Deep Flight Productions is pleased to announce the limited Off Broadway engagement of Lanford Wilson’s THE MOONSHOT TAPE & A POSTER OF THE COSMOS, a pair of one-act plays about taking control of destiny and retaliating against fate, directed by Mark Cirnigliaro and starring Margaret Curry* and Geoff Stoner. Opening Night Party at The Flea immediately following Wednesday, February 21st performance.

"The Moonshot Tape" and "A Poster of the Cosmos" unite in a compelling evening of one-act plays by the celebrated American playwright Lanford Wilson. In these monologues, Wilson intricately explores themes of love, human sexuality, and the profound impact our surroundings and relationships have on shaping our identities. The plays are a poetic and cataclysmic journey, unraveling inward, chaotic, and exhilarating truths that resonate on deeply personal and universally relevant levels.

PLEASE NOTE CONTENT ADVISORY: both plays encompass mature and intense themes such as graphic language, sexual violence, illness, and death. Viewer discretion is advised, and individuals are encouraged to think about their comfort levels and preferences before attending.

In "The Moonshot Tape," Diane, a successful writer, returns to her hometown to assist her aging mother. Diane responds to questions from an unseen interviewer, whose presence is only hinted at by a persistent tape recorder. The play weaves a poignant tale of self-discovery, revealing the complexities of Diane's life, marked by loss, emotional turmoil, and the indelible impact of her upbringing.

"A Poster of the Cosmos" introduces us to a man delivering a statement during a police interrogation for an unknown crime. The story delves into the intricacies of the human experience, exploring the depth of emotions, relationships, and the challenges faced by individuals. As his memories unfold, the play becomes a powerful exploration of love and commitment in the face of adversity.

Both plays, while distinct in their narratives, share Wilson's signature style of storytelling that captures the complexity of human relationships and the profound impact of personal history. Through poetic language and compelling monologues, Wilson invites the audience to witness the inward struggles and exhilarating truths that define the characters' lives. These plays validate the enduring relevance and universality of Lanford Wilson's exploration of the human condition.


* Equity Approved Showcase

Wilson outside the Circle Repertory theatre, New York, in 1980, during rehearsals for his new play The War In Lebanon. Photograph: Marty Reichenthal/AP

LANFORD WILSON (Playwright) was a pioneer of the Off-Off-Broadway and regional theatre movements. His plays are known for experimental staging, simultaneous dialogue, and deferred character exposition. He won a 1980 Pulitzer Prize for Talley’s Folly (1979).

Wilson attended schools in Missouri, San Diego, and Chicago before moving to New York City in 1962. From 1963 his plays were produced regularly at Off-Off-Broadway theatres such as Caffe Cino and La Mama Experimental Theatre Club. Home Free! and The Madness of Lady Bright (published together in 1968) are two one-act plays first performed in 1964; the former involves a pair of incestuous siblings, and the latter features an aging transvestite. Balm in Gilead (1965), Wilson’s first full-length play, is set in a crowded world of hustlers and junkies. The Rimers of Eldritch (1967) examines life in a small town.

In 1969, along with longtime associate Marshall W. Mason and others, he founded the Circle Theater (later Circle Repertory Company), a regional theatre in New York City. Wilson remained involved with Circle Repertory until 1996, when it closed. Wilson achieved commercial success with The Great Nebula in Orion (1971), The Hot l Baltimore (1973; adapted for television 1975), and The Mound Builders (1975). He also wrote a cycle of plays about the effects of war on a family from Missouri; these include The 5th of July (1978; televised 1982), Talley’s Folly, A Tale Told (1981), and Talley and Son (1985). His other plays include The Gingham Dog (1969); Lemon Sky (1970; televised 1987); Angels Fall (1982); Burn This (1987); Redwood Curtain (1993; televised 1995), about a young adopted woman’s search for information about the Vietnamese woman and American GI who are her real parents; Sympathetic Magic (1997); and Book of Days (1998). Some of Wilson’s plays are gathered in Four Short Plays (1994) and Collected Plays, 1965–1970 (1996).

Creative Team

Margaret Curry* - "Diane"

Photo: Caroline White

Geoff Stoner - "Tom"

Photo: Mary DeCaprio

Mark Cirnigliaro - Director

Photo: Craig Dale

Toni Bashinelli - Consulting Producer

Bethanie Wampol Watson - Set Designer

Zack Gage - Lighting Designer

Noa Smidt - Costume Designer

Jeff Watson - Projection/Sound Designer

Tye Palmer - Scenic Carpenter

Jennifer Bonilla - Scenic Painter

Shawn Walsh - Scenic Painter

Cat Gillespie - Stage Manager

Patricia Fletcher - Dialect Coach to Geoff Stoner

Amanda Quaid - Dialect Coach to Margaret Curry

More information: DeepFlightProductions.com.

Publicity and Marketing Consultant: Katie Rosin, KampFIRE Films PR

Graphic: Alan Buttar at musedesign.co.uk