Tribes: recoups entire investment

The producers of Tribes by Nina Raine, announced today the Off-Broadway play has officially recouped its entire investment.

The producers said, "We are extremely pleased and honored to have brought this award-winning play to an Off-Broadway audience. Upon closing Tribes will have given 19 preview and 345 regular performances, and grossed over $2.5 million. To date, it has been seen by more than 50,000 theatre patrons, including 4,000 who attended captioned and/or interpreted performances, under the auspices of TDF (Accessibility Program, TAP), and interpreted through arrangement with Hands On.

Tribes opened at the Barrow Street Theatre on 4 Mar 2012, following previews from 16 Feb 2012. It was originally scheduled to close on 2 Jun 2012, but has been extended twice, and is now scheduled to close on 6 Jan 2013.

The comedy opened to mostly excellent reviews: The cast is nothing short of glorious (newyorktheatreguide); Smart, lively and beautifully acted (NY Times); Pitch-perfect (NY Post); Enthralling new work (Back Stage).

Tribes: Billy was born deaf, into a hearing family, and raised inside the fiercely idiosyncratic and unrepentantly politically incorrect cocoon of his parent's house. He has adapted brilliantly to his family's unconventional ways, but they've never bothered to return the favor. It's not until he meets Sylvia, a young woman on the brink of deafness, that he finally understands what it means to be understood. Yes, Billy's family can hear, but will they ever listen?

Directed by multiple Lortel and Obie Award-winner David Cromer (Our Town), the cast features Susannah Flood (Sylvia), Russell Harvard (Billy), Lee Roy Rogers (Beth), Jeff Still (Christopher), DIna Thomas (Ruth) and Nick Westrate (Daniel).

Tribes is produced Off-Broadway by Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian, Tom Wirtshafter, Patrick Daly, 2Manocherians, Christian Chadd Taylor, Burnt Umber Productions, Robert E Kass and Marc & Lisa Biales.

Tribes had its world premiere at London's Royal Court Theatre from 14 Oct - 13 Nov 2010. The production was nominated for both the Oliver and Evening Standard Award for Best Play.