It is Oberon’s mission to cultivate and invigorate a diverse theatre community by confronting contemporary issues through classical, contemporary and original works.
Please Join Us For Our Fall Reading Series:
November 4th, 7:30 PM
The Starship Astrov
by Duncan Pflaster
Director: Eric Parness
A play written in the style of Anton Chekov, set on a Starship in the year 3047. A diplomatic mission brings a professor and his lovely alien wife and faithful doctor aboard the Starship Astrov, where unspoken love and misunderstandings abound between the ship's crew and the guests. As times adapt, will the future change us, or will humanity stay the same at heart?
November 11, 7:30 PM
The Family Shakespeare
by David Stallings
Director: Mark Karafin
A young woman from the 18th Century is enraptured by the Bard's work only to discover it has been censored by the family she uses his stories to escape from. Award winning playwright David Stallings presents a magical piece inspired by the complete censored works of William Shakespeare, by Thomas and Henrietta Bowlder.
November 18th, 7:30 PM
Where Art Lives
by Michael Thomas Cain
Director: Diánna Martin
In a dying industrial city, a father struggles to keep his dysfunctional family together, healthy, and at peace, but each family member has their own agenda which keeps this working class household in constant chaos. Looming over Art's house is a local plant and the uncontrollable pressure of global, economic, and social issues adds to the daily stress and strain--making it nearly impossible for this all-American family to find stable ground.
December 2nd, 7:30 PM
The Necessary Disposal
by Bob Ost
Director: Linda S. Nelson
Ruth Middleton lives in a comfortable suburban home along the mainline of Philadelphia. She devotes her time to reading and giving literary lectures, while her huband works and her house is looked after by her black housekeeper. Life is perfect until a young salesman shows up at her door selling her a very special product that will change everything. Forever.
All readings will be held at Hunter College at 7:30 PM
in Hunter West 214, on the southwest corner of 68th and Lexington.
We sure hope to see you! Can you believe they're FREE!?
About me: Founded in 1997, Oberon is an off-off Broadway ensemble theatre company. Now in our twelfth season, we have produced 50 full-length productions and more than 51 staged readings of original plays.
Oberon now has 30 active members and many more constant collaborators. Among them are award-winning actors, playwrights, directors and designers.
The Oberon Theatre Ensemble is an active player in New York’s independent theatre community. Each season we combine classic, contemporary, and new works in a format that allows each to highlight and enhance the other. We
juxtapose new against old in a single evening or in a repertory schedule, with our ensemble of actors and directors nimbly jumping from one world to another to draw our audiences fully into the experience. We believe in the joy of a well told story, the connection offered by a supportive community, and the magic of the theatre.
Oberon actively works to share this magic with others by reaching out to the community in a number of ways. We offer discounted student and senior tickets to our performances and create shows that we can bring out to schools, senior centers, and hospitals. We have also presented shows free in Central Park that have been enjoyed by young children and seniors alike.
In a time when Off-Broadway theatres are closing, ensemble theatre groups are all but unheard of, arts funding largely nonexistent, and theatres both large and small focused on finding the next big commercial hit, Oberon may be a bit old-fashioned in its approach. Nonetheless, our commitment to cultivating and invigorating a diverse theatre community remains steadfast. And it will remain so even amidst the rapid change that characterizes this unforgiving haven we call our home, New York City.
Word on the Street...
* "The Oberon Theatre Ensemble is young and ambitious...and should one day fulfill its commendable ambitions." -- IBSEN News and Comment
* "...it's a thrill to report that the Oberon Theatre Ensemble's exemplary production of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men played to a packed house on the night I attended"-- Theatremania
* “'Oberon, a dedicated group of actors who have genuine rapport with each other, was doing far better than the well-known performers at Circle Rep.'” -- Tony-award winning playwright Arthur Kopit in Backstage, 1/29/04
* “Moonchildren has an amazing 16 characters in all, here played by 13 actors, and one of the wonders of this Off-Off-Broadway production is that the performance level is so consistently high"-- Theatremania
2002 OOBR award for theatre excellence
*And more rave reviews in Backstage, OOBR, The Village Voice, Theatermania.com and more
*Personal accolades from Michael Weller, Austin Pendleton, Richard Easton,and Roger Simon
Please read our latest review at The Fab Marquee (www.TheFabMarquee.com)
Please check out our recent write-up in the New York Times:
Who I'd like to meet: Actors, Playwrights, Directors, Lovers of The Arts, Theatre-Goers; People who are inspired by theatre of all kinds, of all genres.
Thanks for the add, Oberon Theatre Ensemble. I'll be in New York from Jan 14 to the 19th. Let me know if you have any readings during that time, and how our students can submit.
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