A creative collaboration lab
BIG Theatre Company is a creative collaboration lab for the ongoing development of original work and the artists who make it. From process to production, artists and audiences alike, we believe in moving, challenging, and encouraging people to see the world in a bigger way. For information about licensing or touring opportunities for any of our original productions, please contact us.
Scrotwarrior
Kane is one of the few remaining practitioners of the scrotal arts — a discipline of self-defense which employs the scrotum as a weapon. Washed-up and mostly drunk, he wastes his days away in a stupor, trying to forget the life he lost. A young orphan named Minka idolizes Kane, and she dreams — impossibly — of one day becoming a scrotwarrior herself. When raiders attack their village, Minka’s bravery inspires Kane, reminding him of the warrior he once was.
Story, Art, Character Design, Animation, and Music: Mike Wirsch
Producer and Voiceover Direction: Olivia Hartle
Sound Consultant: David Nackman
Cast:
Minka ………………………………... Jen Butler
Old Kane/Young Kane/Beef …….. Mike Wirsch
Kamma ………………………….…… Sarah Misch
Meat/ Raider 1/Temple Fighter … Peej Mele
Raider 2/Temple Fighter …………. Justin Phillips
Master Lao ………………………….. David Nackman
The Christmas We Ate The Rich
In The Christmas We Ate The Rich, a mother and child spend a memorable Christmas Eve night kidnapping famous real-world billionaires to eat the following day. Paying homage to philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau's now-popular rallying cry to “eat the rich,” this cannibalistic commentary on wealth inequality unfolds in the style of the classic Christmas poem, A Visit from Saint Nicholas. In lieu of any real control over economic disparity, an on-the-nose graphic satire about cannibalism during the pinnacle of all consumer holidays is the next best thing. After all, everyone loves Christmas, and everyone hates Jeff Bezos.
World premiere: December 2021
Written and Illustrated by Mike Wirsch
Narrated by David Nackman and Mike Wirsch
Edited by David Nackman
Directed by Olivia Hartle
short x BIG
Through six digital one-acts and three micro-musicals, nine performers present nine short pieces that speak to the current moment.
World premiere: Summer 2021
Starring: Theresa Burns, Laura Borrego, Ken Kruper, Caitlyn Mason, Sarah Misch, John Noel, Justin Phillips, Jon Randhawa, and Mike Wirsch
Created by Olivia Hartle, Ken Kruper, Jon Randhawa and Mike Wirsch
Music, Lyrics and Musical Direction by Ken Kruper
Production Design and Director of Photography: Jon Randhawa
Technical Director and Editor: David Nackman
Directed by Olivia Hartle
WHILE WE WAIT: A VIRTUAL MUSICAL IN THREE ACTS
The latest experiment from BIG Theatre Company’s creative collaboration lab, WHILE WE WAIT follows eight friends as they navigate an unprecedented global quarantine. Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the musical video series was written, rehearsed, shot, edited and enjoyed virtually.
Through music, laughter and technological innovation, WHILE WE WAIT invites audiences to creatively embrace uncertainty by facing the best and the worst in times of crisis and pondering what it means to be connected.
Read about WHILE WE WAIT in BroadwayWorld!
World premiere: April 2020
Created by Olivia Hartle, Ken Kruper, Jon Randhawa and Mike Wirsch
Music, Lyrics and Musical Direction by Ken Kruper
Book by Mike Wirsch
Production Design by Jon Randhawa
Technical Direction and Editing by David Nackman
Directed by Olivia Hartle
Cast:
Anna Martin ...........................… Theresa Burns
Natalie Rosado .......................… Laura Borrego
Peter Mikolajczyk ....................... Ken Kruper
Riley Rae .....................….....…... Caitlyn Mason
Lauren O’Hare ........................... Sarah Misch
Forrest Washington .................…. Justin Phillips
Anesh “the Goop” Gupta .........…. Jon Randhawa
Mike Worsch .............................. Mike Wirsch
Forrest’s kids (VO) ………………..... Gary, Wylla & Cohen Hartle
Pippa Littleton …………………...….. Herself
BATMAN! THE LOST EPISODE: MAKE GOTHAM GREAT AGAIN
BIG Theatre collaborated with Distilled Theatre Company on the production of a new radio play, Batman! The Lost Episode: Make Gotham Great Again.
The play was released on January 18, 2018 – on the one-year anniversary of the Presidential Inauguration...
(Gasp!) No! Fiddle dee da Fiddle dee dee, what did he write what did he tweet? After his shocking election, The Joker has spent the last year stirring up quite the covfefe! Tune into Distilled Radio on Jan 20, the one year anniversary of the Joker's inauguration as Mayor of Gotham (No!), to find out if he and his merry band of villains will succeed in making Gotham great again! Or will the Dark Knight--Batman!--return to Gotham and save its people...before the joke's on them?
By Govind Kumar and Lakshmi Kumar
Produced by Distilled Theatre Company / DTC Radio
Directed by Olivia Hartle
Released January 18, 2018
Starring: Grant Bowen, Sage Buckalter, Stephanie Carnright, Dylan Frisina, Robert AK Gonyo, David Nackman, Justin Phillips, Amber Torres, and Mike Wirsh
Featuring Pip Gengenbach as the Announcer
Sound Design by Ken Kruper
Sound Editing by V Ray-mos
Sound Engineering by Liz Regan
Play Development by Nils-Petter Ankarbloom
IN THE GIANTS' SOUP
It’s a live episode of the long forgotten 1978 musical television program IN THE GIANTS' SOUP! Join Marion, Eugene, Panda, Willy & the whole gang in a special presentation of "The Birthday Bummer." A new character has dropped into the world of the Soup and everyone has forgotten about Eugene's birthday... or have they?
World premiere: The People's Improv Theatre, 2017
Book, music, and lyrics by Kirk Stevens and Mike Wirsch
Directed by Audrey Stanfield
Choreography by Olivia Hartle
Cast (May 2017):
Old Crone Joan/Randy The Vulture ... Lizzy Furey
Willy ............................................ Jack Gilbert
Julie ............................................. April Lavalle
Panda ........................................... Shannon Odell
Marion .......................................... Kirk Stevens
Eugene .......................................... Mike Wirsch
Cast (December 2017):
Old Crone Joan/Randy The Vulture ... Kurt Cruz
Willy ............................................ Luke Martin
Julie ............................................. April Lavalle
Panda ........................................... Chloe Jury-Fogel
Marion .......................................... Kirk Stevens
Eugene .......................................... Mike Wirsch
The Curse of the Babywoman
Taylor Pedane and Sarah Misch | Photo by Hunter Pedane (2016)
The Curse of the Babywoman is an absurdist comedy that explores fear, denial, and small town values intensified by the dreaded babywoman, a monster that lurks just outside of the city limits.
World premiere: FringeNYC, 2016
By Mike Wirsch
Directed by Olivia Hartle
Cast:
Francisco Sputum ………….….. Taylor Pedane
Philomena ……………….……… Sarah Misch
Artemis ………………………….. Ali McGhee
Nimrod Rodham Rodman .…..… Justin Phillips
BooBoo Chicky …………….…… Alexandra Brown
Silas ……………………….….…… Kurt Cruz
Barney/Server ………………...… Ryan DeForeest
Dot ……………………………..…. Alexa Peyton
Mayor ………………………….…. David Nackman
Production Team:
Stage Manager ……………………… Stephanie Oliver
Lighting Designer …………………… Joe Cantalupo
Puppet Designer …………………..… Mike Wirsch
Sound Designer ……………………… Kurt Cruz
Costume Advisor …………………….. Sean Pollock
Pianist/Composer/Lyricist ………….. Ken Kruper
COLLECTIVE CASTING EXPERIMENT
Collective casting for The Curse of the Babywoman (2016)
On Collective Casting
"I, the director, will not cast the play. You, a member of the ensemble, will cast the play in collaboration with other members of the ensemble.
The casting will be done collectively through an immersive, emergent, and ensemble-led process orchestrated over a series of sessions of experimentation and fun.
Our artistic relationship is not transactional. I want to make a play with you, and I will not make a determination about the value you bring based on my 'vision' or 'how well you read for a role.'
None of this is mine. Or yours. Or anyone’s. Theatre belongs to all of us and this play will belong to all of us. Therefore, this process is ours, and we will co-create it from beginning to end."
ROMAN FEVER
Theresa Burns and Amy Crossman (2014)
Based on the short story by Edith Wharton, Roman Fever is a tale of two American mothers who bring their daughters on a trip to Rome. Throughout their stay, the past is explored and secrets are uncovered that reveal the true nature of friendship, love, and trust.
World premiere: Midtown International Theater Festival, 2014
Book, music, and lyrics by Ken Kruper
Directed by Marc Connor Eardly
Cast: Theresa Burns, Amy Crossman, Stacey Lightman, and Samantha Mantin
DESTINY IS JUDD NELSON
(L-R) Sarah Misch, Justin Phillips, and Alexandra Brown | Photo by Samir Abady (2014)
Humorous as it is poignant, strange as it is profound, Destiny is Judd Nelson follows a group of New Yorkers searching for meaningful connections in a city where timing is everything.
World premiere: FringeNYC, 2014
By Sarah Goncalves
Directed by Olivia Hartle
Cast:
Adam …………………….…… Joe Cantalupo
Mark ……………………...…… Dwayne Dixon
Judith ……………………..…… Lisa McGurn
Rich ……………………..……… Mike Wirsch
Amy ……………………..……… Sammi Cains
Nora ……………………..…..… Sarah Misch
Jimmy ……………………..……. Kurt Cruz
Man/Jack …………………….… Justin Phillips
Woman ……………………....… Lindsay Arber
Stranger 1/Therapist/NorEaster321 ..… Theresa Burns
Stranger 2/Rachel/MTA1984 …………… Alexandra Brown
Production Team:
Assistant Director and Stage Manager .... Alexa Peyton
Music Supervisor and Composer ............ Ken Kruper
Company Manager and Playwright .......... Sarah Goncalves
Lighting Designer ................................. Ben Danielowski
Costume Designer ................................ Taylor Pedane
Sound Designer .................................... Aaron Hanson
Assistant Stage Manager ......................... Vikki De Meo
GRIMM: A NEW MUSICAL
Jake Bridges as Rumpelstiltskin | Photo by Hunter Pedane (2012)
Led by an ensemble of familiar faces from the stories of the Brothers Grimm, GRIMM: A New Musical blends fairytale classics with a cast of new characters set to a stirring original score.
World premiere: St. John’s University, 2009
Off-Off Broadway premiere: FringeNYC, 2012
Co-created by Ken Kruper and Jon Randhawa
Book, Music and Lyrics by Ken Kruper
Directed by Olivia Hartle
Cast:
Catheine ................................. Theresa Burns
Angelica ................................. Gina Cucci
Jennadelia ............................... Kathleen Foster
Hansel .................................... Grant Bowen
Gretel ..................................... Sierra Marcks
Rumpelstiltskin ......................... Jake Bridges
Ensemble ...... Abby Bernbaum, Jae Hughes, Cooper Jordan, Taylor Pedane, Sita Sarkar, Mike Wirsch
Production Team:
Stage Manager ……………………… Vikki De Meo
Company Manager ..................... Sarah Goncalves
Lighting Designer …………………… Joe Cantalupo
Costume Designer ....................... Taylor Pedane
Set Designer ............................... Keith Plokhoy
Sound Designer ……………………… Ben Danielowski
Production Assistants ................... Nicole Nole, Alexa Peyton
Tony Danza's Thought-a-Day Calendar
Tony Danza's Thought-a-Day Calendar | Peoples Improv Theatre (2017)
Tony Danza's Thought-a-Day Calendar is an experimental, two-person, independent improv team, comprised of Olivia Hartle and Mike Wirsch.
Our Team
Artistic Director: Olivia Hartle
Executive Director: Ken Kruper
Artistic Associate: Mike Wirsch
Head of Production Design: Jon Randhawa
ARTIST COLLECTIVE: Lindsay Arber, Samir Abady, Laura Borrego, Alexandra Brown, Theresa Burns, Sammi Cains, Joe Cantalupo, Gina Cucci, Kurt Cruz, Ben Danielowski, Ryan DeForeest, Vikki De Meo, Dwayne Dixon, Sarah Goncalves (co-founder), Olivia Hartle (co-founder), Ken Kruper (co-founder), Caitlyn Mason, Lisa McGurn, Sarah Misch, David Nackman, Nicole Nole, Taylor Pedane, Alexa Peyton, Keith Plokhoy, Justin Phillips, Sita Sarkar, Mike Wirsch
APPLAUSE
GRIMM: A NEW MUSICAL
"... a complex, deeply stirring and at times even provocative story that serves up a happy ending—but not before plumbing the depths of the darkest of human emotions... a score so lush, evocative and beautiful that from the first notes of the opening ensemble number, I was catching my breath... for this to happen in a small theatre is a remarkable feat."
— THE HAPPIEST MEDIUM Online entertainment hub
"Kruper has a great ear for melody and themes and his harmonies are no slackers, either."
— NYTHEATRE.COM
DESTINY IS JUDD NELSON
"A very well directed play that uses many inventive devices to transcend time, space and technology... playwright Sarah Goncalves and director Olivia Hartle have crafted a work of art that is sure to not be forgotten..."
— SOUND SPOTLIGHT MAGAZINE
THE CURSE OF THE BABYWOMAN
"The Curse of the Babywoman is a delight: sweet and well-constructed, with distinctive humor as its best feature... PURE FUN!"
— THEATRE IS EASY