The Audition by Alex Ferris gets a two-night Theaterlab run with Gus Reale and Pete Simpson
Theaterlab First Look Series presents the world premiere on September 18 and 19
New York, NY (September 4, 2026) – Theaterlab’s First Look Series presents ALEX FERRIS' world premiere production of THE AUDITION. Ferris is a former child star who appeared in more than 50 movies and TV shows, including RV, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Peanuts, in which he voiced Charlie Brown. THE AUDITION will play a two-night engagement at Theaterlab (357 W 36th St., 3rd Floor), starring Gus Reale (NYU: Angels in America, The Cherry Tortured, Cyrano) as Josh and Pete Simpson* (Blue Man Group, Marriage Story, Morning Glory) as Coach. Performances will be Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19. Tickets are $30 and available at https://ci.ovationtix.com/28175/production/1284187.
Josh already has a Disney show, but now he wants to be a movie star. Coach thinks he can get him there, but they’re going to have to rebuild his craft from the ground up. And it’s going well—at least, that’s what Josh thinks. After all, maybe it’s his acting, but maybe it’s just him.
An onstage experiment transforms the challenge of good acting into a live stunt, performed before an audience in real time. Its purpose is to explore: How much does what we learn in acting class truly matter? Can the audience perceive a difference? Or is the gap between top actors and those out of work mainly due to luck?
Nick Webster is the sound designer. Publicity by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR.
THE AUDITION plays the following schedule:
Friday, September 18 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 19 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $30 and are now available online at https://theaterlabnyc.com/first-look-series-the-audition/ or by calling (212) 929-2545.
Running Time: 90 minutes
Website: https://theaterlabnyc.com/first-look-series-the-audition/
@alexhrferris
ALEX FERRIS (Playwright and Director) is a playwright and multi-hyphenate artist. His first play, The Final Flight of Annie ‘The Eagle’ Appleman debuted at the Wild Project in March and is slated for a subsequent run at La MaMa. As an actor, he’s appeared in over 50 movies and TV shows, including RV (with Robin Williams), The Time Traveler’s Wife (with Rachel McAdams), and The Diary of a Wimpy Kid. As a documentarian, he collaborates with Douglas Keeve (Unzipped) on the upcoming fashion biopic, Polly. Alex works at NYU, where he teaches the Green World, a class about environmental issues, for artists. BFA: NYU Tisch, MFA: NYU Dramatic Writing
*Equity Approved Showcase.
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Listings Information:
Who: Alex Ferris and Theaterlab First Look Series
What: The Audition
Where: Theaterlab (357 W 36th St., 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10018)
When: September 18, 7 pm; September 19, 2 pm, 7 pm
How: Tickets are $30 and available at https://theaterlabnyc.com/first-look-series-the-audition/
Josh already has a Disney show, but now he wants to be a movie star. Coach thinks he can get him there, but they’re going to have to rebuild his craft from the ground up. And it’s going well—at least, that’s what Josh thinks. After all, maybe it’s his acting, but maybe it’s just him.
