“At a time of crisis, who will stand up and be the pig, and who will be the owl?”

Northern Manhattan’s own UP Theater Company answers this question in the world premiere of Lizzie Donahue’s provocative dark comedy, “A Barn Play.” This timely and darkly comic fable explores the power of creating art amidst oppression when a cast of farm animals rehearses their show. Directed by Melissa Moschitto, Founding Artistic Director of The Anthropologists.

Owl (Rik Walter*) attempts to rehearse his new play with a lively and opinionated ensemble of farm animals: Chicken (April J. Barber), Pig (Sarah Kiefer*), Dog (Arisael Rivera*), Cow (Mariette Strauss), Sheep (China Pharr), and Cat (Stephanie Cha). Tensions flare when a crisis befalls the animals and the ensemble rejects Owl’s arty attempt for one of their own devising – one that sheds light on our own relationships with animals, children, and art.

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association / AEA approved showcase