“Planet of the Grapes" (NYC)

The wildly inventive, internationally acclaimed, award-winning lockdown hit “Planet of the Grapes” is now alive on stage - transporting audiences to a futuristic world where talking grapes reign supreme and humans are rendered speechless. Created and performed by Peter Michael Marino, this fast-paced comedic homage blends the charm of Victorian toy theater with the sci-fi spectacle of the 1968 classic “Planet of the Apes,” creating an interactive, immersive, all-ages adventure packed into a juicy 60-minutes. The production is directed by Michole Biancosino and plays July 16–19 at the Lower East Side’s Under St. Marks before heading to Pleasance Courtyard at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In “Planet of the Grapes,” an American astronaut crew crash-lands on a distant planet where an intelligent, articulate, and evolved grape society enslaves mute humans like laboratory monkeys. What unfolds is a high-energy theatrical experience that spills off the cutting-board stage and into the audience - blending satire, spectacle, and unleashed imagination with uncorked, creative madness. Performed on a carefully concocted tabletop stage - complete with hundreds of grapes, dozens of corks, and a pocket universe of scenery - the production brings big ideas to small scale. An original electronic score by Michael Harren underscores a story that playfully explores themes of science vs. religion, class clashes, planetary concerns, and humanity’s sense of superiority. www.planetgrapeshow.com