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Small Mouth Sounds

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Small Mouth Sounds is a comedic stage play by American playwright Bess Wohl, which premiered Off-Broadway in 2015 at Ars Nova[1] and, later, in 2016 at Signature Theatre Company, along with a U.S. national tour from 2017 to 2018.[2] The play follows six urbanites at a silent wellness retreat hosted by an unseen guru.[3]

Small Mouth Sounds
2015 Ars Nova production poster
Original languageEnglish
Written byBess Wohl
CharactersJan
Joan
Judy
Alicia
Ned
Rodney
The Teacher
GenreComedy
Premiere
DateMarch 23, 2015
PlaceArs Nova

Plot

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The play follows six city-dwelling strangers attending a multi-day silent wellness retreat: Jan, a Finnish pastor; Joan and Judy, a couple navigating relationship issues; Rodney, a handsome yoga teacher; Alicia, a former child actor; and Ned, a socially-awkward man afraid of the outdoors. The story unfolds largely through physical comedy and body language, led by a mysterious guru who is never seen.[4][5][6]

Production history

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2015 Ars Nova premiere

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The play had its world premiere in 2015 Off-Broadway at Ars Nova, running from March 23, 2015 through April 11 of the same year.[7] Directed by Rachel Chavkin, the production starred Erik Lochtefeld as Jan, Marcia DeBonis as Joan, Sakina Jaffrey as Judy, Jessica Almasy as Alicia, Brad Heberlee as Ned, Babak Tafti as Rodney and Jojo Gonzalez as the Teacher.[8]

The play opened to positive reviews, with The New York Times calling it "a model of ingenuity" and praised the "fully rounded" characters,[9] while Variety lauded Chavkin's direction as "supple," calling the show's slow transition from comedy to drama "shattering."[10] For the play, along with her other works, Pretty Filthy and American Hero, Wohl received the 2015 Drama Desk Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award.[11][12]

2016 Signature Theatre Company production

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The play was next seen Off-Broadway in 2016 at Signature Theatre Company, directed again by Chavkin. The majority of the world premiere production's cast reprised their roles, in addition to new cast members Quincy Tyler Bernstine as Judy, Max Baker as Jan and Zoë Winters as Alicia. The show opened on July 13, 2016 and was extended from its original closing date, running through October 9, 2026.[13][14][15]

The production, like its original, was critically praised, with The New York Times claiming it "still sparkles"[16] and Vulture praised it as "a terrific new play in a beautiful production."[17] For the play, Wohl won the 2017 Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award,[18][19] and DeBonis was nominated for the 2017 Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance.[20]

2017 U.S. national tour

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In April 2017, a 24-week U.S. national tour of Small Mouth Sounds was announced, directed by Chavkin. The cast featured Connor Barrett as Jan, Socorro Santiago as Joan, Cherene Snow as Judy, Brenna Palughi as Alicia, Ben Beckley as Ned, Edward Chin-Lyn as Rodney and Orville Mendoza as the Teacher.[21] The tour began in New Haven, Connecticut on August 29, 2017 and concluded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 1, 2018[22] after touring six cities.[23]

Cast and characters

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Character Ars Nova 2015 Signature Theatre 2016 U.S. National Tour 2017
Jan Erik Lochtefeld Max Baker Connor Barrett
Joan Marcia DeBonis Socorro Santiago
Judy Sakina Jaffrey Quincy Tyler Bernstine Cherene Snow
Alicia Jessica Almasy Zoë Winters Brenna Palughi
Ned Brad Heberlee Ben Beckley
Rodney Babak Tafti Edward Chin-Lyn
The Teacher Jojo Gonzalez Orville Mendoza

Awards and nominations

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2015 Ars Nova production

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2015 Drama Desk Award Drama Desk Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award Bess Wohl Won [24][25]

2016 Signature Theatre Company production

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2017 Outer Critics Circle Award John Gassner Award Bess Wohl Won [26][27]
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Marcia DeBonis Nominated [28]
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Sound Design Stowe Nelson Nominated [29]

References

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  1. ↑ Editorial Staff (March 25, 2015). "Bess Wohl's Small Mouth Sounds Opens at Ars Nova". TheaterMania. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  2. ↑ Viagas, Robert (July 13, 2016). "Small Mouth Sounds Opens Tonight". Playbill. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Small Mouth Sounds". Concord Theatricals. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  4. ↑ Stasio, Marilyn (March 24, 2015). "'Small Mouth Sounds' Review: Bess Wohl's Mostly Silent Off-Broadway Play". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  5. ↑ Newmark, Jonathan (July 13, 2016). "'Small Mouth Sounds' Review: A Comedy About Silent Suffering and Spiritual Searching". New York Theater. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Small Mouth Sounds". Concord Theatricals. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  7. ↑ "SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS Begins Tonight at Ars Nova". BroadwayWorld. March 10, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  8. ↑ Editorial Staff (March 25, 2015). "Bess Wohl's Small Mouth Sounds Opens at Ars Nova". TheaterMania. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  9. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (March 23, 2015). "Review: 'Small Mouth Sounds,' Silence at a Spiritual Spa". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  10. ↑ Stasio, Marilyn (March 24, 2015). "'Small Mouth Sounds' Review: Bess Wohl's Mostly Silent Off-Broadway Play". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  11. ↑ "2015 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  12. ↑ Gordon Cox (May 31, 2015). "2015 Drama Desk Awards Winners (FULL LIST): 'Hamilton' Takes 7". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Small Mouth Sounds". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  14. ↑ Gans, Andrew (March 23, 2015). "Small Mouth Sounds Opens Tonight". Playbill. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  15. ↑ Shenton, Mark (April 2, 2015). "Small Mouth Sounds extends limited run Off-Broadway". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  16. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (July 19, 2016). "Review: A Restaged 'Small Mouth Sounds' Still Sparkles". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  17. ↑ Green, Jesse (July 19, 2016). "Theater Review: Silence Is Golden, and Silver, in 'Small Mouth Sounds'". Vulture. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  18. ↑ Lefkowitz, Andy (May 8, 2017). "2017 Outer Critics Circle Awards: Come From Away & More Win Top Prizes". Broadway.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  19. ↑ "2016–2017 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Drama League Awards 2017 — And the Winners Are". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
  21. ↑ Clement, Olivia (July 13, 2017). "National Tour of Small Mouth Sounds Finds Its Cast". Playbill. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  22. ↑ Timmane, John. "'Small Mouth Sounds' and Big Silent Statements, at Philadelphia Theatre Company". WHYY. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Small Mouth Sounds Goes National …. Tour". StageLight Magazine. April 11, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  24. ↑ "2015 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  25. ↑ Gordon Cox (May 31, 2015). "2015 Drama Desk Awards Winners (FULL LIST): 'Hamilton' Takes 7". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  26. ↑ Lefkowitz, Andy (May 8, 2017). "2017 Outer Critics Circle Awards: Come From Away & More Win Top Prizes". Broadway.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  27. ↑ "2016–2017 Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Drama League Awards 2017 — And the Winners Are". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
  29. ↑ McPhee, Ryan (8 May 2017). "Ben Platt, Taran Killam, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and More at the 2017 Lucille Lortel Awards". Playbill. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
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