Bold new comedy by the creator of the long running Off-Broadway hit Puffs premieres
March 16 - 30 at HERE
Matt Cox, writer of the long-running Off-Broadway hit wizard comedy "Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, is back with another play also involving witchcraft. WITCHES!? IN SALEM?! performs at HERE Arts Center beginning March 16. Tickets are available at www.witchesinsalem.com.
Welcome to Salem Village, 1692. A bad year to visit. Here, wealthy landowners want your land, local magistrates want your confession, unpopular reverends want your respect but more importantly your firewood, and everyone wants someone to be punished for something. Meanwhile, several local children try to make sense of a hysteria they find themselves at the center of. Oh! And the newest villagers, the Bloodkravens are here too. They are confused about it all.
WITCHES!? IN SALEM?! is darkly comedic, yet (mostly) historically accurate take on the Salem Witch Trials and all the (mostly) historically accurate horrors which may occur when populism runs rampant, injustice is a day to day occurrence, and a rigid religious minority sets the laws of the land. You know, old timey problems. A companion, or an alternative, to a certain other Salem play you probably read in high school.
“WITCHES!? IN SALEM?! is the most exciting kind of comedy: sharp, hilarious, and appallingly timely.” Says director Rachel Dart. “I could not be more delighted to work with this phenomenal cast and creative team on what is probably the funniest play there is about the brutal consequences of religious fanaticism!”
WITCHES!? IN SALEM?! stars Jessie Cannizarro (Puffs), Nick Carrillo (Puffs) , AJ Ditty (Puffs, Paddington Gets in a Jam!), Carolina Đỗ (Linda Vista, Grand Horizon), Aaron Parker Fouhey (Night of the Living N-Word!!! at Fringe NYC, The Christmas Tree Farm at Mile Square Theatre), James Fouhey (Puffs), Jake Keefe (Jesus Christ Tater Tot, Puffs), Andy Miller (Puffs, The Mysteries at The Flea), Jessica Mosher (Murder on the Links, “Mr. Robot”) and Jordan Sison (The Wolves at Hippodrome Theatre). Scenic, Costume and Puppet design is provided by K.C. McGeorge and Noah Ruff. Original Score by Brian Metolius. Stage Managed by Vanessa Rebeil.
WITCHES!? IN SALEM?! will be presented at 8:30pm on Sat 3/16, Tues 3/19, Fri 3/22, Sat 3/23, Tues 3/26, Thurs 3/28, Fri 3/29 and Sat 3/30 with 4:00 pm matinees on Sun 3/17 and Sat 3/23 at HERE (145 Sixth Ave, New York, NY 10013.) Tickets are available at www.witchesinsalem.com.
Written by Matt Cox, (Puffs Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years At A Certain School Of Magic & Magic, Kapow-i GoGo) and directed by Rachel Dart (Coming Soon: A New Rock Musical, Dance Nation regional premiere) WITCHES!? IN SALEM?! will be featured as a part of Witches, Queers and Clowns, a three week performance series at HERE focused on societal outcasts. It is produced by Jonathan Cottle and Matt Cox in association with BonfireWorks Foundation, a Hudson Valley based non-profit dedicated to supporting the commission, development and creation of public artworks and arts experiences to inspire and promote human connection. More information at: bonfireworksfoundation.org
Matt Cox (Puffs; or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic & Magic, The Kapow-i GoGo Sagas, Guy Choiceman Decides To Save America: The Chooseical: Where YOU Do The Chooses) is a playwright, actor, improviser, sound designer, and former comic book retail associate based in New York City. Coming Soon: The Ferret Show, a new musical about life, love, and competitive ferret competitions. @coxxyloxxy www.MattCoxLand.com
Rachel Dart. Recent credits include Coming Soon: A New Rock Musical (world premiere at Z Space–SF Chronicle's Best of Theater 2022); Dance Nation (regional premiere, Nashville Story Garden); Adam Szymkowicz’s The Christmas Tree Farm (world premiere, Mile Square Theatre); and two Princeton University Triangle Club shows (McCarter Theatre Center). New plays, musicals, and classics at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Theatre503, Edinburgh Fringe, Ma-Yi, Ensemble Studio Theatre/Youngblood, the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, Berklee NYC, and Philly Fringe, among many others. Associate and assistant directing includes The Vineyard, BAM, Roundabout Theatre Company, and on Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club (most recently Summer, 1976). Rachel has been an artist in residence at Hundredth Hill (2022) and New York Theatre Barn/Fire Island Pines Arts Project's Barn on Fire residency (2023). She is an alumna of the Williamstown Directing Corps and the Actors Theatre of Louisville Professional Training Company, and a proud member of SDC.