Terror is the Order of the Day: A Tragedy of the French Revolution

Terror is the Order of the Day, a powerful new work by noted author Ben Heineman, dramatizes one of the most tumultuous, violent and consequential periods in modern world history: the two years of the French Revolution from the dethronement, trial and execution of the King, Louis XVI, through the founding of the Republic, the imposition of the Great Terror and the execution of Robespierre. The production, staged at the Flea Theater in New York City and directed by the internationally acclaimed Tea Alagić, is a societal tragedy where a revolutionary democracy descends into revolutionary dictatorship. The Revolution's noble aspirations are transformed into death and destruction often driven by mass insurrections, and the State imposes order through violence and M**der masquerading as law.
Through intense confrontations, momentous debates and stirring speeches, the play is also an "ensemble" tragedy where the chaos, confusion and conflict of France after the end of the monarchy reveal the tragic flaws of key Revolutionaries. Their ideas, friendships, hatreds, fears, prejudices and conspiracies lead to their deaths. In addition to the execution of the King and Queen, the play focuses on the Revolution devouring its children----with stirring portraits of Danton, Desmoulins, Robespierre, Saint-Just, Brissot, Madame Roland, Hebert and Marat.
The high moral, political, social, economic and legal drama of the Revolution, as portrayed in Terror, forever altered history and has special resonance in today's challenging political culture.

Featuring: Katharine Chin, Hannah Adrian, Austin Purnell, Hallie Schwartz, Mike Spara, Lauren Lee, Revon Yousif, Robbie Tolentino, Chris Michael McFarland*, Ismael Castillo*, Chris Then*, Pamela Joy, Monica Sanborn, Misha Bouvion*

*Denotes members of Actors’ Equity Association

• Thursday, February 13 at 7:00PM - Preview Performance
• Friday, February 14 at 7:00PM
• Saturday, February 15 at 7:00PM
• Sunday, February 16 at 2:00PM
• Wednesday, February 19 at 7:00PM
• Thursday, February 20 at 7:00PM
• Friday, February 21 at 7:00PM
• Saturday, February 22 at 12:00PM

Writer and Executive Producer: Ben Heineman
Director and Executive Producer: Tea Alagić
Producer: Chantel King
Set Designer: Emmie Finckel
Sound Designer: Evdoxia Ragkou
Costume Designer: Anya Klepikov
Lighting Designer: Betsy Chester
Projections Designer: Yana Biryükova
Assistant Director: Anna Green
Production Stage Manager: Lindsey Zinbarg
Dance Choreographer: Shannon Stowe

For the past 17 years, Ben Heineman has taught at Harvard and Yale in the law, business and public policy schools on globalization, public affairs and integrity in large institutions. He is a senior fellow at Harvard’s schools of law and public policy, and a lecturer at Yale Law School. Prior to that he had a 35 year career in journalism, government, law and business, including prize-winning reporter, public interest lawyer, assistant secretary for policy at HEW, managing partner at a major international law firm/head of its Supreme Court practice and senior vice president and general counsel of GE under Jack Welch. He has written four books (on British race relations, the American Presidency , corporate integrity in the international economy and the lawyer-statesperson role), and numerous articles. He has an undergraduate degree from Harvard (history-editorial chairman of The Crimson); a graduate degree from Oxford (political sociology); and a J.D. from Yale Law (editor-in-chief of The Yale Law Journal). He was a Rhodes Scholar and Supreme Court law clerk for Associate Justice Potter Stewart. He is a member of the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a former member of the National Academy of Science’s Committee on Science, Technology and Law. He serves—or has served---on the boards of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Central European University, Transparency International-US, The National Constitution Center and Partners for Justice.

Tea Alagić is an internationally recognized theatermaker and producer based in New York City. Her directing credits include the world premiere of The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney (The Public Theater, Lucille Lortel nominations), Jackie by Elfriede Jelinek (WP Project, Lucille Lortel nominations), Lidless by Frances Ya-Chu Cowing (Page 73), the world premiere of Aliens with Extraordinary Skills by Saviana Stanescu (WP), the world premiere of Binibon by Jack Womack (The Kitchen), the world premiere of Washeteria by Charise Smith (Soho Rep), Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu (Cherry Lane Theatre), Black Light by Daniel Alexander Jones (Greenwich House Theatre), and Romeo and Juliet by Willam Shakespeare (Classic Stage Company).

In 2017, Alagić directed Passing Strange, the Tony Award-winning musical by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, at The Wilma Theater. Her direction earned several accolades and nominations, including Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre: nominations for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Musical, and Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical. The production won the Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Leading Performance in a Musical, Outstanding Ensemble, and Outstanding Music Direction. Additionally, Passing Strange received a nomination for the Brown Martin Philadelphia Award.

Her writing credits include the world premiere and international tour of The Geometry of Miracle directed by Robert Lepage, and Zero Hour, a biographical play commissioned and developed at The Public Theater, Abbey Theater in Dublin, Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, and The Alley Theater in Texas. In Spring 2025, Zero Hour will be in development with Geffen Theater and Waterwell. Alagić acted in the world premiere of Panic (How to Be Happy) directed by Richard Foreman. She holds an MFA in Directing from Yale School of Drama and a BFA in Acting from Charles University in Prague. Since 2012, Alagić has been a professor of directing, acting, playwriting, and production at the School of Drama at The New School for Drama, and from 2016 to 2020, was Head of Directing for the BFA and MFA programs.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Flea Theater, 20 Thomas Street, New York, United States