Oratorio for Living Things returns at Signature

[halfhourcheckwithmerman]

Posted: 8/5/25 at 1:31pm

Didn't see a thread about this... but this marvelous show is coming back to NYC and tickets are on sale today, in the $100-150 price range. They're also doing another work by Christian and new play by Lauren Yee this season.

I was also pleased to see that Signature has many crazy accessible ticket programs... any student can get 2 $20 tickets (in any seating area), anyone under 30 can get 2 $30 tickets (in any seating area), and any education worker, public sector worker, nonprofit employee, veteran, or handicapped person can get 2 $40 tickets (in select seats). 

Updated On: 8/5/25 at 01:31 PM

[Crusty Bagel]

Posted: 8/5/25 at 9:39pm

Oh I want to see this 

[kurtal]

Posted: 8/5/25 at 10:23pm

The earlier production was one of my favorite things I've seen in a LONG time.

Hoping this also results in a much-needed cast recording.

 

[Crusty Bagel]

Posted: 8/6/25 at 3:20pm

Got my ticket. Under 30 ticket. Very easy 

[wsondheim94]

Posted: 8/6/25 at 6:10pm

Was there a code? I signed up, but all the tickets are full price still.

[wsondheim94]

Posted: 8/6/25 at 6:12pm

ignore me - i literally forgot i am 31 years old LMAO (i cry)

[jakethesnake]

Posted: 8/6/25 at 6:22pm

Are they doing the immersive seating in the round at The Signature?   Or restaging?   That was one of the very interesting things about the original production. 

[halfhourcheckwithmerman]

Posted: 8/6/25 at 6:33pm

It seems from the chart there are slightly more seats than at Ars Nova (somebody fact check me on that if I'm wrong!), but still in the round in the same arrangement. 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 8/6/25 at 6:37pm

Hope Oratorio mixes well with the Cartozians. Doing a double in early November since they are both at Signature. 

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/6/25 at 6:38pm

wsondheim94 said: "ignore me - i literally forgot i am 31 years old LMAO (i cry)"

It’s 35 or under! You don’t need a code. You have to create a Signature account, sign up for that specific program offering, check out, and then go through the ticket purchase / selection process. (I think Tiers 2 and 3 are applicable for the discount. Or maybe 3 and 4?)

You should see the accurate discounted rate in your cart when you proceed to check out. 

Updated On: 8/6/25 at 06:38 PM

[steven22]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 12:28am

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "wsondheim94 said: "ignore me - i literally forgot i am 31 years old LMAO (i cry)"

It’s 35 or under! You don’t need a code. You have to create a Signature account, sign up for that specific program offering, check out, and then go through the ticket purchase / selection process. (I think Tiers 2 and 3 are applicable for the discount. Or maybe 3 and 4?)

You should see the accurate discounted rate in your cart when you proceed to check out."

I can’t seem to figure it out. Anyone else?

[Crusty Bagel]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 2:17am

The website says it’s for people 18-30. “Signature’s latest membership option, a low-price ticket program for theatergoers 18-30. This free-to-join membership gives you access to $30 tickets to all of Signature’s shows.”
 

https://signaturetheatre.org/signature-memberships/
Do you have an account?  If not, under Sig30, click on the “ sign up for free” button.  Make an account where it asks you for your birthday and stuff. Then you can buy two tickets for 30 bucks plus 3 dollar fee.  They’re available for any performance on tiers 2 and 3, so not the seats closest to the stage.  You will see the discount applied at checkout. 

Updated On: 8/7/25 at 02:17 AM

[Markie27]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 4:01am

I’m having problem as well.  I have Access Membership but it doesn’t apply to any tier when I put it in my cart.  I didn't have a problem before with Grangeville.  Any one having problems with the Access Membership?

[Crusty Bagel]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 4:12am

Make sure you are logged in to your account. When your tickets are added to your cart, they will show up as full price. Once you have proceeded to the checkout screen, as long as you are logged in to your account and valid seats are in your cart (not exceeding two), that is when the discount will be automatically applied 

[steven22]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 12:45pm

Thanks all. I was able to figure it out. I’m going in October. 

[Crusty Bagel]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 12:52pm

Oh nice so am I!!  October 24th can’t wait 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 2:06pm

The Signature site’s description of the Access 30 program is conflicting. In one place, it’s 18-30; another, it’s 18-35. I can confirm it’s for 35 and under, not 30. Maybe they increased the age at some point and didn’t update it across the board, which I’m grateful for as a 35-year-old whose bank account would much rather I spend $30 than $90+ on tickets to Oratorio.

Updated On: 8/7/25 at 02:06 PM

[willep]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 2:28pm

Am I correct in thinking that actors are included in their Access program, as “Theatre Workers”?

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 9:56am

Bumping now that Oratorio for Living Things is in previews as of last night.

Definitely my most anticipated ticket I have at the moment. This is one of the best things I’ve ever seen, and I’m so happy to get to revisit it (and hopefully get a cast recording). It appears to be selling exceptionally well, though they have some last minute releases for even the “sold out” first couple shows.

Updated On: 10/1/25 at 09:56 AM

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 2:49pm

Very curious about this piece.  For those who saw it, do you think it would still work in a much larger venue than the original?

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 3:03pm

Play Esq. said: "Very curious about this piece. For those who saw it, do you think it would still work in a much larger venue than the original?"

As far as I can tell, there’s not many additional seats in comparison to the Ars Nova run. It’s the same design and seating configuration as at Barrow Street.

Could I see it working in a slightly larger venue? Sure. But they would need to expand the amount of vocalists and musicians to fill that space. As it is, it works as a chamber piece where you can feel the music as much as you hear it.

Updated On: 10/1/25 at 03:03 PM

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 10/1/25 at 6:34pm

I was excited to get the chance to see this last night after missing it's earlier run, and I'm glad I did. It's certainly different from what I'm used to (more theatrical music than musical theatre), but I enjoyed it. ColorTheHours is right about feeling the music as much as you hear it; there was one moment where I could feel the sound vibrating through my body so thoroughly, it truly felt reminiscent of the religious experience Christian intended. It reminded me of what a unique and distinct pleasure it is to experience music live.

Having seen other things in this space at Signature, they definitely made it feel much more intimate than it has previously. The entrance to the space is in a different location than I was used to (to the left of the lobby bar, rather than to the right) and you have to travel along a path underneath all of the risers before entering for seating. The main playing space is only about the width of a subway car, I'd say, and the performers are regularly along the stairs and throughout the house. While I missed the Ars Nova run, I can't imagine it was much more intimate than what's being presented here.

[laaa la la la la la laaa]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 12:37am

For those who have seen this at Signature: What is the run time? The Signature website says 7-9 p.m., but everything I've read about the Ars Nova run lists it at 90 minutes. I have to catch a train afterwards and don't know that I'll make it if the show is two hours.

[yyys]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 7:20am

Someone on reddit said 90 min. 

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/8/25 at 9:05am

It is indeed about 90 minutes (probably closer to 95, if we're splitting hairs).

I thought it was breathtaking, but I'd recommend avoiding the last couple of rows of the 200s and 400s. The orchestra is situated directly behind the last rows of those sections and drowned out some of the vocals.  (The musicians do sound fantastic, though.)

 

Updated On: 10/8/25 at 09:05 AM