The Cry Of The Butterfly

By Nicca Ray
Directed by Joe John Battista
February 5 – February 22
FEB 5 - FEB 22; THU, FRI, SAT at 8 PM, SUN at 3 PM

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
Executive Director, Crystal Field

Presents

The Cry Of The Butterfly

February 5 – February 22, 2026
Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8:00 PM, Sunday at 3:00 PM

Tickets – $20, Students & Seniors $15
Run time: 1 hour 20 minutes
COMMUNITY SPACE

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Street)
New York, NY 10003
Directions

Meet Betty, the former beautiful dancer in the Hollywood musicals of the 1950s, who married Nicholas Ray, the famed director of Rebel Without a Cause, and had two daughters, Julie and Nicca. Fast forward to now. Julie and Nicca visit Betty on her birthday only to find their mother living in a world of her past, hallucinating that Nick and James Dean are visiting her. Meanwhile, Julie and Nicca come to terms with what it means to grow up in the shadow of fame and realize how it was Betty who kept their family together against all odds.

CAST
Penny Balfour*
Tom Martin*
Alexandra Laliberte
Mari Blake*
Michael John Gross
Roger Gonzalez

*Actors appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association without benefit of contract

PRODUCTION
Writer – Nicca Ray
Director – Joe John Battista
Stage Manager/Lighting – Mathew Seepersad
Costume Designer – Wendy Tonken