About this Event
Molière in the Park, Brooklyn's Free Theater, is thrilled to bring back together the cast of our hit 2025 production of The Imaginary Invalid for two free staged readings, on September 25th & 26th at Williamsburg's Domino Park!
“Molière in the Park gives us all a great treat... socially insightful and raucously funny... creatively and endearingly translated and directed by Lucie Tiberghien.”
- Linda Armstrong for New York Amsterdam News
“The Imaginary Invalid is a charming romp... accompanied by an orchestra of birdsong as sun sets on the park.”
- Catherine Rickman for Frenchly
The Imaginary Invalid is the last play that legendary French playwright Molière wrote, and was originally conceived as a Comedy-Ballet where theater, dance, and music are intertwined. Gravely ill while writing and performing this play, Molière explores the fear of disease and the exploitation it breeds through his infinitely humorous dialogue and in-your-face satire. This staged reading will once again star Tony and Olivier award nominee Sahr Ngaujah (Fela!, Moulin Rouge! The Musical) in the role of ARGAN, and feature original choreography by FlexN dancer Cal Hunt and an original score by cellist Johnathan Moore.
Synopsis:
Argan is ill. But is he? Argan is dying. But aren’t we all? Argan wants absolute control. But who is he hoping to save? When there is no other way out, it will take the ingenuity of all the women around him to save the family.
Translated, adapted and directed by Lucie Tiberghien
Cast:
Mary Bacon - BELINE, Argan's wife
Rory Furey-King - TOINETTE, Argan's employee
Doron JéPaul - CLEANTE, Angelique's lover
Naomi Lorrain - THOMAS, a yound doctor/BERALDE, Argan's sister
Sahr Ngaujah - ARGAN
Ebonée Noel - ANGELIQUE, Argan's daughter
Damian Thompson - DIAFOIRUS, Thomas's father/DE BONNEFOI, a notary/FLEURANT, an apothecary, PURGON, Argan's doctor
Production:
Choreographer/Dancer: Cal Hunt
Composer/Cellist: Johnathan Moore
Line Producer: Molly FitzMaurice
Production Stage Manager: Tala Munsterman
Q&A for those of you who are new to MIP:
Wait, what is Molière in the Park?
It’s like Shakespeare in the Park’s cool French cousin who lives in Brooklyn. We present a contemporary production of a Moliere play every year for three weeks in Prospect Park and additional readings and events throughout the year. Always free. Always world class theater.
Why Molière?
At MIP, we believe that Molière’s plays, when produced through an inclusive and contemporary lens, explore the human condition in a way that promotes generosity of spirit, fosters unity over division, and spreads joy. Something we all need nowadays.
Why Free?
We believe that arts experiences spark ideas and conversations, keep history alive, challenge prejudice, and increase civic participation, but not all communities have equal access to these experiences. MIP seeks to address these inequalities by providing ALL Brooklynites with the benefits of high-quality theater at no cost. Thus far in 2025, 7456 individuals have reserved a ticket to one of our shows, with 61% of our Brooklyn audience coming from low-income zip codes and 45% from historically under represented communities where the majority of residents are people of color.
Ok, amazing. How can I support MIP?
Join us for this staged reading at Domino Park!
About Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and world literature. Molière’s plays capture Brooklyn both in style and content: funny, gritty, progressive, disruptive, and embracing of all types of people. Through the lens of his stories, we see ourselves and others as imperfect and intertwined humans.
Produced by Molière in the Park, in partnership with Domino Park.
THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED, IN PART, BY PUBLIC FUNDS FROM THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Thank you to all of our donors!
Including: The Auchincloss Foundation, Emma A. Sheafer Charitable Trust, The Evelyn Sharp Foundation, The Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The American Society of The French Legion of Honor, The Richenthal Foundation. Thomas Kail, Samira Wiley, Jon and Elizabeth Weiswasser, Stephan Haimo and Veronica Bulgari, Puth Family Foundation, The Araca Group. Carter Redwood, Mary Vines, Nikola and Dana Duravcevic, Bill and Judy Steul
We wish to express our gratitude to the Performers’ Unions: ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN GUILD OF MUSICAL ARTISTS, AMERICAN GUILD OF VARIETY ARTISTS, SAG-AFTRA through Theatre Authority, Inc. for their cooperation in permitting the Artists to appear on this program.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Domino Square, 12 South 3rd Street, Brooklyn, United States
USD 0.00
