Programs
Discovery and Heritage Series
Ruby Dee in Bridgette Wimberly's St. Lucy's Eyes
Jesse WIlliams in Edward Albee's The Sandbox
Discovery Series
Cherry Lane’s Discovery Series gives new plays, first fine-tuned in our various development programs, a premiere Off-Broadway production on our Mainstage. Recent offerings include Women on Fire by Irene O’Garden, starring Judith Ivey (Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Solo Show), Saint Lucy’s Eyes by Bridgette Wimberly, starring Ruby Dee (winner of three Audelco Awards), slag heap by Anton Dudley, with Vincent Kartheiser and Brienin Nequa Bryant, Bhutan by Daisy Foote (Outer Critics Circle Award John Gassner Playwriting Nomination), and Hoodoo Love by Katori Hall (three nominations and winner of one Audelco Award).
Vincent Kartheiser and Polly Lee in Anton Dudley's slag heap
Heritage Series
The Heritage Series presents Mainstage revivals of gems from Cherry Lane ’s extensive canon. Samuel Beckett's Happy Days received its World Premiere on the Cherry Lane stage on September 17, 1961. Our 2002 revival, directed by Joseph Chaikin, was a bona fide theatrical event, filmed by Lincoln Center Library and lauded by critics and audiences alike. In the 2007 season, Cherry Lane presented Dutchman, Amiri Baraka's Obie Award-winning final play as LeRoi Jones, which premiered at Cherry Lane in 1964. In 2008, the Heritage Series revived Edward Albee’s The American Dream and The Sandbox, originally produced here in 1961 and 1962 respectively as part of Albarwild, a collaboration between Edward Albee and producers Richard Barr and Clinton Wilder. The double bill revival production was directed by Mr. Albee. In 2010, Cherry Lane presented the 25th Anniversary production of Dan Goggin’s hit musical Nunsense (Off Broadway Alliance Award nomination: Best Musical Revival). Premiering at Cherry Lane in 1985, Nunsense has since received roughly 8,000 productions worldwide.
Dule Hill in Amiri Baraka's Dutchman