“Tommy Vines doesn’t just make theater. She is a must-see artist who makes experiences that live in your body long after you’ve left the building. Her work is visceral, formally daring, and emotionally devastating in the best way. She is exactly the kind of artist this city needs right now. Hers is a voice that deserves a bigger stage.” -Kaliswa Brewster, Co-Producer of Cats: The Jellicle Ball, winner of three 2026 Tony Awards; President of Molière in the Park; 2026 Woman to Watch on Broadway by the Broadway Women’s Fund
“Tommy Vines is a talent to watch. Her last work, “charlie’s play,” was truly touching, moving, and walks on the shadow side of the human experience.” -Dominique Bravo, Executive Producer of Runa Simi; Steal This Story, Please!; My NDA; Free for All: The Public Library; Dory Previn: On My Way to Where
Written by
\u200bTOMMY VINES
Starring
\u200bKIRSTEN KILBURN, TOMMY VINES
Directed by MADELINE RIDDICK-SEALS
THREE-WEEK LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
\u200bJULY 23 - AUGUST 9, 2026 AT THE AMERICAN MIME THEATRE
OPENING NIGHT IS JULY 25 AT 7:30 P.M.
BREAKING MOTION is pleased to announce the world premiere production of Tommy Vines’ HOW TO PUT DOWN THE WEIGHT OF YOUR PAST, directed by Madeline Riddick-Seals. HOW TO PUT DOWN THE WEIGHT OF YOUR PAST will play a three-week limited engagement at The American Mime Theatre (137 W 25th St). Performances begin Thursday, July 23 and continue through Sunday, August 9. Opening Night is Saturday, July 25 (7:30 p.m.). \u200b Tickets start at $25 and are available at howtoputdownyourpast.com.
You’re invited to attend an experimental new “self-help class” called HOW TO PUT DOWN THE WEIGHT OF YOUR PAST, a life-changing seminar personally guided by two expert facilitators. But as the session unfolds, the structure begins to fracture, and the rules dissolve, pulling you into a chaotic, immersive experience where the line between guidance and manipulation blurs and nothing can be trusted.
We are changing lives every day.
Join us.
“HOW TO PUT DOWN THE WEIGHT OF YOUR PAST picks at life’s absurdities to reach the raw center of our collective past. This show is for those who seek out the hard questions – eager to respond, and ready to release.” - Madeline Riddick-Seals
The production stars Kirsten Kilburn (Supernatural, The Twilight Zone) as The Other One, and stars Tommy Vines (Oscar-Shortlisted Hysterical Girl, It’s Always Almost Over, INTERLOPER) as Nameless.
The production features scenic design by Madeline Riddick-Seals and lighting design by Gwen Trueblood. Irene Wang is the sound designer, and Hera Jung is the stage manager. Amanda Reynolds is the assistant director, Kyla Callison is the intimacy coordinator, Karen Torento is the costume consultant, and Jim Vines is the magic consultant. Publicity by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR.
Running Time: 60 minutes
Website: howtoputdownyourpast.com
\u200bInstagram: @howtoputdownyourpast
BIOGRAPHIES
TOMMY VINES (Playwright, “Nameless”) is an actor, writer, producer, and filmmaker best known for her work as the lead role in Emmy-Nominated Director Kate Novack's film Hysterical Girl (Dora), which was published by the New York Times and shortlisted for an Oscar. Recently, Tommy starred in INTERLOPER Season One, an independent scripted series she wrote and produced, which is set to premiere in 2026. Tommy was also the writer, movement director, producer, and lead actor in i love you and i always will or charlie's play, which had its NYC debut at an Off-Broadway house in July 2024. Other select credits include: Jay Leonard's feature film It's Always Almost Over (Charlie Hawkins), Miss Fortune (Betty - won Best Actress at Commonwealth Film Festival), and ASP's How I Learned To Drive (Teenage Greek Chorus - Regional Debut). Tommy is a proud Boston University Alum, Accademia dell'Arte Alum, and LaGuardia HS Drama Major Alum. Instagram: @tommy.vines Website: tommyvines.com
MADELINE RIDDICK-SEALS (Director) is a theatre artist who works across directing and scenic design. Her projects play with reality as malleable and often flirt with the veil. Recent credits include scene design for The Angel That Troubled the Waters (Target Margin Theater), directing i love you and i always will, or charlie’s play (The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater, Boston University), and art direction for She’s Got Sol (Boston University). Alongside her theatre practice, Madeline recently completed a year-long internship with The Metropolitan Museum’s Live Arts department. She is a recipient of the Esther B. and Albert S. Kahn Award Grand Prize. mdotted.com
BREAKING MOTION LLC is a multimodal production company working across film, television, and theater, dedicated to creating bold, visceral art that changes how we tell stories and envision entertainment.
Breaking Motion is the production company behind Season One of a scripted series titled INTERLOPER, an independent queer sci-fi fantasy series. Now, INTERLOPER is in post-production, with a 2026 release. Recently, Breaking Motion produced a proof-of-concept short film titled See You There, which is festival-bound. In theater, Breaking Motion is also accomplished, having successfully negotiated the transfer of i love you and i always will or charlie’s play to an Off-Broadway house for a run of the production in NYC. All profits from the production were donated to charity.
# \u200b \u200b \u200b \u200b # \u200b \u200b \u200b \u200b #
", "mainvisual": { "thumbnail": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/1cc74d7c-dc78-4fef-ae23-0d41d37f75a7/-/scale_crop/250x250/center/-/format/auto/", "large": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/1cc74d7c-dc78-4fef-ae23-0d41d37f75a7/-/preview/500x500/-/format/auto/", "original": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/1cc74d7c-dc78-4fef-ae23-0d41d37f75a7/" }, "header": { "large": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/1cc74d7c-dc78-4fef-ae23-0d41d37f75a7/-/preview/1200x1200/-/format/auto/", "release": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/1cc74d7c-dc78-4fef-ae23-0d41d37f75a7/-/preview/1200x1200/-/format/auto/" }, "tags": [ "Theater" ], "author": { "first_name": "Katie", "last_name": "Rosin" }, "format_version": 5 }