The Ride’s world premiere of ‘Eyes on New York’ opens in July on Staten Island

Honored with a Drama Desk Award nomination in the category of Unique Theatrical Experience and widely lauded as one of NYC’s most exciting and in-demand bus-tour entertainment attractions, the five-star-rated Manhattan-based The Ride, established in 2010, and relaunched in 2014, will take up residency on Staten Island this summer, from July 1-September 6, for the world premiere of Eyes on New York. Produced and directed by Richard Humphrey, the immersive sit-down 60-minute family-friendly theatrical journey will be presented four times daily, off the bus, in a newly created 150-seat dedicated performance space (specifically designed, built, and overseen by Humphrey for The Ride’s proprietary experiential technology) at Staten Island’s Empire Outlets.

Ashlee Rose Montague and Richard Hankes. Photo by Jordan Matter.

The interactive show features whimsical variety acts, acrobatic agility, and circus derring-do by a troupe of internationally acclaimed performers, who have performed for audiences from Brooklyn to Mongolia, telling stories on stage through the amazing physical talents of their balanced and flexible bodies. Together, they recount NYC’s journey through the last twelve months of the coronavirus pandemic, driven by the hope of renewal and uplifted by a score of original music (by The Ride’s Greg Mozian) and theatrical dance (choreographed by the project’s Artistic Directors Ashlee Rose Montague and Richard Hankes).

Snö Bunta. Photo by Frank Fumelli.

The cast of seven (Jarrod Bates, Snö Bunta, Abby DeReamer, Kyla Ernst-Alper, Randy Kato, Pedro Morillo, Jr, and Garth Otis) includes internationally acclaimed ballet dancers, aerialists, b-boys, cyr wheel athletes, contortionists, physical clowns, circus performers, variety artists, and film and Shakespearean actors. Their breathtaking performances are enhanced by a dazzling artistic design, with costumes by Renato Dicent, scenery by Paul O’Toole, lighting by Michael Petre-Zumbrun, and sound by Charles DeChants.

Abby DeReamer. Photo by Kevin Richardson.

Encompassing a 340,000-square-foot area on one of the world’s largest and most beautiful natural harbors, Empire Outlets boasts scores of designer stores including American Eagle Outfitters, Banana Republic, Columbia Sporting Goods, Gap Factory, H&M, Nike Factory, Nordstrom Rack, and Old Navy, among many others, along with a 40,000-square-foot food and beverage deck with sweeping views of Manhattan. The site is accessible via free service on the Staten Island Ferry, which delivers audiences right to the new performance space. So you can go for the show, and make a day of it.

Eyes on New York by The Ride plays July 1-September 6, Wednesdays- Sundays, at 1, 3, 5, and 7 pm (with opening night scheduled for Sunday, July 11, at 7 pm), at Empire Outlets, 55 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY. Please note that show times for the 4th of July will be at 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, and 7:30 pm, with fireworks following the performance at 8:45 pm. Tickets, priced at $19, $29, and $39, are available online.

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Deb Miller
Deb Miller (PhD, Art History) is the Senior Correspondent and Editor for New York City, where she grew up seeing every show on Broadway. She is an active member of the Outer Critics Circle and served for more than a decade as a Voter, Nominator, and Judge for the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre. Outside of her home base in NYC, she has written and lectured extensively on the arts and theater throughout the world (including her many years in Amsterdam, London, and Venice, and her extensive work and personal connections with Andy Warhol and his circle) and previously served as a lead writer for Stage Magazine, Phindie, and Central Voice.

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