Amazon and Starbucks are the behemoths of the 21st Century, much like Big Steel and Big Auto were at the beginning of the 20th Century. Now, as then, mass strikes herald a labor uprising that may shape the working person's future for decades to come. Café Utopia by Gwen Kingston engages the individuals and organizations behind the current unionization movement in the creation of an original dystopian comedy that speaks to this urgent moment in America.
Café Utopia seems like the perfect place to work: flexible hours, great benefits, and free juice! But when mysterious pamphlets begin to appear, and key equipment breaks down, the staff start to question whether the renowned health food chain is truly all it seems. Preparing for a visit from the company’s reclusive CEO, the employees find their skills and endurance pushed to the limit as they compete to prove their total dedication… to the juice.
Production history
Café Utopia was workshopped and presented as a staged reading in June of 2023 at The Tank. Thien premiered in November of 2023 at
The Hudson Guild Theater in New York City.
It is currently touring (and available for touring opportunities), with a first stop in Ithaca, NY, at Civic Ensemble in the summer of 2025 and a second stop in Providence, RI in the fall of 2025.
Reviews
Cafe Utopia cast
*All actors appearing courtesy of Actor's Equity Association
Cafe utopia stage production team
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Genevieve Kingston
Playwright
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Ashley Olive Teague
Director
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BT Hayes
Associate Director
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Charles Jackson Jr.
Producer
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Savannah Ritz
Associate Producer
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Bria Dinkins
Community Engagement Associate
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Calypso Michelet
Scenic and Costume Designer
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Abby Schroering
Documentarian
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Megan Lang
Lighting Designer
This project is made possible in part with funds from the Humanities NY, the JKW Foundation, Venturous Theater Fund, and Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
