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Ming Peiffer's Usual Girls Opens Off-Broadway

Tyne Rafaeli directs Roundabout Theatre Company’s world-premiere production, running through December 16.

Jason Zednick
Off-Broadway
The company of Roundabout Theatre Company's world premiere of Usual Girls celebrates opening night.
The company of Roundabout Theatre Company's world premiere of Usual Girls celebrates opening night.
(© Jeremy Daniel)

Roundabout Theatre Company's world premiere of Usual Girls opened on Monday, November 5, for its run through December 16. Tyne Rafaeli directs Ming Peiffer's new play as part of the 2018-19 Roundabout Underground season.

Usual Girls is described as follows: "How do girls grow up? Quickly, painfully, wondrously. On an elementary school playground, a boy threatens to tell on the girls for swearing — unless one of them kisses him. But just before lips can touch, Kyeoung tackles the boy to the ground. The victory is short-lived. Over the coming years, Kyeoung's stories get stranger, funnier, more harrowing, and more familiar. This hilarious, explicit, gut-punch of a play bursts with playwright Ming Peiffer's bold, explosive voice."

Playwright Ming Peiffer and director Tyne Rafaeli grab a picture together on opening night.
Playwright Ming Peiffer and director Tyne Rafaeli grab a picture together on opening night.
(© Jeremy Daniel)

The production features Abby Corrigan, Ali Rose Dachis, Midori Francis, Karl Kenzler, Jennifer Lim, Sarah Pidgeon, Ryann Redmond, Nicole Rodenburg, and Raviv Ullman. The creative team includes Arnulfo Maldonado (sets), Jen Schriever (lighting), and Ásta Hostetter (costumes).

The production runs at the Black Box Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theater.