Closing night, September 27, 2015 at The Tank NYC.
Thanks to everyone who came out to the New York shows.
Thanks to Jessica Sherman-Prince for the photo.
There Is a Happiness That Morning Is (NYC)
by Mickle Maher
IN NEW YORK CITY
SEPTEMBER 11–27 2015
The Tank
151 West 46th Street (accessible from the N/R/Q trains to 49th Street or B/D/F/M to Rockefeller Center)
September 11, 12 at 7pm
September 17, 18, 19 at 9pm
September 24, 25 & 26 at 7pm; 27 at 9pm
Tickets are $15 at 800-838-3006 or www.thetanknyc.org
Part of their Flint and Tinder series
After three acclaimed runs in Chicago, Theater Oobleck presents the New York City premiere of Mickle Maher’s THERE IS A HAPPINESS THAT MORNING IS at The Tank, as part of the annual Flint & Tinder theater series. A comedy in rhymed verse told via two lectures on the poetry of William Blake: one given in the morning by Bernard, a middle-aged, barely published poet of scant scholarship, on the Songs of Innocence, and the other in the afternoon by his lover, Ellen, a reputable Ph.D., on the Songs of Experience.
Having engaged the evening before in a highly inappropriate display of public affection on the main lawn of their rural New England campus, the two undergraduate lecturers must now, in class, either apologize for their behavior or effectively justify it if they want to keep their jobs.
“an enjoyably lunatic endeavor” –Chicago Tribune
“Goosed by precise, masterful performances, Maher’s text is almost endlessly engaging and frequently hilarious.” –Time Out Chicago
“If the American theater harbors a precedent for Mickle Maher’s astonishing 2011 play There Is a Happiness That Morning Is, I’ve never found it . . .” –Chicago Reader
Featuring original cast members Diana Slickman, Colm O’Reilly, and Kirk Anderson.
Presented as a part of the Tank’s Flint and Tinder series.
The script of There Is A Happiness That Morning Is is also available as part of the book of Oobleck plays More If You’ve Got It. Purchase it directly from us.
“The most remarkable mix of poetry and drama you are ever likely to see.” -WBEZ
“MAHER’S MOST POWERFUL PLAY TO DATE… SOUL SHAKING” –Chicago Reader
“FUNNY, WITTY, LITERATE, and PROFOUND… It’s the actors who make it a slam-dunk” –Windy City Times
photo by Joe Mazza
Mickle Maher
Mickle Maher is a cofounder of Chicago’s Theater Oobleck and the author of numerous plays, including There is a Happiness That Morning Is; An Apology for the Course and Outcome of Certain Events Delivered by Doctor John Faustus on This His Final Evening; The Hunchback Variations; The Strangerer; Spirits to Enforce ; Cyrano (translator), The Cabinet; Lady Madeline; The Pine; and An Actor Prepares (an adaptation of Stanislavsky’s seminal book). His plays have appeared Off-Broadway and in theaters around the world, and have been supported by grants from the NEA, the MAP Fund, and Creative Capital. He currently teaches play writing and related subjects at the University of Chicago, Columbia College, and Northwestern University. His plays are published by Hope and Nonthings.
Diana Slickman
Diana Slickman has been a writer and performer in Chicago theater for nearly three decades. Since 2003 she has been a Theater Oobleck ensemble member and has appeared in eight of their shows, most recently Mickle Maher’s Song About Himself. She’s also a member of BoyGirlBoyGirl, a group solo performance ensemble, with whom she has co-created a dozen or so shows inspired by found text. She is a Neo-Futurist of ‘90s vintage, and was in Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind and a few of their prime time productions in those years. More recently she’s worked with The Goodnight Ladies, Dog and Pony Theater, and the side project, where she appeared in Scott Barsotti’s Jet Black Chevrolet. Diana also performs her own writing at various live lit shows around town including Write Club, Essay Fiesta, The Encyclopedia Show, Paper Machete, and Guts and Glory, among others.
Colm O’Reilly
Colm O’Reilly is a company member of Theater Oobleck, with whom he’s appeared in Song About Himself, There is a Happiness that Morning Is, An Apology for the Course & Outcome of Certain Events Delivered by Doctor John Faustus on This His Final Evening, The Strangerer (Off-Broadway and in Chicago), Letter Purloined, The Hunchback Variations, and Spirits to Enforce. Other credits include Sweet Bird of Youth (Goodman); Trevor (A Red Orchid Theatre), Heart is a Lonely Hunter (Steppenwolf); Elevator Tours (Barrie Cole); Still in Play, The Caretaker, Waiting for Godot, Texts for Nothing, Love Horse (Curious Theatre Branch); The Cabinet (Redmoon). He also played Stanislavski #1 in Mickle’s adaptation of An Actor Prepares at the University of Chicago.
Kirk Anderson
This is Kirk Anderson’s first time on a New York stage. His most recent work was with Chicago’s Trapdoor Theatre on The Woman Before, where he also appeared in their production of Overweight, unimportant: Mishape. He was in the first production of Theater Oobleck’s There Is A Happiness That Morning Is. Prior to that he was seen in TUTA’s production of The Wedding. He has also performed at the Goodman Theatre in The Ballad Of Emmet Till. At Steppenwolf he has appeared in the Diary of Anne Frank, Huck Finn, Lady Madeline, Uncle Vanya, The Duel, and Penelope, as fight choreographer. Other credits include Dandelion Wine with Chicago Children’s Theatre, Accidental Death Of An Anarchist with Next Theatre Company, Mozart And Salieri with TUTA. With European Repertory Company he appeared in Teibele And Her Demon, Go Away-Go Away, Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead (After Dark Award), Slavs!, Zoyka’s Apartment, and Ivanov. Other notable credits include: Action Movie, The Play, Defiant Theatre; Comedy Of Errors and Hamlet with Shakespeare Repertory.
related articles:
Chicago performance to benefit Happiness in New York City
Tickets are now on sale for the one-night-only Chicago performance of There Is A Happiness That Morning Is to benefit the New York City run.
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW
Friday, AUGUST 28 at 7pm at The Neo-Futurarium in Chicago.
1 CHICAGO PERFORMANCE TO BENEFIT THE TRIP
Friday, AUGUST 28 at 7pm
The Neo-Futurarium
5153 N. Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60640
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
posted 08/05/2015
Happiness is coming to New York City!
After three acclaimed runs in Chicago, Theater Oobleck presents the New York City premiere of Mickle Maher’s THERE IS A HAPPINESS THAT MORNING IS at The Tank, as part of their annual Flint & Tinder theater series. Featuring the original cast (yay!) and carpet (shudder).
The show runs September 11–27. TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE.
posted 07/30/2015
Happiness and 25 years of Oobleck on WBEZ
Allison Cuddy’s previews Happiness and interviews Mickle.
READ AND LISTEN HERE
posted 02/14/2013
Hey, HAPPINESS is a notable opening in the Tribune
“one of the most emotionally stirring works in the company’s distinguished history.”
posted 01/08/2013
4 stars for Happiness from Time Out
“Goosed by precise, masterful performances, Maher’s text is almost endlessly engaging and frequently hilarious… It’s a tantalizing examination of love’s dark secrets.”
posted 04/19/2011
Monica Westin lays it out for you:
“This is Oobleck at their best: an unorthodox premise that oscillates between rapid-fire madcap humor and unexpected enlightenment, with playwright Mickle Maher’s rhymed verse a study in contrast between passion and wit.”
posted 04/19/2011
Chicago performance to benefit Happiness in New York City
Tickets are now on sale for the one-night-only Chicago performance of There Is A Happiness That Morning Is to benefit the New York City run.
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW
Friday, AUGUST 28 at 7pm at The Neo-Futurarium in Chicago.
1 CHICAGO PERFORMANCE TO BENEFIT THE TRIP
Friday, AUGUST 28 at 7pm
The Neo-Futurarium
5153 N. Ashland Ave Chicago, IL 60640
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
posted 08/05/2015
Happiness is coming to New York City!
After three acclaimed runs in Chicago, Theater Oobleck presents the New York City premiere of Mickle Maher’s THERE IS A HAPPINESS THAT MORNING IS at The Tank, as part of their annual Flint & Tinder theater series. Featuring the original cast (yay!) and carpet (shudder).
The show runs September 11–27. TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE.
posted 07/30/2015
Happiness and 25 years of Oobleck on WBEZ
Allison Cuddy’s previews Happiness and interviews Mickle.
READ AND LISTEN HERE
posted 02/14/2013
Hey, HAPPINESS is a notable opening in the Tribune
“one of the most emotionally stirring works in the company’s distinguished history.”
posted 01/08/2013
4 stars for Happiness from Time Out
“Goosed by precise, masterful performances, Maher’s text is almost endlessly engaging and frequently hilarious… It’s a tantalizing examination of love’s dark secrets.”
posted 04/19/2011
Monica Westin lays it out for you:
“This is Oobleck at their best: an unorthodox premise that oscillates between rapid-fire madcap humor and unexpected enlightenment, with playwright Mickle Maher’s rhymed verse a study in contrast between passion and wit.”
posted 04/19/2011
