Leigh Honigman & Joey Nasta
An Ode To Ben Okri by Angélica Herrera
August 20 2023
IN RESIDENCE: August 14 – 21, 2023
Greeted by a mysterious Guide in what she thought was her bedroom, Woman is led through a series of challenges in a world that exists outside of time. Her philosophical views are put to the test as she is confronted with the option to kill (maybe murder), the challenge to believe in the unseen, and the quest to understand love. With each success Woman is closer to the doors of the Palace, former home to her Guide. She grants them entry and is immediately imprisoned; she fights for her freedom in the supposed sanctuary. Relying on the kindness of her deceitful Guide is proven moot and Woman must scheme to restore natural order to this foreign place. Produced alongside Leigh Honigman and Joey Nasta, An Ode to Ben Okri by Angélica Herrera demands an answer to the moral question: how should we forgive, punish, and love even our most vile offenders. This magical realist play will be directed and designed by Angélica Herrera in a staged reading, nodding to one potential path of a full production.
PERFORMANCE:
Sunday 8/20 @ 2pm
RUNNING TIME: 40 min
PRICE: Suggested Donation: $0 $10 $20
At IRT: 154 Christopher st. NYC #3B (third floor)
ADA Accessible
VISIT/CONTACT US»
Angélica Herrera is a Colombian-American artist and performer. Their original play Saguaros was staged for a sold out run at JACK in March of 2022. Other works include solo performance pieces Desert of Eden and América la Coca-Cola written in English and Spanish respectively. Outside of the arts, Angélica is a loving pitbull parent continually inspired by their dog’s passion for destruction.
Leigh Honigman (she/her) is an arts administrator and producer working in theater, film, and live events. Recent theatre producing credits include Of the woman came the beginning of sin and through her we all die (Lily Houghton, 2019, Normal Ave), Gain! (Henry Sheeran, 2018, Sportslab NYC), and The Ugly Kids (Anna Michael & Tony Macht, 2018 Fresh Fruit Festival at The Wild Project).
Joey Nasta (he/they) is an actor, director, and producer. Previously worked in development at Ensemble Studio Theatre and PlayCo, and general management at Clubbed Thumb. Produced socially-distanced theatre with the Rogue Ensemble, directing Titus Andronicus at Grant’s Tomb (NYTimes, Daily Beast feature) and Much Ado About Nothing. Executive Producer at Spokehouse Productions. B.A. Acting/Directing, Fordham.
IRT Theater is a grassroots laboratory for independent theater and performance in New York City, providing space and support to a new generation of artists. Tucked away in the old Archive Building in Greenwich Village, IRT’s mission is to build a community of emerging and established artists by creating a home for the development and presentation of new work.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York State Legislature; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council; A.R.T./New York’s NYC Small Theatres Fund made possible with support from the Howard Gilman Foundation & support for ASL interpretation provided in part through funding from Access A.R.T./New York.
ACCESS: IRT is a fully wheelchair-accessible facility. Please reach out to Kori Rushton if you have any accessibility questions or concerns, krushton@irttheater.org
PLEASE NOTE: All sales final and there is no late seating at IRT Theater.