The School of Drama at The New School College of Performing Arts presents The 2026 APEX Festival.
Weekend 2 performances include:
I Grieve Different by Harper Jones & Sierra ‘Sia’ Meshele Williams
The Strange Disappearance of Cat Braun and Minnie Roy by Deana Taheri & Stella Rea
Fragmented Hope by Jing Wang
The Love Suicide at Amijima adapted by Tomoka Takahashi
Performance Details
Saturday, March 14 at 2:00pm
2pm: I Grieve Different
3pm: The Love Suicide at Amijima
Saturday, March 14 at 7:00pm
7pm: Fragmented Hope
8pm: The Strange Disappearance of Cat Braun and Minnie Roy
Sunday, March 15 at 1:00pm
1pm: Fragmented Hope
2pm: The Strange Disappearance of Cat Braun and Minnie Roy
Sunday, March 15 at 5:00pm
5pm: The Love Suicide at Amijima
6pm: I Grieve Different
On the night of their five-year anniversary broadcast, news anchors Cat Braun and Minnie Roy are interrupted mid-live broadcast and find themselves trapped inside their own studio. Without reason or explanation for such unusual activity, the pair slowly but surely succumb to layers and layers of fear and suspicion. Torn between what they can and can’t (or shouldn’t) say, “The Strange Disappearance of Cat Braun and Minnie Roy” is a dark comedy following two journalists that spiral out of reality while trying to make sense of it.
No life shall be born from me to despise my gender.
My flesh and blood shall not become the blade that cuts me.
If the world born from my body is destined to oppress me, I will not let that world be born.
Fragmented Hope is a performance about womanhood under dictatorship.
In this world, women become primary targets. Women who refuse to give birth or surrender their daughters to the government are sent to a re-education camp to have their thinking corrected and their bodies prepared for reproduction.
On an inescapable island, how do women survive, resist, and hold on to hope? If motherhood is weaponized, where do women go?
I am Hope. 希望. Harapan. Esperança. Hoop.
Dedicated to the hope we hold onto in this upside-down world.
The Love Suicide at Amijima is a traditional Japanese Bunraku tale written by the Chikamatsu Monzaemon in 1770s. It is a tragic forbidden love story between two people divided by moral rights and social hierarchy. We will not only see romance but the flaw in human nature, how 'love' is not always pure, but sometimes it means it can be messy, and you accept one another's ugly side. That is love. This is not just a Japanese classical tale. It is a story about people. It is a tale about how humans are beautiful and ugly at the same time, that is the beauty of life. In this version, the classical tale will be told using the traditional methods and the modern techniques. We believe that while respecting and preserving a historical depth of traditionalism, we can also still have fun, explore, and adapt with respect. Using shadow puppetry, opera, original composed music, and dances, we believe there is unlimited fun you can have exploring these pieces. While we are excited to showcase this version, please keep in mind that the evolution does not stop here, and you will see this tale again in the future in different forms.
Presented by the College of Performing Arts at The New School.
Committed to amplifying diverse voices, The New School offers more than a thousand public programs and events each year, providing fresh perspectives and unique learning opportunities. These lectures, exhibitions, concerts, and performances feature prominent and emerging artists, activists, and thought leaders.
To receive updates about public programs and events at The New School, subscribe to our mailing list. Visit our Livestream and YouTube channels to watch select events live and recorded.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum sagittis mi eu elementum malesuada. Maecenas arcu felis, suscipit vitae mi in, posuere ultricies nunc. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut ante velit, condimentum eget erat a, suscipit porttitor nisl. Pellentesque in semper nunc. Duis ultricies lacus nec dolor elementum efficitur. Cras congue neque et ipsum egestas, tincidunt tempor magna elementum. Maecenas in rhoncus ante, ac mattis lectus. Donec pulvinar nulla a varius malesuada. Ut auctor enim mi, mollis laoreet eros aliquam eget. Proin lectus tellus, ullamcorper nec neque a, ornare facilisis tellus. Proin in eros sit amet diam imperdiet varius. Duis tincidunt dolor nibh, ac interdum odio molestie vel. Cras dignissim enim at mi varius aliquet.