THE ANIMAL KINGDOM To Premiere Off-Broadway This Winter
Today it was announced that the U.S. premiere of The Animal Kingdom will begin performances off Broadway this upcoming winter.
This limited engagement of 16 performances for just 50 people a night runs January 25 – February 10, 2024, at the Connelly Theater Upstairs.
The new play has been written by British playwright Ruby Thomas in her American debut, and is being produced and directed by Jack Serio (Uncle Vanya in private loft, This Beautiful Future).
In The Animal Kingdom, Sam is struggling. Sam’s family doesn’t understand. But then they barely understand themselves. Now, trapped in a stuffy inpatient clinic undergoing family therapy, they must find new ways to communicate with each other. The Animal Kingdom is an observation of family dynamics told with wit and compassion that peels back the emotional layers of group therapy.
The production stars Tony-winner David Cromer (Uncle Vanya in private loft, The Waverly Gallery, Our Town), Tasha Lawrence (A Doll's House, dir. Jamie Lloyd; The Whale), Lily McInerny (Camp Siegfried), Uly Schlesinger (This Beautiful Future, HBO Max’s “Genera+ion”), and Obie-winner Calvin Leon Smith (Fat Ham, Amazon Prime’s “The Underground Railroad”).
“Since first seeing Ruby’s play in London almost two years ago, I have been on a mission to bring it to New York. Rarely have I ever felt so seen by a piece of writing. The play speaks with refreshing honesty to issues of mental health, queerness, and how hard it can be to communicate with people who love you. The Connelly Theater Upstairs' intimate and immersive environment is the perfect home for this production where audience members will feel like flies on the wall. I’m thrilled to explore this piece with our remarkable American company and introduce New York audiences to the singular talent that is Ruby Thomas,” said Director Jack Serio
The creative team for The Animal Kingdom includes Wilson Chin (scenic design), Ricky Reynoso (costume design), Stacey Derosier (lighting design), Christopher Darbassie (sound design), Frederick Krepps (production stage manager), and Christian Rene Palomares (general manager). David Manella at Loeb & Loeb LLP serves as Production Counsel.
For more information press here.
