Bllie Jean King and Bobby Riggs are back, this time in the form of a play titled Balls, written by Kevin Armento and Bryony Lavery and presented by 59E59 theaters.
The show, directed by Ianthe Demos and Nick Flint with movement direction by Natalie Lomonte, is produced by One Year Lease Theater Company and Stages Repertory Theatre.
The production runs from Jan. 16 to Feb. 25 with performances Tuesday – Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m..
Perfromances are at 59E59 Theaters, 59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison. Tickets are $25 – $70 ($25 – $49 for 59E59 Members) available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or online at www.59e59.org.
The show is set in 1973 at the Houston Astrodome for the Battle of the Sexes tennis match, which also has inspired a movie.
The producers describe the production, complete with a recreated tennis court, as a “high-intensity theatrical re-telling of this unforgettable match and the cultural debates it ignited around sexism, women-in-sport, and equality. “
The cast features Danny Bernardy (PEMDAS with OYL), Donald Corren (Broadway’s Souvenir and Torch Song Trilogy), Alex J. Gould (The Woodsman at 59E59), Danté Jeanfelix (Playing Hot at Ars Nova), Zakiya Iman Markland (Junk at La Jolla Playhouse), Olivia McGiff (PEMDAS with OYL), Elisha Mudly (When We Went Electric at The Tank), Cristina Pitter (Playing Hot at Ars Nova), Richard Saudek (Stockholm and pool (no water) with OYL), and Ellen Tamaki (The Holdouts).
The design team includes Kristen Robinson (set design); Mike Riggs (lighting design); Brendan Aanes (sound design); and Kenisha Kelley (costume design). The Production Stage Manager is Kate Shelton.