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Now Circa Then

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  1w, 1m

Carly Mensch

"A twisty, humorous tale of significance" - TheaterMania.com

"Mensch's script is a layered, clear-eyed work of art" - NYTheatre.com

"Fulfills the potential of theater circa now." - BackStage.com

Now Circa Then

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w, 1m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Romantic Comedy
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary

Meet Julian and Josephine, an immigrant couple on New York's Lower East Side, circa 1890. Meet Gideon and Margie, an unlikely pair of historical reenactors, circa now. A museum tour goes off the rails in this jaunty tale of old places, new beginnings and timeless questions.

History

NOW CIRCA THEN was originally produced by Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director) in New York City.

Keywords
Performing Groups

MARGIE, 26 – a shy and slightly awkward girl; more goose than swan, but with an unconventional beauty. Non-white.
GIDEON, 27 – a hardcore history buff; passionate and youthful, with a hint of arrogance. White.

Margie's character is scripted as Filipino-American, based on the actress who originated the role, but she can be of any race or ethnicity, really, so long as she's an unlikely casting choice for a 19th century Jewish immigrant. 

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features No intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

"A twisty, humorous tale of significance" - TheaterMania.com

"Mensch's script is a layered, clear-eyed work of art" - NYTheatre.com

"Fulfills the potential of theater circa now." - BackStage.com

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

Scripts

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Authors

Carly Mensch

Carly Mensch
Carly Mensch's plays include Oblivion (Steppenwolf’s First Look Festival, Westport Playhouse), Now Circa Then (Ars Nova, TheatreWorks), All Hail Hurricane Gordo (Humana Festival, Cleveland Play House), and Len, Asleep in Vinyl (2nd Stage/Uptown Series). Her work has also been ...
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