Troy, NY – For two weekends in February and March, Troy Foundry Theatre will present the inaugural Play On Lab, celebrating the magic of the early stages of creation in the world of theatre. This is not a festival; it is a crucible for the birth of extraordinary performances, a haven where the whispers of untold stories transform into resounding narratives, embarking on an inspiring odyssey through the uncharted territories of theatrical innovation, placing a spotlight on the genesis of creative brilliance.
The 2024 Play On Lab will feature three pieces of emerging work all on their way to future endeavors: Gay Narcissus (Thursday, February 29 at 8pm), developed by Die-Cast and performed by Han Van Sciver, is a one-person song-cycle-slash-spoken-word-slash-rock-concert that wrangles with the myths and prophesies of ancient Greece; Antonio, or What I Would (Friday, March 1 at 8pm), developed by Shayne David Cameris & Brenna Geffers and performed by Shayne David Cameris, is a love letter to Shakespeare’s gay pirate, a case for queer visibility, and an invitation to keep it queer; and Silver Hammer (Friday, March 8 at 8pm), created and performed by Nick Ryan, is an auto-biographical horror-fiction concerning disinformation, non-linear warfare, arson, troll-farms, Russian oligarchs, psychic attacks, Tik Tok, and our ever-eroding sense of what is true and what is false. This is a pay-what-you-will event. All performances will be held at 19 3rd Street, Troy, NY (Franklin Alley Entrance). To purchase pay-what-you-will tickets for this event please visit: https://buytickets.at/troyfoundrytheatre
About the Play On Lab
“In our dedication to nurturing the theatrical community, the Play On Lab stands as a fertile ground for emerging works, where makers and performers converge to showcase their projects in their nascent stages. These events are living canvases where experimentation and authenticity reign supreme, where vulnerability is embraced, and where courage paves the way for groundbreaking performances. We believe in the power of the embryonic, the raw, and the experimental – those moments when ideas are just sprouting, when stories are finding their voice, and when the seeds of groundbreaking performances are sown. The name embodies our commitment to fostering an environment where the play is always ‘on’—where the creative process is in constant motion. It is our hope that the Play On Lab is a testament to the belief that every theatrical masterpiece begins with a spark, every captivating performance has a humble genesis, and our ultimate aim is to inspire, challenge, and cultivate a creative community that values the potency of the creative process.” – David Girard, Troy Foundry Theatre Artistic Director
Play on Lab Performances Schedule
Thursday, February 29 at 8pm
Gay Narcissus
19 3rd Street Troy, NY 12180 (Franklin Alley entrance)
Developed by Die-Cast
Performed by Han Van Sciver
A simple Bard is on their way to Hell to have a few words with one of the Greek’s least-liked heroes, Narcissus. Armed with only a loop pedal, a guitar, and a broken heart, they are busking to help financially support their journey. The hat is right there if you feel inclined. As Bard tells the story of Narcissus as it currently stands, the stories of gender-swapping Tiresius and ultra-famous Cassandra also weave into Bard’s own understanding of themselves and their trajectory. Gay Narcissus is a one-person song-cycle-slash-spoken-word-slash-rock-concert that wrangles with the myths and prophesies of ancient Greece. The piece seeks to answer the questions: How can we best excavate queer and trans narratives from “classical” texts? Why do trans storylines end so often in death, and how can we subvert this given?
Die-Cast is an award-winning artist collective focusing on immersive, sight-responsive performance and installation. We believe in radical collaboration where artists create work for themselves and each other using our Collective Creation process. https://www.die-castphilly.org/
Friday, March 1 at 8pm
Antonio, or What I Would
19 3rd St. Troy, NY 12180 (Franklin Alley entrance)
Developed by: Shayne David Cameris & Brenna Geffers
Performed by: Shayne David Cameris
A love letter to Shakespeare’s gay pirate. A case for queer visibility. An invitation to keep it queer. Antonio is an opportunity for us to ask “What if?” What if we could get the endings we actually hoped for? What if we could have a “happy ending”? What if we didn’t have to spend our lives just “standing stage left”? Join a frustrated Actor as he takes a moment to ponder just that and imagine all the possibilities for a character he’s grown to love and cherish: Antonio from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
Friday, March 8 at 8pm
Silver Hammer
19 3rd Street Troy, NY 12180 (Franklin Alley entrance)
Created & performed by: Nick Ryan
A personal account of mass psychosis.An auto-biographical horror-fiction concerning disinformation, non-linear warfare, arson, troll-farms, Russian oligarchs, psychic attacks, Tik Tok, and our ever-eroding sense of what is true and what is false.
Nick Ryan is a theatre-artist based in Troy, New York. Selected playwriting credits include Long Wharf Theatre, The Guthrie Theater, Shakespeare & Company and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. In 2015 he co-created an immersive adaptation of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea for Children’s Theater Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota; in 2022 the show was licensed by Broadway Asia. He is co-artistic director of The Coldharts; their show Edgar Allan has toured since 2013 with performances Off-Broadway, at the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival in Baltimore, and the Poe Museum in Richmond. The audio play was featured on ‘Poe Theater on the Air’ on National Public Radio. Nick is a company member of the Brooklyn-based Bread Arts Collective and co-founder of Four Humors Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Coldharts is a touring theater company established by Katie Hartman and Nick Ryan in Brooklyn, New York in 2012. They are founding members of the Twin Cities Horror Festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They create devised, music-theatre inspired by the American Gothic. https://www.thecoldharts.com/