Handing one woman's interior monologue to sixteen singers is a formal gamble that either collapses or becomes the most interesting thing you see all season, and Pirnot has form for pulling it off. Benson's work is built on exactly this precision, and the Linda Gross is small enough that sixteen voices genuinely move the air. If you want a night unlike any other show running in New York, book it.
What to expect
A short, formally unusual evening in Atlantic's Chelsea house: no conventional scenes, a sixteen-member choir standing as one narrator, and a text sung rather than spoken. Expect choral writing that leans classical against language that is deliberately everyday, and a build that works cumulatively rather than through plot.
Good to know
- The Linda Gross Theater is at 336 West 20th Street; the C/E to 23rd St or the 1 to 18th St are both close.
- The building is a converted church, which gives the choral writing an unusually live acoustic.
- Atlantic's Access25 initiative releases a limited block of reduced-price tickets for every preview performance.
- Atlantic members get priority booking and exchange privileges.
- The piece is sung throughout rather than spoken, so it plays closer to a concert than to a play.
- Accessible seating is available; contact the Atlantic box office in advance to arrange it.
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Common questions
Is this a musical?
Atlantic calls it a world premiere musical event: a monologue set for a sixteen-person choir rather than a book musical with characters and songs.
Who wrote it?
Mona Pirnot wrote the text, Jack D. Coen wrote the music, and the two share lyrics.
How do I get cheaper seats?
Atlantic's Access25 program puts a limited number of $25 tickets on sale for each preview, first come first served.
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