After a sell-out, critically acclaimed THE SECRET GARDEN, a collaboration with Southwest Shakespeare Company in Scottsdale, AZ this past Spring, Tier5 is THRILLED to announce our return to NYC for the summer season- and you’re gonna need your life vest because we’re heading out to sea with two incredible productions: TREASURE ISLAND, a staged reading of James Cougar Canfield's latest work, and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, a full production of Shakespeare's classic comedy.

Last year, our A SEASON OF SHAKESQUEER became one of our most successful and highly attended seasons ever, featuring two mammoth full productions with JULIUS: HARLEM'S CAESAR and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, plus four staged readings and our ongoing SPOOKYFEST series at The Tank NYC.

Despite this being one of our most successful season, there is still a huge deficit between the what our shows gross and how much they cost to produce. That fact of the matter is: creating theatre in the current landscape is EXPENSIVE. And that's where we need your help!

The biggest expense for every production is making sure that our actors, creatives, and designers are compensated. With shows that feature as many as 20-25 people on the production, making our talent is compensated in a small way can add up!

 

Our big goal? The impossible reach? $10,000. That's the budget to cover the cost of both MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING -and- TREASURE ISLAND (and that's not even including our theatre rental cost- yeah, make these shows happen is EXPENSIVE!)

We know that's a lot. But even raising half of that total amount would allow us to move forward feeling financially secure and ready to continue creating exceptional and boundary pushing art that reframes classical texts, tropes, and moments in history, and places those previously excluded from the narrative front and center.

What this fundraiser will help cover:

Adapted and directed by James Cougar Canfield

From the iconic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson

Monday, July 28th, 2025 at 7pm

at The Tank NYC

A one night only staged reading

Jim Hawkins longs for adventure, unlike the dull life his father (RIP) led. And living at the Admiral Benbow Inn with his mom and the other patrons just isn’t what the kid’s looking for. That is until Billy Bones, a former mate for the nefarious Captain Flint, arrives at the Inn with some sea shanties, tall tales, and a treasure map that’s going to change Jim’s humble life forever.

Through a perilous series of events, Jim finds himself aboard the Hispaniola, a sailing ship featuring an interesting crew (who are more then likely probably actually pirates. Uh oh). 

Map in hand, they set course for the mythical Treasure Island- but all is not what it seems, especially when it comes to Jim’s new friend, the ship’s sea cook, Long John Silver- is he a father figure or a frightening foe? It’s not enough to follow X to the treasure, Jim has got to make it out alive- after all, dead men tell no tales.

Join us for a swashbuckling, hilarious, and heartrending high seas adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel, adapted by the award winning James Cougar Canfield (previous work’s include THE SECRET GARDEN, THE CHRISTMAS CAROL: A QUEER FANTASIA, THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ and DRACULA: BLOOD & GLITTER), that’ll be unlike any boat ride you’ve ever been on.

By William Shakespeare

Directed by James Cougar Canfield and Kate Rankine

August 14th- 24th, 2025

at El Barrio’s Art Space PS109

A limited two-week engagement,

10 performances only!

Benedick and Beatrice have history. Big, messy, will-they-won’t-they, love/hate history. The best kind, am I right? And everyone knows it. So when Benedick, along with the regiment of soldiers he belongs to returns to Leonato’s four star resort in Messina, where Beatrice happens to be living, things are about to get fun. Oh, there’s also Claudio and Hero, who totally have the hots for each other but aren’t ever going to make a move- without a little help. And then there’s Don John, he’s gorg but likes to cause a little (well, a lot) of trouble. And all taking place at a beautiful beachside resort? It’s giving White Lotus- we just hope everyone makes it out alive. 

After the smashing success of last summer’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Tier5 is ecstatic to bring another of Shakespeare’s iconic comedies to life and put their signature twist on this classic about rumors, gossip, falling in love, and falling out of it. 

Tickets will go on sale for both production in July 2025.

Since Tier5 is fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas, your donation can be partially or completely tax deductible! Wow!