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Night Side Songs

  • Run Time

    1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission

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If the purpose of art is to comment on the human experience, it would be difficult to find a more human statement.

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Night Side Songs is a communal music-theater experience performed for—and with—an intimate audience that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. Inspired by American writer, philosopher, and cultural critic Susan Sontag’s observation that “illness is the night side of life,” this genre-breaking theatrical kaleidoscope with music by Richard Rodgers Award recipients Daniel Lazour and Patrick Lazour (We Live in Cairo, Flap My Wings) and directed by Taibi Magar (We Live in Cairo, Macbeth In Stride) gives voices to doctors, patients, researchers, and caregivers. A folk-inspired score and interconnected stories spanning time and perspective take us on a journey through illness that brings us closer to life.

This production contains descriptions of cancer treatments as well as discussions of grief, loss of a parent, and terminal illness. Recommended for ages 15+.

Words and Music by the Lazours
Directed by Taibi Magar
Produced in association with Philadelphia Theatre Company

Notable dates

Opening Night: 3/28

Development Support
The Bob and Alison Murchison New Work Development Fund

Ticketing Policies

Learn about our ticketing policies and discounts, including for seniors, EBT cardholders, students, and audience members under 25.

Learn about our ticketing policies and discounts, including for seniors, EBT cardholders, students, and audience members under 25.

Content Key

Language 2 out of 5     
Violence 0 out of 5     
Sexuality 0 out of 5     
Substance Use 0 out of 5     

Language 2 out of 5     
Violence 0 out of 5     
Sexuality 0 out of 5     
Substance Use 0 out of 5     

Venues

The Cambridge Masonic Temple, a brick building with four white columns at the front on a cloudless day.

Cambridge Masonic Temple

MAR 27 – APR 6
1950 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

Directions, accessibility, and more information about the venue in Porter Square.

More about the Venue

MAR 27 – APR 6
1950 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

Directions, accessibility, and more information about the venue in Porter Square.

More about the Venue
The brick façade of Hibernian Hall at golden hour.

Hibernian Hall

APR 8 – 20
184 Dudley St., Roxbury

Directions, accessibility, and more information about the venue in Nubian Square.

More about the Venue

APR 8 – 20
184 Dudley St., Roxbury

Directions, accessibility, and more information about the venue in Nubian Square.

More about the Venue

Ticket Offers

Audience members entering the theater.

Take Five

All Performances
$5 Tickets

Take Five invites community members who feel attending theater is financially out of reach or want to take a chance on something new to experience the A.R.T. with a $5 ticket. To access these tickets, select a performance of Night Side Songs, enter the promo code TAKEFIVE, then select your seats. Additional Take Five tickets will be released in the coming weeks, so check back often.

More Info

All Performances
$5 Tickets

Take Five invites community members who feel attending theater is financially out of reach or want to take a chance on something new to experience the A.R.T. with a $5 ticket. To access these tickets, select a performance of Night Side Songs, enter the promo code TAKEFIVE, then select your seats. Additional Take Five tickets will be released in the coming weeks, so check back often.

More Info

All Discounts

Standard tickets start at $35, and discounts are available to students and ticket-buyers under the age of 25, Blue Star families, EBT card holders, seniors, Harvard faculty and staff, and others.

More Info

 

Photos & Videos

Taylor Trensch, Daniel Lazour, Patrick Lazour, and Cristela Guerra sitting on a stage.

The Making of a Communal Musical

Watch Now

Tour & Rehearsal

11 items

Press Coverage

Features

The Boston Globe

Finding ways to talk about illness through song

“We get through these impossible times in our lives by going through them together,” [co-creator Patrick Lazour] said. Indeed, [director Taibi] Magar points out that the audience is a reminder of the need for community…“It’s this extension of empathy. It’s how we can show up for each other in tough times.”

Read full article

“We get through these impossible times in our lives by going through them together,” [co-creator Patrick Lazour] said. Indeed, [director Taibi] Magar points out that the audience is a reminder of the need for community…“It’s this extension of empathy. It’s how we can show up for each other in tough times.”

Read full article

The Cambridge Day

‘Night Side Songs’ audience sings through grief around a diagnosis of cancer, and through time

“This is a celebration of caretaking, and the whole point of the show is to sing for those caring for others,” [actor Jordan] Dobson said. “I think that encapsulates its beauty—even though it’s a heavy subject matter, the overall point is to celebrate what we do as a community.”

Read full article

“This is a celebration of caretaking, and the whole point of the show is to sing for those caring for others,” [actor Jordan] Dobson said. “I think that encapsulates its beauty—even though it’s a heavy subject matter, the overall point is to celebrate what we do as a community.”

Read full article

Philadelphia Press

The Philadelphia Inquirer

An Empathetic Look at Illness and Death

There is a naked honesty in the production that builds intimacy and trust. If the purpose of art is to comment on the human experience, it would be difficult to find a more human statement than Night Side Songs.

Read full article

There is a naked honesty in the production that builds intimacy and trust. If the purpose of art is to comment on the human experience, it would be difficult to find a more human statement than Night Side Songs.

Read full article

WHYY

Taking on Palliative Care as an Audience Sing-Along

“What I loved about the music and the way it was used in the play was how it created emotion in the audience,” said Harvard Medical School’s Dr. Susan Block. “There was a feeling of community in the room by the time we got to the end of the production.”

Read full article

“What I loved about the music and the way it was used in the play was how it created emotion in the audience,” said Harvard Medical School’s Dr. Susan Block. “There was a feeling of community in the room by the time we got to the end of the production.”

Read full article

Credits

Creative Team

Words and Music by

the Lazours

Directed by

Taibi Magar

Scenic Design

Matt Saunders

Costume Design

Jason A. Goodwin

Lighting Design

Amith Chandrashaker

Sound Design

Justin Stasiw

Music Direction and Piano Arrangements

Alex Bechtel

Casting Director

Taylor Williams, CSA

Production Stage Manager

Elizabeth Emanuel

Cast

Jordan Dobson Headshot

Harris/​Ensemble

Jordan Dobson

Jordan Dobson Headshot

Harris/​Ensemble

Jordan Dobson

Robi Hager Headshot

Doctor/​Ensemble

Robi Hager

Robi Hager Headshot

Doctor/​Ensemble

Robi Hager

Brooke Ishibashi Headshot

Yasmine/​Ensemble

Brooke Ishibashi

Brooke Ishibashi Headshot

Yasmine/​Ensemble

Brooke Ishibashi

Jonathan Raviv Headshot

Frank/​Ensemble

Jonathan Raviv

Jonathan Raviv Headshot

Frank/​Ensemble

Jonathan Raviv

Mary Testa Headshot

Desiree/​Prudence/​Ensemble

Mary Testa

Mary Testa Headshot

Desiree/​Prudence/​Ensemble

Mary Testa