Marlise plants a murder at the 1954 Academy Awards and pins it on the actress everyone was watching, exactly the kind of glamour-and-guilt premise a small downtown musical can pull off without a Hollywood budget. The Players Theatre on MacDougal has been the launchpad for a run of new work this summer, and the noir framing gives this one a hook. If you like discovering musicals before anyone has an opinion, this is the format.
What to expect
The Players Theatre is an intimate MacDougal Street house in the middle of the Village's busiest block, with the audience close to a modest playing area. Expect a small-cast new musical with period styling and a story told in flashback around the murder. MacDougal's cafes and Washington Square are a two-minute walk in either direction.
Good to know
- The Players Theatre is at 115 MacDougal Street; take the A, B, C, D, E, F or M to West 4th Street
- MacDougal Street is crowded at night, so budget extra minutes for the last block
- The house is small, which makes any seat workable but sells out shows quickly
- This is a brand-new musical, so there are no reviews to lean on yet
- Washington Square Park and Village cafes make an easy pre- or post-show plan
- Confirm accessibility with the venue, since the historic building has stairs
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Common questions
Is Marlise based on a true story?
It is a fictional story set against the real backdrop of the 1954 Academy Awards and the studio-era Hollywood that surrounded them.
Where is The Players Theatre?
115 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village, between West 3rd and Bleecker, a short walk from Washington Square Park.
How long is the run?
It is a limited Off-Broadway engagement running into early September.
More this weekend
