Theatre

Bill's 44th

Andy Manjuck and Dorothy James (USA)

30 May 2025, Fri, 8pm

31 May 2025, Sat, 3pm & 8pm

1 Jun 2025, Sun, 3pm

55mins

(Intermission: None)

Esplanade Theatre Studio

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Photo Credit: Tristram Kenton
Photo Credit: Richard Termine
Photo Credit: Richard Termine
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Synopsis

“…buoyant, mesmerizing, joy-inducing…”
– New York Times

 

“This isn’t the birthday that Bill had hoped to have. But for the audience, his 44th is a gift.”
– New York Times

 

★★★★★
“A celebration of life, memory and the passage of time, brilliantly executed and truly unforgettable.”
– One4Review 

 

“Manjuck and James have created a show that evolves from this gentle comedy, with its absurdist elements, to this touchingly heartfelt reflective piece about [loneliness] and truly finding yourself and loving that person you discover.”
– The New Current

 

The streamers are hung, the punch has been spiked, and the cake is just begging to be eaten! Now, all Bill has to do is wait for his guests to arrive.

 

Created and puppeteered by Dorothy James and Andy Manjuck, Bill’s 44th is a non-verbal, comedic puppet show for adults performed with an original score, centered on one very worried leading man, Bill. Many styles of puppetry, raucous balloons, and a cheeky piece of crudité all collide to examine the pitfalls of impatience, the wonder of loneliness, and the universal passage of time.

 

Want to learn from the experts themselves? Check out Andy and Dorothy’s Puppetry Performance Workshop, perfect for theatre practitioners and students to enhance their skills.

Advisory:
  • Advisory16 (contains some mature themes)

  • There will be a post-show dialogue with the artists for the performances on 30 May, 8pm and 31 May, 8pm.

Admission Age:
13 and above.
Things to Note:
Accessibility: All our venues are wheelchair-accessible. We offer various services to support patrons with access needs. For assistance, please contact Esplanade Customer Experience at 6828 8377. Concessions are available for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and one accompanying companion. To learn more, read our accessibility guide.
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Artist Information

Andy Manjuck (Co-creator & Puppeteer)

Website | Instagram

Andy Manjuck is a Brooklyn-based artist. He is a company member of Wakka Wakka (Baby Universe, Saga, Made in China, The Immortal Jellyfish Girl), and has worked with Robin Frohardt (The Pigeoning, The Plastic Bag Store), Nick Lehane (Chimpanzee, and Fly Away – a collaboration with Derek Fordjour’s SELF MUST DIE exhibition, Petzel Gallery), Unknown Mortal Orchestra (That Life, Double Solitaire), Doug Fitch (Petrushka with the NY Philharmonic Orchestra, and Oregon Symphony), Apple TV+ (Hello Tomorrow!), BYUtv (9 Years to Neptune), and Betty Productions (4th Islamic Solidarity Games Opening Ceremonies, Baku, Azerbaijan, 48th National Day Celebration, Abu Dhabi, UAE).

 

He co-founded the arts collective Eat Drink Tell Your Friends (Lectures, Photo & Supply). He is the co-creator of Bill’s 44th, which was named a New York Times Critic’s Pick and has performed in New York City at Dixon Place and in Chicago at the Chopin Theatre as a part of the 2022 Chicago International Puppetry Festival. He has also taught and designed at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

Dorothy James (Co-creator & Puppeteer)

Website

Dorothy James is a Brooklyn based puppeteer and maker of tiny things. She has puppeteered for Wakka Wakka (Made in China, 59E59 Theaters, FigurTeatret i Nordland; The Immortal Jellyfish Girl, FigurTeatret), Nick Lehane and Derek Fordjour (SELF MUST DIE: Fly Away, Petzel Gallery), Basil Twist (Hansel & Gretel, Michigan Opera Theatre), Molly Smith (Snow Child, Arena Stage), AchesonWalsh & Radio City (The New York Spectacular…) Unknown Mortal Orchestra (That Life), BBC (Moon and Me), Amazon (Patriot), and Apple TV+ (Hello Tomorrow!). As a creator, Dorothy uses table top, shadow, rod, and paper cut puppetry to create otherworldly narratives that meld the grotesque with a sense of innocence. She is the co-creator of Bill’s 44th, which was named a New York Times Critic’s Pick and has performed in New York City at Dixon Place and in Chicago at the Chopin Theatre as a part of the 2022 Chicago International Puppetry Festival. Her paper cut stop-motion film Lethologica was an official selection of Chicago’s Big Teeth Small Shorts Film Festival and the Upstate NY Horror Festival.

Assistive listening icon

Assistive Listening

Assistive listening system is available for this venue. Hearing aid users with a Telecoil-enabled programme can benefit from the system provided. Please arrive at the venue 30 min before the performance so we can assist with the setup.

Date & Time

Assistive Listening

30 May 2025, Fri

8pm

Esplanade Theatre Studio

There will be a post-show dialogue.

31 May 2025, Sat

3pm

Esplanade Theatre Studio

8pm

Esplanade Theatre Studio

There will be a post-show dialogue.

1 Jun 2025, Sun

3pm

Esplanade Theatre Studio
Tickets & Prices
Standard

Students, NSFs, Seniors & PWDs
(Limited)

Price $38 $32

Esplanade&Me Early Bird Special

6 – 27 Mar 2025

Fun Package: 20% savings (limited tickets)

Min. 4 tickets to the same show or across applicable shows:

- Gibbon

- Bill's 44th

- We Will Drum You

 

Applicable to Standard tickets only. Terms and Conditions apply.

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Esplanade&Me Specials

From 6 Mar 2025
Black: 15% savings  
White: 10% savings  
Discover: 10% savings (min. of 2 tickets)

 

Applicable to Standard tickets only. Terms and Conditions apply.

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