Get ready to have your emotions stirred and your mind challenged, because Anthony Rapp is taking the stage in a brand-new solo show that’s bound to leave you questioning everything. But here’s where it gets controversial: Touch, written by Kenny Finkle and directed by Jonathan Silverstein, dives into the chaotic life of a middle-aged gay man—a failed writer and burned-out fifth-grade teacher—whose world is upended after a shocking encounter with a former student. And this is the part most people miss: the play boldly asks, What are the moral consequences of every connection we make? It’s a question that lingers long after the curtain falls, making this limited engagement from March 12 to March 30, 2026, at the East Village Basement (321 E 9th Street), a must-see event.
Rapp, best known for his groundbreaking role as Mark Cohen in Jonathan Larson’s Rent—a performance that earned him an Obie Award alongside the original cast—brings his unparalleled stage presence to this thought-provoking piece. But let’s not forget his versatility: from Broadway hits like You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and If/Then to his TV roles as Commander Paul Stamets in Star Trek: Discovery and appearances in The X-Files and Law & Order: SVU, Rapp’s range is undeniable. Touch feels like the perfect next chapter in his career, blending raw emotion with complex storytelling.
Here’s the twist: While the play’s official description hints at moral ambiguity, it also invites us to consider how our actions—big or small—ripple through the lives of others. Is it a story of redemption, reckoning, or something in between? That’s for you to decide. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself debating it long after you leave the theater.
Produced by Jack DePalma and Andrew Stein, with tickets available exclusively on TodayTix starting February 4th and touchtheplaynyc.com from February 5th, Touch is more than just a show—it’s a conversation starter. The creative team, including Thomas Jenkeleit (scenic and props design), Bart Fasbender (sound design), and Hayley Garcia Parnell (lighting design), has crafted an immersive experience that complements Rapp’s powerful performance. Developed in part at Theatre Aspen’s 2024 Solo Flights Festival and supported by the Solo Fights Project Advancement Fund, this production is as ambitious as it is intimate.
So, here’s the question we’re leaving you with: In a world where every interaction matters, how far are you willing to go to make a connection? Let us know in the comments—we’re eager to hear your take on this bold, boundary-pushing piece of theater.
