Every year, across the country, thousands of historical reenactors stage the bloodiest, most divisive battles fought on American soil. Pursuing total authenticity, they fire muskets, chew hardtack, and wear handmade period clothing in brutal weather.

Drawing on a series of interviews carried out by playwright Talene Monahon in 2015, the play weaves together verbatim conversations with Revolutionary and Civil War reeanactors. How to Load a Musket offers a unique look at this all-consuming hobby and the people who practice it as they find themselves caught in the crosshairs of a national battle over how history is told.

PRESS

The New Yorker: HOW TO LOAD A MUSKET (January 27, 2020)
Exuent: REVIEW: HOW TO LOAD A MUSKET AT 59E59 THEATERS (January 18, 2020)
NY Stage Review: HOW TO LOAD A MUSKET: RE-CREATING YOUR OWN PERSONAL AMERICAN HISTORY (January 17, 2020)
Time Out: HOW TO LOAD A MUSKET (January 17, 2020)
Thinking Theater: REVIEW: IN "HOW TO LOAD A MUSKET," HISTORY IS A LIVING THING (January 17, 2020)
Theater Pizzazz: HOW TO LOAD A MUSKET: REENACTORS BRING HISTORY TO LIFE IN THIS DOCUDRAMA AT 59E59 (January 17, 2020) 
Theatermania: HOW TO LOAD A MUSKET TAKES AIM AT HISTORICAL REENACTMENT (January 16, 2020)
Talkin Broadway: "HOW TO LOAD A MUSKET" (January 16, 2020)
New York Times: 'HOW TO LOAD A MUSKET' REVIEW: A PLAY ABOUT RE-ENACTORS GETS REAL (January 16, 2020)
Theaterlife: "VISIONS OF HISTORY" (January 16, 2020)
Theater News Online: HEROES OF HISTORY (January 14, 2020)
Playbill: CHECK OUT CAROLYN BRAVER, ADAM CHANLER-BERAT, AND MORE... (January 13, 2020)

LESS THAN RENT THEATRE PRESENTS

HOW TO LOAD A MUSKET

BY TALENE MONAHON
DIRECTED BY JAKI BRADLEY

JANUARY 11 - 26, 2020
59E59 Theaters

CAST

CAROLYN BRAVER*
ADAM CHANLER-BERAT*
DAVID J. CORK
RYAN SPAHN*
ANDY TAYLOR*
LUCY TAYLOR*
RICHARD TOPOL*
NICOLE VILLAMIL*

*appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

CREATIVE TEAM

PLAYWRIGHT TALENE MONAHON
DIRECTOR JAKI BRADLEY
ORIGINAL SONG BY ZOE SARNAK
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER HALEY GORDON
SCENIC DESIGN LAWRENCE E. MOTEN III
COSTUME DESIGN OLIVIA VAUGHN HERN
LIGHT DESIGN STACEY DEROSIER
SOUND DESIGN JIM PETTY
PROPERTIES CAITLYN MURPHY
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER LIDA RICHARDSON
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR BANJI ABORISADE
ASSISTANT PRODUCER JACOB PRESSON
ASSISTANT SCENIC DESIGN DANIEL RUSSO
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT LIZA COUSER
PRESS REPRESENTATIVE KAREN GRECO