“Unfortunately, there’s a corpse in this trunk.”

spit&vigor brings the world premiere of THE WAKE OF DORCAS KELLY
to The New Ohio Theatre

A wake descends into a riot in Dublin, 1762 when brothel patrons and workers mourn their executed madam

spit&vigor is thrilled to announce the world premiere of THE WAKE OF DORCAS KELLY, written by Sara Fellini (2015 NYIT Award nominee, 2014 Planet Award winner // 2018 Planet Award Outstanding Direction nominee).

Fellini’s dark new comedy THE WAKE OF DORCAS KELLY brings the audience front and center as a grotesquely intimate circle of mourners gather within The Maiden Tower brothel to hold a wake for Dorcas Kelly, the beloved former madam, executed for her crimes against humanity, while a riot rages without on the streets of Dublin, 1762. But as the night roars on and Dorcas’ many well-kept secrets are revealed, thoughts of adoration for their departed benefactress turn to questions about their own love, lust, fear, and anger.

By the critically-acclaimed and award-winning company members that produced IN VESTMENTS (“wrenching and visually eloquent” – the NY Times) and THE BRUTES (nominated for 7 Planet Connections Awards and an NYIT Award in 2018, “irresistably dramatic” – The NY Times), THE WAKE OF DORCAS KELLY is the story of an executed brothel madam and the friends, family, and secrets she left behind. The piece is staged in the round with minimal set pieces, with the audience embedded in the walls and furniture of the brothel-turned-funeral home. Sex, lies, murder, and the untold secrets of the dead are unearthed and exposed in this wild and gripping drama.

The cast features Adam Belvo (2015 Planet Connections Outstanding Lead Actor winner, 2019 NYIT Outstanding Lead Actor nominee), Sara Fellini (2015 Planet Award Outstanding Lead Actress nominee), Clara Kundin (The Rover // Torn Out Theater), Eamon Murphy (Oh What a Lovely War on Terror // Edinburgh Fringe), Becca Musser (Turn to Flesh Productions), Nicholas Thomas (Blunderbuss Productions).

Lighting design is by Miriam Crowe.

New Ohio Theatre is a two-time Obie Award-winning theatre under the leadership of Robert Lyons, Artistic Director, and Marc Stuart Weitz, Producing Director. The New Ohio serves New York’s most adventurous theatre audiences by developing and presenting bold work from today’s vast independent theatre community. They believe the best of this community, the small artist-driven ensembles and the daring producing companies who operate without a permanent theatrical home, are actively expanding the boundaries of where American theatre is right now and where it’s going. From their home in the West Village’s historic Archive Building, the New Ohio provides a high-profile platform for downtown’s most mature, ridiculous, engaged, irreverent, gut-wrenching, frivolous, sophisticated, foolish and profound theatrical endeavors. The theatre is accessible from the #1 train to Christopher St. or A, B, C, D, E, F or M train to West 4th St. For info visit NewOhioTheatre.org.

For more information please visit www.spitnvigor.com/the-wake-of-dorcas-kelly