When Immersive Wall Street Play “Life And Trust” Closed Without Notice, Cast And Crew Were Left With Nothing

On the Rialto

How to Support the Abruptly Abandoned Company of Life and Trust

Last week, the Off-Broadway production by Emursive closed with no warning and no protections, leaving its company members in the lurch.

The cast and company of Emursive’s Life and Trust were left in the lurch last week when the company closed the show’s Off-Broadway run with no warning April 19. It is not currently clear what caused such an immediate closure.

The show, which was staffed by an array of non-union theatremakers, many of whom at the beginning of their careers, offered its company no severance or safety net following the sudden closure, putting many in a highly unstable financial position after counting on the show completing its April run at minimum. When news of the employee abandonment reached social media channels, a number of “angel investors” from throughout the theatre community came together to help company members make rent, purchase groceries, and otherwise land on their feet after the sudden closure. 

In response to the community outpour, the ousted company members of Life and Trust have created a central GoFundMe that can be used by those who wish to donate, in lieu of the direct Venmo transactions that were previously being processed. 

The company members shared the following message of gratitude and clarity on the GoFundMe campaign.

“This isn’t about revenge or drama. It’s about care, solidarity, and doing what the production itself didn’t. We’re a community looking out for one another. We believe in radical mutual aid, a little bit of satire, and a whole lot of heart. So if you loved the show—or the people in it—consider becoming one of our Angel Investors. ‘You used to pay the devil’s rent. Now you’re helping the souls he left behind.'”

Reimagining the Faust legend of money, sex, and power in the heart of New York’s financial district, Life and Trust was the latest project from the team behind Sleep No More (which closed in January after a 14-year run). In a now ironic twist of fate, the site-specific experience took place on the eve of the Great Stock Market Crash.

Written by Jon Ronson, Life And Trust was directed by Teddy Bergman with experience direction and scenic design from Gabriel Hainer Evansohn. The production was co-directed and choreographed by Jeff Kuperman and Rick Kuperman, and featured creative casting and movement direction by Stefanie Batten Bland, with co-choreographers and associate directors Kristen Carcone, Lauren Yalango-Grant, Christopher Cree, and Emily Terndrup.

The production featured a company of over 40 performers, devisers, and contributing choreographers, with an original company including Bria Bacon, Tony Bordonaro, Sophie Bortolussi, Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Marc J Cardarelli, Aaron Dalla Villa, Tiffany Violet De Alba, Charles-Alexis Desgagnés, Mia DiLena, Brendan Duggan, Zachary Eisenstat, Raymond Ejiofor, Kim Fischer, Jennifer Florentino, Reshma Gajjar, Douglas J Gillespie, Annie Grove, Alonso Guzman, Dorchel Haqq, Casey Bronwyn Howes, Karl Kenzler, Majella Bess Loughran, Jodi McFadden, Nando Morland, Parker Murphy, Kevin M Pajarillaga, Marla Phelan, Randolph Curtis Rand, Luca Renzi, Gabriella Sibeko, Tori Sparks, Brandin Steffensen, Derek Tabada, Tony Torn, Mike Tyus, Robert Vail, Ryan VanCompernolle, Jacob Michael Warren, Maleek M Washington, and Madeline Wright.

The second year company included Andrea Farley Shimota, Andrea Murillo, Andrew Kutryk, Babou Sanneh, Catheryn Clifford, Collin Baja, Doug Burkhardt, Erik Debono, Eriko Jimbo, Hannah Straney, Jacob Nahor, Jonathan Colafrancesco, Leigh-Ann Esty, Lenin Fernandez, Madison R. Olandt, Miguel Miranda, Mikaela Sinclair Brandon, Mio Ishikawa, Nathaniel Buchsbaum, Ny Opong, Patrick Ferreri, Rachel Harris, Spencer William Grossman, Steven Bangerter, Victoria DeRenzo, Zach Martins, and Zach McNally.