Enjoy

March 28–April 26, 2010
JapanU.S. Premiere
It’s Gen X vs. Gen Y in this offbeat comedy of 21st century manners, that follows the romantic adventures of employees in a Tokyo manga café.
Meet the Artists

Toshiki Okada (Playwright / Director / Novelist) chelfitsch, his company, made its debut abroad in 2007 in “Five Days in March” at the Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels, Belgium. chelfitsch has since performed works in a total of more than 90 cities in the world. Toshiki Okada works not only with chelfitsch but also with other Japanese and European theatres, for example direction of the repertory programm in Münchner Kammerspiele (Germany), Thalia Theatre (Hamburg, Germany) and so on.

Dan Rothenberg (Director) is a Philadelphia-based director and creator of experimental performance. A founding member and co-artistic director of the Pig Iron Theatre Company, Dan has directed many of Pig Iron’s original performance works, including Zero Cost House (a collaboration with Toshiki Okada), Gentlemen Volunteers, Love Unpunished, 12th Night, and the OBIE Award-winning productions Chekhov Lizardbrain and Hell Meets Henry Halfway. In 2001, Dan co-directed Shut Eye with legendary director Joseph Chaikin. In 2010, Dan directed the English-language premiere of Toshiki Okada’s ENJOY for Play Company. Pew Fellowship (2002); USA Artists Knight Fellowship (2010).

Aya Ogawa (Writer, Performer, Director, Translator) is Tokyo-born, Brooklyn-based. Thier work centers women/non-binary perspectives and utilizes the stage as a space for exploring cultural identity and the immigrant experience. They wrote, directed, and performed in The Nosebleed that was at Japan Society (with The Chocolate Factory Theater) in 2021, Lincoln Center Theater in 2022, and upcoming at Woolly Mammoth Theatre in 2023. Resident playwright, New Dramatists; President’s Award in Performing Arts, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

Jessica Almasy (Actor) TV: Law and Order: SVU "Avatar", FILM: Unconscious w/ Peter Friedman, Noise w/ Tim Robbins, THEATRE: w/ the TEAM: www.theteamplays.orgJoan in the upcoming Mission Drift, Margaret Mitchell in Architecting (PS 122, Public, Barbican, Culturegeist / Lisbon, Arches / Glasgow, et), Dorothy in Particularly in the Heartland, Hamlet in A Thousand Natural Shocks, the Experiment / Richard Nixon in Give Up! Start Over! (In the darkest of times I look to Richard Nixon for help), AUDIOBOOKS: 2008 Audie Award for Clementine, complete library at audible.com & recordedbooks.com. Ms Almasy teaches second year acting at Playwrights Horizons Theatre School, BFA NYU.

Steven Boyer Broadway: I'm Not Rappaport, Off-Broadway: Hand to God (Ensemble Studio Theatre, returning Feb 29th), School for Lies (Classic Stage Co), The Coward (LCT3), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (The Public), Enjoy (Play Company), Lenin's Embalmers (EST), Misalliance (The Pearl), Jollyship the Whiz-Bang (Ars Nova), Oliver Twist (TFANA), Richard III (Classic Stage Co). I <3 Kant (Committee Theater). The Mooncalf (Abingdon), Which Wolf is Which (Partial Comfort); Regional: Productions at A.R.T, Berkeley Rep, Berkshire Theater Festival, Capitol Rep, Coconut Grove, Ford's Theatre, Hartford Stage, Humana Festival at Actors Theater of Louisville, Merrimack Rep, McCarter, Papermill, Shakespeare Santa Cruz. TV/Film: "The Share", "Person of Interest", "Law & Order", "Ed", Did You Hear About the Morgans?, Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best. Training: Juilliard. Steven is a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre and a resident artist with Studio 42. He is also a standup comedian and comedy writer who has performed all across the country.

Frank Harts (Actor) recently wrapped two seasons as a series regular on the hit show Prodigal Son for Fox/Warner Brothers Television. Raised in the Midwest, Frank is of mixed heritage with Southern roots on the African-American side and Brooklyn roots on the Irish side. Frank went directly from training at Juilliard onto Broadway as George Murchison in the Tony Award-winning production of A Raisin in The Sun directed by Kenny Leon. He has also performed leading roles for The Public Theater, Signature, and Lincoln Center. On-camera, Frank has worked with notable film directors Spike Lee, Jason Bateman, Jim Jarmusch, Steve McQueen, and Kenneth Branagh. Frank has recurred or guest-starred on South Side, Billions, The Americans, The Leftovers, Blue Bloods, Bull, 30 Rock, and Master of None in the critically- acclaimed episode, “New York, I Love You.” He currently stars opposite Colman Domingo and Jeffery Wright in the upcoming Netflix film, Rustin, directed by George C Wolfe.

Kris Kling (Actor) is a NYC-based actor whose stage work includes the premier of Will Eno's GNIT (Humana Festival) and the US premier of Toshiki Okada's ENJOY! (PlayCo), among many other productions. TV/Film credits include: Blacklist, Blue Bloods, The Deuce, Banshee, L&O: OC, L&O: SVU, The Retaliators, Of Minor Prophets, Maybe There's a Tree, Mystery Team and Tully. Kris is a graduate of London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Joshua Koehn (Producer, Director, Actor) in New York City. Beginning as an actor he has appeared in over 50 productions, concentrating mainly in the classics. He has produced and directed over 20 productions in Manhattan alone. Teaming with the Westside Community Garden and the Manhattan Arts Council he has brought free classical theatre yearly to New Yorkers for over 12 years. Currently his repertory company, Stag & Lion, is in its 11th year of operation. Three years ago he moved into a permanent space in mid-town Manhattan where he has continued bringing classical theatre to New York. His approach is to use as many of the same actors as he can to build a true repertory company in a dedicated theatre space. 

Mary McCool (Actor) NYC: The Fab 4 Reach the Pearly Gates (P.S.122, Obie Award), GoldRussianFingerLove (Ontological-Hysteric).  Regional: BATCH (Actors’ Theatre of Louisville), Empty Plate, Dancing at Lughnasa (Arden Theatre Co), As You Like It, King Lear (Shakespeare Santa Cruz), Hysteria, Rock’n’Roll, Big Love, Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Wilma Theater) Hell Meets Henry Halfway (Pig Iron Theatre Co). TV/Film: Hack (CBS), Shadowboxer (Lee Daniels).  Co-founder of New Paradise Laboratories; original works at the Walker Art Center, Warhol Museum, Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, and Humana Festival.

Joseph Midyett (Actor) Joseph is happy and proud to be making his debut with The Play Company in Enjoy. Off Broadway: National Playwrights Festival (Rattlestick Theater), Twelfth Night (The Pearl Theater) Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Syracuse Stage) The Clay Cart (Oregon Shakespeare Festival),The Complete Works of Shakespeare, (abridged) (Delaware Theatre Co.), Amadeus (Texas Shakespeare Co.), Peter Pan ( Mark Lamos, dir.), Misalliance, Savages, Christians and Other Homosapiens (Adrian Hall, dir). Film: "Penance for the Slain”, "Hope Cafe" and "Kick Ball".

Kira Sternbach (Actor) Theatre Credits Include: In A Dark Dark House (Almeida Theatre, London) How I learned to Drive (Terry Schreiber) American Girls (45th St. Theatre) The Shape Of Things (Edinburgh Fringe) Gerald’s Method (Center Stage) Beef (Crowne Point Festival) Raised By Lesbians (Barrow St. Theatre) Surgery (MITF, NY) The Interstate And On (Southstreet Seaport ) Spoken Insects (Dixon Place) Understanding (The Theatre Project, NJ) One Night (East Coast Tour) Pains Of Youth (Cal Rep Theatre). Film/Television Include: The Prisoner, My Normal, Three Windows, Anyone But Me, Lately, Virgin.

Alex Torra (Actor, Director) is a freelance director and performer, and currently serves as Associate Artistic Director of Philadelphia’s Pig Iron Theatre Company. Acting: Andoyne, 365 Plays/365 Days, PAY UP, Welcome to Yuba City (Pig Iron). Directing: PunchKapow (Team Sunshine Performance Corp.), Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare in Clark Park), Come to My Awesome Fiesta, it’s Going to be Awesome, Okay? (Pig Iron), Spoken Insects (Dixon Place); As I Pronounced it to You… (The Playwrights Tavern, NY); The Blessing of the Animals (Abingdon Theater); Power of Sail (Brown/Trinity Playwrights Rep); Richard III and Romeo & Juliet (Brown University); Anaerobic Respiration (The Shifting Company) at the 2005 NY International Fringe Festival. Awards: Princess Grace Award (Grace Le Vine Theater Award), Oregon Shakespeare Festival F.A.I.R. Directing Fellowship, Drama League Fall Directing Fellowship. Alex received his M.F.A. in Directing from the Brown University/Trinity Rep Consortium and his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Stacey Yen (Actress) NY Theatre: Ars Nova, Bushwick Starr, PlayCo, Playwrights Horizons, The Public Theater, Under the Radar Festival, among others. Regional Theatre: ACT, Arena Stage, Berkeley Rep, Goodman Theatre, Hartford Stage, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, Huntington Theatre Company, Lookingglass, Williamstown Theater Festival, among others. International Theatre: Kings Theater, Scotland and The Esplanade, Singapore. TV Credits: Elementary, Madame Secretary, Treme, The Blacklist, High Maintenance, Gossip Girl, The Good Wife, among others. Education: Brown University (BA), NYU Graduate Acting (MFA).

Mimi Lien (Set Designer) is a designer of sets/environments for theater, dance and opera. Arriving at set design from a background in architecture, her work often focuses on the interaction between audience/environment and object/performer. She is an artistic associate with Pig Iron Theatre Company, and co-founder of JACK, a performance/art space in Brooklyn. Recent work includes Appropriate (Mark Taper Forum), John (Signature Theatre), Preludes, The Oldest Boy (Lincoln Center), An Octoroon (Soho Rep/TFANA) and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. Lien's designs for dance have been presented in the Netherlands, Russia and Taiwan, and her stage designs have been exhibited in the Prague Quadrennial. Lien is a recipient of the Joan and Joseph F. Cullman Award for Extraordinary Creativity at Lincoln Center, Lucille Lortel Award, American Theatre Wing Hewes Design Award and Barrymore Award. She is a recipient of an OBIE Award and a 2015 MacArthur fellowship.

Maiko Matsushima (Costume Designer) Her most recent design includes This (Playwrights Horizons),Welcome to Yuba City (Pig Iron Theatre Company), More (Headlong Dance Theatre), Don Giovanni (Prince Music Theatre) The Children of Vonderly (CSC) Adding Machine, Suitcase (La Jolla Playhouse), Brooklyn Bridge (Children’s Theatre Company) , Bomb-itty of Errors (The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis) , So Close, Year of the baby, Cat’s Paw( Soho Rep.) ,El Paso Blue (Theatre Row, NY). She also has worked as an associate costume designer on Broadway Spring Awakening, Radio Golf, Lestat, Assassins, Good Body and Pacific Overtures, and Wicked in Japan.

James Clotfelter (Lighting Designer) is committed to the creation of collaborative and socially conscious work for live performance, the built environment, and public space. Working broadly as a designer with a specialization in light, James works as a freelance lighting designer, runs an architectural lighting design practice, James Clotfelter Lighting Design, and is co-founder of the Studio C Projects, a performance-based, collaborative research studio that investigates the intersections of movement, design, and architecture. James hails from Durham, NC.

Daniel Kluger (Sound Designer) Welcome to Yuba City (Pig Iron Theatre Company), The Oldsmobiles (The Flea Theatre), Peter Pan (Arden Theatre Company), Dov & Ali (Playwrights Realm), The Temperamentals (MAN underdog/Barrow Group), Jailbait (Cherry Lane), Whore, The Ones That Flutter (SPF/The Public Theatre), Hardly Wonder (Columbia University), The Greeks Part III (Juilliard), Melissa ArcticHeartbreak House, A Murder, A Mystery and A Marriage (Two River Theatre Company), The Persians (People's Light & Theatre), Metamorphoses (Weston Playhouse), The Dining Room (Keen Company), Platonov, Uncle Vanya (Lake Lucille/Brian Mertes).

Trisha Henson (Stage Manager) she/her Broadway: West Side Story (2020 revival), Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Orphans, Soul Doctor, The Road to Mecca, Harvey. Nat’l Tours: Aladdin, Book of Mormon, Once. Off-B’way: Dot, Nevermore, Tail!Spin!, Water by the Spoonful, Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812, The Tribute Artist, The Divine Sister, Stu for Silverton (Workshop), Afterwords (Workshop) All my love to Becca, Odie and Harper

A panorama, by one of Japan’s cutting-edge storytellers, of young workers adrift amidst economic turbulence and social change.

Dan Rothenberg’s pitch-perfect direction teases out performances that capture the way hipsters talk in Williamsburg, as well as in Tokyo.
–The New York Times

Anime meets anomie in this brilliantly written, staged, and performed ensemble piece, which reveals in hyper-real language and choreographic clarity the inner workings of Japan’s ‘lost generation.”
–Theatre Is Easy

It’s a treat! Toshiki Okada’s play, about part-time workers at a Tokyo manga café, is a delightful study in frustration.”
–The New Yorker

Written by

Toshiki Okada

Translated by

Aya Ogawa

Directed by

Dan Rothenberg

Featuring

Jessica Almasy Steven Boyer Frank Harts Kris Kling Joshua Koehn Mary McCool Joseph Midyett Kira Sternbach Alex Torra Stacey Yen

Set Design

Mimi Lien

Costume Design

Maiko Matsushima

Lighting Design

James Clotfelter

Sound Design

Daniel Kluger

Production Stage Manager

Dave Polato

Production Manager

James E. Cleveland / La Vie Productions LLC

Venue

59E59 Theaters 59 East 59th Street New York, NY