Off-Broadway's Playwrights Horizons presents Monica Bill Barnes and Robbie Saenz de Viteri's dance-based memory play Many Happy Returns beginning January 9, with all performances offered completely free of charge. The run continues through January 18.
The work, originally commissioned by WP Theater, sees both Barnes and Saenz de Viteri taking on the role of Barnes, with Barnes as the artist's body and Saenz de Viteri as the artist's voice. The partially scripted and partially improvised piece tracks Barnes as she voices doubts she's desperate to mask via dance.
The company also includes Flannery Gregg and Mykel Marai Nairne, and, at select performances, Indah Mariana and Hsiao-Jou Tang. Saenz de Viteri has written the show, with choreography by Barnes. Anne Kauffman is serving as directing consultant with Elizabeth Furman as associate producer. Lighting and set design are by Barbara Samuels, and costume design is by Kaye Voyce.
Reserve free tickets at PlaywrightsHorizons.org.