Original Music by David Dabbon
Written by Marc Acito, Johnna Adams, Liz Duffy Adams, Mallery Avidon, Trista Baldwin, Bill Cain, CollaborationTown, Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas, Erin Courtney, Eisa Davis, Gabriel Jason Dean, Chris Dimond, Yussef El Guindi, Amy Freed, Madeleine George, Kate Gersten, Sean Graney, Sevan K. Greene, Kirsten Greenidge, Lillian Groag, Jordan Harrison, Ann Marie Healy, Lucas Hnath, David Henry Hwang, Nick Jones, Meghan Kennedy, Kimber Lee, Kenneth Lin, Craig Lucas, Laura Marks, Ellen McLaughlin, Michael Mitnick, Kate Moira Ryan, Don Nguyen, Qui Nguyen, Dael Orlandersmith, A. Rey Pamatmat, Billy Porter, Max Posner, José Rivera, Najla Said, Jenny Schwartz, Jordan Seavey, Matthew Stephen Smith, Lloyd Suh, Jeff Whitty, Jason Williamson, Bess Wohl
Choreography by Chase Brock
Conceived and Directed by Ed Sylvanus Iskandar

The Flea Theater

“The Mysteries is a five-and-a-half-hour tour de force at the Flea Theater. It is intelligent, well sung, well acted and it crucified my soul. Directed by the talented and interesting Ed Sylvanus Iskandar who commissioned 48 playwrights and used 48 actors to condense and re-tell the Old an New Testaments, the choreography by Chase Brock flowed, the costumes and hair by Loren Shaw were remarkable, as were all of the technical aspects. The Mysteries will make you think, may anger you, may enthrall you but one thing is for certain, this is a company, a director and a theatre that is so intelligent that even when it goes against your beliefs you have to admire it.”

– Times Square Chronicles

“The Transfiguration scene (written by Billy Porter and Kirsten Greenidge) is stunningly beautiful. As a gospel choir sings, a bronze key on a red string (the promise of salvation) passes from Adam to Noah to Abraham to Jesus. Following the Ascension, a giant hoedown of a production number (“All These Things That I’ve Done” by The Killers) captures the radical joy of early Christian evangelism as the Bats, many playing instruments, sing and dance around the audience. There are too many brilliant moments to mention them all. [Director Ed] Iskandar has woven so much visual and aural stimuli into the story that you will never get bored.”

– theatermania.com

“I’ve never felt so close to God as I did as an audience member in The Flea’s newest production, “The Mysteries.” The project of biblical proportions brought together 48 playwrights, 54 performers, and an army of a production team to create this 6-hour long piece that immerses the entire community, audience and actor alike, in the Bible. The experience is a whirlwind, despite it lasting for six hours, and yet there are many particularly striking moments. No matter your religious beliefs, “The Mysteries” is groundbreaking theatrical work–intellectual and emotional, traditional and utterly unique, challenging and inviting, goofy and profound, and a great deal of fun.”

– Show Business