With John Leguizamo having just concluded his run in Latin History for Morons at the Ahmanson Theatre, it’s time for another one-man show. And they couldn’t be more different. Mike Birbiglia’s The New One begins performances on Wednesday and will run at the downtown venue through November 24th.
Even if tonally these two shows are different, they do share one common theme: being a parent. In The New One Birbiglia offers a comedic one-man show about the fears of becoming a father and the reality of what fatherhood is like once a child is born.
The New One played on Broadway at the Cort Theatre in late 2019 into early 2019. The show had its start at The Cherry Lane Theatre in New York. The play was nominated for Outstanding Solo Show at the Lucille Lortell Awards. Birbiglia won both the Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Best Solo Performance.
The New One was written by Birbiglia with some additional material from his wife, Jennifer Hope Stein. Amongst his other shows are Sleepwalk with Me, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend and Thank God for Jokes. The New One was a New York Times Critic’s Pick when it appeared on Broadway.
Directing is Seth Barrish. Ira Glass, known to countless listeners to National Public Radio’s This American Life, is an Executive Producer.
The show runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. It is suggested, due to mature themes and strong language, for audiences aged 16 and over.
For tickets go here.
Photo of Mike Birbiglia in The New One by Joan Marcus/Courtesy of Center Theatre Group