Evans)
View image of Judith Ivey (photo ©Gabe Evans)
View image of Judith Ivey and Kathleen Butler (photo ©Gabe Evans)
View image of Judith Ivey, Harmon Walsh and George Bartenieff (photo ©Gabe Evans)
View image of Kathleen Butler, Judith Ivey, Harmon Walsh and George Bartenieff (photo ©Gabe Evans)
View image of Jesse Williams, Lois Markle, Daniel Shevlin, Judith Ivey and George Bartenieff (Photo ©Jaisen Crockett/Art Meets Commerce)
View image of Jesse Williams and Lois Markle (Photo ©Jaisen Crockett/Art Meets Commerce)
View image of Lois Markle (Photo ©Jaisen Crockett/Art Meets Commerce)

"REQUIRED VIEWING FOR FANS OF AMERICAN THEATER." Michael Kuchwara, The Associated Press

"ANYONE INTERESTED IN MODERN THEATER SHOULD HEAD TO THE CHERRY LANE.” Frank Scheck, New York Post

"JUDITH IVEY PORTRAYS MOMMY SENSATIONALLY AND GEORGE BARTENIEFF IS NO LESS FINE."  Tom Tedorczuk, The New York Sun

"BARTENIEFF'S BEFUDDLED DADDY AND MARKLE'S SHARP-WITTED GRANDMA ARE IMPECCABLY PERFORMED." Michael Sommers, The Star-Ledger

"THE AMERICAN DREAM AND THE SANDBOX, BY THE STANDARDS OF ANY GENERATION, ARE GEMS." Michael Feingold, Village Voice

Click here to return to the History page