Past Projects

2019

Miranda From Stormville
March 2019

Two men are stranded in the small town of Stormville, New Jersey - a place where life moves slowly and people don’t leave. But it seems as if the accident of their arrival is no accident after all. Outside, a storm rages. Inside, a family withers. There’s magic in this universe. Remember that.

In small town New Jersey, somewhere off the Garden State Parkway, a great storm is raging. But inside their little house, Miranda Milano watches the once magical energy drain from her Pops eyes. Their dormant life is shocked awake by the arrival of two young men, stranded by car trouble, who cause a shift in the fabric of the family’s life. But is their random arrival actually random at all? A modern re-telling of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest from Adam Bertocci (Two Gentlemen of Lebowski: A Most Excellent Comedie and Tragical Romance), Miranda from Stormville asks: how do we escape circumstances we can’t avoid? How do we continue on when hope is lost? Just miles outside New York City, Miranda’s rural America may as well be a stranded island: is she destined to only experience life through the books she constantly devours? Or does her ailing father, with his self-professed powers, and a caretaker with a flair for the dramatic have bigger plans in store?

The Drunk Texts
2016 - Currently Running Monthly

What started out as a fundraiser in 2016, this phenomenon of classical text has now become an integral part of Random Access Theatre's annual programming.
Buried for years. Forgotten by time. But now, they’re coming back to life. Welcome to... The Drunk Texts. Join us as our team of professional thespians dust off a classical text, or a text made classical, in a performance that combines drinking games, improvisation and audience participation. A boozy twist on classical theatre, this interactive evening lets the audience vote on who takes the next shot and even volunteer to hop up for a crucial walk-on role. Drink along with us as we bring the bar to the classics...you may have heard of these texts before, but you’ve never seen them like this.

2017

A Night of Bad Theatre
January 2017

Random Access Theatre is thrilled to present A Night of ‘Bad’ Theatre, an evening of three brand new short plays, performances from Avant Garbage and Community Dance Project, and live music from local bands including DDWhite, to benefit their 2017 season. Playing off of traditional theatrical tropes and cliches (like the kitchen sink drama, classical theatre, and avant-garde absurdism), playwrights Caroline Prugh, Robert Price and Jen Sandella have crafted purposefully ‘bad’ plays, which will be performed by Random Access’ resident company of artistic associates at Joe’s Pub on Monday, January 30th at 9:30pm.

Resistance and Rebellion
In Rep
May 2017

Random Access Theatre to present first ever repertory season May 4-28: Resistance and Rebellion in Rep! Known for re-imagining works of the past to engage in modern issues, Random Access Theatre will be exploring two classic pieces with bold characters who fought against injustice in Resistance and Rebellion in Rep. Productions of Ernst Toller's Hoppla, We're Alive! directed by Artistic Director Jennifer Sandella, and Sophocles' Antigone, adapted and directed by Victoria Teague, will alternate performances at The Loft at the Davenport Theatre May 4-28.
Hoppla, We're Alive! tells the story of a group of revolutionaries who, eight years after they are pardoned from death row, have found various ways to adapt to the unchanged world they once rebelled against. Politics, friendship, and conscience collide in this German play that shook up the theatre world when it originally premiered in the 1920s. Then, re-visit Antigone, the beloved story of Oedipus' courageous daughter who chooses to stand up for what she thinks is right, even in the face of dire consequences. This modern re-telling, adapted by Victoria Teague, examines how a Greek tragedy fits into contemporary society, and whether you would actually be surprised to hear those kinds of stories on the nightly news today.
Hoppla, We’re Alive! is directed by Artistic Director Jennifer Sandella and Antigone is adapted and directed by Marketing Director Victoria Teague. The productions utilize a joint cast featuring Timothy Condon*, Peter Ferneding, Annelise Kitching, Natalie Donahue McMahon, Jessica Mosher, Andrew Orsie, Franco Pedicini, Joe Raik*, Isabelle Russo, Briana Sakamoto*, Olivia Stevenson, Mary Lane Townsend, Robin Zerbe, and Stephen Zuccaro.
* These actors are appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity.

To view the virtual program click here.

HERStory: In Residence at IRT
Gertrude Stein, You are Mine, Gertrude Stein
by Caroline Prugh
The Rover
by Aphra Behn,
Adapted and Directed by Jennifer Sandella
A Living Museum
Devised, Conceived, and Directed by
Victoria Teague and Mike Gregorek
October 2017

This fall, Random Access Theatre (long devoted to reclaiming and re-examining works of the past) is asking: who are the women that changed the face of theatre? HERstory Examined hopes to delve into that question through a series of performative exercises exploring the role and contribution of women in historical drama. From Aphra Behn to Margo Jones and Lorraine Hansberry to Sarah Bernhardt, this series provides an opportunity to dive into the lives of the women who have participated in theatre throughout history while highlighting the immense impact they have had on theatre worldwide. After a residency of developmental rehearsals and workshops, HERstory Examined will culminate in two weeks of public performances that will include an immersive living museum experience featuring influential women in theatre history, a female powered classical piece still to be announced, and a reading of Gertrude Stein You Are Mine Gertrude Stein. This brand new play written by Caroline Prugh and based on the writings of Gertrude Stein is a theatrical exploration of the construction of identity - who You say you are vs. who They say you are. The series will also feature a special gender bending edition of Drunk Restoration Comedy, Random Access Theatre’s beloved monthly reading series, where a cast of actors and improvisers attempt to perform a reading of a restoration comedy highly under the influence. A celebration of womanhood, HERstory Examined hopes to highlight how far women have come and how far there is still to go, while also honoring the strong women who first defied the odds set against them, inspiring new generations to follow in their footsteps.

2015

PINWHEEL! March/April 2015

Random Access Theatre is proud to present the world premier of the new musical Pinwheel!, a whimsical 1920s tale freely adapted by Caroline J. Prugh and Artistic Director Jennifer Sandella from the play by F. E. Faragoh. Directed by Sandella and featuring an original score by Geoff Barone and choreography by Esther Widlanski, this frenetic Jazz Age musical follows one woman’s struggle to find her place in the American Dreamscape. Torn between mundane domesticity and a glittery life in Hollywood, The Jane embarks on a frenzied journey to satisfy her cravings for a richer life.

Emotionally charged and culturally relevant, Pinwheel! raises poignant questions about gender, societal roles, and the illusive nature of the American Dream. It is a story that is at once erotic, comic and tragic as it examines our often dissatisfaction with cultural norms in our quest for authenticity.
To view the digital program for Pinwheel! click here.

Patronage December 2015

Random Access Theatre in association with Not Without Rage is proud to present the World Premiere of Patronage-A Fairy Tale in One Act by New York based playwright Kati Frazier. Patronage marks the first production of Random Access Theatre’s 2015-2016 season and the first collaboration between the company with playwright Kati Frazier. This season Random Access Theatre will focus on works that explore characters in search of who they are and their unlikely place in the world. It will play at Rabbithole Studios December 4-20, 2015.

There is a Suitor; he loves a Countess. There is a Writer; she loves someone
lost. There is a Countess; she loves words. She loves them passionately, desperately, and literally. This three-person, one-violin fairy tale explores our relationship with the written word, sexuality, and how against all odds we learn to love one another fully and properly.

2014

Foreign Wars
March 2014

Random Access Theatre presents Samara Weiss' Foreign Wars, an aggressive, erotic and powerful adaptation of the ancient Greek myth of Phaedra. Set in military expansionist Athens, Phaedra comes into power when Theseus takes her as his queen after conquering Crete. Away to conquer Megara, Theseus leaves Phaedra to rule Athens and its modern military operations. Fixated on her family's history of sexual perversion, Hippolytus, the Crown Prince of Athens, is intent on dragging Phaedra off of his mother's former throne. Just as victory over Megara seems imminent, forces of desire, vengeance and love converge in an avalanche of tragedy.

Foreign Wars is an explosive war room thriller that explores hybrid time and place, forbidden love, the power of language, and how we justify human loss in war. The production runs March 20th through April 6th at Theatre 54 at Shetler Studios, NYC. To view the digital program click here.

The Taming of The Shrew
July 2014

The Taming of The Shrew - July 2014Random Access Theatre returns to Brooklyn Bridge Park with Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew! Shakespeare's witty comedy takes on a new life with a retro post-war 1950s design concept and a gender-bending, hilariously clever cast. Director Jennifer Sandella explodes this beloved play to comment on gender, power, and survival in a wickedly funny and unexpectedly moving adaptation.

The Taming of the Shrew marks Random Access Theatre's highly anticipated return to Brooklyn Bridge Park's Bard on Pier 1 series after packed weekend runs of Twelfth Night (2012) and Much Ado About Nothing (2013). To view the digital program click here.

Rosmersholm September 2014

Random Access Theatre presents a riveting new version of Henrik Ibsen's haunting and poetic masterpiece Rosmersholm. Hailed by critics to be Ibsen's greatest work, Rosmersholm is a psychologically thrilling love story of an unlikely pair of passionate social progressives.
Emotionally charged and politically relevant, Rosmersholm examines the challenge of living out our convictions in the face of harsh social realities and our buried past. Featuring a new edit of Ibsen's text by Katherine McDonald and directed by Artistic Director Jennifer Sandella, this unique site-specific production will run from September 4th-14th at the historic Old Stone House in Park Slope, allowing the audience to intimately experience this stunning tale from the proximity of a tea guest.

2013

Anthem
February 2013

Adapted from Ayn Rand's dystopian novella of the same name, Random Access Theatre presents Anthem at the Dorothy Streslin Theatre at the Abingdon Theater Arts Complex in New York City.
Under the direction of Jennifer Sandella, five actors embody a nightmare of complicit collectivism where individual identity is a death sentence. However as two inhabitants of the soulless city fall in love, they will have to risk their lives to stay together. The audience is escorted into a bare space and invited to share a moment in time with two central characters and a lightbox. Anthem features innovative lighting design and an original score by David Andreana. To view the digital program for this production click here.

Much Ado About Nothing
June 2013

Random Access Theatre presents William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, set in Macau during its Golden Age in the 17th Century as a Portuguese colony and trading post in southeastern China.
Shakespeare’s witty comedy takes on a new life with a culturally diverse cast and a vivid Chinese/Portuguese inspired design concept. Adapter Jessica Ko and Director Casey Cleverly explode this beloved play to comment on power, race, colonialism, and sex in a wickedly funny and visually striking adaptation.

Random Access Theatre is excited to be working in collaboration with Brooklyn Bridge Park, First Street Green and NYC Parks to make theatre available and accessible to the NYC community. To view the digital program click here.

2012

ROPE
January/February 2012

A play by Patrick Hamilton, directed by Christopher Shepard, Rope is about the nature of superiority and its very real and historical consequences. As the play meditates on the cultural and intellectual components that allow one man to kill another, it asks the audience to think about who must be sacrificed in displays of superiority, from the personal to the national. Ran January/February 2012 at the Access Theater, NYC

To view the digital program click here.

Twelfth Night
May 2012

A fun romp full of gender-bending, mistaken identity, music and mayhem, Random Access Theatre Company’s Twelfth Night re-energizes Shakespeare’s most beloved comedy. As told by eight actors and a saxophone, this fast-paced, 90-minute wild ride unfolds against the backdrop of Prohibition in the big city. Directed by Lawrence Lesher and played for FREE in parks across NYC including Brookyn Bridge Park, Ft. Greene Park, Astoria Park, 6&B community Garden and Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

To view the digital program for Twelfth Night by click here

Tempting Air
November 2012

A part of the 5th annual New Orleans Fringe Festival, Tempting Air is an original, gallery style, ensemble piece, Tempting Air re-stages new and old interpretations of Shakespeare's The Tempest to examine our physical and emotional responses to chaos. The engaging new performance explodes traditional relationships between audience and artist so participants can collectively investigate this classic play.

"The actors move elegantly on stage, through heavy green and red lighting, gesturing majestically and miming in unison. Shakespeare's enduring words play in an intriguing, abstracted presentation performed by a company that knows how to speak poetry in voice and body." -Jonas Griffin NOLA Defender

2011

Something's Not Quite Right Here
April 2011

A collection of original one act pieces, Random Access Theatre's first New York Production explored the supernatural, the natural and the extremities of human nature. It ran April 2011 at Theatre 54, NYC.

Highway Blue
Summer 2011

Off a dusty highway in the American Southwest, two gas pumps attempt to help a pair of star-crossed lovers reconcile their pasts and rekindle their love. This daring new musical play by Caroline Prugh, and directed by Jennifer Sandella was Random Access Theatre most adventurous project to date. Ran July/August 2011 at the Players Theatre, NYC.