Many Happy Returns
- Co-created and choreographed by Monica Bill Barnes
- Co-created and written by Robbie Saenz de Viteri
Monica Bill Barnes (Co-Creator/performer) is a dancer and choreographer. Since MBB&CO’s founding in 1997, her choreography has been seen in many places, such as New York City’s Bowling Green public fountain, on stage at Carnegie Hall, throughout the galleries of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and in Greta Gerwig’s film “Little Women.” The company has been presented in over 50 cities and internationally in venues ranging from The Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House in a collaboration with Ira Glass in Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host. Barnes began collaborating with Robbie Saenz de Viteri in 2013 at which point the company adopted the motto of “bringing dance where it doesn’t belong.” Recent collaborations include a national tour of The Running Show; a site specific show in a mall - Days Go By; and two online works created during the pandemic - Keep Moving and It’s 3:07 Again, and the company’s newest work Many Happy Returns.
Robbie Saenz de Viteri (Co-Creator/Performer) writes, creates, produces, and performs live theater. He has created performances and toured production throughout the world with the Obie Award winning Nature Theater of Oklahoma and worked with genre redefining artists such as Anna Deavere Smith, Stew, and Ira Glass. He has collaborated with Monica Bill Barnes to create Happy Hour, The Museum Workout, One Night Only (Lilly Award), Days Go By (Bessie Honoree), The Running Show, Keep Moving, It’s 3:07 Again, and Many Happy Returns. He grew up in New Jersey, holds a BA from Muhlenberg College, where he studied writing with David Rosenwasser, and lives in Greenpoint Brooklyn, which he believes is best reached by bicycle.
A FREE limited engagement from Monica Bill Barnes and Company, presented by Playwrights Horizons.
It’s a dance version of a memory play. With movement and language, Monica Bill Barnes and Robbie Saenz de Viteri create a shared character, a woman in the middle of her life who moves with total clarity but can’t stop revealing the doubt she’s desperate to dance over. Many Happy Returns a hilarious, heartwarming look back at who we thought we were and a communal search for solace in who we’ve become.
All performances are FREE!
For Ticket Holders:
All tickets must be picked up 10 minutes before curtain time. Tickets not picked up by 10 minutes before curtain time will be released to the waitlist. Please bring a photo ID to pick up your tickets.
Waitlist Information:
Sign up for our day-of waitlist at the Playwrights Horizons box office window starting an hour before the performance you want to attend. Names will be called from the waitlist at curtain time. You must be present in the lobby when called to receive your tickets. Each person on the waitlist can request up to 2 tickets.
Monica Bill Barnes and Robbie Saenz de Viteri are a consummate pair. Both artists directly address the audience in their own language, offering vulnerability with a delicate, intentional hand.
Monica Bill Barnes
Robbie Saenz de Viteri
Flannery Gregg
Mykel Marai Nairne
Indah Mariana
(select performances)Hsiao-Jou Tang
(select performances)Monica Bill Barnes
Co-Creator and ChoreographerRobbie Saenz de Viteri
Co-Creator and WriterAnne Kauffman
Directing ConsultantBarbara Samuels
Lighting & Set DesignerKaye Voyce
Costume ConsultantFlannery Gregg
Rehearsal DirectorElizabeth Furman
Associate ProducerZack Lobel
Associate Lighting Designer
Monica Bill Barnes (Co-Creator/performer) is a dancer and choreographer. Since MBB&CO’s founding in 1997, her choreography has been seen in many places, such as New York City’s Bowling Green public fountain, on stage at Carnegie Hall, throughout the galleries of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and in Greta Gerwig’s film “Little Women.” The company has been presented in over 50 cities and internationally in venues ranging from The Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House in a collaboration with Ira Glass in Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host. Barnes began collaborating with Robbie Saenz de Viteri in 2013 at which point the company adopted the motto of “bringing dance where it doesn’t belong.” Recent collaborations include a national tour of The Running Show; a site specific show in a mall - Days Go By; and two online works created during the pandemic - Keep Moving and It’s 3:07 Again, and the company’s newest work Many Happy Returns.
Robbie Saenz de Viteri (Co-Creator/Performer) writes, creates, produces, and performs live theater. He has created performances and toured production throughout the world with the Obie Award winning Nature Theater of Oklahoma and worked with genre redefining artists such as Anna Deavere Smith, Stew, and Ira Glass. He has collaborated with Monica Bill Barnes to create Happy Hour, The Museum Workout, One Night Only (Lilly Award), Days Go By (Bessie Honoree), The Running Show, Keep Moving, It’s 3:07 Again, and Many Happy Returns. He grew up in New Jersey, holds a BA from Muhlenberg College, where he studied writing with David Rosenwasser, and lives in Greenpoint Brooklyn, which he believes is best reached by bicycle.
Anne Kauffman (Directing Consultant) New York Philharmonic, BAM, Ars Nova, NYTW, Roundabout Theatre Company, Encores! Off-Center, Women’s Project, Playwrights Horizons, MCC, The Public, P73 Productions, New Georges, Vineyard Theater, LCT3, Yale Rep, Steppenwolf, Goodman Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, Z Space, American Conservatory Theater and Berkeley Rep. She is a Resident Director at Roundabout Theater, Artistic Associate and Founding Member of The Civilians, a Clubbed Thumb Associate Artist and co-creator of the CT Directing Fellowship, a New Georges Associate Artist, an SDC Executive Board Member, Vice President and Trustee of SDCF 2020-2023 and Artistic Director of City Center’s Encores! Off-Center 2017-2020. Kauffman’s awards include a 2024 Tony nomination for Best Director for MARY JANE, a 2023 Tony nomination for Best Revival for THE SIGN IN SIDNEY BRUSTEIN’S WINDOW, three Obies, the Joan and Joseph Cullman Award for Exceptional Creativity from Lincoln Center, the Alan Schneider Director Award, a Lucille Lortel Award, a Drama League award and the Joe A. Callaway. Co-creator of the Cast Album Project with Jeanine Tesori.
Barbara Samuels (Lighting & Set Designer) (she/her) is an Obie and Henry Hewes Award winning queer designer, organizer and producer creating design-forward live events that prioritize generosity, equity, and representation. New York credits include designs at Soho Rep, Signature, MCC, Lincoln Center, Ars Nova, TFANA, NYTW, Playwrights Horizons, NAATCO, Ma-Yi, WP Theater, The Bushwick Starr, Monica Bill Barnes & Company, Target Margin, Beth Morrison Projects, New Georges, Little Island, The Public and Clubbed Thumb. Regional: Pig Iron, Bard Summerscape, The Alley, Long Wharf, ACT, Woolly Mammoth, Playmakers, Kansas City Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Shakespeare Theater Company, and Trinity Rep. New Georges Affiliated Artist. 2016 Target Margin Institute. Wingspace Member. WP Lab 2022-24.BA, Fordham; MFA, NYU. Proud Member USA829. www.barbarasamuels.com
Kaye Voyce (Costume Consultant). Recent credits include "Uncle Vanya" (LCT/Broadway), "The Welkin" (Atlantic), "Staff Meal" (Playwrights Horizons), "Waiting for Godot" (set and costumes, Geffen Playhouse), "The Listeners" (Opera Philadelphia, Den Norske Opera and Chicago Lyric Opera), "Harry Clarke" (London West End), "Jonah" (Roundabout), "In the Fall" (Trisha Brown Dance Company).
Flannery Gregg (Rehearsal Director/Performer) is a performer, movement director, and rehearsal director based in NYC. She has rehearsal directed and performed in Monica Bill Barnes & Company’s productions of The Running Show, Day’s Go By, Keep Moving and It’s 3:07 Again. She has also worked alongside Barnes as an associate choreographer/dancer on the feature film Little Women (dir. Greta Gerwig). Flannery is the movement director of The Reality Show: NYU (created by Elizabeth Swados), staging performances at the Barclays Center, Radio City Music Hall, and NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. She was the assistant choreographer to Sam Pinkleton on the Broadway musical Natasha Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and the associate choreographer to Sonya Tayeh for Sing Street on Broadway. Born and raised in San Diego, Flannery got her BA in World Arts and Cultures from UCLA. She is thrilled to be dancing with MBB & Co!
Elizabeth Furman (Associate Producer) is a Brooklyn based administrator, associate producer and creative who has been working with MBB&CO in a variety of roles since 2017. She has supported Happy Hour, One Night Only, The Museum Workout, and The Running Show, both in NYC and on tour. As an associate producer Elizabeth has produced, Days Go By, digital shows Keep Moving, It’s 3:07 Again, and their newer works The Running Show and Many Happy Returns. Elizabeth loves sharing the company’s work with new audiences be them near, far, or via the computer screen. Her own work has been shared in the All Over Westbeth Site Specific Festival 2018. Elizabeth holds a BA in Dance and English from Kenyon College.
Zack Lobel (Associate Lighting Designer). Zack Lobel is a lighting and video designer working across theaters, museums, and nightclubs. His designs have been featured at the Guggenheim Museum, Lincoln Center, The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, HERE Arts, among others. He is a resident video designer at Webster Hall, and the lighting director for Omari Wiles’ Bessie award-winning dance company. Current: Edges of Ailey at the Whitney Museum (Lighting Team). @zacklobel
