Recent New Works

2024-2025 SEASON

After a long COVID “intermission” from producing live theatre, MULTISTAGES produced the New World Premiere of JANUARY in 2025.

WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION

“JANUARY”

Written by Paula Cizmar
Directed by Lorca Peress
The Theater at the 14th Street Y, 344 East 14th Street, NYC

Performing in repertory as part of the newly-formed Femme Collective**

January 11 – February 1, 2025

REPERTORY SCHEDULE for the play JANUARY:  Sat., 1/11 at 7pm; Sun., 1/12 at 7pm; Tues., 1/14 at 7pm; Thurs., 1/16 at 7pm; Wed., 1/22 at 7pm; Fri., 1/24 at 7pm; Sun., 1/26 at 2pm; Wed., 1/29 at 2pm; Fri., 1/31 at 7pm; and Sat., 2/1 at 4:30pm (Femme Collective Marathon Day)

Photo Credit: John Quilty

JANUARY is a play about the aftermath of traumatic violence:  A child has just shot and killed another child at school.  Lauren, the mother of the victim, becomes the darling of the media; Maya, the mother of the killer is ostracized, hounded. As Lauren’s mind fragments, she becomes increasingly obsessed with Maya, whom she blames for the tragedy. But who really is to blame? Couldn’t this happen to any of us? Aren’t we all in this together? JANUARY is a play about people.  A journey toward sanity and understanding.  An attempt to turn hate into communal concern and care.

JANUARY was a MultiStages New Works Contest Finalist in 2016 and has been updated to reflect our current times. This production include original music, projection design, movement, and live streaming.

PRODUCTION COMPANY

Cast: Veronica Cruz,* Darlenis Duran, Alinca Hamilton,* Jed Peterson*, with Matt Walting

Artistic Company includes Paula Cizmar: Playwright, Jan Hartley: Projection Design,  Sun Hee Kil: Sound Design,  Kia Rogers: Lighting Design,  Jennifer Varbalow: Scenic & Property Design,  Lisa Renee Jordan: Costume Design,  Abigail Ramsay: Social Media Projection Design,  Jennifer Chin: Choreography and Intimacy,  TV News Themes: Dean Landon,  Sound Associate & Club Music: Bennett Lin, Lorca Peress: Director.

Mel Ashby-Hunt: Production Stage Manager,  Jenna Baker Morrissey: ASM

Kampfire Films PR

Associate Producer: Gena Bardwell

Producing Artistic Director: Lorca Peress

Special thank you to the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) for a Creative Engagement Award, the N.W. Dible Foundation, Cherry Lane Alternative Gift, and our dedicated supporters whose donations and grants help fund these projects.

*Appearing courtesy of AEA

**Femme Collective is a groundbreaking partnership between MultiStages, The Neo-Political Cowgirls, and Eden Theater Company. Together they represent a united front in reimagining the theater industry’s future. Born out of the financial and cultural challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, this innovative collaboration between three women-led companies seeks to redefine theater through shared resources, amplified diversity, and community resilience.