THE POPES OF FARRAGUT STREET

November 6 – November 23, 2025
Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8:00 PM, Sunday at 3:00 PM

Tickets $20, Students & Seniors $15
Pay What You Can Sundays
Run Time:
CINO THEATER

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Street)
New York, NY 10003
Directions

New York, NY — Melanie Maria Goodreaux’s new play “THE POPES OF Farragut STREET” will premiere at Theater for the New City in New York, NY. Following the success of her previous productions, “RITA IS THE GOAT,” “ENOUGH VO5 FOR THE UNIVERSE,” and “THE WHITE BLACKS,” playwright and director Melanie Maria Goodreaux is ready to captivate audiences once again. This limited engagement will run for 12 performances from November 6th to Nov 23rd, 2025.

About the Play:
With the mix-ups and crossed affections of Shakespeare’s finest comedies, The Popes of Farragut Street is a lively examination of regret and romance, family, faith, and identity set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans’ cultural and spiritual life.

The Popes of Farragut Street takes place in Conrad’s ‘shade tree’ auto shop in New Orleans’ “7th Ward,” where grease, gossip, and unexpected desires collide. Conrad Patsy (Benjamin Rowe) runs the shop with Ducky (Marco Cunha), Pee Wee (Javan Robinson) and Shade (Aristotle Stamat)— a group of ‘orphaned souls’ and mechanics who are abuzz over the Black Creole heritage of Pope Leo XIV. The characters beckon Leo to connect with his Black roots by coming ‘home’ to the Seventh Ward of New Orleans— while also hailing as “Pope”– an unorthodox practitioner of her Catholic Faith, Pope Violet (Vienna Carroll) a ‘blind’ woman who sees visions.

Head Mechanic, Conrad Patsy, tries to ‘course correct’ after losing the woman he really loves, Mable Preston (Christian Neal) years prior. He maintains a ‘loveless’ marriage with his “hoarder” wife, Rachel Patsy (Hollie Harper ) who is attention starved. Rachel pursues affairs at the car wash up the street, with an eye-gazing hottie, Tucker (Aristotle Stamat)–while being consoled at confession with the handsome religious “stickler,” Father Omar (Derick Storme). At the heart of the story is Lester (Zus Santos), Conrad’s nonbinary child and mechanic. Though loved and accepted–Lester is pained by his father’s treatment of his mother as “second best.” These characters all long for love and more time. They are tempted by the true desires of their heart– and hope to reach all this before the next dangerous hurricane hits.

CAST
Goodreaux and Casting Director Linda Greene have assembled an excellent cast that features:
Benjamin Rowe
Hollie Harper
Zus Santos
Vienna Carroll
Christian Neal
Marco Antonio Cunha
Derick Storme
Javán Robinson
Aristotle Stamat

PRODUCTION
Producers:
Mark Holloway
David Kahl
Bruce Morrow
Anthony Harper
Norah Lawlor
Costumes: Billy Little
Set/Props: Lytza Colon, Gregory Paul
Sound/Visuals: Urb Alt/ Boston Fielder, Anthony Harper
Stage Manager: Natasha Velez

Script Advisors/Consults:
Russell Kellogg
Rene Lombard
Louis Letizia
Maryam Myika Day
Natasha Ruscoll
Ryan Lawrence
Beau Goodreaux
Greg Paul
Tim Fielder
‘Pat’ of Firestone/Gen Degaulle

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY Executive Director, Crystal Field

THE POPES OF FARRAGUT STREET

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
Executive Director, Crystal Field