Vann
Dukes
Overview
- Produced by:
- New Light Theater Project & Pendragon Theatre
- Dates:
- September 05 - September 28, 2025
- Run Time:
- 1 Hour, 30 Minutes
- Intermission:
- No
- Theater:
- Showing in Theater
- Tickets:
- $44 (incl. a $4 fee) | 59E59 Members: $30
Show Info
By Nina Kissinger
Directed by Sarah Norris
With Vann Dukes, Charles Hsu, Susan Lynskey, and Kleo Mitrokostas
It's summer in Washington, DC and three congressional interns are fielding constituent calls before yet another workplace lockdown begins. While everyone outside investigates a suspicious red Camry, they find themselves stuck in the one place no one has ever wanted to work overtime: the US government.
As their patience and snack supply runs out, they follow clues and evidence to get to the bottom of how this situation unfolded and why. A comedy with heart, This is Government grapples with the real-time consequences of political disarray.
Tuesday, September 16 is National Voter Registration Day! Volunteers will be at the theater to help register voters from 6:00PM-10:00PM.
Please join us on Sunday, September 21 for a post-show Benefit Reception to celebrate 12 years of New Light Theater Project. The event will include a ticket to the show on the 21st, plus an invite to our post-show celebration, with more details to follow.
Join us for a special post-performance talkback on Friday, September 26 with Randy Frazer, Executive Director of YVote and Jessica Siles, Senior Director of Communications at Voters of Tomorrow, moderated by Brigid Bergin, Senior Reporter People & Power at WNYC/Gothamist, to hear how their work intersects with the questions raised in the play: How do we navigate political disarray? What role do young people play in shaping the future? And how can art and storytelling spark civic participation?
Photo Caption: Vann Dukes, Kleo Mitrokostas, and Charles Hsu in THIS IS GOVERNMENT
Photo: Burdette Parks
Photo Caption: Charles Hsu, Vann Dukes, and Kleo Mitrokostas in THIS IS GOVERNMENT
Photo: Burdette Parks
Photo Caption: Vann Dukes, Charles Hsu, and Kleo Mitrokostas in THIS IS GOVERNMENT
Photo: Burdette Parks
Photo Caption: Vann Dukes, Charles Hsu, and Kleo Mitrokostas in THIS IS GOVERNMENT
Photo: Burdette Parks
Photo Caption: Kleo Mitrokostas and Vann Dukes in THIS IS GOVERNMENT
Photo: Burdette Parks
Photo Caption: Kleo Mitrokostas and Charles Hsu in THIS IS GOVERNMENT
Photo: Burdette Parks
Photo Caption: Kleo Mitrokostas and Charles Hsu in THIS IS GOVERNMENT
Photo: Burdette Parks
Photo Caption: Vann Dukes, Susan Lynskey, Kleo Mitrokostas, and Charles Hsu in THIS IS GOVERNMENT
Photo: Burdette Parks
Photo Caption: Charles Hsu, Kleo Mitrokostas, and Vann Dukes in THIS IS GOVERNMENT
Photo: Burdette Parks
Producing Company
New Light Theater Project
New Light Theater Project (NLTP) nurtures a collective of artist-practitioners by presenting compelling stories across theatrical genres. NLTP believes in the strength of ensemble work and is committed to fostering our collective composed of writers, actors, directors, stage managers, designers, and other artist-practitioners from diverse backgrounds. At least 50% of an NLTP production engages our collective while the rest of the production team consists of innovative artists with whom we hope to cultivate deeper relationships. NLTP is a Co-Op Resident Company at 59E59 Theaters.
Read more at: www.NewLightTheaterProject.com
Pendragon Theatre
For over 40 years, Pendragon Theatre has been the backbone of Saranac Lake, NY’s theatre scene—the only year-round, professional theatre company in the Adirondacks. Last year, Pendragon was voted "Favorite Theater" by BroadwayWorld Central New York and is the recipient of the Governor of the Arts Award.
Read more at: www.PendragonTheatre.org
Reviews
"This is Government is an insistent warning about the return of political violence prompted by a great breakdown in communication." – TheaterMania
"Garners laughter, and quite a lot of it" – NY Stage Review
"A tremendous achievement"
"New Light Theater Project has been around for a dozen years, and I hope they're around a long time more" – Broadway Radio
"A comedy-thriller with political undertones"
"We rarely get new plays so closely attuned to the current news cycle"
"Kissinger neatly captures the dilemma of young people who, given the values with which they have been raised, recoil at the compromises and corruption of today's political scene." – Lighting and Sound America
"A worthy topic" – OffOffOnline
"Brilliantly reminds us that we're all human"
"The play was high quality entertainment in addition to doing important work" – Pages on Stages
"Funny and fast paced [with] fine performances" – T and B on the Aisle
"[New Light Theater Project] picks the best plays no matter the genre. You know when you go to a New Light production you are going to get a quality play with a strong plot and expertly cast and directed." – Hi! Drama