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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
EPIC Players
IndustryMusical theater, theater
Founded25 August 2016
FounderAubrie Therrien
Headquarters138 South Oxford Street,
Brooklyn, New York City
,
United States[1]
Number of locations
2
Area served
New York City, Los Angeles[2]
Key people
  • Aubrie Therrien (Executive and Artistic Director)
  • Talia Eapen (Director of Program Operations)[2]
ServicesClasses, Theatrical Productions, Cabarets
Revenue$753,854[3] (2026)
Total assets$427,145[3] (2026)
Members250[4] (2026)
Number of employees
9[4] (2026)
WebsiteOfficial Website

EPIC Players is a neuroinclusive non-profit[3] theater company and theater educational institution.[5][4][6] EPIC players consists of neurotypical and neurodivergent members. It is bicoastal, with one company in New York City and one in Los Angeles.[7][2]

History

[edit]

EPIC was founded by Aubrie Therrien in 2016.[4][8][9] EPIC celebrated its 10-year anniversary in September 2026. In 2026, EPIC has 250 members.

Every theater season, EPIC puts on multiple mainstage productions, cabarets, and concerts in addition to running classes for its members.[2] Classes are free for its members.[10] They rehearse and have classes at the A.R.T./NY South Oxford Space.[11]

EPIC pairs each member with an EPIC Advocate to help support them in classes, auditions, and show preparation. The advocate is "another professional actor, teacher or coach."[5]

Founded in 2023, EPIC Junior is a free program for New York middle and high schoolers.[12][13] EPIC also expanded to Los Angeles in 2023.[14]

Mainstage Productions

[edit]

EPIC put on their first full-scale show, a production of Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead in mid-2017.[6] Dog Sees God by Bert V. Royal is a dark reinterpretation of Peanuts and its characters.[15] EPIC's second production was You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. It premiered in November 2017 at the Flea Theater and was directed by Therrien.[16][17][18] In March 2018, members of EPIC rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange.[19]

EPIC finished out its first season with a production of Shakespeare's The Tempest.[17] Bedford and Bowery wrote that "EPIC Players’s version of The Tempest stands out in a way that feels genuinely notable" and that the neuroinclusive casting "adds a new layer to Shakespeare’s story of manipulation and sorcery."[20]

For the 2018-2019 season, EPIC put on The Little Prince[21] and Little Shop of Horrors.[22] According to theater critic Cathy Hammer's review of the latter, EPIC's "production of Little Shop of Horrors radiates joy from its very roots, serving to shatter any preconceived notions held by uninitiated theater-goers."[23]

For the 2019-2020 season, EPIC performed Peter and the Starcatcher at the HERE Arts Center.[24] Jen Taphorn, in her review for My Entertainment World, wrote that the EPIC cast "along with the smooth direction of Travis Burbee and the creative props design by Wells Thorne, do an outstanding job of bringing the audience into their collective imagination as a plunger becomes a sword and a ladder transforms into a crocodile. Part of the magic is that you can feel the true passion and teamwork that went into this production."[25]

In the 2021-2022 season, EPIC performed Almost, Maine[4][26] and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.[27][1]

In 2023, the first EPIC member starred in a Broadway musical. EPIC cast member Conor Tague played Tommy in the original cast of How to Dance in Ohio.[10][1][28] Hunter Hollingsworth, a swing and understudy in How to Dance in Ohio, would later join EPIC.[29][30]

In the 2022-2023 season, EPIC performed Tartuffe[31] and Into the Woods.[32][12][33] The 2023-2024 season consisted of Romeo and Juliet[13] and Spring Awakening.[34]

When explaining to Thinking Theater NYC why EPIC chose Spring Awakening, Assistant Director Gabe Girson said “Neurodiverse people go through sexual awakenings too. It is a universal show.”[35] Therrien told the The Hollywood Reporter that "There are striking parallels with the disabled community and the characters from Spring Awakening, not only what they’ve gone through in terms of sexual abuse or disregard, but infantilization, the withholding and restricting information or restricting exploring aspects of the human condition.”[5]

In the 2024-2025 season, EPIC presented A Christmas Carol[36] and Seussical.[37] EPIC also produced the world premiere of Dave Osmundsen's BUM BUM (or, this farce has Autism) in December 2025.[38][39]

EPIC Players presented their first full-scale production in Los Angeles in May 2026. They put on a production of Peter and the Starcatcher.[40][41]

EPIC began the 2025-2026 NYC season with a concert production of 504 the musical at Joe's Pub.[42] It was followed up in 2026 with an off-broadway production of Rent.[30]

EPIC will perform A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime to begin their 2026-2027 season.[43]

Productions

[edit]
Show First Performance Last Performance Location
Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead July 27, 2017 August 6, 2017 The Kraine Theater
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown November 16, 2017 November 19, 2017 The Flea Theater
The Tempest May 31, 2018 June 10, 2018 The Flea Theater
The Little Prince November 10, 2018 November 18, 2018 The Flea Theater
Little Shop of Horrors June 5, 2019 June 16, 2019 The Sheen Center for Thought and Culture
Peter and the Starcatcher December 5, 2019 December 15, 2019 HERE Arts Center
She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms December 4, 2020 December 6, 2020 Virtual
Almost Maine December 3, 2021 December 12, 2021 A.R.T./New York Theatres
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee May 12, 2022 May 22, 2022 A.R.T./New York Theatres
Tartuffe December 1, 2022 December 11, 2022 A.R.T./New York Theatres
Into the Woods June 8, 2023 June 18, 2023 A.R.T./New York Theatres
Romeo and Juliet November 9, 2023 November 19, 2023 A.R.T./New York Theatres
Spring Awakening May 9, 2024 May 19, 2024 A.R.T./New York Theatres
A Christmas Carol December 10, 2024 December 15 2024 A.R.T./New York Theatres
Seussical the Musical May 8, 2025 May 18, 2025 The Mezzanine Theatre
504 the Musical August 3, 2025 Joe's Pub
Peter and the Starcatcher May 14, 2026 May 17, 2026 Odyssey Theatre
Rent June 4, 2026 June 20, 2026 A.R.T./New York Theatres
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime November 20, 2026 December 6, 2026 The Mezzanine Theatre
504 the Musical April 16, 2027 May 23, 2027 Theatre Row, Theatre 3

Cabarets and Concerts

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 Pierson, Alexandra (2022-05-12). "Five EPIC Years: How to Build a Neuro-Inclusive Community". Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Valle, Jay (2025-02-13). "'Wicked' Actor Jenna Bainbridge Makes History on Broadway". NBCU Academy. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  3. 1 2 3 "EPIC Players Inc. | EIN 81-3772510". Candid. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 CBS News (2022-03-09). Neurodiverse theater company EPIC Players shines light on inclusion. Retrieved 2026-09-25 – via YouTube.
  5. 1 2 3 White, Abbey (2024-05-14). "A Neuro-Inclusive Take on 'Spring Awakening': "We Don't Need to Break People Down"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  6. 1 2 Minot, David (2017-10-01). "Employing Theater Arts to Enhance the Lives of Individuals with ASD". Autism Spectrum News. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  7. ↑ ""Epic Players" visit GDLA+". FOX 11 Los Angeles. 2026-04-27. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  8. ↑ "EPIC Players Inclusive Theater Company". Ability Magazine.
  9. ↑ Koppell, Jackie; Boone, Ruschell. "Neuro-inclusive theater group offers professional performing opportunities". Spectrum News. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  10. 1 2 "Theater company aims to provide neuro-inclusive environment". Good Morning America. November 1, 2024. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  11. ↑ Strauss, Alix (2023-06-04). "How a Neurodiverse Musical Theater Artist Spends Sundays". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  12. 1 2 3 Edwards, Jessy (2023-03-31). "BK Neurodiverse Theater Company Teams Up With Broadway Stars for Autism Awareness". BKReader. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  13. 1 2 Hurley, Alice Garbarini (February 2024). "A theater group that features neurodiversity on the stage". Brain Health. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  14. ↑ "Trans voices take center stage at EPIC Players LA: Visibility, safety, and art in a time of crisis". Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. 2026-06-15. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  15. ↑ "DOG SEES GOD". Camel City Playhouse. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  16. ↑ "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown". The Flea Theater Archives. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  17. 1 2 "Profile of EPIC Players a Neuro-Inclusive Theatre Company in New York City". Theatre Development Fund. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  18. ↑ "Just Do Art: The 'EPIC' Edition | amNewYork". amNY. 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  19. ↑ New York Stock Exchange (2018-04-03). The EPIC Players Ring the NYSE Opening Bell. Retrieved 2026-09-25 – via YouTube.
  20. ↑ Graves, Cassidy Dawn (2018-05-31). "Performance Picks: Drag, Science, Neurodivergence". Bedford + Bowery. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  21. ↑ "The Little Prince". Flea Theatre Archives. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  22. ↑ "Neuro-Inclusive Little Shop of Horrors to Play Off Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  23. ↑ Hammer, Cathy (2019-06-07). "EPIC Players' Little Shop of Horrors". The Unforgettable Line. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  24. ↑ "New York City Review: "Peter and the Starcatcher" with Epic Players". OnStage Blog. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  25. ↑ Taphorn, Jen (2020-01-11). "EPIC Players' Starcatcher". My Entertainment World. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  26. ↑ CUNY TV (2022-03-15). March 2022 | Arts in the City. Retrieved 2026-09-25 – via YouTube.
  27. 1 2 "'Epic Players' theatre company allows actors with disabilities to shine on stage". Bronx News12. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  28. ↑ "Conor Tague". 54 Below. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  29. ↑ "Hunter Hollingsworth (Performer)". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  30. 1 2 "Rent Will Get a Majority Neurodiverse, Disabled NYC Staging". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  31. ↑ Simmons, Jeff (November 2, 2022). "EPIC Players Presents Molière's "Tartuffe" in December". NY Patch. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  32. ↑ "EPIC Players Into the Woods Off Broadway in NYC | TDF Stages". Theatre Development Fund. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  33. 1 2 "Epic Players, Broadway Stars Performing at 54 Below". NBC New York. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  34. ↑ "EPIC Players Theatre to Stage Neuroinclusive Spring Awakening". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  35. ↑ Donica, Joseph L .V. (2024-05-06). "Interview: Get Ready to Get Wounded: EPIC Players Theatre Brings "Spring Awakening" Back to the NYC Stage". Thinking Theatre NYC. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  36. ↑ "EPIC Players Theatre Presents A Christmas Carol: A Neurodiverse Re-Telling". New York Loves Kids. 2024-12-04. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  37. ↑ "EPIC Players Theatre Will Stage Neuroinclusive Seussical". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  38. ↑ Tharas, Sandra (2025-10-22). "EPIC Players Presents World Premiere of Original Play "BUM BUM (or, this farce has Autism)"". NY Patch. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  39. ↑ Hall, Margaret (December 8, 2025). "Get a 1st Look at Bum Bum (or, This Farce Has Autism) Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  40. ↑ "Peter and the Starcatcher". Odyssey Theatre Ensemble. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  41. ↑ "Hiring for Theater Stage Production – EPIC Players Los Angeles Peter and the Starcatcher". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2026-02-22. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  42. ↑ "504: The Musical, A Neuro-Inclusive Concert". The Public Theater. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  43. ↑ "EPIC Players Announces Cast For "The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time"". Morningstar, Inc. 2026-09-01. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  44. ↑ "An 'Epic' Return to the Stage". WFUV. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  45. ↑ "See Broadway Stars Sing with Neuro-Diverse Theatre Company EPIC Players in April 2 Cabaret". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  46. ↑ Higgins, Molly (October 26, 2024). "Keri René Fuller, Molly Hager, Sandra Okuboyejo, Stephanie Torns, More Featured in EPIC Does the '90s October 26". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-09-26.
  47. ↑ "EPIC Players: EPIC Originals". The Public Theater. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
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