ROOM 1214 A NEW PLAY BY MICHELLE KHOLOS BROOKS
Posted by: Official_Press_Release 01:25 pm EDT 10/11/24

ROOM 1214

A NEW PLAY BY MICHELLE KHOLOS BROOKS

DIRECTED BY SARAH NORRIS

STARRING ANNABELLE GURWITCH

PRESENTED BY NEW LIGHT THEATER PROJECT AT 59E59 THEATERS

Featuring Thyme Briscoe, Ben Hirschhorn, Kleo Mitrokostas, Andrea Negrete and Alessandro Yokoyama

World Premiere New York City Limited Off-Broadway Engagement

begins previews on November 15, opens November 21, and runs through December 8

Tickets on Sale Now at https://www.59e59.org/shows/show-detail/room-1214

New York, NY – New Light Theater Project is thrilled to present the world premiere production of ROOM 1214, a new docudrama play by Michelle Kholos Brooks, directed by Sarah Norris and starring Annabelle Gurwitch, at 59E59 Theaters, Theater B for a special limited engagement in New York City. From the award-winning writer of H*tler’s Tasters and War Words, ROOM 1214 marks Kholos Brooks’ third New York stage production with Norris at the helm. The production will run Off-Broadway for 22 performances over four weeks, beginning November 15, through December 8, 2024. Opening night is November 21.

The cast of ROOM 1214 stars Annabelle Gurwitch (Joe and Betty - New York Times and Los Angeles Times’ annual round up of “Top Ten Performances of the Year in Theater,” host of the long-running TBS’ Dinner & a Movie, New York Times Bestselling author) as Lily, Thyme Briscoe (Playwrights Horizons Theatre School) as Ellie, Ben Hirschhorn (Trayf - LA Drama Critic Circle Award nomination) as Nate, Kleo Mitrokostas (The Greatest Hits Down Route 66, According to the Chorus) as B, Andrea Negrete (Three Girls Never Learnt The Way Home) as Hannah, and Alessandro Yokoyama (Tracks) as G.

Inspired by real interviews with a history teacher who experienced the 2018 tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School firsthand, this stirring new play follows as she returns to the school to teach one final lesson, asking what if you could rewrite history? She reunites with her students as they were – playful, funny, and full of life and potential – real kids with bright futures. Equal part memorial and essential history, ROOM 1214 overflows with truths both uncomfortable and necessary, offering a moving reminder that the best way to honor the past is to learn from it.

Directed by Sarah Norris (Time Out NY Critics Picks for H*tler’s Tasters and Everything is Super Great), the production features scenic design by Daniel Allen, costume design by Kara Branch, lighting design by Elaine Wong, sound design by Jennie Gorn, projection design by the Roly Polys (Jan Bentley + Andy Evan Cohen), prop design by Caitlyn Murphy, assistant direction/choreography by Georgia Reichard, with Krista Grevas as wardrobe supervisor. Olivia Fletcher will serve as production stage manager, with Cat Copeland as assistant stage manager.

59E59 Theaters is located at 59 East 59th Street. ROOM 1214 contains strong language, gun violence, and discussion of school shootings and child death. Run time is approximately 90 minutes. Tickets are $44 (includes fees), and $30 for 59E59 members. $27 First Look tickets available for November 15 and 17 at 7:15pm. Student rush tickets are available in-person at the box office beginning one hour prior to showtime. Schedule varies - for exact days and times, and to purchase tickets visit https://www.59e59.org/shows/show-detail/room-1214. For more information on ROOM 1214 go to https://www.newlighttheaterproject.com/room1214.

Playwright Michelle Kholos Brooks is an award-winning playwright with productions staged internationally. Awards and distinctions include the Susan Glaspell Award for H*TLER’S TASTERS and the Riva Shiner Comedy Award for KALAMAZOO. ROOM 1214 was a finalist for The Ashland New Plays Festival. HOSTAGE was a finalist for the Woodward/Newman Drama Award, The Fratti-Newman Political Play Contest, and a Showcase Finalist for the National New Play Network. CHAIR received second place in the Firehouse Theatre Festival of New American Plays. Brooks’ play, WAR WORDS was recently inducted into the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History Project. Publications include Dramatists Play Service, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, Plays for New Audiences, Room Literary magazine, The Daily Beast, and Zocalo Public Square. Brooks earned a B.A. from Emerson College and an M.F.A. in Fiction from Otis College of Art and Design. She is a Resident Artist at New Light Theater Project, and a board member of ShPIel-Performing Identity Theatre Project. She is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America, The Playwrights Center and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. https://www.michellekholosbrooks.com

Director Sarah Norris is an award-winning director and producer. Select New Light credits include The Greatest Hits Down Route 66 (Drama Desk nom), H*tler's Tasters (StageSceneLA ‘Outstanding Direction’, Time Out NY Critics' Pick, Best of Edinburgh Fringe), Everything is Super Great (Time Out NY Critics’ Pick), This Wrestling Place (Executive Producer Ben Folds), Picture Ourselves in Latvia (Best of Theater, The L Magazine). Other highlights include The Library of Congress, Guild Hall of East Hamptons, Pleasance (Edinburgh), Greenside (Edinburgh), Bottom Dog (Ireland), Adelaide Fringe (Australia), 59E59, Rogue Machine (LA), LAByrinth, NewYorkRep, Working Theater, Chicago Dramatists, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, The Flea, Zeiders Theater, Calliope Stage, Forestburgh Playhouse. Norris is

the Founding Artistic Director of New Light Theater Project and Artistic Producer of Pendragon Theatre. https://www.sarahnorris.org

ABOUT NEW LIGHT THEATER PROJECT

New Light Theater Project nurtures a collective of artist-practitioners through the presentation of compelling stories across theatrical genres. Since 2013, New Light has mounted over 40 productions which have received critical praise including two Drama Desk nominations (The Greatest Hits Down Route 66, According to the Chorus), Sold Out Run and ‘Best of EdFringe 2019’ (The Stage for H*tler’s Tasters), Best of Theater 2014 (The L Magazine for Picture Ourselves in Latvia), Time Out NY Critics’ Pick (H*tler’s Tasters, Everything is Super Great, The American Tradition, Breeders, and Bubba), resident company of Theatre Row and 59E59 Theaters and past recipients of The Flea Theater’s Anchor Program, Woodstock Byrdcliffe Residency Fellowship, Chicago Dramatists Grafting Project and the Access Theater Residency Program. New Light is a 501(c)3 organization. https://www.newlighttheaterproject.com

ABOUT 59E59 THEATERS

59E59 Theaters was established by the Elysabeth Kleinhans Theatrical Foundation in 2004 to grant professional space and expertise to non-profit theater companies premiering their work in New York City. Under the leadership of Val Day, Artistic Director, and Brian Beirne, Managing Director, 59E59 Theaters presents a year-round curated program of Off Broadway plays and musicals that are nurtured and supported by providing performance spaces and equipment as well as production, ticketing, FOH, marketing, and press support. As of January 2025, these theater companies receive 80% or more of the ticket revenue and pay no weekly rent to 59E59. https://www.59e59.org
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