…a place of bliss
In the Purlieues of Heav'n, and therein placed
A race of Upstart Creatures

Paradise Lost, Book 2, Lines 832-4

The Upstart Creatures create community through theatre, food, and social justice.

History

On May 4, 2013, a group of twenty theatre artists presented an original 13-hour, 2-meal adaptation of Paradise Lost, directed and produced by Founding Artistic Director Michael Barakiva. The Upstart Creatures were born.

Over the next decade, we developed into an ensemble that presented readings of large-cast, often obscure, socially relevant plays. Our performances were always accompanied by multi-course, mouth-watering meals, prepared by the company. All of our standard events have been, and will remain to be, free.

Suzanne Agins and Adam Grosswirth joined the company in 2015, as co-Artistic Director and Managing Director, respectively, and grew the company’s scope and reach until their departure in 2022.

In 2023, we emerged from a strategic planning process with a more sustainable model that responded to the new world in which we all found ourselves. We expanded our engagement programs to support and uplift historically excluded theatre artists. Additionally, we refocused our programming, with an eye to bridge the issues causing divide in our communities and country.

The Upstarts are extraordinarly lucky to be in residence at the Metro Baptist Church at 410 West 40th Street as part of the Sanctuary Arts program.