GO BIG with three nights of benefit fun with your best Ars Nova pals including:
Hannah Bos, Peter Friedman, Chris Lowell, Paul Thureen, Michael Cyril Creighton, César Alvarez, The Bengsons, Daniel Zaitchik, Stephanie Hsu, Emily Walton, Ana Gasteyer, Phillip Taratula, Annaleigh Ashford, Matt Wilkas, and surprises galore!
Only three nights. Only 99 seats per show.
These events are in celebration of the legacy of Founding Artistic Director, Jason Eagan as we highlight his final year as the Artistic Director of Ars Nova AND kick off our BIG DREAMS BIG SWINGS campaign.
Best known for her work on Saturday Night Live and as one of Broadway’s Elphabas in Wicked, Ana Gasteyer returns to the Ars Nova stage as her alter-ego September L. Davis. Gasteyer and her cadre of comedy’s finest promise an unforgettable evening.
WRITTEN BY Ana Gasteyer and Steven Cragg
DIRECTED BY Kevin Cahoon
FEATURING Ana Gasteyer as September L. Davis, Phillip Taratula as Pam Goldberg, Annaleigh Ashford, and Matt Wilkas
FIVE STARS! CRITICS PICK! “Exquisitely rendered…J@cuzz! holds you rapt” Adam Feldman, TIME OUT – It’s a one night only showing of the Debate Society hit!
In the Marshall family’s peacefully remote Colorado ski chalet, Erik and Helene are making themselves very much at home. So at home, they just might stay for good. At the edge of civilization, the lifestyles of the rich collide with the lifestyles of the aimless in the bubbling waters of a hot tub.
WRITTEN BY Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen
ORIGINALLY DIRECTED AND DEVELOPED BY Oliver Butler
STAGE DIRECTED BY Oliver Butler
FEATURING THE ORIGINAL CAST: Hannah Bos (Somebody Somewhere, Driveways), Peter Friedman (Succession, JOB), Chris Lowell (Promising Young Woman, Veronica Mars), and Paul Thureen (Somebody Somewhere, Driveways)
WITH SPECIAL GUEST: Michael Cyril Creighton (Only Murders in the Building, High Maintenance)
Some of today’s brightest Broadway and Off-Broadway stars reach into the Ars Nova vault to share songs from composers including César Alvarez (FUTURITY, The Elementary Spacetime Show), The Bengsons (Hundred Days, The Lucky Ones), Manik Choksi (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, The Ramayan, Daniel Zaitchik (Darling Grenadine, Suprema), and more. Featuring the vocal stylings of artists like Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All At Once, Be More Chill) and Emily Walton (Come From Away, Darling Grenadine), and Kuhoo Verma (Plan B, The Big Sick) among others.
Hannah Bos is an award-winning actor, writer and founder/co-Artistic Director of Obie-winning theater company The Debate Society. She has written for HBO’s High Maintenance and Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle and has developed pilots for HBO, FOX, Amazon and Paramount. She recently received an Independent Spirit Award Nomination (along with co-writer Paul Thureen) for Best First Screenplay for their feature Driveways (dir. Andrew Ahn) which premiered at the 2019 Berlin Film Festival (North American Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival) and was released in spring 2020. The Debate Society’s most recent production The Light Years recently had its world premiere at Playwrights Horizons. In addition to co-writing all of the The Debate Society’s plays, she has starred in Jacuzzi (Ars Nova), Blood Play (Bushwick Starr/The Public Theater’s Under the Radar Festival/Williamstown Theatre Festival), Buddy Cop 2 (Ontological-Hysteric Incubator/Atlantic Stage 2), You’re Welcome (The Brick), Cape Disappointment (PS122), The Eaten Heart, The Snow Hen and A Thought About Raya. She also starred in the premiere of Will Eno’s The Open House at the Signature Theatre Company (Drama Desk Award and Lortel Nomination). Regional acting credits include: the premieres of Will Eno’s GNIT and Lisa Kron’s The Veri**on Play at Humana Festival, Andrei Serban’s Lysistrata and Three Farces and a Funeral and Janos Szasz’ Marat/Sade (all A.R.T). Hannah guest starred in High Maintenance/SUFJAN and appeared in the films The Outside Story, The Incredible Jessica James, Photo Op, How to Follow Strangers and Next Life. Hannah is a Sundance Theatre Institute fellow, a former Ars Nova Artist-in-Residence and a recipient of The Six Points Fellowship. She is faculty at The National Theater Institute and has a B.A. from Vassar College and M.F.A from The Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University/Moscow Art Theater. Her work has been published by Samuel French, Playscripts and Play a Journal of Plays.
Peter Friedman has been in the original New York productions of works by Wendy Wasserstein, Annie Baker, Amy Herzog, Max Posner, Greg Pierce, Jennifer Haley, Deborah Zoe Laufer, The Debate Society, Rachel Bonds, Lauren Yee, Will Eno, Michael Mitnick, Kim Rosenstock, Will Connolly, Gunnar Madsen, Joy Gregory, John Lang, Israel Horovitz, Susan Stroman, David Thompson, John Kander, Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and in NYC revivals of plays by Paddy Chayefsky, Reginald Rose, Donald Margulies, Chekhov, and Shakespeare. Film: The Savages, Safe. TV: Brooklyn Bridge, The Muppet Show, High Maintenance, The Affair, The Path, Succession.
Christopher Lowell made his Broadway debut in Cult of Love. Other theatre credits include Bo in J@cuzz! (Ars Nova), Paul Bratter in Barefoot in the Park (Old Globe). Film work includes Oscar- winners Promising Young Woman (Al Monroe) and The Help (Stuart Whitworth, SAG Award, Critics Choice Award), Piz in Veronica Mars, Up In The Air, Perpetrator, Complete Unknown. TV includes Bash on GLOW (SAG nominations, Netflix), Jesse on How I Met Your Father (Hulu), Dell on Private Practice (ABC), Inventing Anna (Netflix), ROAR (Apple TV), Graves (Epix), and Enlisted (Fox).
Paul Thureen (along with long-time writing partner, Hannah Bos) is the creator and executive producer of HBO’s Peabody Award-winning, critically acclaimed comedy series Somebody Somewhere, starring Bridget Everett. Bos and Thureen received a Humanitas Prize nomination for the Somebody Somewhere pilot and the first two seasons received nominations from the GLAAD Media Awards, Critics Choice Awards, Gotham Awards, Spirit Awards, TCA & HCA Awards, Dorian TV Awards, and was honored by AFI amongst their Television Programs of the Year in 2022.
Bos and Thureen received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for “Best First Screenplay” for their feature Driveways (dir. Andrew Ahn) which premiered at the 2019 Berlin Film Festival (North American premiere at Tribeca Film Festival). Together they have also written for HBO’s High Maintenance and Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle. Along with Oliver Butler, Hannah and Paul were founders/co-Artistic Directors of The Debate Society, a multiple-Obie award winning theater company.
TELEVISION: Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building (Series Regular), Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (recurring) Showtime’s Dexter: New Blood (recurring), Netflix’s Dash & Lily (recurring), HBO’s High Maintenance (recurring), EPIX’s Graves (recurring), Amazon’s A League of Their Own, Netflix’s AJ & the Queen, FOX’s Bob’s Burgers, Showtime’s Billions, Horace and Pete, CBS’s The Good Fight, Adult Swim’s Neon Joe Werewolf Hunter, Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, and NBC’s 30 Rock among others.
FILM: Cord Jeffereson’s American Fiction, Steven Spielberg’s The Post, Game Night, Spotlight, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Seneca, Home Again, and Coin Heist among others.
THEATRE: Jordan Harrison’s The Amateurs (Vineyard Theatre), Sarah Ruhl’s Stage Kiss (Playwrights Horizons), Blood Play, Buddy Cop 2, You’re Welcome and Cape Disappointment (all with The Debate Society), Joshua Conkel’s MilkMilkLemonade and was also a founding member of the New York Neo-Futurists and performed weekly in Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind.
OLIVER BUTLER (Director). He/him. Broadway: What the Constitution Means to Me. Co-Artistic Director of The Debate Society: The Light Years (Playwrights Horizons), Jacuzzi (Ars Nova), Blood Play (Bushwick Starr), Buddy Cop 2 (Ontological), Cape Disappointment (P.S. 122), You’re Welcome, The Eaten Heart, The Snow Hen, A Thought About Raya. Off- Broadway: What the Constitution Means to Me (New York Theatre Workshop), Thom Pain (based on nothing) (Signature Theatre), The Amateurs (Vineyard Theatre), The Open House (Signature Theatre, Lortel Award Best Play, Obie Award Direction). Regional: The Plot (Yale Rep), The Whistleblower (Denver Center), Thom Pain (Geffen Playhouse), Legacy (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Bad Jews (Long Wharf), An Opening in Time (Hartford Stage). International: Timeshare (The Malthouse, Australia). He is a Sundance Institute Fellow and a Bill Foeller Fellow (Williamstown).
César Alvarez is a composer, lyricist, playwright, and performance maker. They create big experimental gatherings disguised as musicals, in the key of inter-dimensionality, socio-political transformation, kinship and coexistence. With a background as a jazz saxophonist, bandleader and sound artist, César’s work inhabits a space between the worlds of theater, music, performance art and social practice. César was a 2018-20 Princeton Arts Fellow, a recipient of The Jonathan Larson Award in 2016, The Kleban Prize and a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2022. César teaches at Dartmouth College.
The Bengsons, married duo Shaun and Abigail Bengson, are composers and performers who have appeared at such venues as Joe’s Pub (NYC), MASS MoCA (North Adams, MA), Freight & Salvage (Berkeley, CA) and the Market Theater (Johannesburg, South Africa). Their music has been featured in Hundred Days (La Jolla Playhouse, New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theater, Know Theater, Z Space, US Tour), The Lucky Ones (Ars Nova), Sundown, Yellow Moon (Ars Nova/WP), Anything That Gives Off Light (Edinburgh Theatre Festival, US Tour), Where the Mountain Meets the Sea, (Humana Festival of New American Plays), Hurricane Diane (New York Theatre Workshop, Two River Theatre), You’ll Still Call Me By Name (New York Live Arts, Jacob’s Pillow), The Place We Built (The Flea), and Iphigenia in Aulis (Classic Stage Company). They have scored for TV and film, including So You Think You Can Dance (FOX) and the short film The Ceiling Fan. They are recipients of the Jonathan Larson Grant and Richard Rodgers Award, and have been nominated for the Drama Desk, Drama League, and Lucille Lortel Awards. Abigail has appeared on High Maintenance (HBO) and toured as a member of tUnE-yArDs, including an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC). www.bengsons.com
Daniel Zaitchik is a singer-songwriter, playwright, composer, and lyricist. His musicals include Darling Grenadine, Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Costume, and Suprema (with Jordan Harrison). His work has been developed and produced at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Roundabout Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theater, Ars Nova, Marriott Theater, Goodspeed Musicals, NAMT, and others.
Zaitchik is the recipient of the 2017 Kleban Prize for most promising musical theatre lyricist. Other honors include the Kahn Career Entry Award from Boston University, the Frederick Loewe Award from New Dramatists, and the Georgia Bogarduz Holof Lyricist Award. The Roundabout Underground production of Darling Grenadine was a 2020 Outer Critics Circle Awards honoree in the category of Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical. The Marriott Theatre production was a Jeff Award nominee for Best New Musical.
As a singer-songwriter, Zaitchik has played venues from Rockwood Music Hall to Joe’s Pub, and his albums can be found on all music streaming services.
Stephanie Hsu is an Academy Award-nominated actress. Hsu is known for her roles as Joy Wang and Jobu Tupaki in the 2022 movie Everything Everywhere All at Once, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She also won a SAG Award for Best Ensemble for her work in the film. Hsu originated the roles of Christine Canigula in the cult hit Be More Chill and Karen the Computer in the Broadway production of SpongeBob the Musical.
Emily Walton was raised in the Boogie Down Bronx. She has performed on Broadway, off-Broadway, regionally, and also in some film and TV stuff. In addition to being an actor, Emily has also worn many tiny hats, written sketches, and performed her own music in and around NYC.
Ana Gasteyer is perhaps best known for her incomparable work on Saturday Night Live. During her six-year stint, she created some of the most iconic SNL characters, including middle school music teacher Bobbie Moughan-Culp, NPR radio host Margaret Jo, Lilith Fair poetess Cinder Calhoun, as well as spot-on impressions of Martha Stewart, Celine Dion, and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Gasteyer headlined the NBC comedy series American Auto from executive producer Justin Spitzer (Superstore, The Office). American Auto is set in Detroit and focuses on Payne Motors, where shaking things up is the new CEO (Gasteyer), whose leadership, experience, and savvy are only slightly offset by her complete lack of knowledge about cars.
Gasteyer is also a highly accomplished singer and songwriter. She recently embarked on a Christmas tour in support of Sugar and Booze, her album of seasonal favorites and holiday originals, which topped numerous “Best Holiday Album” lists.
Inspired by the music from Sugar and Booze, Gasteyer produced an eight-episode original series for Audible, which she co-wrote with Mona Mansour. The series was voiced by Gasteyer, Maya Rudolph, Patti Lupone, and Rachel Dratch among others.
Gasteyer’s first album, I’m Hip, received rapturous reviews. She has toured around the country with her “Happy Jazz” act since 2016 and had a two-week residency at the famed Cafe Carlyle.
On the big screen, Gasteyer has been seen in Amy Poehler’s directorial debut, Wine Country, opposite her SNL friends and colleagues, and in Clea Duvall’s Happiest Season, in which she co-starred opposite Kristen Stewart, Aubrey Plaza, and Victor Garber. On the small screen, Gasteyer recurred on the hit ABC series The Goldbergs. Additional notable credits include the acclaimed comedy hits Lady Dynamite from Netflix, TBS’s People of Earth, ABC’s Suburgatory, and HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Gasteyer was able to marry her phenomenal vocal talents with her acting skills in two of Fox’s live musicals (A Christmas Story and Grease) as well as Showtime’s Reefer Madness. She also dazzled on the enormous hit Fox musical series The Masked Singer as fan favorite, The Tree.
On stage, Gasteyer has starred on Broadway in Wicked as Elphaba, The Rocky Horror Show, and Tony-nominated shows The Royal Family and Threepenny Opera, and originated the role of Debra in David Lindsay-Abaire’s Kimberly Akimbo at MTC. She also starred in Funny Girl, and earned a Jefferson Award nomination starring in Passion at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. At City Center Encores, she played the role of Mimi in A New Brain, opposite Jonathan Groff, and sang on that cast recording. At the Hollywood Bowl, she wowed as Miss Hannigan in the Tony-winning musical Annie with the LA Philharmonic.
Phillip Taratula’s credits include Theater: The Skin of Our Teeth on Broadway at Lincoln Center, Becomes a Woman at the Mint Theater, the national tour of What the Constitution Means to Me, Taylor Mac’s THE LILY’S REVENGE, and regional appearances at Two River, Actors Theater of Louisville, Huntington, Syracuse Stage, Tuacahn, Portland Stage, many others. TV credits: “And Just Like That” (Max); “Dr. Death” (NBC/Peacock); “High Maintenance,” opposite Martha Stewart (HBO); “For Life” (ABC); “FBI” (CBS); “The Outs” (Vimeo Originals). BFA, Boston University. Pam Goldberg is his creation, and you can find her on Instagram @officialpamgoldberg.
Annaleigh Ashford is an actress, singer, and dancer. Her early roles on Broadway include in the musicals Wicked (2007), Legally Blonde (2007), and Hair (2010). She received the Tony award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for playing Essie Carmichael in You Can’t Take it With You (2014–2015). Her other Tony-nominated roles are Lauren in Kinky Boots (2013) and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2023). She also starred in the Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George (2017).
She released her debut album Lost in the Stars: Live at 54 Below in 2015. Ashford’s notable film and television credits include the Showtime period drama Masters of Sex (2013-2016), the Netflix miniseries Unbelievable (2019), the FX drama Impeachment: American crime Story (2021), and the CBS sitcom, B Positive (2020-2022). She earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her performance as Irene in the Hulu limited series Welcome to Chippendales (2022). She received her first Grammy nomination in the category Best Musical Theater Album for the 2023 Broadway revival cast recording of Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Matt Wilkas co-wrote (along with Mark Setlock) Pageant Play, a satire about the world of child beauty pageants. The play was produced in 2008. In 2012, he was in the stage production Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Wilkas has appeared on stage in Silence! The Musical, The Last Sunday in June, Far and Wide, and The Pride among others.
His television career started in 2003 with roles in the TV series Hope & Faith followed by appearances in The New Twenty and Ugly Betty. In 2012, he had a lead role in the feature film Gayby. In 2014, Wilkas appeared in Undateable followed by This Bachelorette Party Sucks and Masc Only. In 2017, he had a lead role in New York Is Dead, a series that he co-wrote and produced.
This show will take place at Ars Nova, located at 511 W 54th Street, New York, NY 10019.
The best way to secure a great seat is by purchasing premium tix! The premium tix also come with great perks, which are listed below.
This show is a special benefit performance and all ticket revenue goes directly to support Ars Nova and its mission. There are three tiers of tickets available:
Premium: $2,500 and $1,000
– Includes VIP Seating and champagne toast with the artists
General Admission: $150
Yes. The processing fees are charged by our ticketing and credit card processors, and increase along with the base price of your ticket.
All sales are final – there are no refunds or exchanges.
If you’re unable to use your tickets, you may donate them in exchange for a letter of tax credit by emailing tix@arsnovanyc.com.
If a performance is sold out, you have a few options! You can join a standby line for day-of-show tix made available by last minute cancellations and no-shows. Standby will begin 1 hour prior to curtain and will form outside. Folks from the standby line will be admitted into the show on a rolling basis as availability is confirmed.
We ask that you stay home if you aren’t feeling well or are awaiting the results of a COVID test. Please let us know prior to your ticketed performance, and we will work with you to find a solution if you’re unable to attend.
We welcome and encourage mask-wearing to protect yourself and others. However, as mask mandates have lifted and city, state and federal guidelines have changed, we will not be requiring them at performances.
We no longer require proof of vaccination, but we strongly encourage all audience members to get vaccinated and boosted in accordance with public health guidelines.
Our staff will clean and sanitize the theater and common areas and we’ll continue to provide hand sanitizer for your personal use.
Signage is posted in all spaces encouraging washing or sanitizing hands frequently.
Ars Nova is uncensored. We provide content advisories — to the best of our ability — to inform audiences when shows contain racial violence, racist language, sexual violence or nudity. We provide information about this type of content in advance, based on our core values, so that each audience member can make an informed decision about if and how they’d like to engage with that content. We welcome artists to share additional information about their shows based on their own core values.
