Off-Broadway's Out of the Box Theatrics has revealed programming for its 2024-2025 season, which will include a new revival of Michael John LaChiusa's See What I Wanna See.
The production, beginning previews September 3 ahead of a September 16 opening night, will take inspiration from its source material and feature Japanese puppetry and translations, along with an all-AAPI cast (to be announced). Originally premiering Off-Broadway at The Public in 2005, the work is adapted from short stories by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, including the well-known Rashomon. Emilio Ramos is directing, with Adam Rothenberg music directing.
The company will launch the season with Inspired By True Events, a new play by Ryan Spahn. The work follows a community theatre group whose star arrives to a performance dangerously unhinged, forcing the rest of the company to make due onstage and off. Michael Herwitz is directing, and the cast will feature Lou Liberatore, Jack DiFalco, Mallory Portnoy, and Dana Scurlock. Performances will begin July 10, with opening night set for July 17.
The final mainstage offering will be Shelli Pentimal Bookler's Call Me Abigail, beginning performances January 20, 2025, ahead of a January 27 opening night. The work centers on a father-daughter conflict, one that arises from the clashing worlds of politics and adult entertainment. The company previously presented a developmental reading of the piece, which featured Marc Kudisch and Brenda Braxton. Casting for the full run is to be announced.
OOTB will also continue to develop some new works. First up is a staged reading of James Caverly and Andrew Morrill's Trash, about Deaf roommates with very different ideas on what it means to be Deaf in a hearing world. Nathaniel Claridad is directing, with ASL coaching by Kailyn-Aaron Lozano. Caverly and Morrill will both act in the piece as well, joined by Adelina Mitchell, Vishal Vaidya, Chris Ogren, Chris Tester, and Joel Oramas. Performances will be February 5, 6, and 8.
A workshop of the new musical Starstruck is planned for May 2024. A modern retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac, the work features music and lyrics by Emily Saliers and a book by Beth Malone and Mary Ann Stratton. The piece previously gave a reading via Rhinebeck Writers Retreat in 2023. Director Sherri Eden Barber, who helmed the reading, is back to lead OOTB's workshop.
Visit OOTBTheatrics.com.
