NEW YORK – One Year Lease Theater Company (OYL) proudly presents the world premiere of Ellen McLaughlin’s Kissing the Floor, directed by Ianthe Demos, with movement direction by Natalie Lomonte, running Off-Broadway February 23-March 12 in a limited engagement at Theatre Row (Theatre Four), located at 410 West 42nd Street in New York City.

Kissing the Floor is a radical retelling of the Antigone myth. Set in Depression Era America, the play investigates the relationships among a set of siblings, all survivors of their family’s agonized, infamous legacy. Annie and her disturbed and disturbing brother, Paul, are knotted together by fate and a tortured love as their sister Izzy and their brother Eddie look on with dismay and all too much understanding. Can one extricate oneself from a terrible past? What do we owe those who share our blood, however tainted?

The cast features Grammy and Obie Award-winner Rinde Eckert, Leon Ingulsrud, Christina Bennett Lind, and Akyiaa Wilson.
The production team includes James Hunting (Set Design), Driscoll Otto (Lighting Design), Brendan Aanes (Sound Design), Kenisha Kelly (Costume Design), Vanessa Rebeil (Production Stage Manager), Nadja Leonhard-Hooper (Assistant Director), Melissa Sparks (Assistant Stage Manager) and Omri Bareket (Production Manager).

Previews began February 23 with the opening on Saturday, February 25. Performances are Wednesdays-Sundays, 7 PM, and Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 2 PM.

Tickets are $37.50 (standard) and $52.50 (premium). Purchase online: https://oneyearlease.org or by phone: 212-714-2442.
Kissing the Floor contains sexually explicit material. Recommended for ages 17+. Running time is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.

OYL believes in the power of creating theater, building community, honoring a chorus of diverse voices, questioning our past, and re-imagining our future. Founded in 2001, OYL is a professional theater company based in New York City with a one-of-a-kind Apprentice Program in northern Greece. OYL is an artistic fulcrum around which theater, education, training, and inspiration spins. Since their inception they have advocated for work that is collaborative and risk-taking.

OYL’s work has been critically acclaimed for its “first rate young actors” (The New York Times), “theatrical witchcraft” (New York Magazine), and “riveting theater” (NPR). Its work has also been called “fiery and fantastical” (The Village Voice), “playfully poisonous” (Boston Globe), “a celebration of theatrical energy” (The Stage) and “a captivating, visceral spectacle” (Houstonia Magazine).

OYL has received a 2018 Drama Desk Nomination (Sound Design, Balls), 2016 Drama Desk Nomination (Original Score, please excuse my dear aunt sally), a 2016 Edinburgh Stage Award (Best Ensemble, please excuse my dear aunt sally), a 2017 Houston Theater Award for Best Sound (Balls), and 2017 Houston Theater Award Nominations for Best New Play, Best Set and Property Design (Balls). More information is available online: https://oneyearlease.org.

Masks must be worn inside the building at all times. For full COVID-19 safety policy and vaccination requirements visit: https://bfany.org/theatre-row/covid-19-information