Use Your Words! at 28th Street Theatre

Use Your Words! is a one-woman show—in five wordless scenes—about a new mother struggling with the responsibility of caring for a tiny human. The show is rooted in comic physicality with many props mimed—most importantly, the baby.

Imagine The Play That Goes Wrong with a much smaller cast and no words and less murder.

Maybe don’t imagine The Play That Goes Wrong at all.

Let’s elaborate: An unsuspecting trumpet player will be the onstage musician...Please don't tell them there's no speaking or singing in this production. Or that they’ll be onstage.

Is this clear as mud? Please focus.

This play developed out of Karen’s 18 years of performing as 1/2 of the duo Imp. This ground-breaking duo Imp improvised wordless scenes at festivals nationally and internationally. Imagine Charlie Chaplin mixed with Looney Tunes. Did we mention Karen did this for 18 YEARS?

But this play, Use Your Words! IS NOT improvised. It’s a play. With a script. Weird since there are no words...

Did we mention this show is wordless?

PERFORMANCES

Fri 3/8 at 7 pm

Sun 3/10 at 5 pm

Thu 3/14 at 7 pm

Sat 3/16 at 7 pm

Sun 3/17 at 2 pm

Tue 3/19 at 7 pm

Thu 3/21 at 7 pm

Fri 3/22 at 7 pm

Sun 3/24 at 5 pm

CAST & CREW

Written and Performed by Karen Eleanor Wight

Music and Percussion by Rodney Umble

Directing by Zinc Tong and Karen Eleanor Wight

Production Stage Management by Jenna Arkontaky

Assistant Stage Management by Colston Rienhoff

Play Development by Melissa Attebery

PRESS

USE YOUR WORDS! is refreshing and funny as both physical storytelling and a personal but universal account of the early phase of motherhood. This style and this topic are seriously underexplored, so this show is a gift. Ian Morgan,  Associate Artistic Director, The New Group

USE YOUR WORDS! was truly one of the best things I've seen so far this fall. Karen Eleanor Wight's artistry, skill level, and capacity to hold a room's attention is impressive.  Ria T. DiLullo, Artistic Director of Skeleton Rep 

USE YOUR WORDS! was an absolute delight. Without saying a word, Karen was able to pantomime the chaotic joy of being a parent. Ken Denison, Executive Producer, Aruba Productions

Wight's attention to kinesthetic detail in USE YOUR WORDS! brings this hilarious and meaningful journey of motherhood to life. Each of her movements are simultaneously incredibly clear and comedically timed. You won't last two minutes without laughing. Joseph Heitman, Artistic Director, One Day Dance

____________

Use Your Words! is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.