>> Public presentation of new musical Rutka
with composers Jocelyn MacKenzie and Jeremy Lloyd Styles of Pearl and the Beard
and dramaturg Ken Cerniglia
directed by Wendy Goldberg
At New York Library for the Performing Arts
January 2023
>>Dorset Theater Festival Residency, August 2022
working on new bluegrass musical Eugene Onegin
as librettist, composer and lyricist
with director Jade King Carroll
>> Workshop of new musical Rutka
with composers Jocelyn MacKenzie and Jeremy Lloyd Styles of Pearl and the Beard
and dramaturg Ken Cerniglia
Fall 2022
>>Participating in Erik Ehn's silent Stillwrights Retreat, July 2022
>>Russian Troll Farm Press:
- NPR's All Things Considered
- Al Jazeera's news podcast The Take
- NY Times Critics' Pick:
"Gancher's play is so urgent, smart, and chewy. No wonder the presenting institutions—TheaterWorks Hartford and TheaterSquared in Fayetteville, Ark., in association with the Brooklyn-based Civilians—came together... to mount the complicated production before the election. I'm glad they did: "Russian Troll Farm" is one of the first new full-length plays I've seen since theater moved online that is rewarding as a text, makes the most of excellent actors and approaches full engagement with the new, hybrid form..." —Jesse Green, New York Times
- Dramaturg for Soomi Kim's dance-theater-gymnastics opus about abuse, cancel culture, and reconciliation,
The Body Through Which the Dream Flows
at Ice Factory Festival, Summer 2022
Full production at The Tank, Fall 2022
>>Also working on:
- dramaturg for new musical The Hustler and the Nun with Andrew Bancroft, commissioned by Araca
>> Head writer for Blue Man Group, Summer 2021
>> Spring 2021: Commissioned to write a major new work by Dorset Theater Festival
>>Named a member of the 2020-2021 Orchard Project Greenhouse lab
>>Online production of Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy
Extended again until Jan 14
a site-specific performance for the internet
co-directed by Jared Mezzocchi and Elizabeth Williamson
Set/Costumes: Brenda Abbandolo
Lights: Amith Chandrashaker
Sound: Andre Pluess
With Danielle Slavick, Greg Keller, Ian Lassiter, Haskell King and Mia Katigbak
Presented by Theaterworks Hartford, TheaterSquared, and The Civilians
Live online performances October 20—24
>>Spring 2020: Play At Home commission from Playwrights Realm: Fill in the Play
a theatrical experiment: mad lib meets improv game meets play
Fill out the form and a PDF of a one-of-a-kind play will be automatically emailed to you.
>>Spring 2020: Watch new play for 24 Hour Plays : Toilet Paper Kayak starring Becky Ann Baker and Dylan Baker
>>Berkeley Rep Ground Floor postponed due to COVID-19
Recent (Pre-Pandemic) Highlights
>>Mission Drift named one of The Guardian's Top 50 Theater Shows of the 21st Century, Sept 2019
written with The TEAM and Heather Christian, directed by Rachel Chavkin
>>The Lucky Ones wins the 2019 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre
written with The Bengsons, directed by Anne Kauffman, choreography by Sonya Tayeh
>>Hundred Days published/licensed through Broadway Licensing
Hundred Days cast album released on Ghostlight Records
written with The Bengsons, directed by Anne Kauffman, choreography by Sonya Tayeh
>>Hundred Days on tour
Japanese Production, spring 2020 (canceled mid-run due to COVID-19)
at the Straz Center in Tampa, Jan 15 — March 24, 2019
at Miami's Arsht Center, April 10 — April 21, 2019
at La Jolla Playhouse, September 22 — October 21, 2018
>>Working with Cirque du Soleil on a new circus
>> Working with Madison Square Garden on a new large-scale spectacle
>>Grove/Whitman Commissioning Program Showcase, excerpt from Maestro, music and lyrics by Ben Wexler,
at Signature Theatre, October 21, 2019
>>Closed Reading of a The Place We Built at New York Theatre Workshop, directed by Danya Taymor, October 22, 2019
>>Reading of Five Mothers at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, NYC
directed by Joshua Kahan Brody
April 9, 2019 @ 7 pm
including discussion with Hungarian scholar, activist, and organizer Eszter Súsan
,
>>Workshop of Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy at Hartford Theaterworks postponed due to COVID-19
>>Workshop of The Hole at TheaterSquared postponed due to COVID-19
>>Developing an online version of Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy
A site-specific performance for the internet
Developed with Jared Mezzocchi and Elizabeth Williamson
Online workshop with TheaterSquared , live online showing August 28, 2020
Online workshop with New Dramatists, September 2020
>>Invited reading of Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy
2.10 at 6 pm
New Dramatists
directed by Kip Fagan
With Adina Verson, Ryan King, Greg Keller, Haskell King and Laura Esterman
>>Workshopping Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy at Play Time
at New Dramatists, November 7 — 22, 2019
>>Prayers from Ohio, concert of music from work-in-progress Ohio, music and lyrics by The Bengsons,
at Ars Nova (uptown), November 8 — 9, 2019
>>In residence at SPACE on Ryder Farm (family residency), working on Russian Troll Farm, August 2019
>>In mini-workshop creating Ohio with The Bengsons, Anne Kauffman and Caitlin Sullivan
at Ars Nova Greenwich House, August 2019
>>Creating Ohio with The Bengsons and Caitlin Sullivan
at Berkeley Rep's Ground Floor, June 2019
>>Workshopping Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy with director Rachel Chavkin
at New Dramatists, April 8 — 12, 2019
>>Spring 2019: Teaching Playwriting I at NYU Tisch's Department of Dramatic Writing
and Third Year MFA Thesis at The New School
>>Workshop and closed reading of The Hole with Asolo Rep, October 2018
Directed by Celine Rosenthal
>>Klauzál Square included on Steppenwolf's The Mix list
>>Named a new member of New Dramatists, Class of 2025 (now extended to 2027)
>>Family Residency at SPACE at Ryder Farm, August 2018,
>>Workshopping The Hole at New York Stage and Film's Reading Festival 1, June 2018
Directed by Danya Taymor
Public reading June 24 @ 5 pm
commissioned by Asolo Rep
>>In residence at The Hermitage Artist Retreat in Florida, May 2018
>>Fall 2018: Teaching The Writer and the World (first year MFA playwriting)
and New Voices (thesis class for third year MFA playwrights) at The New School
Teaching Professional Colloquium (grad/undergrad) at NYU Tisch Department of Dramatic Writing
>>The Lucky Ones featured on Buzzfeed's Best Plays and Musicals of 2018
>>2018 Drama Desk Award Nominations announced
The Lucky Ones nominated for:
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical: Damon Daunno
Outstanding Music
Outstanding Lighting for a Musical: Amith Chandrashaker
>>2018 Drama League Award Nominations announced
Hundred Days nominated for Outstanding Production of a Musical
>>2018 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations announced.
7 nominations for team Bengson/Gancher/Kauffman/Tayeh :
Outstanding Musical: Hundred Days
Outstanding Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh, The Lucky Ones
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical: Damon Daunno, The Lucky Ones
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical: Abigail Bengson, Hundred Days
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical:
Maryann Plunkett, The Lucky Ones
Myra Lucretia Taylor, The Lucky Ones
Adina Verson, The Lucky Ones
>>World Premiere of new musical The Lucky Ones at Ars Nova
by The Bengsons and Sarah Gancher,
Directed by Anne Kauffman
Spring 2018
commissioned by Ars Nova
>>Seder named one of five finalists (out of 800) for the
Marin Theater Company Sky Cooper New American New Play Prize
>>Spring 2018: The Place We Built selected as Top 10 in the Jewish Play Project's Best of the First 10 Years
>>Spring 2018: Teaching playwriting at NYU Tisch's Department of Dramatic Writing
and at ESPA
>>Run of Hundred Days at New York Theater Workshop
by The Bengsons and Sarah Gancher
Directed by Anne Kauffman
November — December 2017
>>Seder wins a TCG Edgerton Foundation New Play Award
>>World Premiere of Seder at Hartford Stage
Directed by Elizabeth Williamson
October 19 — November 12 2017
>>World Premiere of I'll Get You Back Again at Round House Theatre
Directed by Rachel Chavkin
October 4 — 29, 2017
>>Commissioned by Asolo Rep; writing The Hole
>>Commissioned by Second City Theatricals to adapt My Age of Anxiety by Scott Stossel
>> World Premiere of THE MA NISHTANAH PLAYS
New plays by Susan Bernfield, Sarah Gancher, MJ Kaufman and Shais Rishon
asking what it means to be Jewish now (in this political moment)
Directed by Pironne Yousefzadeh
Dramaturgy by Abigail Katz
presented by the Jewish Plays Project
at the 14th Street Y
June 15th & 17th @ 7 pm
My play is called Shocking But Not Surprising (Megdöbbentő, De Nem Meglepő)
>>In residence at The Orchard Project, June 2017
>>Seder selected as Finalist for Premiere Stages' Play Festival 2017
Staged reading directed by John Wooten
>>Fall 2017: Teaching second year grad playwriting at The New School
>> NYC premiere of new musical Hundred Days
Music by The Bengsons, book by The Bengsons and Sarah Gancher,
directed by Anne Kauffmann
January 2017 at the Public Theatre's Under The Radar Festival
>>I'll Get You Back Again workshop/reading at Seattle Rep
directed by Rachel Chavkin
December 12, 2016 @ 7pm
>>Seder workshop/reading at Hartford Stage
directed by Elizabeth Williamson
November 2016
>> The Place We Built wins the AR Gurney Prize, May 2016
>> In Residence at Vineyard Arts Project and Ars Nova, June—July 2016
Working on The Lucky Ones with The Bengsons
in collaboration with director Anne Kauffman and choreographer Sonya Tayeh
>> The Place We Built at The Flea
directed by Danya Taymor
Production extended through May 30 2016
>>Two Honorable Mentions (Top 14.4%) on The Kilroys' 2016 List: I'll Get You Back Again and Seder.
>>Four Honorable Mentions on The Kilroys' 2015 List: Duet, I'll Get You Back Again, Seder, and The Place We Built.
>>Honorable Mention on The Kilroys' 2014 List: Klauzál Square
>> Interviewed by Adam Szymkowicz here
>>Spring 2017: Adjunct Professor at NYU Tisch's Department of Dramatic Writing (grad & undergrad)
>>Spring 2017: Guest Artist teaching playwriting at...
- NYU/Playwrights Horizons (undergrad)
- New School (grad)
- ESPA/Primary Stages (professional development)
>>In Residence at SPACE on Ryder Farm, October 2015
>>The Place We Built staged reading in the Women's Voices Theater Festival with Mosaic Theater Company of DC
Staged Reading
Directed by Eleanor Holdridge
October 19, 2015 @ 7:30 pm
National Museum of Women in the Arts
>> I'll Get You Back Again in Steppenwolf's First Look Festival
Workshop & staged reading
Directed by Rachel Chavkin
Steppenwolf
August 13, 2015 @ 7 pm
August 15, 2015 @ 8 pm
>> The Place We Built in Jewish Plays Project's OPEN Festival
Workshop & staged reading
Directed by Benjamin Kamine
The Theater at the 14th Street Y, NYC
June 28, 2015 @ 2 pm
>> In Residence at Vineyard Arts Project with Ars Nova, May 25 — 30, 2015
>>Reading of The Place We Built, directed by Benjamin Kamine, in INK'd Festival, Playwrights Realm, May 2015
>>Mission Drift anthologized in Five Plays by The TEAM. This is the third published version of Mission Drift's script.
>>Guest Artist at NYU Gallatin Spring 2015
>>Workshop with Playwrights Realm on The Place We Built, March 2015
>> Reading of Duet, directed by Lee Sunday Evans, with P73, November 2014
>> Selected as a 2014-2015 Playwrights' Realm Writing Fellow for The Place We Built
>> Guest artist at NYU Gallatin, Fall 2014
>> Roundtable reading of I'll Get You Back Again at The Lark, September 2014
>> In residence at SPACE on Ryder Farm, June 2014.
>> Rehearsal space grant via P73, working on Duet with director Lila Neugebauer and actors Carmen Zilles and Bess Wohl, June 2014
>> The Architecture of Becoming , Women's Project Lab collaborative show, at City Center, Feb—March 2014
>> Game Play , Ars Nova Play Group show at Ars Nova, January 2014
>> Selected as 2014 member of Page 73's Interstate 73 writers group
>>Workshop of The Place We Built (working title)
at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, NYU, December 2013
directed by Portia Krieger
>>Closed workshop reading of Duet (working title),
at New York Stage and Film, August 2013
directed by Lila Neugebauer
>> Residency with Ars Nova Play Group, SPACE at Ryder Farm, August 2013
>> Residency with New York Stage and Film, July 2013
>>Winner, Founder's Award, New York Stage and Film/Powerhouse, 2013
>>Winner, Clifford Odets Ensemble Play Commission, 2013
>>Winner, Tofte Lakes Emerging Artists Residency, 2013
>> Finalist, The Lark's Playwrights' Week, 2013; Semifinalist, P73 Fellowship, 2014; Semifinalist, Cherry Lane Mentor Project, 2014
>> Mission Drift on tour:
6/5/13 — 6/28/13 at the National Theatre, London Tickets and information
>>Workshop/Out Loud reading of I'll Get You Back Again
directed by Rachel Chavkin
Monday, May 13 2013 @ 3:30 pm at Ars Nova
>> Tunde's Trumpet in Portland, OR
Puppet Musical with book by Chisa Hutchinson, lyrics by Sarah Gancher, music by Elliot Goldman
On tour in Portland, OR parks
Boom Arts, Summer 2013
>>Guest Artist at Bennington College
April 2013
>> Mission Drift on tour:
2/22/13 — 3/2/13 at the Perth Festival (Australia)
3/6/13—3/9/13 at the Hong Kong Arts Festival
>> Ars Nova Play Group show The Netflix Plays
at Ars Nova, January 30 —February 9, 2013
Understated Foreign Coming of Age, by Sarah Gancher
Directed by Jess Chayes
>>Collaboration with Hand2Mouth Theatre, Something's Got a Hold of My Heart
at La Mama, NYC, January 10 — 20, 2013;
in Portland, OR from January 13—February 17, 2013
>>Residency with Hand2Mouth Theatre at EMPAC, December 2012
>>Residency with Hand2Mouth Theatre in Portland, OR, November 2012
>>Named a 2012-2014 Time Warner Fellow at Women's Project Playwright Lab
>>Summer 2012 residency with Telluride Theatre
>>August 2012 Mission Drift development workshop at The National Theatre Studio, London
>> Premiere of Bóogravîan Opera Naçionale is Presenting to All Peoples Very Nice Spectacle: WAKE UP!
Performances August 21—24 @ 8 pm
at The Telluride Pavillion
Directed by Jen Wineman
Designed by Melissa Trn
With Sam Burgess, Rachel Cooke, Tom Shane, Luke Slattery, Melissa Sumpter, and Colin Sullivan
>> Klauzál Square awarded a 2012 OPEN New Jewish Theater Residency by the Jewish Plays Project
Work-in-Progress Showings on
Thursday, June 28 @ 8 pm
Saturday, June 30 @ 8 pm
Sunday, July 1 @ 3 pm
Buy Tickets
Directed by Jen Wineman
Designed by Melissa Trn
Video design by Caite Hevner
with Susan Casey, Danielle Davenport*, Addie Moreno, Karen Sours, and Megan Stern* (* = appears courtesy Actors' Equity)
>> Mission Drift nominated for two Drama League Awards: Distinguished Production of a Musical,
and Distinguished Performance Award for Ms. Heather Christian.
>>Staged reading of Klauzál Square in Budapest's Quarter6Quarter7 Festival
May 1, 2012 @ 8 pm
at Sirály
Directed by Eszter Kalman
with Mercédesz Érsek-Obádovics, Dia Kiss, Marina Gera, Katalina Gergely, Kata Szilágyi
More information here
>>Klauzál Square named finalist for the 2012 Bay Area Playwrights Festival
>>Seder named semi-finalist for 2012 O'Neill National Playwrights Conference
>>Encore presentation of Seder in Budapest
Sunday April 8, 2012 @ 8 pm
at Sirály
Directed by András Dömötör
Translation: Eszter Balassa
with: Eszter Csákányi , Kata Pálfi, Júlia Huzella, László Katona, Gergő Bánki, Dániel Fehér e.h., Milán Schruff
>>Joined Ars Nova Play Group 2012
>>Mission Drift
by The TEAM in collaboration with
Heather Christian and Sarah Gancher
in PS 122's COIL Festival
1/8/12 — 1/29/12 @ The Connelly Theatre
Directed by Rachel Chavkin
with: Heather Christian, Amber Gray, Brian Hastert, Libby King, Ian Lasster
http://theteamplays.org/work/mission-drift
>>Staged reading of Seder in Budapest's Quarter6Quarter7 Festival
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 @ 8 pm
at Fogáshaz
Directed by András Dömötör
Translation: Eszter Balassa
with: Eszter Csákányi , Kata Pálfi, Júlia Huzella, László Katona, Gergő Bánki , Dániel Fehér, Milán Schruff, e.h.
http://quarter6quarter7.com
>> Staged reading of Five Mothers in Budapest's Quarter6Quarter7 Festival
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 @ 8 pm
at Sirály
Directed by András Dömötör
Translation: Eszter Marsálko
with: Judit Lax, Júlia Huzella, Kata Pálfi, Kati Takács, Zsuzsa Járó
http://quarter6quarter7.com