New York, NY
The Detour Series
A theatrical experiment merging audio theater with site-specific audio journeys
Playwrights Horizons and The Parsnip Ship have collaborated to create The Detour Series, a theatrical experiment merging audio theater with site-specific audio journeys, these plays guide listeners through our lively Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. Written by two New York City playwrights - Christin Eve Cato and Opalanietet - this project further expands both theater organizations’ audio programming in an active and unique format. Through directional cues in the audio plays and physical QR codes, participants are guided to specific points to complete the audio journey. Both journeys are activated and begin in front of the Playwright’s Horizons building at 416 W. 42nd Street. You must be at the building and scan the QR code to access the audio. We highly recommend headphones for this experience. Each piece will be available for three weeks (from September 1 to September 25). Free and fully accessible from each participant's mobile device, this partnership is part of Playwrights Horizons' Lighthouse Series, an eclectic program created to support artists across disciplines. Not sure which journey to go on? Read a little about each below. If you prefer an exploratory journey with lots of engagement with the environment of Hell’s Kitchen, we suggest THE MAYOR OF HELL’S KITCHEN – a winding journey brimming with a range of different histories, stories and characters. If you prefer a linear journey with plenty of opportunities to pause and rewind, we suggest WEST SIDE QUEST – a narrative-specific journey that will guide you through the story with starts and stops at locations around Hell’s Kitchen. The Mayor of Hell's Kitchen Presents: A Time Traveling Journey Through NYC's Wild West by Christin Eve Cato In the 8th Dimension, time-traveling has widely become the biggest trend in tourism because of its unique ability to preserve truth and convey accurate history. We are proud to announce that after much advocating, the Mayor of Hell's Kitchen has finally agreed to bring her time-travel technology to our earthly dimension! Come join her on this exciting journey through the history of Hell's Kitchen that takes the traveler to historical landmarks and destinations, uncovering the stories that inhabit those places. If you're lucky, you might even meet some historical figures along the way! Please be advised that this is all brand-new science, and you will be participating in a trial run. Wear comfortable shoes. Expect the unexpected. West Side Quest by Opalanietet Wondering why it has been so difficult finding the food and supplies you need at your local store? Join Willy, your new rat friend, on a mystery-solving adventure to discover what has been happening to all the dwindling resources in Hell's Kitchen, thus turning NYC into a dystopian place even too challenging for our brother and sister rats. Steeped in the tribulations of 2021 that still linger today, West Side Quest is a comedic, satirical journey that asks the questions: what we value, why we value it, and if what we seek is our untimely poison.
Audience Role
Through directional cues in the audio plays and physical QR codes, participants are guided to specific points to complete the audio journey.
Ages: All ages
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Years on EI
About Playwrights Horizons
Playwrights Horizons is a writer's theater dedicated to the development of contemporary American playwrights, and to the production of innovative new work. In a city rich with cultural offerings, Playwrights Horizons' 50-year-old mission is unique; we have distinguished ourselves by a steadfast commitment to centering and advancing the voice of the playwright. It’s a mission that is always timely, and one that’s necessary in the ongoing evolution of theater in this country. We believe that playwrights are the great storytellers of our time, offering essential contributions to civic discourse and illuminating life’s greatest paradoxes. And we believe in the singularity of a writer’s voice, valuing the broad, eclectic spectrum and diversity of American writers. Here, writers are supported in every stage of their growth through our New Works Lab, PoP Master Class series, Soundstage audio program; the Lighthouse Project; and Almanac, our digital magazine. We present a season of productions annually on our two stages, each of which is a World, American or New York premiere. Much like our work, our audience is risk-taking and adventurous; and we’re committed to strengthening their engagement and feeding their curiosity through all of our programming, onsite and online.