New Midtown NYC community space offers free, substance-free programming featuring Broadway artists, acclaimed creators, and recovery advocates.
NEW YORK, NY — Bigvision today announced part of its inaugural Fall Season of programming and introduced its first class of Associate Artists.
Located in a state of the art 4000 square foot space in Midtown, Bigvision is a substance free space for people to connect, to create, and to celebrate.
Bigvision harnesses the transformative power of the arts, sports and fitness, and education to build sober communities, change national narratives about addiction and recovery, and ultimately save lives. Founded in memory of Isaac Goldberg Volkmar, we believe that a substance free life can – and should be – a joyful one.
The inaugural Fall Season brings together some of Broadway’s most celebrated artists alongside leaders from the recovery and health and human services communities for conversations, performances, readings, classes, comedy, music, and community events.
All programming is free.
To ensure access for those who need it most, Bigvision reserves seats at every event for partners throughout the recovery community, including residents and graduates of sober living homes and people in early recovery. Bigvision members receive guaranteed seating, with remaining tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hazelden Betty Ford Speaker Series
The Speaker Series features artists and leaders sharing their experience, strength, and hope while reflecting on the role recovery has played in their lives.
- September 24 — Six-time Emmy Award winner Hank Azaria
- October 1 — Four-time Tony Award winner Tom Kirdahy
- October 22 — Tony Award winner Clint Ramos
- November 5 — Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford
- January 28 – President and CEO of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Dr. Joseph Lee
Philip Seymour Hoffman Reading Series
The Reading Series showcases new plays and musicals that challenge stigma and expand the conversation around addiction and recovery. Audiences will experience works in development performed by some of Broadway’s leading artists in an intimate setting.
- September 10th Listen, Nevermind by Hank Azaria, directed by Sean Daniels
- September 14th – Sober Curious: A Musical Cabaret – written by New York Times bestselling author Michael Levin. Presented by Popular Shows.
- September 17 — Jill Takes a Break by Scott Rodgers, directed by Liz Cardenas, starring Thomas Sadoski. Presented by Ten To The Six Pictures as a fundraiser for their feature film
- October 15 — More Than All the Sky, by Lori Ada Jaroslow and Morgan Hollingsworth, directed by Sean Daniels. Presented by Atomic Focus Entertainment
- October 28th — Eleanore by Craig Lucas, directed by Sean Daniels, starring Robin Bartlett and Denis Boutsikaris
- November 16 — Family Weekend by Jake Brasch, directed by GT Upchurch
- Dec 2-4 — The Adventure of Life, written and performed by Veronika Duerr, directed by Celine Rosenthal
Upcoming readings (dates to be set soon) are:
Before The Meeting by Adam Bock, directed by Trip Cullman
Jimi Darkness: Alcoholic Superhero written by James Byous, directed by Patrick Mulvey, Presented as a fundraiser for their Off-Broadway Production.
Well, Well, Well by Brant Russell, directed by Jaki Bradley, starring Gillian Jacobs and Evan Jonigkeit
Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the Alcoholic Father at Nubble Lighthouse by Callie Kimball
I’m Saving You a Seat by Sarah Elizabeth Grace
Uncommon Birds by Lauren Gunderson
I Came Back for Molly By Molly Carden
All dates for the Speaker Series and Reading Series are subject to change.
Outdoor Hang
Every Thursday from 5:00–7:00 p.m., before Speaker and Reading Series events, Bigvision’s outdoor patio hosts live music, conversation, and opportunities to connect with the community.
Classes
Free drop-in classes include:
- Creativity and Recovery
A monthly conversation/workshop, each with a different industry leader about the ways that recovery influenced their work, specific to their medium.
September 9th – “Crafting and Publishing Narratives on Challenging Topics” with novelist Erin Khar
September 26th – Prospectus: “Art of Healing” — a painting workshop for the journey of recovery with Christine Mottau
Sept 29th – Sobriety and Creativity – Conversation with Elizabeth Addison, Cara Benson, Sean Daniels, and Erin Khar
October 7th – “How To Write A Fourth Step” taught by Adam Bock
November 18 – “Storytelling in Film: Building Trust + Boundaries” with Oscar Winning Documentary Filmmaker Ellen Gooseneberg Kent
- Breathe Stretch Release – Every Wednesday
- Pilates
Comedy
The last Friday of every month features the No Drink Minimum Comedy Show, while every Tuesday is Open Mic Night, giving comedians a substance-free space to develop and perform new material.
Recovery Meetings
Bigvision also hosts recovery meetings throughout the week, including:
- AA Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.
- Women’s Meeting on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
- Focus Group Meeting on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. (for people navigating life without Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin or any prescription stimulants)
The complete calendar of events is available at https://www.bigvision.nyc/calendar.
Bigvision Announces Its First Class of Associate Artists
Bigvision also proudly announces its inaugural class of Associate Artists—30 playwrights, performers, directors, designers, and creators who will help shape programming and classes while carrying the message that recovery is possible into the broader cultural conversation.
The inaugural Associate Artists are:
- Elizabeth Addison
- Annaleigh Ashford
- Hank Azaria
- Dan Bakkedahl
- Adam Bock
- Jake Brasch
- Norbert Leo Butz
- Molly Carden
- Jeremy Cohen
- Stephanie Demong
- Peter DuBois
- Veronika Duerr
- Lauren English
- Halley Feiffer
- Armand Fields
- Lance Gardner
- Sarah Elizabeth Grace
- Lauren Gunderson
- David Hanbury
- Harmon
- Sean Hudock
- Dan Jones
- Erin Khar
- Tony Larkin
- Craig Lucas
- Casey Murphy
- Clint Ramos
- Lisa Ramirez
- Danny Scheie
- Gwydion Suilebhan
- Joe Tapper
- Gregory Treco
- Brant Russell
To reserve tickets, visit our calendar https://www.bigvision.nyc/calendar or download the Bigvision app at the Apple App Store and Google play for androids
To support Bigvision’s lifesaving work, visit https://www.bigvision.nyc/donate.
Memberships are available at https://www.bigvision.nyc/309.
Media Contact
Sean Daniels
Executive Director, Bigvision
sean@bigvisionnyc.com
