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Angels Take Flight on Stage
This month Naked Angels will present the world premiere of Next Fall, a new play by Geoffrey Nauffts
From left: Connie Ray, Sean Dugan, Cotter Smith, Patrick Heusinger, Maddie Corman, Patrick Breen (Photo: Francesco Carrrozzini)
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Naked Angels likes to think of itself as an edgy company. Formed in 1986, it took its name from John Tytell’s book Naked Angels, which chronicled the Beats’ quest to defy convention. NA’s founders had the same dream—to use theater to showcase a different world perspective. Sometimes outrageous, always intelligent, the troupe was determined to present innovative plays.
It can take a well-earned bow. Works such as Jon Robin Baitz’s A Substance of Fire and Will Eno’s recent Thom Pain have received critical acclaim. Warren’s Leight’s Side Man also moved to Broadway, won a Tony Award and one of its cast, Edie Falco, went on to TV fame on The Sopranos.
This month, Naked Angels will present the world premiere of Next Fall, a new American play by their artistic director Geoffrey Nauffts at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater from June 3–28. Timely and stimulating, the play deals with the long-term relationship between Adam and Luke, where one is Christian and the other an atheist. With no easy answers, the provocative subject is in keeping with NA’s mission to give the audience a thought provoking evening.
In addition to its performances, Naked Angels has various ongoing artistic enterprises to keep its theatrical muscle in shape. One is a free weekly program for new writers called “Tuesdays@ 9.” Kicked off in 1991, T@9 has an open submission policy; writers submit a 10-page sample and selections are made each week, cast immediately, and given a cold read. Nearly 280 new works have been presented in this organic fashion.
The next level of developmental work at Naked Angels is “1st Mondays.” On the first Monday of each month, a new play is given its first public reading. A Naked Angeles specialty: The Issues Project, which encourages member writers, directors, musicians and actors to voice a social or political concern, such as human rights, gun control or protecting the environment. Their set of 14 one-acts called Armed and Naked in America, cataloged the effects of wars and utilized such talents as co-founder Marissa Tomei and Chris Sarandon.
NA was built on the idea of caring and encouraging talent; whether new playwrights or the early careers of performers such as Gina Gershon and Rob Morrow. “I wish I could say thank you to it,” Matthew Broderick told The New York Times two years ago. “It was a nurturing place.”