IRT Theater |WIT Factor | The Beautiful Lies Of Venice Row,Laurie Hernandez

Instead, they find themselves mysteriously trapped inside. The only way out appears to lie in finding a series of personal letters Venice wrote before her death, letters that the house itself seems determined to hide. As tensions rise, each character is forced to confront their own fractured relationship with Venice: June, the niece who Venice loved more than anything; Frances, the assistant who understood her best; Gianluca, a famous Italian actor and her husband; Harrison, her son; Evelyn, her fiery younger sister… and Bea, an old friend who stands at the heart of Venice's most vibrant secret.

Unseen by her loved ones but ever-present, Venice’s ghost watches as her carefully constructed life begins to unravel. Unable to speak to them, she is forced to witness how she was perceived, misunderstood, and remembered. Will the house connect everyone, or tear them farther apart? Will Venice’s soul ever be able to rest?

“The Beautiful Lies of Venice Row” was written by Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez, who currently stars in Broadway as “Charmion” in the musical & Juliet. She has written two New York Times best selling books, and is a recent graduate of NYU Tisch Drama, with a creative writing minor. 

Key themes within this play are LGBTQ+, self acceptance, hints of the supernatural, and dark comedy. Mature topics such as death and homophobia/internalized homophobia are discussed—viewers discretion is advised.

PERFORMANCES:
Wednesday May 6, 2026- 8pm
RUNNING TIME: 90 Min
PRICE:
Student/Recent Graduate: $12
General: $22
All access pass: $45
At IRT: 154 Christopher st. NYC #3B (third floor)
ADA Accessible

CAST LIST :

• Venice Row: Colette Pitts 
• June Carter: Laurie Hernandez
• Evelyn Carter: Ayla Walsh
• Frances: Brynn Ayoob
• GianLuca : Evan Mallick
• Harrison : Rye Fruehling 
• Bea: Izzy Goussen 
• Hazel: Lexi Kolb
• Stage Directions: Colin Konstanty

IRT Theater is a grassroots laboratory for independent theater and performance in New York City, providing space and support to a new generation of artists. Tucked away in the old Archive Building in Greenwich Village, IRT’s mission is to build a community of emerging and established artists by creating a home for the development and presentation of new work.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York State Legislature; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council; A.R.T./New York’s NYC Small Theatres Fund made possible with support from the Howard Gilman Foundation & support for ASL interpretation provided in part through funding from Access A.R.T./New York.

ACCESS: IRT is a fully wheelchair-accessible facility. Please reach out to Kori Rushton if you have any accessibility questions or concerns, [email protected]

PLEASE NOTE: All sales final and there is no late seating at IRT Theater.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher IRT Theater