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First Look $25: October 20 & 21
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The Unbelieving

Archived Show

Overview

Produced by:
Daniel C. Dennett, Linda LaScola and The Civilians present
Dates:
October 20 - November 19, 2022
Run Time:
1 Hour, 5 Minutes
Intermission:
No
Theater:
Showing in Theater
Tickets:
$40 (59E59 Member price: $30)

Show Info

By Marin Gazzaniga
Directed by Steve Cosson

With David Aaron Baker, Jeff Biehl, Sonnie Brown, Dan Domingues, Nina Hellman, Joshua David Robinson, and Richard Topol

In the classic tale of religious conversion, finding God holds the promise of a life filled with purpose and meaning. But what happens when this transformation occurs in reverse, and a faith you have built your life around begins to fall away? THE UNBELIEVING takes a penetrating look into the lives of practicing clergy members—Catholics, Episcopalians, Evangelicals, Fundamentalists, Jews, Mormons, Muslims—who have stopped believing in God. 

Staged by NYC’s acclaimed downtown theater company The Civilians in the brilliant investigative-theater style they pioneered, THE UNBELIEVING tells the intimate stories of these faith leaders. Using their actual words, obtained during a groundbreaking study by philosopher Daniel C. Dennett and qualitative researcher Linda LaScola, the play explores the struggles, courage, and great humor of these “unbelievers” as they face the hardest decision of their lives—whether to continue living in secret or to risk everything by telling the truth.

Based on interviews conducted for the book Caught In The Pulpit: Leaving Belief Behind (2013) by Daniel C. Dennett and Linda LaScola

Sean Donovan,
Movement Direction
Andrew Boyce &
Se Hyun Oh,
Scenic Design
Emily Rebholz &
Miriam Kelleher,
Costume Design
Lucrecia Briceño,
Lighting Design
Christian Frederickson,
Original Music & Sound Design
Molly Shea,
Production Stage Manager
Dack Justiz,
Assistant Stage Manager
David Aaron
Baker
Jeff
Biehl
Sonnie
Brown
Dan
Domingues
Nina
Hellman
Joshua David
Robinson
Richard
Topol
Nina Hellman, David Aaron Baker, Jeff Biehl, and Sonnie Brown in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo Caption: Nina Hellman, David Aaron Baker, Jeff Biehl, and Sonnie Brown in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo: Richard Termine
Nina Hellman and Joshua David Robinson in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo Caption: Nina Hellman and Joshua David Robinson in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo: Richard Termine
Dan Domingues in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo Caption: Dan Domingues in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo: Richard Termine
Nina Hellman and Sonnie Brown in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo Caption: Nina Hellman and Sonnie Brown in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo: Richard Termine
David Aaron Baker, Joshua David Robinson, Jeff Biehl, Dan Domingues, and Sonnie Brown in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo Caption: David Aaron Baker, Joshua David Robinson, Jeff Biehl, Dan Domingues, and Sonnie Brown in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo: Richard Termine
Nina Hellman in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo Caption: Nina Hellman in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo: Richard Termine
Sonnie Brown in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo Caption: Sonnie Brown in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo: Richard Termine
David Aaron Baker in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo Caption: David Aaron Baker in THE UNBELIEVING
Photo: Richard Termine
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Producing Company

The Civilians

The Civilians began in 2001 with a company of artists who were interested in making new work at the intersection of the theatrical and the real. The company supports a number of emerging and established artists each year through its R & D Program, cabaret series, and its online journal, Extended Play.

Read more at: http://www.thecivilians.org


Reviews

"Smart...inquisitive and welcoming"
"A lot of anguish... a lot of courage, too." 
– The New York Times, Critic's Pick

★★★★ "The Civilians has a new winner in THE UNBELIEVING" – NY Stage Review

"Fascinating" – Talkin' Broadway

"Superb, thought-provoking play"
"Just the right touches of humor and heart" 
– Broadway World

"A must-see for both the faithful and the faithless" – Theatre Reviews Limited