The lineup has been revealed for Ensemble Studio Theatre’s 58th season, which will include a world premiere production and New York premiere production.
The season will begin with the New York premiere of Laura Maria Censabella’s Beyond Words, presented as part of the EST/Sloan Project—the company’s longstanding partnership to foster new plays exploring science and technology. The production will be directed by fellow EST Ensemble Artist Colette Robert. It will run at Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Curt Dempster Theatre February 8-March 7, 2027, with an opening set for February 18.
Beyond Words follows Alex—an African Grey parrot—and Irene, a researcher at Harvard University. Over the protests of her male colleagues, Irene teaches Alex to meaningfully communicate and solve problems at the level of a five-year-old child.
The second production of the season will be world premiere of Youngblood playwright Audley Puglisi’s lucky/bird, directed by Obie Award-winner abigail jean-baptiste. The production will run at Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Curt Dempster Theatre May 17-June 13, 2027, opening May 27.
lucky/bird centers on The Lucky, who make up a tight-knit community of Black folks with a murky past. And each summer they honor their shared history with a parade. Louise, a pariah, a three-time widow, raises peacocks on her front porch. On the eve of the parade, Louise and her birds are visited by a mysterious stranger—a spirit, or a figment of Louise’s imagination?
For more information, visit EnsembleStudioTheatre.org.