| Invasive Species | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Maia Novi |
| Directed by | Michael Breslin |
| Date premiered | 3 June 2023 |
| Place premiered | The Tank New York City |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | mental illness, acting, immigration |
| Genre | Comedy, Experimental |
| Setting | 2020s New Haven, Connecticut |
Invasive Species is a play written and performed by Maia Novi. Originally premiering in New York City at The Tank in June 2023, the play went on to have an Off-Broadway production at the Vineyard Theatre, beginning May 15, 2024. The play, based on a true story, centers on Novi's admittance to a youth psychiatric hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, while she was an acting student at the Yale School of Drama.
Plot
Maia is an international student suffering from severe insomnia while grappling with the rigorous training program at the Yale School of Drama. She sees a psychiatrist for what she thinks is a standard check-in, but wakes up in the Youth Ward of a psychiatric hospital. She must adapt, befriend, and learn from the teens in the ward in order to get out of the hospital in time for her acting showcase.
Production history
Based on a true story, the play was originally developed from journal entries Novi wrote while she was a patient at Yale New Haven Hospital's Youth Psychiatric Ward in March 2022. The play had its first public reading as part of La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club's "Experiments" reading series in October 2022, directed by Michael Breslin, produced by Amauta M. Firmino, and starring Arturo Soria, Nefesh Cordero Pino, Cat Rodriguez, Patrick Foley, and Raffi Donatich.
The Tank production, also directed by Breslin, starring Maia Novi, Sam Gonzalez, Julian Sanchez, Alexandra Maurice, and Raffi Donatich began on June 3rd, 2023. It was here that Jeremy O. Harris first saw the play and became involved as a producer, along with Eric Kuhn, Tre Scott, Adam Rodner, Ahmad Simmons, and Danielle Perelman.
Off-Broadway
The Vineyard production began performances on May 7, 2024 and ran through June 29, 2024.
Reception
Critical Reviews
The play has received positive reviews from critics. Writing for The New York Times, Laura Collins-Hughes called it a "a well acted, neatly assembled, carefully modulated play." Zachary Stewart of Theatermania described it as "an 80-minute thrill ride."
Merch
The production's merchandise was featured in New York Magazine's "Approval Matrix" under the "Highbrow Brilliant" category.
References
- Collins-Hughes, Laura (16 May 2024). "Review: In 'Invasive Species,' the Acting Bug Bites, Dramatically". The New York Times.
- "How 'Invasive Species' Built Big Downtown Buzz for Writer-Star Maia Novi's off Broadway Debut". 13 June 2024.
- "How Maia Novi Turned Her Mental Breakdown into the Season's Buzziest Play". 16 May 2024.
- "How 'Invasive Species' Built Big Downtown Buzz for Writer-Star Maia Novi's off Broadway Debut". 13 June 2024.
- "Experiments: Invasive Species | la MaMa".
- "Invasive Species". 3 June 2023.
- https://www.papermag.com/invasive-species-play#rebelltitem3
- https://playbill.com/article/maia-novis-invasive-species-to-return-off-broadway-this-summer
- "New play 'Invasive Species' to premiere off Broadway". 4 April 2024.
- Collins-Hughes, Laura (16 May 2024). "Review: In 'Invasive Species,' the Acting Bug Bites, Dramatically". The New York Times.
- https://www.theatermania.com/news/review-invasive-species-is-an-insane-drama-school-memoir_1740536/
- "The Approval Matrix: We're All a Little Guilty". 31 May 2024.