(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse presents SMALL from January 14 through February 2, 2025. This is a Penguin Rep Theatre production written and performed by Robert Montano (The Steel Man), and directed by Jessi D. Hill (Daniel's Husband). From the racetrack to the stage, Robert Montano shares his extraordinary true story of resilience and reinvention through the highs and lows of an unconventional life.
Once a jockey grappling with the pressures and struggle to stay “SMALL,” Montano overcame immense odds to pursue a new passion: professional dance. With Rocky-like determination, Montano’s award-nominated performance and highly entertaining coming-of-age journey is about a boy transforming into a man by following his heart...and his feet.
SMALL had its world premiere at Penguin Rep Theatre with preceding runs at 59E59 Theaters and People’s Light. The show was nominated for Outstanding Solo Performance at the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards in 2024.
SMALL features scenic design by Christopher and Justin Swader, lighting design by Jamie Roderick, and sound design by Brian Ronan. “Curly” Karen Schleifer will serve as the Production Stage Manager.
The performance schedule for SMALL is as follows: Wednesday – Saturday at 7:30pm, Saturday - Sunday at 2:00pm. Exceptions: There will be an additional performance on Tuesday, January 14 at 7:30pm. Performances on Thursday, January 23 and Friday, January 31 will begin at 2:00pm. Tickets begin at $25 and are available for purchase online. Groups of 10 or more save 20 percent. Three play subscriptions are also available and begin at $114.75. Performances take place at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, New Jersey).
George Street Playhouse is pleased to offer a Sunday Symposium on Sunday, January 26 and an audio-described performance of SMALL on Sunday, February 2.
ROBERT MONTANO (Writer/Perfomer) was nominated for a Drama Desk, & Outer Critics Circle award;winner of the ACOR for his Solo Performance of SMALL. He has created roles for the Academy Award nominated writer, Jose Rivera in The Hours are Feminine, Cloud Tectonics, and References to Salvador Dali Makes Me Hot; Lynn Nottage's play, Fabulation; Bess Wohl’s Barcelona; Tira Palmquist’s Two Degrees; Ken Lin’s Fallow; Richard Vetere’s One Shot One Kill; and Edwin Sanchez’s Diosa. At Actors Theatre of Louisville, Robert was given the honor to portray Cal in the epic of East Of Eden, directed by Jon Jory, later to be invited back to exercise his Shakespeare in Comedy Of Errors. He has also played Ralph, opposite John C. Reilly in Marty. Television: he’s guest starred on: “City on a Hill,” “Evil,” “L&O:Organized Crime,” “Bull,” “Prodigal Son,” “Blue Bloods,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” “Elementary,” “Search Party,” “Sex In The City,” “CSI: Miami,” “Law & Order,” and HBO’s film “Undefeated,” directed by John Leguizamo. Film: He appeared in “Shame” with Michael Fassbender. Played opposite Mark Wahlbergand Joaquin Phoenix in “The Yards.” Partnered Catherine Zeta-Jones in“Chicago.” Among other notable works in “Center Stage,” ”It Runs in The Family,”, and “Passionada.” *Robert dedicates all performances to Gloria & Salvatore.*
JESSI D. HILL (she/her, Director) SMALL (2024 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Nominations). New York: New York Theatre Workshop, Public Theater/Joe’s Pub, Playwrights Horizons, Primary Stages, LAByrinth, Rattlestick, Women’s Project, 59E59, P73, New Group, Keen Company, ClubbedThumb, Ensemble Studio Theatre, wild project, Musical Theatre Factory, The Acting Company, Barrow Group, New Dramatists, Playwrights Realm, New Georges. Regional: Old Globe, A.R.T, People’s Light,Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Diversionary, TheatreSquared, Orlando Shakes and others.International: Edinburgh, London, New Zealand, Berlin, Hamburg, Brussels, Ukraine and Rome. Sheteaches directing at Fordham and Barnard/Columbia University. MFA Directing: Yale.
“CURLY” KAREN SCHLEIFER (ProductionStage Manager). Favorite/selected credits (*denotes world premiere): Off-Broadway: POOF! ( Drama League’s Directorfest/Keen Company, Theatre Row); SMALL (59E59, Penguin Rep & Chita Rivera in assn. w/ Ted Snowdon & Flying Carpet Theatre Co.); The Panic of ’29*(LessThanRent/59E59). Regional: SMALL (Lyric Theatre of OK); SMALL (People’s LightTheatre); The Shot* with Sharon Lawrence (NJ Rep); Secret Hour* (Capital Rep Theatre); SMALL*(Penguin Rep Theatre); To The Moon* (Creede Rep Theatre), King Lear, Pericles, As You Like It* (SanFrancisco Shakespeare Festival); Scrooge In Love (42nd Street Moon); Hello Again (The DramaLeague’s Directorfest); Driving Miss Daisy with Michael Learned (The Laguna Playhouse); Jews, Christians & Screwing Stalin* (The Matrix). Awards Shows/Production Supervisor/Show Caller: (Annual) Drama League Awards & (Annual) Drama League Gala (The Drama League). Anaccomplished singer-songwriter (@shotguncurly), she played “Kate/Molly” for 2 years in the original Broadway production of Annie. B.A. (SUNY Purchase). Proud member AEA/SAG-AFTRA. She dedicates her theatrical career to Jennifer Straniere.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director David Saint since 1997, George Street Playhouse produces groundbreaking new works, inspiring productions of the classics, and hit Broadway plays and musicals that speak to the heart and mind, with an unwavering commitment to producing new work. As New Brunswick’s first producing theatre, George Street Playhouse became the cornerstone of the revitalization of the City’s arts and cultural landscape. The organization has a rich history of producing nationally renowned theatre. The Playhouse continues to fill a unique theatre and arts education role in the city, state and greater metropolitan region. George Street Playhouse recently announced the appointment of Edgar Herrera as Managing Director, effective June 1, 2023.
Beginning with the 2019-20 Season, George Street Playhouse moved to the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center in downtown New Brunswick. Featuring two state-of-the-art theatres—The Arthur Laurents Theater with 253 seats and The Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater which seats 465—and myriad amenities, the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center marks a new era in the esteemed history of George Street Playhouse. Founded by Eric Krebs, George Street Playhouse, originally located in an abandoned supermarket on the corner of George and Albany Streets, was the first professional theatre in New Brunswick. In 1984, the Playhouse moved to a renovated YMCA on Livingston Avenue, and in 2017 took temporary residence in the former Agricultural Museum at Rutgers University during construction of its new home.
The Playhouse has been well represented by numerous productions both on and off-Broadway. In 2018, George Street Playhouse was represented on Broadway with Gettin’ the Band Back Together which premiered on the Playhouse mainstage in 2013. American Son, produced by George Street Playhouse in 2017, opened on Broadway in 2018 starring Kerry Washington and Stephen Pasquale, and was seen on Netflix. Other productions include the Outer Critics’ Circle Best Musical Award-winner The Toxic Avenger. In 2015, It Shoulda Been You opened on Broadway and Joe DiPietro’s Clever Little Lies opened off-Broadway. Both shows received their premieres at the Playhouse. Other productions include the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Drama League Award-nominated production of The Spitfire Grill; and the Broadway hit and Tony® and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof by David Auburn, which was developed at the Playhouse during the 1999 Next Stage Series of new plays. George Street Playhouse programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.
