The critically acclaimed production of Small Mouth Sounds, written by Bess Wohl, returns to New York this summer for a strictly limited engagement at The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). Directed by Obie Award-winner Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812), Small Mouth Sounds begins previews for a commercial run on Sunday, July 3, 2016 at 7:30pm, with an official opening night set for Wednesday, July 13, 2016. The limited engagement will run through September 25, 2016.
Obie-winner Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Ruined), Zoë Winters (Red Speedo), Max Baker (The Village Bike), Carmen Zilles (Scenes from a Marriage), and James Seol (Around the World in 80 Days) complete the cast, joining the previously announced Marcia DeBonis (“Homeland”), Obie-winner Jojo Gonzalez (The Romance of Magno Rubio), Brad Heberlee (These Paper Bullets), and Babak Tafti (The North Pool). Ms. Bernstine replaces Sakina Jaffrey, who had to depart the production due to scheduling conflicts.
Small Mouth Sounds, which played a sold-out, twice extended run at Ars Nova in 2015, was featured in The New York Times as one of ‘The Best Theater of 2015′. Charles Isherwood’s Critics’ Pick review called Small Mouth Sounds “an enchanting new play… as funny as it is quietly moving… a model of ingenuity.” The Hollywood Reporter, the New York Post, and The Guardian also listed Small Mouth Sounds in their Best of 2015 roundups, with The Advocate lauding it as the #1 Best Show in their ‘Top 10 New York Theater of 2015’.
In the overwhelming quiet of the woods, six runaways from city life embark on a silent retreat. As these strangers confront internal demons both profound and absurd, their vows of silence collide with the achingly human need to connect. Filled with awkward humor, this strange and compassionate new play asks how we address life’s biggest questions when words fail us.
The original design team of Small Mouth Sounds returns for this production and includes Obie-winner Laura Jellinek (Scenic Design), Tilly Grimes (Costume Design), Mike Inwood (Lighting Design), Stowe Nelson (Sound Design), Andrew Schneider (Projection Design), and Noah Mease (Prop Design).
At the 2015 Drama Desk Awards, Bess Wohl received the Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award for “establishing herself as an important voice in New York theater, and having a breakthrough year with the eclectic American Hero, Pretty Filthy, and Small Mouth Sounds. Her writing expresses sensitivity, compassion, and humor with a sure hand.”
Small Mouth Sounds will play the following performance schedule: July 3 – July 17: Tuesday – Friday at 7:30pm; Saturday at 2pm and 8pm; and Sunday at 2pm and 7:30pm. Beginning July 18: Monday – Friday at 7:30pm, Wednesday at 2pm, Saturday at 5pm and 8:30pm. Beginning September 5: Tuesday – Friday at 7:30pm, Wednesday at 2pm, Saturday at 5pm and 8:30pm, and Sunday at 7:30pm. Please check performance times throughout early July as schedules vary.
Tickets, from $75 – $99, are now available and can be purchased through Ticket Central via www.ticketcentral.com, by calling 212.279.4200, or in person at 416 W. 42nd Street (12-8pm daily).
For more information, visit www.SmallMouthSounds.com.
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Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia is also an internationally published and exhibited photographer, a multi-platform journalist, and a publicist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Examiner.com, Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
