4000 Miles Tickets

4000 Miles is a play written by an up and coming playwright, Amy Herzog. She is one of the new hopes of theater. She received a Helen Merrill Award in 2008 for "Aspiring Playwrights". Her plays have been produced at prestigious venues like American Conservatory Theater (San Francisco), Ensemble Studio Theater, the Yale School of Drama, and The Williamstown Theater Festival. Her play "After the Revolution" was quite a success. Her short play titled "508" has been included in the list of Best American Short Plays: 2008-2009.   4000 Miles was selected for presentation under the aegis of the LCT3 program initiated in the summer of 2011 by the Lincoln Centre Theatre. LCT3 program’s basic aim was to support budding artist and provide them with a platform for producing their works. Another aim of the program was to build new audiences, bring previously uninterested people to theaters and revive the love of theater in the youth of today.  As a result, Amy Herzog’s play became their third world production.

4000 Miles deeply emotional storyline was beautifully presented using the direction of Daniel Aukin. Aukin is another new talent on the block. His work on his debut directorial venture was an Off-Broadway play called Back, Back, Back. Amy Herzog’s play was his second directorial venture. It proved to be a successful one. He was supported by an extremely talented crew that included Lauren Helpern as the set designer whose work in the play has received a nomination for 2012 Lucille Lortel Award in the category of "Best Scenic Designs"; Kay Voyce as the costume designer; Japhy Weideman who manned the lighting; and Ryan Rumery as the in-charge of music and sound.

The cast of 4000 Miles was another reason which made the play so amazing and authentic. Grabiel Ebert plays the role of the twenty-one year old young man named Leo. Mary Louise Wilson plays the role of the ninety one year old woman, Vera (a character that also appears in Herzog’s play After the Revolution) who is Leo’s grandmother. Zoe Winters plays the love interest of Leo and Greta Lee plays the role of the girl he finds in a bar. The actors have been so convincing in their performances that they bring tears to your eyes. Wilson’s performance is so detailed and honest that it steals the show. Ebert also has played the role of the vulnerable, hurt man to such perfection that you would be all praises for him once you witness.

The story of 4000 Miles itself is so truthful that you can easily relate to it. It belongs to the genre of drama but the emotions are so subtly and delicately expressed that the effect is heartbreaking. Leo, after cycling for months reaches his grandmother’s place to rest for some days. As the play progresses we find out that it is Leo who is emotionally fragile after his break up with his girlfriend and it is Vera who despite being old is feisty and unbeaten. The story then revolves around how the old woman comforts the young man; how they learn about life from each other; and, how they cover the age gap of seventy years with their sensitivity.

It is funny, it is moving, and it is downright wonderful. One feels affiliation with the characters of 4000 Miles to such an extent that they seem as if they are our own family members. By the time the play ends, we feel we care for them and empathize with them. We are made to probe our own compassionate nature and its ability to heal emotional wounds. Experience the profoundness with your 4000 Miles tickets !