Parrish Art Museum Presents Kurt Vonnegut's Galápagos

The Parrish Art Museum is debuting its first-ever fully-staged theatrical production, Galápagos—based on late Sagaponack resident and acclaimed author Kurt Vonnegut‘s 1985 novel of the same name—with four performances later this month.The creators of the show have also launched a Kickstarter campaign, which seeks to pay the cast, production team and musicians—all of whom volunteered to make Galápagos a reality.

Endorsed by the Kurt Vonnegut Trust for the Arts and created by Hamptons natives Tucker Marder and Christian Scheider, the production brings Vonnegut’s comedic 11th novel to life on the cusp of its 30th anniversary. Galápagos tells the tale of Mary Hupburn, a beloved high school teacher from Ilium, New York who plans to embark on the “Nature Cruise of the Century” in Ecuador. With the onset of yet another crisis, a disease that renders all humans infertile, Hepburn sets off aboard the Bahia de Darwin with a group of passengers—all of whom become marooned among the flora and fauna of the Galápagos archipelago. As the only fertile humans left on the planet, the group initiates the evolution of a new species over the next million years.

The show, which will be presented in the Parrish Art Museum’s 200-seat Lichtenstein Theater, interpret’s Vonnegut’s profoundly funny work with live orchestral underscoring, extraordinary puppets and satirical physical comedy. Along with the creators, Marder and Scheider, the Galápagos team comprises a solid group of young artists living in the New York area, most of them residing on Long Island, including East Hampton actress Chloe Dirksen as Mary Hupburn, North Haven composer Forrest Gray, East Hampton actor Sawyer Spielberg and Sag Harbor set designer Evan Desmond Yee. Established actor of stage and screen Bob Balaban is also listed among the principal cast members, in the role of Mandarax.

Galápagos is Marder and Scheider’s follow up to their sold-out production of The Murderer, the duo’s adaption of Ray Bradbury’s 1953 short story. The production is one act, with no intermission.

The Parrish explains that the show reflects the museum’s mission to remain rooted in the artistic life of the East End, and its mission to illuminate the creative process and provide opportunities for artists of all genres to engage with one another and the community. Vonnegut, who lived and worked in Sagaponack, also had close ties with the East End.

Marder and Scheider’s Kickstarter page seeks $11,300 to compensate the approximately 40 people who have volunteered for the production of Galápagos, including 28 actors, the production team and orchestral section. It had raised $2,449 from 11 backers as of Thursday afternoon, July 10. Each backer will receive rewards, depending on the amount donated, such as a digital video of the performance, digital images of the production, a song “thank you” from Marder and Scheider, the duo making dinner at donors’ homes, limited edition T-shirts and even a foot massage from one of the Galápagos creators. Click here to see the Kickstarter page. Watch the Kickstarter video below.

Galápagos will be performed live at the Parrish Art Museum on July 21, 23 and 24 at 6 p.m., and on July 25 at 4 p.m., but the Kickstarter campaign will remain open until July 31. Tickets to the show are $20, $10 for museum members and students.

To purchase advanced tickets and learn more about Galápagos, visit parrishart.org.