THE WATERFALL
by Phanésia Pharel directed by Taylor Reynolds
UNDERWRITTEN BY DEE DEE COLABELLA
The Waterfall to Premiere Off-Broadway
Thrown Stone Announces Our Biggest Milestone Yet
We’re honored to share that The Waterfall by Phanésia Pharel—developed with Thrown Stone since its inception—will make its Off-Broadway debut at WP Theater in a limited run from January 31 through March 1, 2026. Directed by Obie Award-winner Taylor Reynolds (Primary Trust, Man Cave), this marks the Off-Broadway debut not only for Phanésia, but for Thrown Stone as well.
A co-production with WP Theater, The Waterfall began its life with us in 2022 during Phanésia’s 068 Magazine Playwriting Fellowship. Over the next three years, we helped shepherd the play through developmental workshops at The Old Globe (2023), Keeler Tavern Museum in Ridgefield (2024), and The New Harmony Project (2025). The play has since been honored with the 2024 Kennedy Center Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award.
About the Play
I REALLY DO LOVE YOU.
I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU.
Returning home to assist her mother after a hospitalization, Haitian-American Bean soon finds her confidence shaken by her mother’s idea of what her life should be. Stuck at home, with nowhere to run from her mother’s ideas of marriage, motherhood, and malady, Bean must ask, “Do you know who you want to be? And are you brave enough to own it?” The Waterfall is an intimate and aching two-hander about the generational divides around family, womanhood, and the idea of the American Dream.
The Waterfall is an intimate and aching two-hander about generational divides — around family, womanhood, and the idea of the American Dream.
Phanésia Pharel called the partnership between WP Theater and Thrown Stone “incredibly exciting,” crediting Dee Dee Colabella’s support through the 068 Magazine Fellowship as “really the reason I’m still writing plays.”
“This is the biggest announcement in our history — a true watershed moment for Thrown Stone,” said Co-Artistic Director Jonathan Winn. “Phanésia’s extraordinary voice deserves a national stage, and we’re proud to have supported The Waterfall from its very first spark. None of this would be possible without Dee Dee Colabella’s vision and generosity.”
“It’s rare to see a collaboration develop with this much trust and momentum,” added Co-Artistic Director Jason Peck. “Working with Phanésia, WP Theater, and Dee Dee has been both meaningful and galvanizing. We can’t wait to share this production with New York — and with the audiences who’ve supported us every step of the way.”
About the Playwright
Phanésia Pharel (Playwright) is a Haitian-American playwright from a dragon fruit farm in Miami. The daughter of an immigrant teacher and farmer, she writes to honor people. Her full-length plays include DEAD GIRL’S QUINCEÑERA, THE WATERFALL, R&B, LUCKY, and BLACK GIRL JOY.
She is the incoming playwriting fellow at Emory University where she will teach and have a new play produced through their repertory company. She has received commissions from the Atlantic Theater, Lucille Lortel (Alcove),… Read more
About the Director
Taylor Reynolds is an OBIE-award winning director based in New York, originally from Chicago. Her work centers around joyful collaboration and new play development. Selected directing credits: Primary Trust (Signature Theatre), The Sensational Sea Mink-ettes (Woolly Mammoth), Fat Ham (Studio Theatre, Helen Hayes nomination for Best Director), This Land Was Made (Vineyard Theatre), Clyde’s (Berkeley Rep/Huntington Theatre), Tambo & Bones (Playwrights Horizons/CTG), Man Cave (Page 73), The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington… Read more
About WP Theater
WP Theater, entering its 48th Season, is the nation’s oldest and largest theater company dedicated to developing, producing and promoting the work of Women+ at every stage in their careers. For almost five decades, they have served as leaders at the forefront of a global movement towards gender parity, and the example they set and the artists they have fostered have grown into a robust and thriving community of artists in theater and beyond. WP… Read more
We are grateful to Dee Dee Colabella, whose underwriting of this production continues her remarkable commitment to Thrown Stone and to new voices in American theatre.
About Dee Dee Colabella
Dee Dee Perrone Colabella is a multifaceted entrepreneur, artist, and community leader based in Ridgefield, Connecticut. With over 30 years of experience in the arts, her career encompasses fine art, education, graphic design, event planning, and arts advocacy. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Western Connecticut State University and is passionate about nurturing emerging and mid-career artists.
In 2021, Colabella expanded her artistic endeavors by founding D Colabella Fine Art Gallery at 446 Main… Read more
We can’t wait to share more with you as we move toward opening night. Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for being a part of the journey.