THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
Executive Artistic Director, Crystal Field
Presents
How to Get to Heaven from the Crawfish Pond
November 5, 2026 – November 22, 2026
Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8:00 PM, Sunday at 3:00 PM
Tickets – $25, Students & Seniors $15
Sundays: Pay-what-you-can
Run time: 2 hours
COMMUNITY SPACE THEATER
THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Street)
New York, NY 10003
Directions
Playwright and director, Melanie Maria Goodreaux returns to her longtime creative home, Theater for the New City (TNC), with the world premiere of HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM THE CRAWFISH POND, a darkly comic Louisiana love story about death, desire, family, faith, and the possibility of redemption.
The production marks a milestone for Goodreaux: 2026 is her 25th year of writing and directing plays. HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM THE CRAWFISH POND follows her recent TNC productions, including The Popes of Farragut Street, The White Blacks, and the AUDELCO-nominated Rita Is the Goat.
Crawfish farmer Earl Roussel has been dead for ten years when he suddenly wakes up in a “Purgatory” that happens to be his front yard. He longs for his beloved wife, Ruth, who is on her deathbed but escapes at night to see him so they can make love. Meanwhile, their estranged sons and daughter are at odds over money ‘stolen’ from the family, and a pair of nuns, who may be more con artists than women of God.
Set in Louisiana and infused with Goodreaux’s blend of magical realism, surreal comedy, spirituality, and poetry, HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM THE CRAWFISH POND asks what we owe the people we love before, and perhaps even after, death. As Earl and Ruth refuse to let something as inconvenient as mortality separate them, their children must confront old wounds, family secrets, and the question of whether reconciliation is still possible when time is running out.
The new play continues Goodreaux’s exploration of New Orleans and Louisiana culture, Black life, spirituality, family, and the complicated ways people search for love and redemption.
Written by Melanie Maria Goodreaux
Directed by Melanie Maria Goodreaux with Christopher Bello
CAST
Arlene A. McGruder
Alan Walls
Jasmyn Unique Tilford
Javán Robinson
Riyadh Rollins
Tabitha Bradley
Mary-Linda Greene
PRODUCTION
Set & Props: Lytza Colón, Gregory Paul
Lighting Design: Alex Bartenieff
Sound Design: Luke Santy, Boston Fielder/Urb Alt, Anthony Harper, Christopher Bello
Visuals/Projections: Anthony Harper/Christopher Bello
Casting: Mary-Linda Greene
Costumes: Billy Little
Graphics: Diane Sullivan, Christopher Bello
Producers: Mark Holloway, David Kahl, Anthony Harper, Bruce Morrow, Norah Lawlor