Soft Brain Theatre Company
Commedia made contemporary: cracking open a centuries-old artform and learning to love it anew.
Love and Other Life Sentences, a Musical Rom-Com
Help bring this musical rom-com rooted in Commedia dell'Arte to life. Live, laugh, and discover what "true" love is all about.
NYC, NY, US
"I had such an amazing time and the performers were so talented and creative. I was smiling the entire time and enjoyed all the little details!" - 2025 Audience Member
We know what you’re thinking: "An original Commedia dell'Arte musical?!" And yes, we know. It is THAT exciting.
April 30 - May 10th, we debut a new Off-Broadway musical titled Love and Other Life Sentences, which is written by Soft Brain's Jake Erickson with original music by Terry Foley.
Does “true love” exist? Or is true-enough good enough? Our production explores comedic, tragic, and physical representations behind love in its many (often tedious) forms: unrequited love, shallow and surface-level love, love’s relationship to vanity, love as a tool to obtain power, love’s metamorphosis into resentment, and ultimately, “true love.”
Why are we courting this cupid-inspired story, anyway?
- We are on a mission to spread more laughter, joy, playfulness, and lighter thoughts into our ever-hardening world.
- This story is a classic rom-com but with a theatrical twist. And who doesn't love a rom-com?
- We have a hilarious, talented group of performers and creatives and we want to share their ingenuity, creativity, and skills with our audiences.
- The hustle and bustle of life gets in the way of our inner children. We are here to remind you of who you were when you were 4 years old, and how to keep that wide-eyed zest for life with you all these years later.
- To be quite frank, Commedia dell'Arte is highly underrated, and it is due for a proper glow-up.
Who are we?
We started as a group of physical comedy actors living in NYC, but we are more than that. We are:
- Musicians
- Playwrights
- Clowns
- Physical Comedy Performers
- Singers
- Devisers
- Producers
- Designers
- Builders
- a group of people who strongly believe in each other and the work we can create together
We are motivated by the mentors and educators of our pasts, and our trusted collaborators of the present. We are inspired to create work that will have a lasting impact.
Nicole Tsarouhas, a co-founder of the company, has worked on many developmental theatrical pieces and has performed across the tri-state area (including at Lincoln Center).
RJ Tabachnick, a co-founder of the company, has work on many new works at both NYU Tisch and Williamstown Theatre Festival and beyond.
Jake Erikson, a company member and writer of Love and Other Life Sentences, is an performer and playwright originally from the West Coast.
Why we need YOUR help!
Putting on a show of any scale is a hefty undertaking. The financial burden of making theatre in NYC is steep: renting space, transporting set pieces, and getting the proper insurances are just a few of the costs associated with mounting a production like ours.
We are looking for the likeminded theatregoers; we’re seeking audiences who are tired of what is being commercially produced and who seek something new and exciting. Finding our audience takes time and money to spread the word about who we are and the art we are making.
What will your donation go towards?
- Rehearsal space and performance venue! This is the most important. Without a space we cannot have a show. Our space budget is in the $18k range.
- There is a lot that goes into this. A space is one thing, but we also have the added expenses of renting equipment, liability insurance, etc.
- For props and costumes we are budgeting around $4k.
- This sounds like a lot for some pieces of fabric, but as a Commedia dell'Arte production, we will need to have the traditional masks that make Commedia, Commedia! Even the cheap ones are not so cheap.
- Plus, Soft Brain loves to make our shows magical. We try to bake a few transformations and gags into our wearable design elements.
- We are expecting to hire musicians to bring our wonderfully exciting musical score to life.
- We prioritize paying our artists, and share all our profits with them in addition to providing a base pay.
- And so much more!
- Marketing
- Sets
- Workshop fees
- Puppets/special effects!
So, when can I see this beauty up and running?
Good question, person asking. Catch us at the Women's Project in Upper West Side of Manhattan from April 30th - May10th, 2026.
Help make our production stunning by donating! And maybe get a little something special in return.
Rewards
A personal and original song!
Donate $59.00 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
A fan favorite!
We will write a song for you or someone of your choice (your mom? Your crush? Your boss?)
OR
We will roast you in song. Improvised!
Your choice
We will write a song for you or someone of your choice (your mom? Your crush? Your boss?)
OR
We will roast you in song. Improvised!
Your choice
0 / 7 claimed
Truth Is?
Donate $10.00 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
We solemnly swear to tell you the whole truth, the fake truth, the ideal truth, and nothing but the truth.
So help us god.
So help us god.
0 / 15 claimed
A Poem
Donate $24.00 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
A poem we write just for you
Made lovingly by Soft Brain crew
It won’t be a roast
We promise a toast
Of the wonderful things that you do!
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You are our hero!
Donate $222.22 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
Prince Charming, is that you?
Lady Theresa, we've been waiting for you.
Prepare to be dowsed with never-ending love when you donate this much moolaa.
We will create and perform a worship ceremony of and for you.
Buy this reward multiple times and it will become a worship ritual.
Each time the reward will get more and more religious and cult like.
Lady Theresa, we've been waiting for you.
Prepare to be dowsed with never-ending love when you donate this much moolaa.
We will create and perform a worship ceremony of and for you.
Buy this reward multiple times and it will become a worship ritual.
Each time the reward will get more and more religious and cult like.
0 / 4 claimed
Become the Playwright.
Donate $498.00 or more
Amount is fully tax-deductible.
Love mad libs?
Want to write a sentence for a Soft Brain show?
Now's your chance.
We will accept any sentence and it will make it into Love and Other Life Sentences.
Any sentence. We are serious.
Want to write a sentence for a Soft Brain show?
Now's your chance.
We will accept any sentence and it will make it into Love and Other Life Sentences.
Any sentence. We are serious.
0 / 2 claimed