THE COMEUPPANCE
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
On the night of their 20th high school reunion, the self-proclaimed “Multi-Ethnic Reject Group” reconnects while they pregame in Prince George’s County, Maryland. But amid the flow of reminiscing, an otherworldly presence forces these former classmates to face the past head-on and reckon with an unknowable future. The latest from MacArthur Genius Award- winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (An Octoroon, Appropriate, Gloria), this “mesmerizing” (The Wrap) new play garnered a New York Times Critic’s Pick and Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play.
THE CHALLENGE/BRIEF
Connective tissue: While a story by a millennial, performed by millennials, this show is a story we can all relate to. A HS reunion might seem like a central theme, but since patrons never saw the reunion, we wanted it to feel like they themselves were reuniting with themselves, and how we can approach the past to address the future.
Immersive Storytelling: Create an “immersive experience that further connects the patron to the storyline and to each other.
PR Narrative: This is the 2nd run of the show since its existence (not including workshops. The previous iteration received reviews that gave us a chance to share why this show was important for this time. Our PR story included BJJ’s acclaim, a COVID play done right, and therapeutic nature of storytelling.
PATRON JOURNEY
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Pre-Show
The audience never actually sees the reunion in the show. We wanted to give the feel that they too were invited to the pregame and almost feel like the 6th friend of MERGE.
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On-Site
To deepen the connection with the storyline, and have the audience feel they were part of the story—-We wanted to create activations inspired by a HS reunion.
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Post-Show
With death playing a central role in the show, we wanted to add one final nod to the connective tissue between the characters and ourselves which is that life is too short.
CREATIVELY PRODUCE CONTENT THAT SHOWS CONTRAST
LIFE vs DEATH
STORYTELLING
Behind the Scenes
"The Comeuppance truly takes us to a new theatrical level"
Broadway World
“[The cast achieves] an uncanny transparency through time: It’s possible to glimpse the outlines of malleable teenagers through the yearning of their adult wants and regrets.”
The Washington Post
“What comfort the show does offer is eminently embraceable, and I urge you to do so at your earliest convenience.”
DC Theater Arts
