In an open room, Naz enters and stands on a pedestal. She describes living in a near-future America, after a civil war has left the country reeling. She tells of her town of Queens Row, Massachusetts, and of her only son who went looking for work in Odessa, Texas. He fell in love with a girl, killed a man in a jealous rage, and later, was killed by police. She grapples with her grief and keeping faith.
Antonia enters and takes Naz’s place. Antonia speaks to her missing lover, updating him while living out of her car in Odessa. She speaks about their relationship and what independence means in her life. After mentioning the child they have made together, she sees a double of herself who is loyal to a fault. The space goes dark. Antonia exits the pedestal. In the dark, a third woman enters. The third woman is led to the pedestal by the other two.
Soraya, the son and lover’s daughter, speaks in a broken way. She acquires communication as she is speaking. She tries to talk about where she stands in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She tries to talk about her parents in the early days, about people abandoning Queens Row, about how her father died, and about her lack of beliefs. She tries to talk about survival, happiness, and finally returning to Queens Row.
Written and directed by Richard Maxwell
Performed by Nazira Hanna, Soraya Nabipour, and Antonia Summer
Set and Lights by Sascha van Riel
Costumes by Kaye Voyce
Produced by Regina Vorria
Stage manager: Eric Magnus
January 8–11, 15–18, 22–25, 8pm
$25 General / $20 Members
Purchase tickets by December 8 and receive $5 off each ticket! Applies to full-priced tickets only and may not be combined with other offers
This event takes place at The Kitchen, 512 West 19th Street, New York, NY
To learn more about the benefits of becoming a member, please click here.
Queens Row is made possible with support from Lambent Foundation Fund of Tides Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, and The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; and in part by public funds from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
Queens Row was first commissioned by London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts, where it made its world premiere in 2018.
Photo by Christa Holka.